Black Coffee

Yamaha BB 415, or Peavey Grind 5. Been there, done that, got t-shirt, cheap as chips, sound excellent for the price. Well within your budget secondhand.

I have an old ESP bass that I want to try to strip the black paint from and leave a natural finish. What is the best way to do this ? I have searched the net and there are so many different opinions on this that frankly I am at a loss as to where to start as so many opinions contradict each other on the chemical / endless sanding / scraping methods. I have the neck off and the bridge etc all removed and ready to go but this impass has halted progress. Is it as simple as using paint stripper carefully and following this with sandpapering or is there more to it ? I see this as satisfying my curiousity after reading other peoples home based attempts, I have never been handy with woodworking before so goodness knows how this will turn out. Help

Could be that the only reason Fender are gettin a bit of a kickin on here lately is that they are held up as an industry standard and so many people have played so many of them. Have the same number of bassists played the same number of Ibanez, Yamaha, Warick etc ?? I have just bought yet another Fender bass this week and am well impressed with the sound, finish and playability. It's a Geddy Lee signature; and the neck is incredible. Probably going to be a better player than my custom shop bass I had once I get to grips with it. I like to play devils advocate amid debate; but amid it all it is fair to suggest that there are good and less good of everything, but when you pay good money for something; it isn't unreasonable to expect consistent quality for your cash. Im sure the Queen is miffed at Bentley . . . . . . . where was that wagon made ?

Received Geddy Lee Jazz bass in post from Ted. Well packaged. Bass in excellent condition, good setup; ready to go. Can't wait to get busy with it. Great to do business with. Thanks.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1358003795' post='1931697'] This probably should be in "Off Topic" really though... [/quote] Sorry to the admin crew if I am indeed in the wrong place for this post. This was more an impulsive post as we were discussing it at home here.

If you could have been there and played a part of a famous bassists career. Who would it have been ? 5 examples.... John Deacon following Queens resurgence in the 80s after Live Aid ? Sting during the Police. Cliff Williams, to watch Angus Young up close for so many years. Lemmy...... all the time but mostly during the manic louder than everything else Ace of Spades era. Or for me. Steve Harris during the Powerslave world tour around '85. See the world, play music you love with a first class band on a huge stage production which was watched by thousands of people. And be an encouragement and inspiration to so many people. That'll do.

Peavey grind 5 and 6. Owned both. Both are regretted sales but necessary at time for upgrade. Wud recommend. Neck slim.

Thats gorgeous. Havnt seen a pair like that before. I cud sit and look at them all day trying to decide where to start.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1357651011' post='1925951'] I don't think this is accurate in any way shape or form. This post, to me, says more about the poster than the reality of the situation. [/quote] Does it make it wrong though? I know i had a dreadful car. Sorry im a disappointment to you.......

My first MM bass was a blue SUB5 string with the rippled metal pickguard made in San Luis Obispo. It was a beast and I saved like mad to get a full stingray 5. I have never owned a lower end MM since that one, but anything with Sterling on it that I have played in shops feels strangely light and underpowered compared to the SR and this first SUB I owned. Maybe its just me liking to feel the weight of the instrument; its like reassurance or something - just my thing. My attitude is to always try and stretch as far as you can up the tree when buying basses as too many times I have bought the cheaper production version to lose money parting company with it several weeks/months later and buying the dearer one anyway. Might not always be possible but if you can afford it (given the state of the economy), I'd reccommend trying to pick up one of the older SUB or a cheap 4 str ray. It's a buyers market.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1357635461' post='1925551'] Fender are selling by the container load and ford are in massive financial trouble having to sell off their best bits just to stay afloat! [/quote] Yep, but they did manage to finally build a car that I wouldn't have to park at the top of a hill each night to have a fighting chance of getting to start each morning by pushing it down the other side. Shame they bankrupt themselves doing it. Fender will have an aisle in Tesco and Asda soon ; somewhere between the deli counter and the deoderant. . . !!!!

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1357596210' post='1925228'] Find a bass [i]you [/i]like and forget names and image. [/quote] Excelllent advice. If i was a director in Fender i would be reading this thread with one of two reactions. 1. This is a wake up call and our name is no longer fit to be on our products because the basses are so hit and miss and the sales staff dont help. We gotta geta grip of this and maintain our integrity . For the sake of the legacy of the man whose name is on the headstock. If leo was here would this be happening..? 2. Ha ha ha ha. People, kids, the dogs in the street will buy our bass no matter what. Because we are fender. Not because it is a good bass every time. At the risk of starting something. Henry ford invented the car and they went through a time when the only thing they were good for was pushing downhill to start on a wet winter morning. Now they have got their act together because the competition get better evry day and after my fiesta mk2 misery i wud consider one again. I owned a fender usa p from 1994 and only sold it recently to upgrade out of need. Having spent some time shopping recently id say the same spec usa p bass aint as good. Hit and miss is the norm . Try before u buy. Never buy a fender u havnt playd. Sound familiar?

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1357422155' post='1922558'] lol two different views there [/quote] Im lost now and cant find my way home. LoL Will read up on it and try it. Cheap bass to try it on so dont matter if it a goes south. Thanks guys.

My previous encounter with a jazz was a Fender custom shop with the 18v electronics and noiseless pickups. It was an incredible instrument and if it wasn't for my compulsion to keep changing gear and play as many different basses as I can in as short a space of time as possible it would still be here. There wasn't anything you couldn't so with it as far as I was concerned. You may be able to pick up a 2nd hand version within your budget and it would be a considerable investment. I am currently looking to acquire a fender usa 4 str jazz but my current budget probably will mean that I will have to wait and save more or earn more points with the pursestring holder.

If a person had an old cheap 4 string bass that they didnt mind got wrecked and they wanted to try to defret it. What tools would they need and how would they do it ? I remember reading about Jaco Pastorius defretting a J and creating the bass of doom but is it as simple as it sounded ???? In addition to that, while they are at it they might want to remove the black painted finish to leave the wood bare. Whats the best way forward for this ?

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1357400347' post='1922112'] I had 2 (first was returned for a finishing flaw). They are Jazz bass in appearance but that's where it ended. A very clear sounding bass like other Overwaters but I struggled to get a nice warm fat time from it. It sounded very neutral whereas I think for me I need an instrument to have a bit more character in sound. That said, the build and overall quality was very good. [/quote] I was kinda afraid of someone sayin this. I think im spoilt by the sound im used to from my dingwall and the options available pazzive and active. Thanks to all for your replies. Im gonna be patient and wait for a full usa jazz at a price i can afford. I know i wont get one for 400 so i will wait.

Has anyone played the Overwater contemporary jazz 4 string ? I played briefly one of the classic OW/TWood jazzes and it was bland but if anyone has any input on the contemporay active version I'd appreciate it. There are quite a few of these contemporary j basses from overwater for sale at the minute in various places online and as Im looking for a 4 stringer jazz is it too good to be true at that price or is it post Christmas mass realisation of a cheap bass with a 'pricey bass' tag being moved on. Any lower level bass recently Ive bought I have always regretted it and end up moving it on again quickly and buying the dearer one anyway. I am setting a budget (based on domestic management reccomendations) around £400 to try to pick up the best 4 string jazz deal I can and currently I could buy one of these contemporary J's for just short of £350 Just dont wana regret it. Help.