martthebass

I sold one of these and bought the green carpet 150 GP7SM. Your 130 is better! Don't confuse TE 130 watts with some of the 150W weedmeisters that are knocking around (cough - Ashdown).

[quote name='Shaggy' post='80728' date='Oct 29 2007, 11:19 AM']+1 completely
It took me thirty years to get the point of the Fender P. Like Chris, I’d always considered them strictly a one-trick pony – thuddy, old-school, blues-rock. Especially as a mainly fretless player, you really need that bridge pick-up to add a bit of bite to your “mwah” - at least as an option - but I’ve never liked fretless Jazzes that much.
Anyway, last winter I joined a ‘60’s rock/R&B band as a side-project to the main covers band, and fancied a “retro” bass purely – I’m ashamed to say – for image. As the two guitarists have red Strats I was kind of looking for a red MIJ P-bass, briefly considered the Sting signature, then saw Walbassists’ ’73 sunburst P-bass on Basschat this summer. Heavily modded – converted to fretless with ebony board, narrowed neck, added J p/u at the bridge, re-wired with SD vintage/antiquity II replacement p/u’s. Ruined as a vintage bass of course, but it could have been custom built for me.
Well, plugged through a Trace valve head it was the tone I’d been looking for all my life, and with the neck mods and pro setup played like a dream. Yes, my active MM Sabre does a pretty good imitation of a P on neck p/u, but no bass I’ve tried gives that plummy, harmonic-rich, sock-in-the-gut sound of a P-bass. The addition of a J bridge pick-up is a revelation, makes it so much more versatile, and whilst string choice and a good set-up is crucial for any bass, for a P-bass I’d say it’s critical. And if it’s good enough for Pino, it’s good enough for me! [/quote]

+1 again.
I picked up a MIA P from this site a couple of months ago after being Precision free for 20 years. When I first played it it sounded like my Sterling with all the tone rolled off and 30 year old strings. However, you grow to love it and wonder how you managed without that tone in your armory. If I wanted a P to sound like a Jazz I would sell it and buy a Jazz..simple as.
Now, with the faults, 20 frets ok, but why would I want to go much above 14th on old school stuff? If I want stratospheric I take the Thumb.
Punch, well the P has got punch in spades, but if I want to cause spontaneous bowel movements at 50 paces then it's the Sterling.

20 years ago I sold my '57 JV reissue (pillock) because I wanted a more edgy sound, easier top fret access, a better slap sound (even though I couldn't and still can't slap for boll****) and something that loooked a bit more modern. Now, don't get me wrong I don't think I could ever manage with a Precision as my only bass but I'm coming around to thinking that unless you're 100% slap/EMO-Goth you just gotta have one to hand.

I remember going to see Bad News live in Sheffield in the mid 80's.........classic

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='79537' date='Oct 25 2007, 07:59 PM']She's still got it Mart...beautiful[/quote]

Hope you didn't mind the use of your picci OHM. This bass just get's better and better, the Thumb and the Sterling are gatherin' dust at the mo.

[quote name='paul, the' post='79480' date='Oct 25 2007, 05:58 PM']Tort with rw. Black(/white/black) with maple IMO.
Black/white is still a classic though.[/quote]

We can't all be perfect...........sniff.

Knew you'd withdraw it. I keep thinking about parting with mine but it'd have to be pretty special deal to see it disappear - like that headed status stealth that was on a while back................no the GAS

Gorgeous. One day I will own one of these.....

If you've got nothing better to do, do it. If you're sat at home you'll only think about it all night. You've nothing to lose and maybe an interesting night to gain.

I just bought a MIA P after 20 years without one. It's a 2004 S1 (S1 agreed as pointless). It's very bit as good as the '82 57 JV re-issue I use to own. It sounds as good and plays better, lighter, arguably the attention to detail isn't quite as good but that'd be nit picking. Compared to MIM's I've tried there is no comparison.

Some good deals to be had used.

White? Nah...overrated. Love the new paint job.

A bump for the obscure DD track and big thumbs up for Transmission

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='72058' date='Oct 10 2007, 11:01 AM']If you fancy moving the P-Bass on, can I have first refusal?!![/quote]

OHM, while I have continual GAS, this is the most comfortable P Bass I have ever played. It would be nice if there was a little switch that could make it sound like a MM if and when I felt like it but ces't la vie. It's deffo a keeper. Do all MIA 2004ish P basses feel like this one?

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='69768' date='Oct 4 2007, 11:23 PM']If you've never owned a Thumb you don't know what you're talking about. If you have owned one and it neck dived... it was either a new one (which I profess I can't comment on) or you forgot to fasten the strap to the top button.[/quote]

Ok. I just find the Thumb BO4 - newer model (2006) hangs at horizontal naturally - it doesn't want to 'dive' any lower. This is in comparison to a Sterling or Precision which on my shoulder, with the same strap hangs naturally at 45 degrees.

One thing you do have to factor it tho if you're more used to Fender 'type' is how long the neck feels

Shouldn't grin, but I'm sure that guy had a 'sex face' thing going when it got to the fast bit............the concentration was stunning.

Damn, I waited around months for one of these in this condition......gave up in the end and blew my GAS cash on OHM's US Precision.....Damn.

To a Rickenbacker - what the hell, to a fretless Wal, that's just plain wrong.

Very very nice. First track - very Mick Karn a la Titles album 1983/4?

My dream bass - will never have the talent to justify one or the mulah to buy one...

Summer of sixty friggin' nine.

I used to like that song.

Also, something by Queen that is clearly far too bloody difficult for mere mortals to sing.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='68863' date='Oct 2 2007, 10:57 PM']NT or BO? I can give 'some' help (or can I) with the NT early models but the BO... sorry!

Damn he went and bought a Stingray in the time it took me to type a reply... I blame the alcohol for slowing down my typing skills.[/quote]

He'll soon realise that to make life complete, you need a Warwick and a Musicman in the collection

I'd agree tho, the Thumb isn't always an 'immediate' bass - it took me some time to get used to it, but in the end it was worth it.

[quote name='Beedster' post='67980' date='Oct 1 2007, 07:42 AM']Thanks gents
Yes, it is indeed the Modulus Flea that I'm talking about. It has Blue Sparkle body and matching headstock. This doesn't realy suit the rather retro feel of the bands I play with, or indeed the music I play, so I was going to refin it black with a dark Tort Pickguard. I've done a few bodies and don't see this as a problem. However, the carbon is. Let's face it, a black body/tort pickguard ain't gonna look al that sweet with a blued sparkle headstock!
My gut instinct is to get a professional job done, I posted the above to see if anyone has done it in the past. Bob, I think you're right, but I'm still not sure I'd risk it without being 100% certain!
Cheers
Chris[/quote]

Use the Fenders with the heathens and sell the Flea to me ........ very cheaply, want a Sterling? - It looks quite retro

Don't discount the newer Thumb BO4's. I don't think the change from Wenge to Ovangkol makes as much difference as many think - I'm not the most discerning guy but my 2006 BO4 has more than enough snap, punch and growl. There is a bit of neck dive but it's no worse than my old Corvette and easily cured with a 3 inch strap. I moved from a Jazz to one of these and found I prefer the neck profile on the Thumb. These are currently pretty good value used - £600 isn't unusual for a good example. Try one and make your own mind up.

+1 on the £750!!
I bought a NOS 2004 - cost me £920 so you did mega well.
I agree with pretty much all you've put up there - I could've written it! (also a 'Ray user for nearly 20 years before swapping to a Sterling). Strange about the weight, I thought it would be lighter than my old 'Ray - it isn't. Mine also doesn't get as much use as it should - probably because it's pristine and at the mo I'm playing dives and jam nights so the p-bass and Thumb tend to get used more, but I agree with you, there isn't a better neck in the business.

Rio - Duran Duran (hides head in shame). Never got close to the break.

Also, don't know why but, Daytripper - no problem at the root but never been able to keep it straight at the octave....funny I've watched lots of conver bands play it the same way as me but not like Macca.

[quote name='Machines' post='65821' date='Sep 26 2007, 12:12 PM']And here it is again...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Music-Man-STINGRAY-Natural-Ash-Musicman-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ220154235627QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Music-Man-STINGRAY-N...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Small world isnt it ? I didn't know inflation was so high in a week either ![/quote]

Interesting how that pretty harsh 'scuff' looks nearly non-existent in the new listing David/Petra/1066/Whatnot normally takes such wonderful pictures. I would be pretty pi**ed if I parted with £600 and ended up with a bass that looks like a grinder ran over the upper bout. Just my 2p...

You have pm....