Chiliwailer

Ooh nice one. I got the Duke of Tone MXR version recently, really like it. The comparison reviews are very good, but the KOT would be a killer gem to have 👍

That’s a good point Luke. For me, in the 90s, I was a teen enjoying quality budget brands like Aria and Hohner, other good basses were around too like Yamaha and Ibanez. But I aspired to a 4001, StingRay, or vintage Fender. Even on a modest wage, I was able to get them in my 20s. Just seems further out of reach now for someone in the situation I was in back then…?

I bought a new Strat recently Chris, luckily second hand, as it’s from the new Fender American Vintage II range and they are nearly £2k brand new. I remember when we sold CS basses at that price a short while ago 😢 Thing is, these Strats are sold out with a wait until end of the year, so people are buying them. I probably would have paid that too as I was picky about spec and the ‘61 has all I wanted. Just glad I lucked out and got one used (and as new)…. Under £1500, as it should be in my head too 😊

Makes you wonder why they aren’t making these regularly - great spec and choice 👍

£4200…. Damn that’s just crazy… Sad for the generation that’s coming into this whole new level of bonkers pricing on premium factory gear - GAS killer for sure, not even a 0% card would tempt me anymore at these prices.

Haha! I seem to recall Sterling saying “I don’t do reissues” on the Old Smoothie promo vid… its nice to see one 👍

Calling @MM Stingray 62 BFR - Retro ‘76 Ray 🤤😍 https://www.music-man.com/bfr/spring-2023

Oops, missed that somehow, very nice 👌

Liking that… but you know the score, photos or it never happened 😊

IMO a scratch that’s worth itching if you can. If you love it and you’re lucky enough to keep it then it’ll be a great move. And if you ever sell you shouldn’t lose cash. Guess it’s a win win as the long as the cash is there.

Finally, getting a Jazz Bass that I click with and can’t fault. Honestly didn’t think that’d ever happen again tbh

Hello mate, I presume one of the reasons this thread is bare with responses is that, as you likely know, even similar/same model basses are so variable, including vintage and CS. The great Clive Brown once told me he felt “some neck and bodies just aren’t meant to be together, it’s like the tone is vibrating in conflicting directions”. Having owned and played a ton of 60s and CS basses, my feel is they all differ widely, and knowing which variable is the reason why is often guesswork… wood? Pick up winding amount especially on a vintage one? Amount it’s been played? Psychological? Etc. Strings are a factor too, but often the basses natural tone can vary widely beyond that. For example, at one point I had 3 X 1966 P Basses in my living room and all were very different, even when strung the same. Similar again when I bought a 64 P and compared it to 5 or 6 other similar aged basses in the shop. Also had same experiences with CS basses in shops and when comparing friends ones… Played 2 Pinos I can remember, sounded like I’d expect a vintage vibed bass would sound, I liked them. I now have a CS 64 Jazz which is great. It feels so similar to a real 64 Jazz I used to own, and not all CS basses do feel similar to a vintage one in my experience. I even prefer it to my old Bravewood, so it must be good. Tonally it sounds like what I’d expect a good vintage J to sound like - perhaps just missing years of vibrations through the wood if it’s a player, and you believe that’s a factor, which some respected folk do. Anyway, that ramble is why I wouldn’t feel comfortable directly giving my thought/answer to the question 😊 Edit - forgot to say that for these reasons, I’ve always been open minded when comparing a CS to a vintage.

Pretty sure the ball end colours are different, even if just on one or two strings? I agree there are similarities, but quite different characteristics IMO. Possibly a different type of D’Addario at best.

Wow, never knew about the 43-106., curious as to what that gauge is like then… though think I’m too settled with the 43-100 to change, absolutely love them. Aha, must be the short scale gauge for a shorty SG?

I’m not a fan of high tension either, and do prefer the cleaner tone of a light Flatwound. I like 40-95, which you can get with EB Group IV and Chromes, both similar-ish to Fender flats, personal preference but I prefer Group IV. GHS Precision flats come in 45-95 if you want a more old school sound. And of course Thomastik and LaBella do low tension, but won’t sound anything like the Fender flats. Just highlighting strings I know well and use.

Slim, but I think someone posted on here in the summer that heat had melted the pickup connections, IIRC. You could wire them to the jack directly to check out if they are ok or not.

Alex sold me a pedal after I posted a wanted advert. Super smooth sale, friendly, great coms, and fast/safe shipping. Cheers Alex

Your Jack socket needs an earth and a live connected to it, looks like it’s not got an earth. If you type ‘Jazz bass wiring’ into Google and do an image search then you’ll find a wiring diagram (can be a few ways to wire it) - or wait a while and no doubt a BC’er with more time will give you a more in depth answer!