HeadlessBassist

Ah good, Glad you sorted it in the end

Just one question... Why would you have the EQ on the bass set flat? Surely you have a preferred setting/settings on the bass that you always use? 🤔 To be fair, I always had similar issues with EB instruments. Even my Classic Sabre & Big Al 5 had that issue. It just never cut through properly. The only MM product I've not had that issue with is my current 95 Stingray with the Aguilar Pickup and Preamp.

The story of the closure...

Fender should actually make something like that. A more vintage-modern version of a Hotrod Jazz. I like it a lot.

I've seen and played the Z3 black sparkle. The finishes are very sparkly and they do sound eerily like a pre EB Stingray. If I were to buy one, I'd have to have the 5-string, as a Stingray (or copy thereof) needs the one tuning key pointing downwards.

Usually, the two sides of the Split Coil should be angled according to the string heights (which are in turn angled to the radius of the neck.)

Aarrggh! 🫣

I always suspected Julia Hofer was classically trained in some way, shape or form. Now I find out she's a Cellist like me. Interesting performance, too...

Ha! I sold my Mustang a month ago. Again, lovely bass but I had no practical earning use for it.

Exactly my feeling on the matter, Steve. I tend to think of them as a bit of a blunt instrument, admittedly fantastic for driving rock music, but not a very subtle tool.

Now you're setting off my OCD about people calling it a bloody guitar! 🤣

Very true - to the audience and other musicians, "it's a bass."

Okay, so I've owned quite a few Precisions over the years, from 2008 American Standard to AVRI to Nate Mendel & early Classic Vibe to Mexican Standard. Latterly, the only one I ever kept and used for about 5 years was the first generation American Professional (the white/mint one that was used in several Andertons videos - yes, that very bass), due to its lovely clear top end from the excellent V-Mod pickup. Sadly, after I left a named 60s band continuation to join another live show, it sat for two years unplayed, so I moved it on as per the rules of basses not earning me money. Oddly, I've never been specifically asked to play a Precision for a session, gig or show of any kind, but it's sort of received opinion that you should have one. Playing wise and sound wise, I've always been more on the Jazz bass side, both for it's relative delicacy and adaptability. What's feeding this line of thought? I played a £5000 Olinto Precision at Andy Baxter's the other day. Obviously I'm not going to pour that kind of money into one, but maybe another 1st/2nd gen American Professional may be on the cards..? Whadda-ya'll reckon? Discuss...

I'm mainly active (7), but have two passive Jazzes (soon to be three when the Walnut/Graphite build is complete.)

Congratulations, MrFingers. Make sure you have an Air Tag hidden in the case. Looks like a lovely bass, a great talking point and something to enjoy and be proud of. 😎

Erm... It is. Most stringed instruments gradually gain resonance as the wood seasons over time. Damn, the 'ToneWood Police' will be here soon - better scarper!

That's fascinating - I had a similar issue with the pickup placement on the original Jason Smith designed Fender Rascal. The pickups were too far over to the left of your playing position, making the bass virtually unplayable on a strap. Rickenbacker have made some very odd choices here...

Sarcasm is often difficult to detect in text form - Illogical, Captain. 🖖

Nice weekend all in all - Friday was a local charity gig. Nice little five piece with an old friend and his son and daughter involved too. Sadly, a total 'Guitard's valve amp setup was far too loud, so we just did the usual backing right off until he realised he couldn't hear us due to his own row! Nice evening all in all, although was a little broken after three hours' playing! Saturday was a Duo job in a large club in Stoke-on-Trent. Club land can often be depressing and I've not worked the clubs for a long time, but this was a nice and welcoming one. As a complete contrast to Friday, it was a joy to play quietly and we had folks up and dancing all night, right from the start of the evening. We also used no monitors this time and had the system behind us. (Sometimes tricky for feedback issues), but it sounded really good. I hate monitors. These two jobs were also a good opportunity to road test my recently acquired GB Spitfire, which I have to say has punch and tone in spades. Dig in a little harder and it's metallic-like punch is like a hammer hitting an anvil! Noice 😎

I've always found that it gives you a little more bottom end sustain. It's not as important as good quality grade woods, but I guess all these small things add up.

Ah, I see. Yes, that can often happen. I just refuse to increase volume just so I can hear myself. Responsible [and professional] players listen for the balance. I played at a charity gig on Friday which had a guitardist who insisted on playing ridiculously loud. The rest of us just played more gently and then he eventually got the message when he couldn't hear us over his own row!

Agreed. I always set my sound/eq before I play and leave it alone. In fact, I usually use exactly the same eq settings most of the time.

Apart from the American basses using better grade woods, completely different pickups, through body stringing and much better quality hardware. Or at least they do at the moment... Wait for the inevitable cost cutting skunk stripe neck and top loading truss rod coming in the successor to the American Professional II. I wouldn't be surprised if the through body stringing is deleted as well, as well as the £38 big square high mass bridge being adopted too.