dave_bass5

[quote name='Skinnyman' timestamp='1457176378' post='2996005'] Over the years I've amassed a nice collection of basses, all of which have been gigged regularly. But a few months ago I bought a Sandberg VM5 that, for me, is just perfect. It's exactly the sound I've been looking for. It's now my only gigging bass. So now, I don't know what to do with the other basses. I've spent a lot of time (and money, but don't tell the wife) getting them and they're all fantastic in their own way - but I know that they just aren't going to get the use they deserve. So do I thin the herd and take a massive loss selling them? Or hold onto them for the occasional rehearsal? Anyone else been in a similar position? [/quote] Ive just found what i will call "the One". My new (to me) Fender P. All my other basses have been bagged up and taken in to work to store, never to be used again.......until i realise the can never really only be one. While im over the moon with my P, i also like Jazz basses, and quite often fancy a play on a 5 string. This has nothing to do with the P bass lacking anything, just that i cant limit myself to only using one tone (you know what i mean) for the rest of my life. Just aint going to happen.

I had a VM PJ for a while. Lovely looking bass and fit and finish were great. I always felt the tone lacked something though. Even putting a Fralin (taken out of my CVP), and later a Geezer Buttler pup in never really helped.

I've always found Thomanns to have outstanding customer service. Couple this with Sire's and you really can't lose IME. Glad it worked out for the OP.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions about the washer indicating any thing. My volume/tone has them as well. [url="https://davepearce.smugmug.com/Gear/Music-gear/i-zSS6Pvw/A"][/url]

I have been gigging my CVP and CV Jazz since about 2009. Probably done well over 500 gigs with the P 9moslty with the CV Jazz neck on it). I've never had an issue with the bass, other than bum notes :-) I have never had a tuning issue, with either bass. Never gone out of tune at gigs or at home. In fact normally its just the G string that needs re tuning when i get to a gig, as it gets knocked in the very thin gig bag i use. I dont have to touch the tuners after that. The wiring is wiring, its not caused any issues, and although ive changed pups on each bass a few times the joints that haven't been touched are still going strong. The high mass bridges are nice but the string spacing is 20mm. Im not sure if that's the same as the MIA basses but I prefer the more normal 19mm so had to change both bridges. Now of course all the above can be improved on, they make great project basses, but none of the above would stop you from using the bass as intended as it comes. Im pretty sure the Matt Freeman is slightly different to the CVP (im talking about the Fiesta Red 60's version, not the 70's version).

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1456646956' post='2990952'] Aside from personal settings from the previous owner / store there's not a lot that can go wrong with an USA made Fender, in facts you can buy these blindly by mail without trying them and knowing you are going to get a good instrument. [/quote] Maybe I've been unlucky in the past, but this one has none of the minor faults the 3 MIA jazz basses, and Highway-one bass I had a few years ago showed. In fact this seems to able to achieve a better action, without any buzzing, than any Fender (not inc Squiers) I've had in the past. I always like to set my basses up to the same spec, but sometimes I've had to compromise. Not with this one though

Cheers Fran. The acid test will be when you get to play it :-)

Ok. I know we all know what it looks like, but it seems tradition dictates we post pics of new basses. [url="https://flic.kr/p/EqTsnv"][/url] [url="https://flic.kr/p/EqTsnv"]Fender Sandblasted P Bass.[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/"]Dave Pearce[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/EoF4GC][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/EoF4GC] Fender Sandblasted P bass.[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/]Dave Pearce[/url], on Flickr This is the first bass ive had for a long time that i just cant stop staring at and smiling.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456573771' post='2990370'] Playing bum notes is never fine and playing the wrong notes, which you thought were the right notes, isn't good either. One thing I find guitarists do a lot is to play a song wrong because they were too lazy to listen to it and work out the parts. Interpreting a song is fine, if that's what you are doing, but I don't like lazy short cuts. [/quote] I agree with this, although as i dont really play much guitar i can appreciate learning covers on guitar is a lot harder than on bass or drums (ducks for cover :-) On another note, i also think someone does need to speak out if they think something is wrong, and others need ot at least listen first, evne if its not right. Almost all the bands ive been in have been too polite. No one pulls anyone up if things go wrong. I know we are all mates but someone does have to do this if its needed. I blew a fuse last week at rehearsals because a very easy song (Do you love me) kept falling apart. I knew exactly what the issue was (bloody lazy band didnt listen all the way through the song) but when i pointed it out it made me look like the bad guy. Maybe its just me but i hate things going wrong on stage, and put a lot of time in making sure that if it does its not down to me. I might not play the songs spot on, but i do know where everything goes. Sorry, had to get that off my chest. No more mister nice guy lol.

Cheers. Yeah, with a name like Dave I wouldn't expect anything other than a very smooth transaction :-) I've been doing a bit of a set up this morning and other than the wider neck the bass is so lovely to play. I've already taken that horrible BBOT off and put a Gotoh 201 on it (off my jazz bass). This because the saddle screws on the E string were really digging in to my hand and very uncomfortable. Can't say I notice and change in tone but to me it looks a lot nicer. Very tempted to get a black one at some point, and maybe a tort PG. For now, I'm just going to enjoy playing it. Pics will follow later today.

I think it goes both ways. There are a lot of players who dont think about what they are doing and ruin the over all feel.

NEVER....its mine and I'm never letting it go (standard BC comment which means I'll give it 3 months lol). Nah, it's a keeper unless I find I still can't get on with the neck a few months down the line. I have a feeling this won't be a problem though. Agree about the dings etc. Even taking it out of the bag for the first time wasn't as traumatic as it normally is. I think this type of finish also helps hide any minor dings and scratches, so it seems more durable.

Hi Joe. Yes, it's gone to a good home. Even my GF liked it so its a keeper. I've still not been able to plug it in but I'd say the action is a bit high for me. I've not measured it but I think I can get a bit more out of it. I like a little over 2mm at the 12th fret. I'm also going to shim the neck. All my basses have this and I just like to see less of a gap after the 12th fret. Just a personal thing and not an indication of anything else. The stirngs seem a bit dull so maybe they are your old strings. I was wondering what there were. I've got a balanced set of XL's coming this weekend so until then I'll play it as it came. This is only my second ever second hand bass, and I must say what great condition it's in. It's funny but because it's not brand new my mind set was a bit different to I how I normally am with new basses. In my head this was a tried and tested bass, and I had much less worry about fit and finish than I would a new one. Much less stressful. I'll get some pics up later, although I'm sure YOU know what it looks like lol.

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1456401718' post='2988567'] At a band rehearsal last night , our keen eared guitarist pointed out that on a couple of covers I was playing a few wrong notes on a couple of intros , & they were tunes I've played in loads of bands & no one else ever said anything , they harmonized , but I can't believe I I've just been playing them parrot fashion & no one has noticed , Firstly my Guitarist is a git for noticing but correct after checking . Has anyone else done this ? [/quote] Must admit im the same. When i first got back in to playing i had to learn a lot of the standards very quickly. Since then ive never really gone back over learning them properly. Whenever i hear the original i get a few surprises. Its not a big deal that they arent spot on, just surprising that i missed something. Other than intros (which normally have to be spot on) no one has every pointed out im playing anything wrong. in fact in my last and recentre band its me pointing things out to them.

They have become my go to website for bass gear these days. Never had an issue with them or their prices.

Mine arrived this morning. Very impressed with it so far. The grain is deeper than i though, and its very nice. Everyone at work has gone "wow". Normally its more like "another bass!!" The action seems very high for me, but thats a personal thing and very easy to sort out once i get some new strings on it. Im still at work so not had a chance to plug it in, but i feel its definite a keeper.

[quote name='AlpherMako5' timestamp='1456347416' post='2988196'] I've just sent him a message, thanks. [/quote] Sorry, only just seen it. My thoughts and feelings are in the main MM thread, but to sum it up, Best value 5 string jazz bass ive ever played, and the build quality is faultless IMO. Even as a passive bass its good. In fact id say ive used it more in passive mode than active mode. If i was totally against an active bass im not sure i would bother with it, but having a great range of tones in both modes seems more than worth having. Ill be packing mine away for a while as ive gone off jazz basses, but its a bass ill never sell, as when i get 5 string GAS again ill already be sorted.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1456407022' post='2988650'] So I went along to Wunjos on the strength of this thread, and came away with [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/library/Basses%20CURRENT/Fender%20Precision%202015%20Sandblasted"]http://s1128.photobu...5%20Sandblasted[/url] So why did I buy it? Was it the great-looking body and lustrous colour? Was it the light weight and impeccable neck? Was it the range of tones on offer - not two but three? Or was it the chance to own a basic, simple instrument that requires a 7-word name. Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you the [i][b]Fender American Standard Limited Edition Sandblasted Precision[/b][/i]. [/quote] Nice one. I didnt bother going in the end, just as well eh? :-) Actually i only really wanted it in blue anyway. My one is on route to me for delivery tomorrow. This will be my fist maple necked P bass, and in fact my first MIA P bass (other than a HW-one i had a few years ago). Really looking forward to getting it. Ive been meaning to replace my Squier CVP for a few years, and now i have. Already thinking about putting a black Gotoh 201 on it, along with maybe some black knobs.No too keen on those thin bridges, as i tend to jest my hand on them and find it can get uncomfortable. Wont do it straight away though.

Cheers, i dont mind the GB tone but would prefer the more traditional one. I know its an easy fix either way, but im happy to live with it as it comes for now. You seem to have the same neck preference as me, hence this thread really. Im sure ill get on fine, im loving my CVP neck at the moment, although i know that sightly different, but as long as i dont touch my jazz bass and slip back in to the easy life. David has said he is posting it out on Thursday for delivery firday, cant wait. I best start getting some gigs in now i suppose. At the moment the band seems to be winding down so its a brave move spending this sort of money at the moment.

[quote name='Joebethell' timestamp='1456321515' post='2987790'] That happens to be my old one! [/quote] When you mentioned the weight i thought it might have been yours. It seems very light, my shoulders will be thankful. My Sire V7 is just under 10lbs. Do you know if it has the grease bucket tone control or the standard? Not bothered either way but ive read conflicting reports on these basses.

Yeah. Really looking forward to it. I also like the fact that the images on that website are the bass I'll get. I've seen one or two shots of these basses with quite a heavy and ugly looking finish. This one looks perfect. Of course this will probably be in the classifieds by the end of the year lol.

Thanks, that the one I'm ordering today (see my post above yours ;-).