Doctor J

How much was the item you traded?

It's nice alright, but it looks more like a JJ Burnel sig

Nice! I've never seen another white one! I'm getting a little emotional here The mint scratchplate really sets it off, much nicer effect than a plain white one. Regarding Fender Japan, I think the ESP headstock is a little thicker than any Fender I've played, USA or Japanese, also the curve on the underside of the head is slightly different to Fender, but very close otherwise. I played an 800 series in a shop here, would have been 89 or 90, I had just started playing so wasn't really in a position to take it all in. What I remember of it was that it was ash bodied (I think), trans purple, gold hardware but otherwise not too different from the 400 I would buy a little later.

Yeah, the J looks like a Yamaha. Not sure about the P, cream covers, but it didn't look like a DiMarzio.

[quote name='fede162162' post='975463' date='Oct 2 2010, 10:03 PM']Great instrument, I had a Sadowsky before this ESP, the Sad is a wonderful axe, but it hasn't got the vintage grunt and vibe the ESP 400 has![/quote] Same here. Every time I reached for a J bass, it was the ESP, so I moved the (albeit excellent) Sadowsky on.

P being for Philo, of course There's a music expo on in Dublin at the moment, incorporating an exhiition of Phil Lynott artifacts including his main P bass. Nice.

[quote name='Doctor J' post='974143' date='Oct 1 2010, 03:09 PM']I've had a 400 Series for almost 20 years now[/quote] [quote name='Linus27' post='974560' date='Oct 1 2010, 08:10 PM']I have had one for 21 years[/quote] You just couldn't let it lie

I've had a 400 Series for almost 20 years now, what you have certainly isn't on my one, just a standard tone control in every way. Sounds like a mod to me. Have you had a look at the pot, see if there's any extra electronic gadgetry there? Oh, excellent choice of instrument, btw

Bacchus Woodline J [url="http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/products/index.php?content_id=113"]http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/products/...?content_id=113[/url] Only downside is you'd probably have to order it straight from Japan but should be do-able with your budget.

Found myself in this position a few years ago, tried out a lot of different P's, ended up getting a Bacchus Woodline P Classic. Search over, permanently. There are obvious brands and there are other things to consider, I mean, for the price of a Nash or a vintage Fender you could get a P built and relic'd to your satisfaction by any of the fantastic luthiers there in the UK. I don't buy into the vintage schtick at all and I'd wager that your chances of getting the bass you're looking for are far better if you take that route than if you take a gamble on something old on ebay, for example.

Try Dean Markley SR2000, used them for a long time with an Ibanez with mono bridges, silk wound at the top, started just after the nut. Great string too.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=101990"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=101990[/url]

I suppose, when you consider the price of an old Fender... ...I'll get my coat :brow:

You could just lower the P pickup/raise the J pickup until you find the balance you're looking for.

Or, alternatively, you can buy the whole FS section on Basschat for a custom Fodera.

If there's someone out there ready to pay it, well it just makes sense that there's someone out there ready to exploit it

Half the fun of this whole thing is taking a chance and trying other instruments. Bid farewell to sentiment and follow your gut, take chances and play as many different instruments as you can, even if that means moving on former loves.

You can set it at whatever level you want, don't worry about it.

When you run at full volume on a passive bass, essentially you're letting as much of the signal through as possible, as if there were no volume control at all and it's fine, your amp can handle it no problem. Instruments with active EQ, however, have a EQ boost funtions which can dramatically increase the output of specific bands of frequencies and can sound unpleasant to the ear, I'm sure everyone has heard the Stringray all-on-full sound more than once. Some active circuits come with an output level - usually found on the circuit board, which can cut or boost the general output level of the active circuit by quite a lot. If you've ever heard someone move from active to passive mode with a huge drop in volume, that's what you're hearing. Distortion isn't quite as desirable in bass as it is with guitar so decent bass amps, unlike guitar amps, generally have an input level control as well as an output level control as onboard active circuitry is quite normal in the world of bass and can accomodate passive and hotter active signals without distorting. The input level controls just how hot a signal is allowed into the preamp. Most amps will come with a clip light (or a needle on Ashdowns for example) where you can gauge when the preamp is starting to distort - as a rule of thumb I usually keep it just below the point of clipping. If you're still worried you can lower your pickup down, away from the strings and it will result in a quieter output.

It's a great ad, in fairness [quote]These first few years (1982-1984) of reissues are some of the finest to ever leave Fender's Factory, the very same factory distinguished for its Golden-age- pre-CBS instruments. And when the factory was reopened in '82 those skilled workers that had been retrained to follow quality control reminiscent of pre-CBS instruments.They used many of the same materials, tools and machinery that created the legendary instruments. The Fullerton era instruments' superior build quality is revered today as being unsurpassed in Fender reissue history.[/quote] Of course, the same tools and ,achinery were used during the CBS era too, but let's not delve too deep, eh? [quote]It has a strap, although one if the strap holder needs screwing in, a very small job for someone who knows what they're doing...[/quote] For £1100? :wacko:

In regards to these, and indeed the famous Smith strats of the same era, you need to factor in just how poor things had gotten in the late 70's and early 80's. When better quality instruments finally arrived you need to consider that at least some of the good reputation will be in relation to what had gone previously.

As good as pre-CBS? That all depends, do you believe in magic?

Two? Somebody's indulging just a little

Funny you should say that, I actually sold one of those a while after getting the Godlyke, nice bass but the Godlyke's a lot better IMO.

Haven't had one particularly bad one, but have been offered several cheap (sub £200) instruments for one expensive instrument (over £1000) more than once.