gareth

[quote name='Roland Rock' post='1304107' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:34 PM']+1 Go for the colour you like best. I did the exact same thing with my 78p recently; it was originally white but stripped when I bought it - I researched colours available at the time and ended up painting it Capri Orange! No regrets. I'm a big fan of Sonic blue, especially with the covers on[/quote] Ahhhhhhh - I LOVE Capri Orange

I agree with the above comments When you have them refisnished, get the guy to preserve any original markings on the bass in the neck pocket (particularly any paint sticks, etc), pup and control cavities by NOT spraying over these areas - get him to put masking tape over these areas - just IMHO

I think you should fix the low nut slot problem - easily fixed by putting some filler in the slots But I am with you I had the same dis-appointing experience with the 1980's Ric 4003 I had Looked great and a light bass but cumbersome to play and I never got a good sound from it I took it on a gig once and the other guys said they'd be looking for another bass player if I ever bought it on a gig again.

[quote name='solo4652' post='1290241' date='Jul 2 2011, 04:32 PM']Oh good (for me). No, wait - that's bad (for Gareth). Once the bidding has started and it's allowed to run its course (and providing any reserve has been met), isn't the seller obliged to sell?[/quote] Yes I suppose so - but how you gonna make the seller sell the bass? I guess ebay will give him some grief but as he is a new ebay seller i doubt if it will get him to change his mind and realistically what can ebay do?

[quote name='solo4652' post='1289243' date='Jul 1 2011, 04:33 PM']Sold for £459!! I'm absolutely amazed. Staggered. I quite thought it would fetch over twice that. What's the story here?[/quote] I won it and paid for it thru paypal But the seller has refunded the money thru paypal and says he is not gonna sell it to me as its too cheap. Oh well

There is a a world of difference between standard MIM basses and their MIA counterparts. The classic series MIM is however of a much higher standard than the standard MIM and getting near to MIA standards. That is why I continue to be a great advocate of the MIM classic series. That series includes 70's and 60's jazzes and 50's precisions Here's a MIM classic series 50's just sold on ebay with nice tweed case for £520 which is approaching MIA money and desrvedly so because the cliassic series really are very good basses:- [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220803146743&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1285612' date='Jun 28 2011, 07:50 PM']The seller seems to have pulled together every option he can! As you say it certainly doesn't appear to be a Custom Shop and I'm fairly sure those 'V' prefix basses were 90's RI basses which means it's wrong on the count of date and of it being a Fullerton... I also have some vague recollection of the V prefix being used on MIJ basses. However, this is all just from memory so someone with greater knowledge of Fenders or of the means of telling the various models apart may be able to give more detail (or to correct me). What I would say is that £1400 seems a bit steep for a RI[/quote] This is not a fullerton bass It is a fairly recent USA reissue and at £1000 with case and all the candy probably is not too bad V prefix's were used on some fender MIJ/CIJ basses which does confuse matters as the USA reissues have also always used V prefixes. This is however definately a USA bass

I think a factor is that generally rays seem by their owners to be kept in much better condition than say fenders Consequently it is harder to sell a less than perfect ray which may be the reason why the one on here that you mention is hanging around

This is my HMT fender

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1284905' date='Jun 28 2011, 07:23 AM']Well that's a nice 'starting' price but it doesn't have a BIN now as a bid is placed so I'd expect the bids to go up a bit from the current £499. There is a genuine Ray on here for £580 (£100 less than the ebay BIN) and it's sat around for ages, so Ray's aren't exactly achieving fantastic prices.[/quote] Trouble with that one is that if has a massive ding round the bottom strap button

Here is one:- [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fender-japan-thinline-ae-fretless-precision-781336/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fender-...ecision-781336/[/url] You just have to sweet talk him into shipping to the UK

[quote name='4000' post='1282150' date='Jun 25 2011, 02:23 PM']Do you have to wear shades when you wipe your backside?[/quote] well i suppose for some people it would be safer if they did so

[quote name='redstriper' post='1281332' date='Jun 24 2011, 06:17 PM']But none from anyone who thinks old Fenders sound better than new ones and I am surprised by the strength of that opinion.[/quote] I should have spoken up earlier cos i am with you and definately think older fenders sound better than new ones I am suprised wateroftyne has not added his voice too in support of this proposition - maybe he is away on tour/holidays/etc? For myself I am not fortunate enough to have really early fenders but I do have them from late 60's onwards Certainly regarding precisions the earlier the better Regarding jazzes, I have a 69 and a 74 and the 69 is lighter and to me sounds better. Should add that you should also try some of the reissues - particularly the fullerton USA vintage re-issues and the USA custom shop basses.

This is my HMT variation, essentially the same bass but with a pointy head and pointy bit