thegummy

[quote name='Westenra' timestamp='1480287635' post='3183161'] What makes its tone so different from that of a regular 70s jazz bass with vintage wound pups? [/quote] The two tone controls could be one thing

The tone itself is pretty generic but the actual playing by Pino Palladino on John Mayer's Try album is one of the most beautiful things in the world. P.S. Great to see all the answers and hear how different peoples' favourite tones are. Will get round to listening to the rest soon

Seen one of these in person since this thread was started and I must say it's possibly the nicest looking bass I've ever seen. At least one of them anyway.

[quote name='landwomble' timestamp='1480111435' post='3181843'] I don't like them but thirty seconds of 690 grade glass paper fixes the problem... [/quote] I've heard that but does it not leave it unfinished and vulnerable?

Was set on buying a 50s P but when I was trying it out I was concerned about the glossy neck. I'm wondering if that might be because I was focused on it. I always think it's very hard to judge a guitar properly in a shop by playing it for 10 minutes with a critical viewpoint. Looking at the range, it seems that outside the Standard, all Fender basses pretty much have glossy necks. So surely they must be fine? Another thing, I had completely forgot that my favourite guitar actually has a glossy neck and I'd just never even thought about it. What's your experiences with glossy necks?

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1480068043' post='3181387'] There are so many but one that always stands out to me is on the Album 'Aliens ate my Buick' by Thomas Dolby. The bass player was Terry Jackson I believe [/quote] I'm liking this music so far! Never heard of Thomas Dolby but I'm pretty sure it was him who does a keytar solo dressed as the teacher in Roger Waters' live version of The Wall

If you could pick one track that has your ultimate bass tone, which would it be? Rush - YYZ for me

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1478815695' post='3171943'] The issue of replacement P bass pickups is an ongoing conundrum - a new thread pops up on the subject every couple of weeks. I'm going through the same agony as you at the moment with an old Jim Dunlop P copy. Most threads offer the same recommendations. Here's a definitive (ish) list: Fender Custom Shop '62 (reasonably priced and great authentic P sounds) Dimarzio Model P/DP122 (reasonably priced, really high output) Norstrand NP4 (pricey but great) Aguilar AG-4P (very pricey, but imo one of the best-sounding) Lollar (pricey, but nicey) Wizard Thumper - now available as the Hot Rod Thumper (really cheap and by all accounts really good) Wilkinson Alnico P (even cheaper, and pretty decent) Tonerider TRP1 (cheap, and allegedly what Squier put in their awesome CV Precision) Seymour Duncan Antiquity (upper end of reasonably price, IIRC) Lindy Fralin P (highly rated) .....and one nobody recommends, but I checked it out and was highly impressed: Bareknuckle 58 Split P (but again not cheap at just under £100. As for circuits and whatnot, I can't be of much assistance here unfortunately, but maybe KiOgon of the basschat brethren could help - he has all manner of ingenious kits available which are really reasonably priced. Get thee to YouTube and listen to some samples. Let us know how you get on. Hope this helps in some way - it's a bloomin' minefield of sorts. [/quote] Glad to see the Bare Knuckle in your post as that's the one I plan on getting shortly. In your opinion, should I get that over any other one under 100?

[quote name='thegummy' timestamp='1479425790' post='3176538'] I very much want a Honey Blonde 50s Precision [/quote] Was playing one in the shop today for a bit. The glossy neck is really putting me off

I very much want a Honey Blonde 50s Precision and to add a tort pickguard. That's because I don't have a P and want one though rather than pure GAS and I will buy one in the next few months. When it comes to raw GAS where I just desire things for the sake of it I'd go with a Flea Jazz and a Baja Tele. Despite the only Fender I have currently being American, there's something about the high end Mexicans I find really appealing.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1479422110' post='3176508'] I took the bass straight to rehearsal this evening, just plugged it in and played it all evening, Sounded great, definitely suits the way I play and the people I play with better than any Jazz I've played. Best part is that both my Jazz and Lozz's Precision were black with maple boards. Perfect! [/quote] Is it a Roger Waters?

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1479421077' post='3176502'] I`ve just picked up a Jazz bass from the OP, we did a swap with one of my Precisions I was offloading. [/quote] That's pretty cool!

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1479239613' post='3175015'] Same problem all Tele's have - fugly. [/quote] lol you're entitled to your opinion but I think a lot of people would disagree with you on that

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1479162484' post='3174497'] I wouldn't take what you see on TV as evidence of what people actually play, mostly mimed anyway. Personally, I take nothing I see on TV at face value, as a result of spending half my working life in that 'industry'. [/quote] I doubt they mime on Jools Holland. Do you really think some bassists are pretending to use a J on TV then secretly using a P? What would be the point?

[quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1479129195' post='3174112'] If watching bands on the TV is anything to go by I think more use J's than P's. [/quote] I've read a lot of things online about people saying P is the only bass that fits in the mix, that producers always tell them to use P's etc. but I see countless good/famous bands using J basses. Probably about equal with P's really and that's across all the genres I listen to. As an example, was just watching an episode of Jools Holland and the Killers were using a J.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1479153193' post='3174401'] If you showed a guitarist a single pickup guitar and told him it was the dogs wotsits he'd split his sides. [/quote] Even if it was a Fender Custom Shop Esquire?

Any tips on how you EQ a J to have more of a P thump?

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1479037970' post='3173431'] I often feel the P bass rather than hear it, but everyone notices if you stop playing, the entire bottom falls out of the song. [/quote] I think this can be true of bass in general. I'll be mixing a song, worry that I can't really hear the bass then as soon as I mute it - wow, it was being heard!

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1478913812' post='3172736'] The skill of the bass player is to play a sound and (heaven forbid) with notes and a feel which provides what the band or individual wants. However if someone has a preconceived idea that only a certain type of bass will make a generic bass sound, then they are clearly totally wrong - im afraid I certainly wouldn't be putting my hand in my pocket to service their preconceptions. I haven't found the need to play a Fender bass in nearly 40 years (studio or live) and have never had a problem making a sound that people liked. So I'm afraid I'm unlikely to start doing it now. [/quote] Out of interest, do you play J/P style basses made by other companies or do you play different designs completely?

[quote name='NickA' timestamp='1478891744' post='3172577'] cause guitarists etc just want a deep thud thud thud sound underneath their lovely imaginative solo work [/quote] [quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1478911406' post='3172724'] If someone asked me to buy and play a certain instrument in the semi pro environment I play music in I would politely decline and pursue music collaboration with someone who was after me as a musician rather than a preconceived notion of what instrument you use. [/quote] I think there might be some truth in this idea. Sometimes people want that very specific bass sound as an accompaniment to their own playing rather than wanting to collaborate with a bass player who will choose what sounds to make

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1478910696' post='3172722'] Molegrips assuming you can get them on. Otherwise a drill with a steel bit to remove the head of the stripped screw. Then undo the other screw/s, then remove the pup then use pliers or molegrips to extract the damaged screw. Did this exact thing myself recently. [/quote] Thanks man. If I can't find an easier way I'll try this out.

One of the screws on my pickup is stripped and I want to adjust the height. I've tried the rubber band trick, tried every screwdriver I could find, tried pliers but can't get it out. Any tips?

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1478886691' post='3172507'] Yes, Amy Turtle, Meg Richardson & Benny were all well known for their love of Jazz basses. [/quote] for a minute I was actually thinking "I don't know any of those bass players..."

I've heard a lot of talk online about everyone preferring P's but I was watching the Crossroads DVDs a few days ago and noticed that there are far more J's being played there.

Flats are lovely. Can't wait to get a second bass so I don't have to keep restringing between flats and rounds