ZilchWoolham

Love her tone and playing on this track:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-RDJ4Z4XrQ[/media]

[quote name='KK Jale' timestamp='1486765102' post='3234502']
Reading the OP, here's a long long long shot: a Fender Japan Hama Okamoto.

It's essentially an alder-body sunburst slab-board '62 P-bass reissue, but with an A-width Jazz nut.

Recently discontinued, and you'd have to order one used from Japan thus unplayed and untried. Great looking basses though.....
[/quote]
Great find! According to the leaflet ([url="http://www.rockin.co.jp/files/c7e9e42d8c4443ced9adba18bddb5995.jpg"]http://www.rockin.co...a18bddb5995.jpg[/url]) it does seem to be made of basswood though.

[quote name='julesb' timestamp='1486829245' post='3234855']
The early eighties Tokais are great and reasonably cheap. I was given one recently in pieces that I restored. It was just a project that I fancied and I didn't expect anything much but I really love it. In my case it was a jazz with p/j setup but the hard punchers sound great.
[/quote]
The more I've thought about it the last couple of days, the more I want one of these, or the Greco or Fernandes equivalents. Many seem to have the B-neck as well. If I find one in sunburst with a rosewood board I'd be very tempted. I'm quite knowledgeable when it comes to the guitars of Tokai, Fujigen etc. from this era, but I suppose now is the time to read up on the basses!

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1486674115' post='3233797']
Contact Doug Wilkes at Wilkes Guitars.

Based in Keele, Staffordshire he will hand build you [u]exactly [/u]what you want from the very finest select materials literally to the nth degree. This will be done with a minimum dose of bullshit and a large helping of sardonic humour, unlimited free coffee and chocolate digestives thrown in.
[/quote]
I should probably add that my budget wouldn't be high enough to hire a master builder. Luckily, I don't think I need one either, as what I'm looking for could easily be pieced together from rather standard parts.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1486683793' post='3233909']
Definitely give the Maruszczyks a look...
[/quote]
Ah yes, I've given them more than a few looks in the past. However, at this point, I don't really need anything quite custom enough to warrant the price of a fully custom Maruszczyk, which, affordable as they are (and anyone please correct me if I'm wrong), I believe would still be a bit more expensive than a Limelight. A stock model would be a good idea, since they are insanely affordable, but unfortunately I don't like the look of the M logo, and I can't stand John Belushi!

Actually, WoT, what I'm looking for is something very much like your lovely '71('72?) P. I'm not terribly well versed in Fender history; is it ash or alder? It doesn't look very figured, but still perhaps a bit too figured to be alder. Were they nitro or poly finished at this time? In my original post I mentioned both alder and nitro as preferences of mine, but really I think I'd be well pleased with something that looks, plays and sounds like a bog-standard early 70's P. Ash does tend to be heavier than alder though, which does concern me a bit. Of course, Fenders of the late 70's seem to be rather well-known for their less than ideal ergonomic properties.

[quote name='luckman67' timestamp='1486679943' post='3233875']
What about a secondhand American special or American Standard?
[/quote]
I'm thinking about this.

While G&L and Sandberg make fine basses, I'm really aching for something that looks a bit more like a Fender (if not a Fender). The good thing about Limelight and Peterbuilt is that they're essentially very well put together bitsas made from Allparts (parts), and Allparts, much like Warmoth, are officially licensed by Fender to make accurately dimensioned necks and bodies. The Peterbuilt prices seem to be a tad steeper though. If Limelight were able to put together a non-relic bass I think my mind would've been made up.

Thanks, fellas! The Nate Mendel gets several things right but unfortunately it's in Candy Apple Red, which I find deeply unpleasant to the old eyeballs. The Highway One's might be a good fit, even though the satin neck and headstock look a little bare. I'll see if I can find the neck specs for these.

Lw. - That's good to know. I'll dive back into the Limelight gear porn thread to see if I can find a few examples of the just-about-reliced ones you mention.

Well, I've seen this happen in other people's lives, and now it's happening in mine. After a few years of chasing multi-pickup oddities with 4-knob pre-amps (admittedly mostly in an attempt to emulate that elusive Wal tone), these past few months have seen me fully accept that which I've known for a very long time - that a Precision paired with the right amp makes a very nice sound indeed, and a sound that I'd like to be making!

So, inevitably, I am now looking for a P-bass. In a vintage flavour, really, so no PJ's and no actives. Ideally a sort of 60's-70's hybrid. That is to say, one with a nitro finish over alder but with a B or even A-style neck. I even find myself hankering for a sunburst (although I've no idea how this happened). I'd also like both body shape and headstock to look the part, that is to say, like a Fender. I'm not terribly concerned about the logo, though.

I've had a few glances at the various Limelight threads and at the moment I'd say they seem a good option for me. They look accurate (although personally I'd probably not want the F-logo), are well put together, and they are custom, so I could probably get my preferred specs. At the same time they are parts-made which puts them in my reach financially. I'm not looking for a relic job however, at least not for the body, and I don't think I've ever seen a non-relic'd Limelight. I know there are several relic tiers, but does anyone know if no relic at all is an option? If it is, would that affect the price favourably, or would I be better off with another make if I'm not interested in the trademark Limelight treatment? Are there any other builders/brands/deals I should keep an eye out for? I wouldn't mind an early 80's Tokai, Greco or Fernandes but I'm not sure they were ever made with necks narrower than C-width, and I believe most were finished in poly (if my knowledge of vintage Japanese guitars apply to basses as well).

All guidance appreciated!

I do like a bit of 80's inspirational movie cheese. "You're the Best" from The Karate Kid is one that never fails to cheer me up. The one 80's theme that reigns supreme, however, is the theme song to the classic [i]Yor, the Hunter from the Future[/i]. Right from the opening chant of "Yor's world - he's the man!" it's a slice of absolutely magnificent Italo-cheese. Honestly, this isn't even a guilty pleasure of mine, I really love this song. It's got some great bass as well. It's almost impossible to hear it and not want to play it again immediately after.
[media]https://youtu.be/64Rgw5DxBU0[/media]

Edit: I've seen people embed videos here, but I can't figure out how to make it work.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but absolutely flat would either be 0 or [color=#252525][font=sans-serif][size=3]∞[/size][/font][/color], wouldn't it? I actually saw 0" given as a measurement on a bass not too long ago; unfortunately I can't remember what that particular bass was. I suppose if it's not listed as 0", it would just say flat.

With the fancy top and the flamed neck I must say it looks more expensive than it is. What gives it away though, I feel, are the pickups and knobs which give off a bit of a "cheapo anonymous eBay bass" vibe. If the pickups have a standard soapbar footprint you could always toss in a pair of Barts or something similar. It would be interesting to hear a more detailed demo.

What a great finish. It looks almost sandblasted. Is it dyed and oiled, or what's going on here exactly?

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1485242019' post='3222326']
I wonder what happened to his stripey Jazz? I heard he burned the matching suit.
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He left all his gear behind. I remember reading in a fairly recent interview with him on a Tull board that apparently, sometime in the 80's, he spotted his striped Precision (I think it was a Precision, but he might have had several black-and-whites) on the telly, as some other bassist was playing it, something he wasn't too chuffed about. He never mentioned what band it was, though. I suppose one could plough through every episode of TOTP and The Tube from the 80's and we might find out!

Oof! I think that price might be a tad optimistic. According to Reverb's price guide (https://reverb.com/uk/price-guide/guide/805) they're not exactly cheap either, though!

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1485206300' post='3222169']
15,000 acre Strathaird estate on Skye to the John Muir Trust

Anderson didnt care about the cash ( 3/4 million ) so he could be fussy and the JM trust got it becuase it was going to be preserved for conservation

"I didn't want to sell the estate to some hunting shooting, fishing type " unquote. Good for him

Not connected to his Salmon farm in Inverness
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Right, yes, I was referring to Strathaird. And no, he didn't really need the compensation. He was a rich man before yesterday.

[quote name='squire5' timestamp='1485202050' post='3222092']
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame became a salmon farmer up on the Isle of Skye.He owns a large estate there.
[/quote]
He did so in the late 70's while remaining very much active in music, and later sold the estate to an environmental organisation, back in the 90's I believe.

Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, bass player for Jethro Tull from 1970 to 1975, quit to pursue his true passion of painting and hasn't touched a bass in 40 years.

I definitely understand the appeal. I can appreciate his timbre and even delivery, but whenever I hear a Magazine song I just find myself wishing he could carry a melody in a more substantial way. But again, the problem lies more within my ears rather than his singing. It is a tad frustrating though, because musically I find them really great.

Fantastic bass player, fantastic tone! It hurts me to say it, but I just can't get into Magazine, and that's because of Devoto's singing. I'm sure he's a top bloke, but he's just not much of a singer.

How do you crack it open when the lights fry?

Come to think of it, why the hell ISN'T instrument upholstery already an industry? You can find shells for your mobile phone in every corner shop, yet you can't seem to find a velvet draping for your P-bass.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1485018080' post='3220469']
Possibly because this one isn't painted. Pay attention at the back
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Wild stuff! Reminds me of the old vinyl covered Höfners (Hohners? Hagströms?) but, well, a tad more elegant. I don't want to get into the whole "effect of finish on tone" debate, but wouldn't upholstery actually let the wood "breathe" more than a thick poly coating a la 70's Fenders? Another bonus is that it's interchangeable!

Now this is interesting. I really do have a strong aversion to painted basses, and most Ritter basses hurt my eyes, but this... I like?! I have a soft spot for bloom, I suppose. And I really like the inlays.

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1484865638' post='3219336']
[media]http://youtu.be/sHuwQwPAxL0[/media]
[/quote]
Good old Mitch. I feel what he really wants to do is host a TV variety show from his home studio. He's even got the sign-off phrase ready.

I love Jethro Tull's Under Wraps, which the critics, most fans, and Dave Pegg hated. I'm not completely alone though. There are some fans who do like it, and I once read it's Martin Barre's favourite!

Yes, right, of course. Might still be worth doing.

I'm not very well versed in the discipline of psychoacoustics, but that seems to make sense, Phil! I suppose there's a reason why you don't see a lot of low-wattage bass amps. (I suppose headroom is another reason.) Maybe I could find some sort of isolation mat to place the cab on to stop those fundamentals shaking the building too much.

Credit where credit is due: That's the smallest bass amp I've ever seen. You have to wonder, though, just when you would need an amp to be that tiny. For gigging purposes you eventually reach a point ( that I'd say most Class D amps have reached) where smaller and lighter no longer means more practical, but rather simply smaller and lighter. Has anyone ever said to themselves, "I really love my 3 lb lunchbox amp, but I just wish it were 1.6 lbs and could fit in my pocket"?