nick

Ondrej bought my lovely Farida FJB-20. Great guy to deal with with. Recommended. Thanks Nick

Ondrej bought my lovely Farida FJB-20. Great guy to deal with - easy payment transfer & even arranged collection and shipping to Czech Republic. Recommended & would do business with him again. Thanks Nick

My MIM 'Roadworn' is one of the best precisions I ever played.

I got a couple of golds,pinks & a candy purple. The finish is alright, looks pretty hard wearing. From what I gather from messaging them, there will be more & not a one-off run.

Spent the weekend fettling this bass... Changed all the black hardware (bridge & control plate) back to chrome, think it looks better IMHO. The nut slots were too high, so filed them down a bit, few tweaks on the truss rod, fresh set of DR Sunbeams - now it plays really nice. I swapped out the 500k cheapy pots that came with it for some decent 250k CTS ones & wired in a .047uF PIO cap for the tone control. Installed a pair of custom wound Hot Rod 74 pickups in cream covers, which sound great. Think I've got a killer vintage MIJ jazz bass now, very happy with it. [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-05/20150503_114936-1_zpsydbz7zeq.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='luckman67' timestamp='1430055752' post='2757501'] You have a great bass there for what you said, the price of a modern Squier.Looking forward to seeing pictures with the chrome parts put back on, what are the original pickups like? [/quote] Cheers...the stock pickups are Gotoh marked as "classic" with cloth wiring, the neck measure 6.9k & the bridge 7.2k. TBH they're not bad, sound typical jazz-like, pretty much the same as most of the other more expensive named 'vintage' jazz pickups I heard. They're not microphonic either. With being used to precisions, I guess I'm just after something with a bit more punch & presence (but not too much) , being still retaining that identifiable jazz tone. I've tried Wizard 74's & the Fender 75 reissues in the past, and liked them. Thought about Dimarzio 'Model J', but they're bit too much away from what I think is that jazz sound, personally. ....but there again, I might give the stock Gotohs a bit more time, may grow to like them.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1430051158' post='2757432'] Lovely classic 70s MIJ Jazz. Probably a Fujigen build if it's '77. Glad you're going to swap the hardware back to chrome - will you use a BBOT, or go for an "upgrade"? Jon. [/quote] Hi Jon, I'm going for a slightly higher mass bridge on this. I've kept BBOT on my P-Basses which I prefer. I can hear a pokier tone with thoseon precisions which I like, but for this I fancy one of those higher mass bridges with tracked saddles, or a cheap secondhand Gotoh if I can find one. Something similar to the original BBOT, that doesn't require more holes. I don't like the look of those Badass ones either. [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1430051571' post='2757437'] Kudos for going back to chrome. That's a nice tort guard too and the sunburst is reminiscent of early Fender examples. [/quote] Cheers. It's a lovely pickguard, also nicely aged. It pays like a nice old Fender too. [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1430051874' post='2757440'] Was this the one that was on Ebay from Swansea? I was keeping an eye on it but the price went higher than I was prepared to pay. [/quote] Aye this was the one, but it was quite a way outside Swansea in a small village for pickup! I'm happy with the price TBH, though I wasn't gonna pay much more. I got a vintage MIJ bass with JV Squier quality for the same money as a modern Squier. One piece body & neck. By all accounts those late 70's Grecos were made before FujiGen started using CNC machinery for their manufacture. It's a dream to play.

[size=4]Had a trip into deepest south Wales yesterday & picked this beauty up[/size]

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1429388603' post='2751073'] These are the curent GK importers. [url="http://www.polaraudio.co.uk"]http://www.polaraudio.co.uk[/url] [/quote] They are unfortunately a waste of time IME. Overpriced spares, and at the time I attempted to deal with them, didn't have a clue on technical advice for my 400RB that I needed. Shame as such great amps deserve a better distributor IMHO.

[quote name='Turnaround' timestamp='1429470691' post='2751710'] I've a real soft spot for 80s Tokai guitars and bass's. They're better than a lot of 70s Fenders and close to but ultimately only replicas of the 60s Fenders that inspired them. Excellent instruments though in every way. [/quote] I know they did replicas of 50's & 60's classic Fenders, but the neck on mine is closer to a 70's P-Bass [quote name='Glorianah' timestamp='1429470881' post='2751712'] Wow, such a beautiful bass nick! How do you know/find out which year it is from? I'm guessing mine might be from the 80's aswell.. It's hard to find enough info online i think i've been surfing a bit about it. Just got this guitar from my uncle, he said i could sell it if i wanted to but i thik i will hold on to it for a while ^^ [/quote] Thanks...I worked it out from the serial number & the logo shape. Check out the Tokai registry website, but I'd guess yours is maybe an 83/84 one. I'd keep it, get a decent pickup in it & you've got a killer P-bass there. [quote name='3below' timestamp='1429470957' post='2751714'] Highly rated in the 80s at the time. [/quote] You know, I remember in the 80's a lot of people (wrongly) treated them as second rate to Fender, same as a lot of other Japcrap. TBH, I think Tokais as well as Grecos are now more highly regarded than back then IMHO.

I've got an '84 Hardpuncher. It's one of the best precisions I've ever played. and heard. A lot of basses have come, and gone through the years. This one has stayed... It has a lovely neck, 70's style narrower (B width) than the standard width neck, though not as narrow as a Jazz bass, and a deeper profile though not a bassball bat. The standard pickups are not much cop IME. I've put a vintage Dimarzio in mine, plus CTS pots, PIO tone cap & switchcraft jack. I've slso swapped the original b/w/b pickguard for a nice tort one. Here it is: [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/84Tokai_zps73b20dc5.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1429132488' post='2748464'] CanI just ask where's the best place to buy decent quality components in small (10 or 20 off) quantities nowadays? I used to order religiously from Doctor Tweek, but his shop's been down for a while and supplies of the usual suspects (10KΩ resistors and 100nf poly box caps) are dwindling... [/quote] I use Tayda for resistors,caps, knobs, enclosures etc...but definitely not jfets!

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1429081095' post='2747682'] I like the colour....... but what is it? (not the colour - the pedal ) p.s. What do you spray them with? Plasticote? [/quote] The pedal is a Mutron III clone with mods, on a madbean board. Not sure what the paint is...I bought a box of spray cans back from Ukraine when I was last there. All sorts of garish colours. I think they're acrylic based of some sort.

Mutron III clone with mods, on a madbean board

Here's my current mini board, made from an Ikea 'Gorm' shelf in a camera case I got from a car boot sale All pedals built by my own fair hands, with the exception of the Ditto & Bottomfeeder Optical compressor > Pearl OC-7 Octaver (modded) clone > DAM Ezekiel clone > Boomstick Bottom Feeder filter > Crowther 'Prunes & Custard' clone > Maestro Stage Phaser clone > TC Electronics Ditto looper [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/PEDALBOARD%20003_zpstwdfzesy.jpg.html"][/url]

The late great Alan Spenner.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1428017933' post='2737237'] I think I know....and based on nick's comments and excellent work, I'll be ordering one very soon ! [/quote] [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1428017818' post='2737236'] Where are the PCBs and ICs from bud? Looking great!! Si [/quote] Cheers guys. [list] [*]The best deal I could find for the 4562's was from this ebay seller http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-pcs-NJM4562D-High-Audio-Perf-Dual-Low-Noise-Op-Amp-JRC-DIP8-LM4562NA-/251448091055?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a8b7961af . However, I think other opamps will work i.e. TL072, 4559, 4558 etc... Gonna experiment myself. [*]There is a good vero layout for the Ezekiel on Tagboard, but I happened to find a New Zealand chap selling some PCBs on the Madbean forum. I bought a few, they are very nice boards, as nice as any that I've had made up, well designed & fit easily into a 125B enclosure. His name is Jeremy and his moniker is 'the3secondrule', also makes pedals (Tinnitus). If you send him a message, he may have one or two left. [*]2P4T rotaries from here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/300881322642?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&autorefresh=true Let me know if you need one, I bought 20 off them - so should be able to spare one or two! [/list] Cheers

Just finished a couple of D*A*M* Ezekiel clones. One for myself, and the other for another bass player. Built both stock as per DAM circuit, including the incredibly hard to get JRC4562 chips. However, instead of 1N34A diodes, I went for NOS Soviet D9K (left) and D9E (right) germanium diodes. These sound sweeter to my ears with a nicer break-up. The difference between the two D9* germaniun types is quite subtle, not decided which of the two types I prefer yet - will have to do a proper A-B test through my rig. Both pedals sound wicked though. Controls are level, tone, drive, blend & a 'flavour' selector. Like the original, the selector switches between four clipping modes: germanium, silicon, LED & bypass. After building quite a few different overdrives, this is probably my now favourite . It's really versatile with such a wide range of usable tones - from mild valvey, to fuzzy to all out Rat-like distortion. I can understand why the relatively few who have an original Ezekiel rave about them. Kudos to D*A*M for such a great design! [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/ezekiel%20005_zps8b7yrepe.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/ezekiel%20015_zpshps5krzr.jpg.html"][/url]

I've got a fiesta red 50's RW precision. TBH, I was never into the relic thing on basses & pretty much looked down on anything by MIM Fender. I picked up my early 2009 RW cheap on ebay, and bought it with a view to selling it on & making a few quid. However after playing it, totally fallen for the bass despite the relicing and the colour (which I'm also not a fan of)...It must be one of the nicest Precisions I've ever played and now has been my main bass for quite a while. Here's mine, strung with Sadowsky flats. The stock bridge cover is nicely tarnished too. A killer bass! [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/Fenderroadworn006a_zps39e648ea.jpg.html"][/url]

If secondhand & less than £200, I'd suggest a Farida (jazz or precision type), one of the older designs not the new ones that have just been introduced. They crop up fairly frequently for less than your limit. I've got a natural ash jazz type - blown away by it!

I picked this 1979 Yamaha BB1000 up yesterday for a good price, and it's in very good condition. Bit of a clean up, few tweaks of the trussrod, fresh set of strings & it plays like a dream. Great tone too, unsurprisingly very precision-like, but plenty of punch & a bit of snarl. Have to profess to not knowing much about Yamaha basses, but it has a good quality feel about it, and despite having two other good P-Basses, I like this that much, I might keep it! [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/BB1000%20007_zpsxbki8pse.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='HazBeen' timestamp='1425481140' post='2707768'] Didn't Thomann stock them? I used to have them on my Jazz, very good flatwounds. [/quote] Unfortunately Thomann only stock the roundwound Sadowsky's.