Bridgehouse

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1488621609' post='3250484'] Can we see the pics, pleeease? (But probably not in this NBD thread)... [/quote] Oh, that's ok - I like a nice bit of tort too! (Can't you tell!)

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1488570012' post='3250218'] Proper tort is just so SWEET. None of the modern stuff has that deep 3D celluloid loveliness. Very nice bass, I can just imagine what it smells like. [/quote] It smells just like you imagine it would The case smells like old vinyl and G Plan furniture..

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1488555398' post='3250011'] It's all about the Chromes right, have some on my '71 Precision and they're brilliant. Beautiful '64 though! I almost bought a '59 once and bottled it........wish I'd bought it Si [/quote] Chromes just do something on a P that's difficult to put your finger on. TI's seemed a bit, well, meh really. La Bella's were ok, but still not quite there.. Chromes just really brought out the sound of a P for me. YMMV of course

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1488470326' post='3249241'] Oh dear - now I need a screen wipe Lovely relic job there [/quote] Must have taken someone ages to get it to look that authentic.. but I'm disappointed that they didn't use much power sander on it

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1488464952' post='3249192'] Shed colour loooks ok to me [/quote] I've got used to it...

I've spent some time with it today. First off was setup. I've put some D'addario Chromes on it - I really like them, and they have kind of become strings of choice for now. Needed a truss rod tweak, obviously, but letting it settle and setting saddle height and intonation to match, I've got a rather staggering .006" relief and action of 5/64 E up to just over 3/64 G with absolutely no buzz. I'm quite amazed. Despite a 7.5" radius, the width (44.2mm) and straightness just makes it feel so flat and level. It seems to like the Chromes a lot. Playing through the Helix and an Ampeg patch it's a touch thumpier and deeper than the '74 P I have, but it's also got a bit more crispness at high mids and in the treble. It sounds a bit wider, fuller and even a bit more 'stereo'. Everything seems stable. The tuners are remarkably agile for the age. I swapped the '74's for hipshots as they were a bit sticky, but these are smooth and hold tuning well. Will let it rest over night and revisit tomorrow to see how it's stabilised.

Oh, and don't worry - I know the A and D string spacing is off in these shots - I'd only just put the Chromes on it, and after these shots it got a proper setup so karma is now restored and string spacing fixed

I promised some natural light shots - so here you go! (Apologies for wallpaper and shed colour - not my choice. If I let her have her way with the decor then I get to buy basses like this )

[quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1488444240' post='3248929'] 'kin 'el! That's beautiful! Have you got the foam under that bridge cover? [/quote] Yep but it's a touch relic'd It mutes the E but little else. I wondeeed about refreshing it, but I like the originality

After all the great advice on my 'spending loads of cash' thread, and having tried a truckload of basses over the last few weeks, I found one I just couldn't step away from. 2x '66 Jazz, 1x '65 Jazz = nice, don't get me wrong, they were nice, but they weren't me. Neck was a little too thin, but mostly too much depth and shoulder. Then, a '64 P. Crikey. 44.2mm nut width and really flat. It felt awesome. Sounded awesome through the Ampeg B15 I tried it through as well. It's all original. Original case Original Nut + Frets Original Hardware Original Pups Original Pots Neck date is Oct 64 Pots a bit later Pups a bit earlier It's an L serial (of course) and it's about as much original pre-CBS as I can afford. Or want. Makes the '74 P I have sound a bit thin and weedy. Plugged it in at home and one flick of the E string and I thought I was having a stroke and heart attack combined - it was like armageddon and WW3 had all started all at once. Blimey. There will be less thump at the heavyweight boxing on Saturday. I'm now an official signed and paid up card carrying died in the wool cut me in half and I'll be labelled to the core P bass man. More so than I thought I was. Who'd a thought it? We live and learn I guess! Some pics for your viewing pleasure. I will take some daylight shots tomorrow as it's late and the lights in the house don't show off it's real beauty.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1488310483' post='3247822'] I think it's made by Scott Dixon. I found it on eBay quite cheap. It's brilliant, takes up very little space compared to a normal guitar rack and with the lid on its very neat and good protection. It also serves as a limited to buying any more instruments (unless I find another, then I get to buy three more [/quote] Thanks for the info! I shall start researching!

Cheeky question, I know - but what sort of flight case is that? It looks exactly like what I need...!

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1488133064' post='3246173'] Why not? And even then there are different P necks (A/B/C). My 61 has a 44mm neck. My CIJ has a 42mm, and I have played some which have 40mm necks. [/quote] That's a good point. My 74 P is a 42mm maple. The 64 P I tried was a 44mm Braz RW. Different, but in a good way. More great food for thought.

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1488131853' post='3246152'] There is no shortage of people who prefer J necks on P basses, so it shouldn't be too hard to make that happen. [/quote] I'm tempted to scratch the pre-CBS itch with a Precision. And then cobble together a J with a P neck for tones... Most of you will think I'm utterly mad, but, well.. you'd be right.

[quote name='fftc' timestamp='1488126150' post='3246069'] Better to know now than after you drop six grand on an oldie! [/quote] Very true. I love the Jazz tone - so maybe I do need to find a J body with a P neck - but it drops the vintage thing out tho. And now I've tried some pre-CBS precisions... groan..

Cat. Pigeons. Lots of feathers. Played about 15 Jazz's today. Couple of old ones. A few 70s ones. A number of new ones and some alternates (Sandberg, Lakland etc..) Didn't like the thin neck on any of them. Sigh. Just didn't feel right. Played a '58 Precision briefly and a '64 Precision. Felt like home and they were both bloody beautiful to play. Ugh. Talk about a let down

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1487968816' post='3244754'] While perusing CallowHill Basses site, looking into a bass I came across a rather relevant statement regarding custom orders. The whole site is interesting and the builder is very matter of fact. Here he's explaining how a custom order from Tim Lefevbre happened. It's worthy of a complete read IMO. It's here http://www.callowhillbass.com/lafave " [i] The initial request was that it be a vintage ’51 that cuts more, and maybe fiesta red or something. That was it. That’s all that was asked for. On its own, that request doesn’t really warrant any attention and it certainly doesn’t require a new model. Buy a cheap ’51 reissue and stick a pickup in it that has a little extra midrange character. Problem solved. I should point out that THAT is actually how all of the top level professional’s order stuff from me. “Uh, I want a five string and uh – I don’t know, maybe blue? Just make it cool.” There are no laundry lists of garbage with agonizing details about nut material and exact pickup placements and magnets. I swear half the guys who order like that just want content to cut and paste for when they sell it at a loss on TB a few days after they get it. [/i] " [/quote] Yep, that's how I feel about the custom thing a bit, actually...

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1487945761' post='3244436'] 60's style Jazz options - Fender Custom Shop Sadowsky (modern take - stunning quality) Xotic (modern take - awesome) Flea 60's Roadworn Jazz Bass - 60's styling, great colour, amazing pickups (You'd save a fortune) I wouldn't go all out. Most expensive does not mean better. I personally wouldn't go with a custom builder, apart from Fender. [/quote] More good choices, and more to try out... hmmmm

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1487931357' post='3244208'] We're not at 'expensive' until you start looking at a Fodera Anthony Jackson Hybrid........or a 17th Century Orchestral double-bass Si [/quote] Presentation II - $35,000...

Crikey - this thread is turning into some proper expensive instrument porn now! (not that I'm complaining!) Choices, choices..

[quote name='Defo' timestamp='1487880688' post='3243902'] Dingwall? They do some v expensive models which look and sound stunning. Other thought was a Roscoe? [/quote] Yet more research for me to do

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1487880120' post='3243892'] How about treating yourself to a holiday in the States too? https://www.gbase.com/gear?minyear=1960&maxyear=1968&minprice=&maxprice=&near=&daysago=&q=Fender+Jazz+Bass [/quote] You know, if CITES didn't scare the hell outta me...

[quote name='Burns-bass' timestamp='1487876967' post='3243850'] It took me about 5 years to find a vintage Fender pre CBS bass I wanted. I reckon in that time I had about 10 70s Precision and Jazzes trading up over time. As people will tell you on here that some vintage Fender basses are great, but some are absolute dogs! [/quote] And I am keen to avoid that... I know I've been lucky with my 74 P - I almost need a proven good 'un- which is asking a lot, I know..