Dr.Dave

Here we are The 2 holes on the top edge of the new installed pickguard line up perfectly with the original body holes where the thumbrest was. The mystery countersunk hole can be seen near the G string slap in the middle of the body - no body hole there or anywhere near. The pickguard I just took off is under the bass - it's not the original (which I cut into a fancy shape). You can see it has a countersunk hole in the middle of the top edge. I had to drill a new body hole for it years back. The new one does not have that hole and is a bit flappy as a result. I'll likely countersink the 2 thumbrest holes as they're in the same vicinity , put a couple of screws in them and that should firm it up. If I were Mr Fender I'd have had a couple more screws around the jack socket too - or even better a plate like a Jazz bass or the original Precision. Bloody cheapskate. I might have ' Dr ' engraved on the tone knob and ' D ' on the vol. It's an incredibly tacky thing to do which increases the chances of me doing it ten fold !! I must get round to having the badass rebated in too - unless anybody wants to swap it for a badass 2 so long as I can keep the brass saddles.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1357145903' post='1918135'] My understanding was that it could be fitted in the "where it should be" place OR there was a hole for the old fashioned 50s style just below the strings for that Brian Wilson technique with the thumb. If you post a picture it may help [/quote] That sounds bloody reasonable except for one thing - why countersink the hole ? The other 2 aren't countersunk and neither are the ashtray holes. I need to feed and shower then I'll take a pic.

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1357144953' post='1918101'] If you do it is a throwback to some of the 70's stuff Fender made, the Geddy lee has a middle screw as well, it is basically for looks nowadays. Originally it was there to hold the plate, the plastic could warp and twist over time and without the middle screw it could buckle of pull inwards cracking itself around the edges. [/quote] I had considered that but why , then , if it had been an improvement based on what has happened over time to earlier basses , did they dump the idea after the 70s? I thought the idea behind 3-ply material was because of its anti warping properties.

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1357144652' post='1918093'] Hey Dave, You mean under the strings? [/quote] For clarity Originally mine had a thumbrest on the top edge of the pickguard where it would be in the way for my fingerstyle playing so I took it off. The holes are obviously still there in the body and the new pickguard has holes in the same place. 'OBBM' Dave's same year bass has a thumbrest below the strings - the idea being to hook your right hand finger under it and pick the strings with your thmb (possibly the worst idea anybody ever had). BUT - if my thumbrest had been in that location I'd have left it there because it wouldn't be in my way. The central hole I'm wondering about is countersunk - just like ordinary pickguard holes (though the ones for the thumbrest are not) - and is pretty much right in the middle of the pickguard almost under the G string , neck side of the pup. There's no hole in the body though and it's the same on OBBMs.

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1357142584' post='1918046'] My '73P has the thumbrest below the strings [/quote] If mine had been I'd have left it on for the asthetic value because it wouldn't be in the way down there.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1357141778' post='1918018'] Unless I'm mistaken it's a hole for the thumb rest but the hole isn't drilled [/quote] Think you must be mistaken because the two holes for a thumbrest are above the pickup on the top edge of the pickguard and the bass has the 2 holes to match. It had a thumbrest on originally but I took it off the day I got it !! Sounds from OBBM's reply that the central hole only exists to confuse greying folk called Dave !

Just treated my 73P to a nice shiny red t'shell job. I got the proper '70's job with the weird central screw in the middle. My bass doesn't have a screwhole there and I can't recall if the original pickguard did either. Not really bothered but I am wondering why Fender deemed it a good idea to have a screw there in the 70s period. Were the bodys drilled or was it just a pickguard hole. Anybody know why??

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1357138899' post='1917960'] I refuse to wear a sweatband on the grounds that it's not 1985 [/quote] Is it not ?? News to me.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1357134393' post='1917872'] F*uck off, Nike!! [/quote] Inspired - I'll write that in felt pen on my plain white ones.

I like wrist bands because I can quickly wipe my forehead between beats though I wear a bandana these days. I get less sweaty since we went all LED with the lights too.. I've taken to doing gigs in wooly fingerless gloves - getting quite used to it now. It was just because I forgot to take them off one night.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1357099656' post='1917497'] Dave is right on the money with all of these points as far as I am concerned . I would be interested to know why you wouldn't want a Jazz yourself though Dave . [/quote] When I was young - shortly after the last dinosaur died out - there were 3 basses in the world plus a load of cheap , unsuable sh*te. The 3 were a Precision , a Jazz or a Ric. I expect whichever one I'd bought and learned on would have ended up being my bass of choice forever more and it was the Precision because the opportunity to buy a Precision came up first. I can't get on with a Jazz not because of the thinner neck - as many Precision players would tell you - but because of the off set body design. It puts the bass in the wrong place for me , esp when sitting.

[quote name='SlapbassSteve' timestamp='1357068903' post='1917139'] That's true, and nowt sits in the mix better then a P... perhaps a PJ combo like the Fender Aerodyne Jazz is a better bet? [/quote] An Aerodyne is a marketing/redesign exercise to me. A PJ is an adaption players have been making for ever and a day to try and combine the two classic Fender types - with a degree of success somewhere short of total. I suppose that's a fair stab at the 'ultimate' bass but not it's definition. I can't think why anyone would mention a Stingray in this thread. They are wonderful instruments but they sound like one thing only - a Stingray. Long may that continue. 5 strings........ I think there's yet to be a classic 5 string. Most well known ones are upstringed versions of successful 4 strings rather than a design that set out to be a 5. Having said that - if you can only have one instrument and you need to do a lot of jobs on it it's a good choice , but not the choice of dinosaurs like me. It's all pretty subjective - but I still maintain that if you want to be mainstream classic and versatile with one bass - buy a no frills jazz. I wouldn't give one house room myself , but that's what I think.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1357071154' post='1917198'] I am only complaining about the fact that no one was willing to pay what we were 'worth'. [/quote] Not directed at you , it just reminded me........... A femake singer once said that exact same thing to a mate of mine who chirped up with 'I know , love... but 8 quid's a lot of money '

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1357070484' post='1917181'] Those of you complaining about the state of a NYE audience are obviously playing the wrong kinds of gigs. [/quote] My point re. this - not particularly in this thread - is that the right kind of gig (ie one that you've played and enjoyed many times) can be spoiled at times like mad Friday and NYE because pillocks who get too pissed BECAUSE it's those particular days. The venue has probably asked you (as was the case with us this year) to do those dates because ou're among the most popular of it's acts and the most experienced so likely to deal with an incident well. Besides - and let's be fair about this - if you choose to play in pubs you resign yourself to coming across the odd pissed up toss rag. If I chose not to play in pubs because of that fact gigs would be very thin on the ground for me.

A Jazz bass can make any sound you want.......... unless you want a Precison sound ! That's the irony.

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1357059836' post='1916965'] You simply fail to recognize what technique is al about then but hey... Who am I to teach you? [/quote] Who am I , though , to not take the opportunity to learn from you - or from anyone else. I've learned stuff from players who many would say aren't fit to carry my amp as well as from world famous names.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1357042348' post='1916601'] I think there's a pretty good balance between appearing humble (recognising that no matter how good you think you are, there's always someone better) and encouraging improvement in less skilled players / those who haven't had the years of experience. [/quote] Appearing humble......... humble?....... hum ble ???? Nope - you got me there , gonna have to google that one !!!!!!!!!!! All I know is this Re. better or worse - if I play/practise I get better , if I don't play or practise I get worse. And re. knowledge/skill being unimportant when it comes to art........ you can't break the rules or push the boundarys uness you know what they are to start with.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1357039073' post='1916539'] Place was rammed at £150 a head. Recession my a*** [/quote] Excellent. I hope your non-capitalist conscience allowed you to take your fair and rightful share !!

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1356972031' post='1915861'] The Hop - Leeds. Owned by Ossett Brewery who are now our most regular employer. Hardly a weekend goes by without we do something for them. I dont much like the Leeds Hop. You play on an upper level and most of the punters are beneath you. Plus it sounds dreadful , being built into a railway arch (It's directly under Leeds station). It's never much of a gig but we'll do what we can and will have a ball amongst ourselves anyway as we always do. It'll be full of what Rodders , our guitar player , calls 'Fanoir' which is a bonus !! Weirdest of all - they want us on early and off early , like 10.30 early. ( they need a band for licensing purposes but want the early finish so as not to endanger that licence if neighbours complain on noise grounds). House PA means a fast exit putting me in the pub over the road from my gaff before 12 - which means I'll likely be jamming with the band there into the wee hours. I think it's our fellow member 'Funkmaster' and his band. Haven't seen him in ages. [/quote] It was OK. Not packed , but city centre joints can be like that on NYE. Sounded better than usual , at least it did to us as we took and controled our own monitors. Got back to see Dave's band in Wakefield but they were nearly done so no jam. Atmos there was cosy but again , not rammed. I've taken to playing in a pair of fingerless wooly gloves. Honestly , it wasn't planned - a few gigs back I just forgot to take them off. Now it's becoming a sig. Downside is I blew my already ravaged throat out totally and can't talk today.

I listen to new stuff on youtube because I can't hear the basslines on my little laptop speakers. I do that on purpose. That way I have to roll my own.

The Hop - Leeds. Owned by Ossett Brewery who are now our most regular employer. Hardly a weekend goes by without we do something for them. I dont much like the Leeds Hop. You play on an upper level and most of the punters are beneath you. Plus it sounds dreadful , being built into a railway arch (It's directly under Leeds station). It's never much of a gig but we'll do what we can and will have a ball amongst ourselves anyway as we always do. It'll be full of what Rodders , our guitar player , calls 'Fanoir' which is a bonus !! Weirdest of all - they want us on early and off early , like 10.30 early. ( they need a band for licensing purposes but want the early finish so as not to endanger that licence if neighbours complain on noise grounds). House PA means a fast exit putting me in the pub over the road from my gaff before 12 - which means I'll likely be jamming with the band there into the wee hours. I think it's our fellow member 'Funkmaster' and his band. Haven't seen him in ages.

My much loved 73P has a value of about £300 to me. I'd never sell it while there's breath in my body and if it was nicked I wouldn't even attempt to replace it with a similar instrument (probably about 2 grand). I'd just pick up a Jap P to chuck about as a spare and carry on using the 54 Reish. as my main stage bass. Having said that I expect - beyond the wailing and gnashing of teeth - I could get 'creative' with the insurance claim !

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1356945585' post='1915340'] but seems a waste to have a £500 bass/£1200 bass doing nothing. [/quote] Fair play to you BUT........ if you have a spare bass at gigs , even if you have never used it and hope you'll never have to , it is NOT sitting there doing nothing.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1356942557' post='1915312'] +1 I've never needed a back-up in thirty-eight years of gigging. So I don't have one, either. Just one bass! [/quote] Funnily enough in about the same time span I've only NEEDED to swap istruments once - and Rayman and Niceguyhomer were there to watch me need to. ( A PA guy blew the electrics out of my Shuker with a dodgy phantom powered DI box and had to use the Precision)

I like to have a spare like I have a spare of all my gear - seems reasonable for a gigging player. If I continued with that logical approach it would , of course , be another of the same instrument. But logic is kicked in the head by asthetic desire and financial concerns so the back up to my 73 P is a jap 54 reish. single coil jobby. Because it's less valuable both in bangers and mash terms and in sentiment (to me) it gets taken around the foul , scumbag ridden toilets I tend to play in and the 3 stays safe at home most of the time. I also have my Shuker because....................... well , it's my money and I wanted one. It makes very few gigs because it's too refined for Doc B's sound and because drunken tossers try to pick it up. I'll only end up unloading on one and get myself banged up and I have little ambition to be taken roughly in the showers by the Kray twins. I think if you have a life interest as I - an many of us - have , it's quite natural to want to own and play several instruments. It's also a sound approach because different jobs require different tools. In no way am I a collector , though. Nothing wrong with being a collector , I'm just not one.