Dr.Dave

Well - maybe not quite so rare but I've been looking for one of these for ages. This ones in the USofA and the likley bid required to secure it , plus the shipping , plus the church boys cut when it gets here makes it a bit rich for my blood. However - should any of you know where there's one for sale , or if you come across one in the future , please pm me and go to the top of my Xmas card list. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-FENDER-PRECISION-ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC-BASS-FRETLESS_W0QQitemZ110277969815QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110277969815&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-FENDER-PRECISIO...p3286.m63.l1177[/url] I played one briefly in a shop years ago. It was very playable with a reasonable - if not stunning - core sound. It also had a slight 'cheap' feel to it - hence my unwillingness to part with a fortune for one. I do, however, think it looks the dogs. And I'd love one for home use and hopefully to find a job of work for.

In the dim and distant past when I figured that the 3 or 4 songs I could acually play entitled me to a Rolls Royce , a Mansion and the ability to snort coke off a mucky birds arse I actually gave up a job when I was put on shifts. I suspected at the time that it was a deliberate move on my form's part to put a stop to my playing - as they had done with another guy at the firm. Shift work is a consideration long term if you're intending gigging to be a life choice. If you're talking a serious , rewarding career here though - and depending on commitments you will have to put gigging second. Yes you can gig around shifts - even swap them etc but it won't be easy and it will come to a head at some point. If I had my time again I'd do the same thing , but that's just me - you have to decide what sort of life you want.

Status series 3000. Spalted beech top and refinish done by Jon Shuker.

Isn't there one in 'Space Oddity' - 'Ground control to Major Tom' etc Anyone ancient enough to remember those Wasp synths? Like a keyboard back scuttled a Stylophone and the Wasp was it's accidental love child.

[quote name='Rich' post='256655' date='Aug 6 2008, 07:30 PM']Here's my custom J5... since the pics were taken, she's now wearing nice ebony control knobs courtesy of a splendid chap in the US.

Oh - go on then , twist my arm etc. Besides , we can't let the Wal mafia have a thread of their very own and just sit back looking pleased with themselves! Shuker Bolt-on Custom 'rotten' maple top on walnut. Resin board on 5 way walnut/maple sandwich neck with side LEDs. Bartolini pup and hipshot de-tuner.

This thread's too scary to someone who recognises quality and has a clear credit card - I'm not coming here again!!

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='255044' date='Aug 5 2008, 08:07 AM']Hi Dave- thanks for the comments. His move is now pretty-much complete and looks good. I'm not sure if it's Bamford he moved to (my Peak District geography isn't too hot). It's near a village called Hope[/quote] Yes , I know Hope - near Castleton and the start of the Pennine Way at Edale. Think he said he lives at Bamford so I got it wrong.

Simple,powerful,well crafted and classy to the eye. Can't think what more you could ask. Congratulations , you must be very pleased. Haven't kept to speed on Jon of late - did he complete his workshop move to Bamford?

CK's pinned post may well do what it says on the tin but - to clarify - is it deemed bad form, then, for someone selling something in the regular 'for sale' forum ads to add a link if that item is up for auction on Ebay - either at the time of the ads posting or at some point in the future.

I've done 3 in a day but not with 3 diff bands. Biggest issue was my fingers were sore , like friction burns , during the third. Got a bit 'Groundhog Day' too.I kept thinking 'that bit can't be now cos I just played it ' etc. Maybe that won't be the same with playing different sets. So - best of British and hope it's a good laugh at all 3

It was a Sunday so I shouldn't worry yet. Yes - definite tea leaf job. My headed Energy 4 was a graphite neck as you've said you've seen - loved it. As I did the Energy 5 I had which was a wooden fella like yours with a slightly rounder body - same as yours. Don't know for certain if that makes yours and Energy Artist model which means you're not just a tea leaf , you're a good one too! www.statii.com will be interested and have all the answers.

I ran out of my ancient bottle of lemon oil and a guitary mate gave me some in a 35mm film container. When I went to apply some I noticed it was dark so I rang him. He said he'd been mixing a bit of 'button polish' in it for years to darken his fretboards. I tried it - it works. Subtle. Though I haven't the first clue what 'button polish' actually is or where to get it.

I can't remember the make of instrument but about 15 years ago I did a support thing for the Joe Louis Walker band and both the man himself and his bass player were using fan fretted instruments - at least for part of their set. Course , I had to have a go and didn't find them any different from a playing point of view. The bass player gave me the blurb about why they were more accurate etc but I got the distinct impression they were both only playing them to fulfill the terms of some endorsment deal. It was a very hi-fi bass , maybe that's the reason as it didn't really fit the retro blues sound the band was after. I remember thinking it was an interesting idea but I haven't had an op to try one since.

Stewarts suggestion has got to be worh a go , much cheaper if you can find a string that suits. Otherwise - Bartolinis? Quite a smooth sound, I find.

[quote name='ahpook' post='252177' date='Jul 31 2008, 05:17 PM']i've always used the harmonic and fretted note at the 12th fret. mind you, i never do it by ear, i always use a tuner.[/quote] And me - I guess by ear then get it bang on with a tuner. 3 f's. If the Fretted note's Flat move the saddle Forward.

I expressed an early interest in this - nice isn't it. Glad you're happy and Etienne managed to sell it to one of us. To my eyes it's just crying out for a fancy pickguard - make it look like a painted old whore - fantastic!!

Although it's been a while since we've done it - the Dr Blue version of Crossroads 'in mime' is absolute proof that neither I or our drummer can dance but the harp player can...a bit!! Should you ever be unfortunate enough to witness it , prepare yourselves for the actions I use to illustrate the line 'seen my old friend Willy Brown'. It's not pretty. In fact , I doubt it's legal.

Here's a (very rough) snapshot of the whole family. Happy to say that every one of them earns it's keep and shares my adventures around the toilets of the North. Shuker Bolt-on Custom Epiphone Explorer Status series 3000 with shukerised top The Fender Blue Flower re-ish Fender Precision 1973, had it 30 years now. Yes , I've tried 5s but never really got comfortable with them when I'm singing too - I'll try again I'm sure and I WILL buy a 70s sunburst Precision fretless sometime although it's difficult to see how I'd find much gigging use for it which would be a shame and against my work ethic. Best go shift them off the sofa , the cat's trying to climb up the EpiEx !!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='251106' date='Jul 30 2008, 10:53 AM']Lovely job, but why, oh why the flower power and the dice?? [/quote] The dice is a sort of signature of mine. I've had furry dice hanging off my mic stand for years - both for a gag and because they remind me of my mum. My solo stuff was termed 'Furry Dice Productions' etc. The Blue Flower because - a) I like it because it's so different and I wanted another passive bass , pref. another Fender , pref. a Precision. it looks like a 'gag' bass for the ZZ trib as they're known for outlandish instruments but it's a good enough player to do the Dr Blue set too. If anyone ever thinks 'Dr Blue?? Is that that twat we saw with the flowery guitar?? Lets go see 'em again' - that'll do me. I also often wear hippyesque gear for Dr Blue. It appeared on Ebay just as I made the decision that me and Jazz basses aren't a team however much I respect them , and decided to strip my Jazz and sell most of it on. I got this for £270 and already had most of the parts to do the upgrades - June was a high earning month for both bands and I like to reinvest some of my gig money - voila. I like the Blue Flower finish - what can I say - funnily enough I hate and despise the Pink Paisley , strange isn't it. Eye of the beholder and all that. Dunno what to say. Why is my other P a 3TS?? Why is anyone elses Jazz bass Fiesta Red with changed chrome knobs?? 'Cos we want them that way.

with a 69 Jazz for £650 - a Status 5 for £170 and one or two others of note I'm something of a bargain hound myself. This is different class though - excellent effort. Tell you what........ I'll give you £325 and I'm cutting my hand off.

A spare lead that's shorter than the one you're using is no spare at all. Have a mic stand mounted drinks holder look at the brightest , furthest away fire exit sign and pretend it's a person No - you can't have a go on my bass even if it is your birthday and you've always wanted to know what one feels like

[quote name='spinynorman' post='249581' date='Jul 28 2008, 01:58 PM']I read something a while ago about why people do this (on any guitar, not just Fenders). I can't remember exactly what the potential fraud was, but I think it was along the lines that someone would claim the guitar had been stolen from them. It made reasonable sense when I read it originally. It was definitely a fraud against the seller, not someone using the SN to defraud others.[/quote] Ahhhh - now that is interesting. Hadn't thought of that.

Dave's right - Colne's a great laugh to be involved in and we'd be in like a shot to help him out if we weren't playing elsewhere that day. Playing in the fringe pubs is also the best way to get elevation to official festival inclusion on the big stages - name in the programme etc which is how Dave's band and ours did exactly that. But give the upstairs curry house a miss - it's a m*nger.