The Bass Doc

Over the years I've done just about everything imaginable with Fender style basses and this could well be one of them. If it's not mine it's very spooky that someone else may have had the same idea. You see I liked the sound of a Rick but was more comfortable holding a Fender. I think one of the main reasons for the preference was my (then) playing style which involved using a plec and palm dampening at the bridge - you can't do that on a Rick. Can't quite remember how I would have aquired the Fender neck but I was well into swapping parts at the time and maybe someone would have swapped me for a custom-made fretless neck. The electrics almost certainly came from a real 4001 which I bought from a guy who had written off his bass in a way that the broken neck and body was deemed beyond repair. As far as the body is concerned I would love to see a photograph of the thing without the scratchplate but it is most likely to be a Vox Symphonic bass body which carried the twin pickups in the same position as the Rick ones now look to occupy. I still have a Vox body of the same type (routed out for a Kahler trem believe it or not) and it looks to be made of the same wood - mahogany-type grain but a lighter brown colour. I take exception to the use of sexual innuendo in giving the bass a nickname - suffice to say the present owner may well also have a pair of Ernie Balls.

Do we know where this bass resides? I've got a strange feeling I may have had something to do with it's creation many moons ago.

12th fret to back edge of pickup=37.5cms - that's from a real 1962 Jazz.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='538192' date='Jul 11 2009, 10:57 PM']Refinished by a french polisher - so is he half French and half Polish?[/quote] You forgot to mention with a bit of Finnish thrown in - Taxi for two please.

[quote Roger Sadowsky was asked about this issue and he said "I don't think it makes any difference whatsoever". [/quote] My experience also.

Seems fine to me - expect the price to reach around £3K.

Everything seems fine but I must admit I've never come across the two hole syndrom - surely a sticker stating the shop that sold it would be sufficient. As for it being a method of hanging the thing up? - that beggars belief. A valuation is best given when there are some good pics around but I'm going to stick my neck out and say £2750 if it's a shop selling it (a private sale I would expect a bit cheaper)

[quote name='Riddler' post='534991' date='Jul 7 2009, 06:31 PM']Cheers, sounds like a plan, is the key nicley tarnished? want it all to match up.[/quote] Certainly is - looks it's age 'nicely'. It's definitely right for a 1969 since it doesn't have the 'R' in a circle after 'Fender' which I think came in around 1972/3. Cheers, H.

OK - my spares are going down fast - I've got what you need but I'm asking 'proper' money. £22 posted (nearest thing on E-bay is £45 although you do get the full machine head). Mine would be the backplate with it's key, retaining bolt and washer. Let me know if it's on.

[quote name='Waldo' post='533048' date='Jul 5 2009, 02:44 PM']Looks terrible, sounds terrible and as a concept, it's terrible. Terrible bass.[/quote] No it's not terrible - it's not that good - if it was better it would be terrible.

[quote name='rslaing' date='Jul 2 2009, 08:07 PM' post='531012 Howard :- do you have a low or high string height? [/quote] Sorry to be late replying - I've been on hols. My action has been described as one where 'a basketball player wearing a top hat could limbo dance underneath the strings' - I guess that means high. H.

I have been known to play harmonics this way. As a matter of interest my wife is ambidextrous............................................................... ......in both hands!

I wouldn't get too excited about this model - the photograph (for that it what it is) will shrink over time and crack, revealing a not too pleasant piece of wood underneath.

Can't help but admire his expertise but I have a problem with technique at this level - imagine if you were other than the bass player in your band, would you really want this guy to join it?

I reckon he's been offered the job of roadie.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='515565' date='Jun 16 2009, 06:21 PM']Ta for that Bass Doc. Time to buy some flatties for the Jazz, I think. Ta for that, Old Git. Time to buy a Danelectro. OK, muddled now.[/quote] Trust me I'm a doctor.

I feel such a twit - I've owned 3 basses that were ex-John Entwistle and parted with them before I realised the true heritage they would represent one day. It stems from my friendship with his guitar tech Alan Rogan. First one was an Alembic (point model?) - he was having his own design created at the time so the standard ones could go. I sold it via the Bass Centre - I couldn't stand the bad neck dive and the fact that it took ages to dial up an 'ordinary' bass sound. Then there was a 1958 Precision which I quite liked but at the time I favoured rosewood boards - I think that one still lives with John Ludlow. I've just realised the third bass didn't come to me via AR, it was bought from Cass Music, Eastbourne openly advertised as ex-JE in the Melody Maker - a 1966 slab bodied P-bass (£165). Now believed to be with Barry Matthews. I have a 'reverse' claim to fame as I believe I was the first to supply Pino Palladino with a pre-CBS Precision (again via the Alan Rogan connection) I've been trying to find out if he still owns it.. Fiesta red re-spray 1963 I seem to recall. The things we do and don't think they're anything special at the time! Wish I could press the re-wind button. H.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='515397' date='Jun 16 2009, 03:47 PM']whatever Entwistle used on 'My Generation'.[/quote] That was a Fender Jazz - with flatwounds on!!! Read it in an old interview in Bassist mag many moons ago. (or it might have been Beat Instrumental).