The Bass Doc

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1351167970' post='1848148'] Is the extra knob on the black one a "woofer" control? [/quote] It is indeed. They both have extra controls - volume for the neck pickup is in the lower horn area and the tone control is where the jack socket used to be. The two outputs (psuedo-stereo) are actually on the rear of the bass.

A pair of modded Jazz basses. The one on the left is a genuine 1962 Fiesta red (refin) and the mod to include the Gibson humbucker was carried out in 1970 when the bass would have been worth around £80.00. Apologies to the purist/collector folks out there but I wasn't to know about the huge value hike that followed. The fretless on the right was built by me later in the 70s. [attachment=121996:002.JPG]

A photograph would be useful but..... Perhaps you can confirm whether the formers are grey and the numbering is stamped in either red or black? Usually the last digit applies to 70s pickups so the 6 would suggest the year 1976 is correct.

I have a 1967 price list which quotes the cost of a set of Swing Bass at 63 Shillings (including purchase tax). The same publication also advertises a Fuzz Box which they claim simulates violin, cello, sitar and woodwind effects - 12 guineas.

It's from the new MM licensed budget range. It's an Ernie Balls Dongo.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1348046227' post='1808400'] it looks odd when vertical, but good when horizontal. [/quote] Reminds me of a girl I once knew.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1348045720' post='1808392'] Good old Howard! [/quote] At my age I'm reading that as 'good OLD Howard'.

I'd love to reply to the OP but I can't think of anything to say.

Lots of positives about Clarky on here so I thought I would redress the balance and include a few negatives. He is NOT a nasty man. He is decidely NOT tardy in communicating. He looks NOTHING like Ken Livingston.

I have some thin brass sheet from which I can make the strip you may require as long as you have the brass grounding plates with the pickups. Can include it with the scratchplate I'm doing for you - no extra charge.

Bought a pickup from Lozz in an ultra smooth deal. Top man

I've seen a lot worse - wouldn't expect that to be a problem in terms of stability.

I think I can help. PM'd.

If the capacitor is already attached to one of the lugs of the tone pot it's other end should indeed be attached to the body of the pot and make sure the bodies of both volume and tone pots are linked.

Don't think there's anything wrong with the 3-bolt system in principle. Leo Fender persisted with it through his Musicman period and on to G&L. It's mainly that it's introduction coincided with a time when jigs were wearing out so neck joints were gappy, pickup routs got sloppy, contours got slabby etc...

I do a fair bit of palm dampening Sorry

Oh dear........I've just had to explain to Mrs. BD that I've been on Basschat discussing G-strings and longer screws ...........

It's pretty obvious from the 3 in line that the bridge is further back on the 72 than the others and yet the pickup remains in the so-called 70s position. Methinks by 74 Fender realised the bridge should not have moved so far back after all and returned to a position whereby the extra long G-string length screw was not needed. I notice there's a choice of holes for the 'F' chrome cover to be fitted - a sign of perhaps a Badass being on the bass in it's previous life.

Yes I would say the bridge will be non-original. As it happens I've got a set of 70s saddles in good nick but don't have the elongated G-string length adjustment screw and the plate they came with is rather rusty. Most early 70s Jazzes I've worked on seem to be capable of achieving correct intonation without the saddle falling off the end of a normal length screw. Judging by the picture above I would say that the G saddle shown seems to be where I would expect it to be in which case there's still a little thread to go albeit not a very stable-looking scenario. I would certainly be amazed if you can't get the D in tune without it falling off. As far as the position in relation to the bridge cover is concerned my experience is that both pickup and bridge moved back and the cover looks the same in both periods i.e. the same degree of cover for the pickup and not the reason Fender moved it. Without carrying a bridge pickup Precisions also exhibit the elongated G-string saddle screw and my theory is that it was in response to users finding that the portion of string carrying coloured thread intruded over the saddle so the bridge was stepped back - and in the case of the Jazz the pickup went with it. Having owned and analysed loads of 60s and 70s Jazz basses I can safely say that the big 'F' cover shows no more or less of the bridge pickup in either period.