Brother Jones

I have a near-identical black 78 Jazz that I bought from Andy's about five years ago. It too has the same paint-crazing. In fact it's so bad now that the paint is coming off in flakes. There is no white primer underneath it, and the neck pocket is about 80% black too. For a little while this evidence led me to think it might be a badly done refinish, but I've seen several black '78 Jazzes in the same, or near same condition. Fender finish quality was seriously hit-and-miss at the time and the black Jazzes of the time seem to have had it particularly bad. Perhaps there's a good chemical reason for that. You might consider doing what I did with mine and just ask a local luthier to swap out the body for an aftermarket (Warmoth, Allparts) one (they'll have to drill a third screw hole for the three bolt joint, but it looks okay) and get them to finish it in your ideal colour. That way you don't destroy the 'original' value of the bass, and if you sell it on the buyer has a 'modular' vintage bass...

God this is lovely. What is such a rare beast doing in Leatherhead? ;-)

I've played quite a few, and have yet to experience a Mex that didn't feel dead and 'lumpy'. A second-hand Jap is almost always a better bet.

Do stacked pots actually change the sound of the bass much? I always liked the look of them... Oh, and are the maple necks on US Jazzes laquered these days? That one looks unlaquered, which is the one thing that annoys me slightly about my Sadowsky.

You need to use it a little differently to the cut/boost pre's most of us are used to. The point is that the passive sound of the bass is so good that the pre just adds a little extra if you need it. I think they started adding the VTC as standard because, coming from cut/boost circuits, some people thought the Sado pre was too 'pushy'.

A few people (me included) used to like the 'third way', especially on Jazzes, which was to have active pups (often EMGs) but without any active output gubbins. Got the best Jazz sounds I ever produced from that set up.

Early Spandau, when they were contemporaries of the Sheffield synth bands, weren't too bad and Chant No.1 is evidence of that. I liked the sound of Kemp's Wal (serious GAS for one now...). However, while the line itself works well for the verse of the song, it's one of those ones that stays the same for the entire song. Bit unimaginative. And possible a bit boring to play, even if it is on a Wal....

'ABC' and 'I want you back' by the Jackson 5. Very similar lines, geat fun to play. Also 'I wish' by Stevie W. PS Never, ever try 'Sir Duke' live because [i]everyone[/i] will fluff the break....

[quote name='muppethenry' post='469188' date='Apr 22 2009, 12:02 AM']+1 I just got a Metro this weekend - its hard to find enough phenomenal adjectives to describe it! Seriously though, i dont know if its just naieve but mine is literally the best bass (sound, feel, build) wise Ive ever touched; blows my Fender Mexico deluxe outta the water. I really cant work out why the guy sold it to me... oh wait... Its cus he had another Sadowsky! I reckon i should be paid to represent and sell them - I'd do it for free![/quote] [cringes]. Ah well. Hope you're enjoying it.