jd56hawk

Whatever it is, it's beyond ugly.

A little bass line I was working on before everything fell apart...forgot I'd even recorded it. (Headphones or earbuds are recommended, of course.) https://youtu.be/ZUIKUAYND6E (Yeah, acoustic basses are good for nothing, right?)

Funny, but I posted this maybe half an hour ago at Talkbass. "I can’t get no, satisfaction." ○ Well, I can, but how about you? I have ten basses. From my least expensive to my most expensive, I'm completely satisfied. No need to change pickups, no need to change the preamp or add one, no need for a different neck, etc. Sure, I put on my favorite strings, but who doesn't? Not just here but on other boards, I constantly see people who feel the need to make their bass better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. So, who here is constantly searching for the perfect bass, either buying and selling again and again, modding what they have, or building their own "perfect" bass? And who will never achieve a state of bass bliss?

Bit of a gamble with the '70s Fenders. Will you get one of the good ones or one of the bad ones? Just guessing, but I'm betting there are more bad ones for sale. I'm no fan of Fender, but if I saw this one hanging up tomorrow at Guitar Center or Sam Ash, I just might buy it. (By the way, if you've wanted a Fender for years, I'm not going to suggest you buy a G&L, Lakland, Sadowsky, etc, etc, etc. Buy a Frnder!)

Did you buy the bass?

Movable pickup(s)...always cool! https://www.instagram.com/p/CYMQz3QMalS/?utm_medium=copy_link

I used to wonder the same thing about the Thundergun...a great bass in the hands of a great bassist. Then, when I bought one, I realized it's a great bass that can make any bassist better. Are you going to buy the Cort and see if the same thing applies to you?

Or Fred Flintstone. Regardless, I have a feeling you're talking Fender Journeyman prices. Bit of a gamble, yes?

Not in the past four years or so...and I've purchased all my basses online without even having the chance to try them put...10 of them!

You're welcome. Amazing basses.

And the winner of the "Most Uncomfortable Bass of the Year" award goes to...

I'm just not a fan of Fender preamps. Of course, it's been quite some time since I've played an American Deluxe Zone bass and the strings might have contributed to the poor sound quality, but when I try out basses, and I try out quite a few, I generally remember the ones that wow me and the ones that fail to move me...and I've read the preamps in those had more issues than just a poor/rushed design. Other than that, if you're interested in owning a bass with a preamp, you can't do better than a G&L L2000, USA or Tribute...they have a preamp bypass so you can also play passive...even with a dead battery.

You might just consider buying an inexpensive DI and adding black tapewounds...must be a reason I have them on eight basses including two of my Jazz basses. (I'm guessing your VM is the natural finish with the maple fretboard...black tapewounds will look great and sound better.)

Pics of the bass and pickups might help, but it's more than likely not going to work.

You'll be changing the preamp?

Of course, for all we know the jackets can be red instead of the bass. I've seen many black-and-white photos of classic cars where lighter Grey's often turn out to be red.

The curtains aren't blue, they're grey because the photo apps seldom do a complete job.

Definitely! I know what a yellowed clearcoat can do. The one on the left is transparent black...I've been hoping to find another one like it for six or seven years.

Especially since Shoreline Gold looks more like silver. Of course, Fender often has a problem when coming up with appropriate finish names. Firemist Silver? More like Metallic LPB. Sonic Blue? They should rename it Barely Blue!

Yes, but how so? The red strings? I haven't used them myself in seven years and the Epiphone is long gone. The Chinese Classic Vibe? Excellent bass! Surely not the mute?🤔

I wouldn't have it refinished at all. Looks great! I'd just spend some pocket change and make a red stting mute and add some red Aurora strings.

Colorize black-and-white photo app..five different ones show it as red. I've tried this in the past with similar photos, of course, and I was pretty sure it was red before the conversion.

Wow, they've been smoking all this time?