Shambo

This post isn't directed at you personally Ed, but let me make myself clear. I wanted to know if basses were damaged by ciggarette smoke because, short of the silks on the ends of strings, there's nothing pourous about any bass I've ever owned. Nothing that could aquire a smell that couldn't be removed with a bit of polish and elbow grease. I didn't consider it before but I'm ready to accept that untreated wood could be affected permanently. The opinion that hasn't changed is the realisation that the description of an instrument from a 'smoke free home' is added with hubris. The vast majority you speak of have taken this opportunity to show they can't stand smokers in general by relating it to, in no particular order... the mother in law, mobile phones, cars, keyboard players, the smoking ban, cats, dogs, clothes, PISS and the dangerous futility of smoking... not basses. I've never awaited you down the local laundrette to blow smoke in your general direction. If you ever see me in a beer garden with a roll up, you don't have to stand near or speak to me, (my loss eh?). If you were ever to buy an instrument from me you could rest assured in the knowledge that it would arrive to you smelling lemony fresh. I'm not going to quit smoking, be chastised and slink away because you don't like smoking. A couple of posts have been delivered with such sanctimony and vitriol as to take my breath away better than any cigarette could.

I'm not slightly embarrased or embittered. Not one thing posted in this thread has made me reconsider my opinion on this matter. I have been taken aback by the ferocity of some of the anti smoker comments though.

No guitar ever lost value because it was owned by a smoker. The ony reason people say from a "smoke freee home" is because they're trying to validate their non or ex smokieness. I kinda knew what sort of responses to expect.

I can appreciate that people don't like smoking but I just can't (or couldn't) imagine anybody knocking back an instrument because it smells of anything. If it was dirty then I'd clean it and the smell would be gone. You go to buy a used bass. It looks good. It feels good. It sounds good. The price is right. Hang on... *sniff, sniff*... NO SALE! Has that ever happened?

That is news to me. I can't say I've ever been able to smell a bass in my entire life. Perhaps I haven't been trying hard enough. My sense of smell's shot anyways due to the erm... smoking. I thought it was ageing and sunlight that caused some finishes to yellow. If an instrument has developed a covering of smokey residue then surely it just needs, or did need, a bit of a rub with a cloth. Next time I see some dude with an old guitar in the pub I might go up and ask them for a sniff.

As I peruse the for sale boards for instruments I can't afford, I regularly see them advertised from "smoke free homes". I was just wondering, am I missing something about ciggarette smoke causing damage? I know lots of people find smoking a dirty habit, and if you were buying a sofa or clothes second hand then "smoke free" would be an advantage, or maybe a mixing desk thats been used as an occasional ashtray or skinning up board would be something to avoid, but do basses aquire a smokey smell? Does nicotine clog up the pots or deaden the string prematurely? Perhaps it leeches behind the finish and causes crazing? If my basses look a bit grubby I'll give 'em a wipe with a clean cloth and without a second thought. Should tobacco packets come with a warning of the damage caused to musical instruments? Just wondering.

My local music shop are always expecting a delivery of 'em, "some time this week". Three times I've asked over the last couple of years and had exactly the same response. Impeccably bad timing on my part... or maybe not.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370561370651?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 A miserable £113 second time around. If he lists it again it might break the sub £100 barrier next time.

[quote name='sk8' timestamp='1321881344' post='1443964'] you can switch the internal jumper to pre for the di. Its still switched, just not externally [/quote][attachment=93568:EffectlLoop_DiModification.jpg]

He's going for another go around, £144 wasn't enough to beat the reserve first time, though I would have thought it was plenty. Space are playing a reunion in December which apparently, "means that the collectable value of this item will soar."

Apparently "gawd loves a tryer", and full marks must be given for the £500 buy it now price quoted for this unremarkable Squier Jazz bass, unless the provenance of being played on a couple of 90's indie pop albums is worth about £450. I liked Space's quirky scouse scallywag pop, and I've got the two albums in question, but not enough to bid for this particular instrument. I wonder what the reserve is? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SQUIER-Jazz-Bass-Used-SPACE-SHACK-MORE-/370558487279?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item564701caef

cd_david's black 75 Jazz 'cause it's lush.... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/127704-jazz/page__view__findpost__p__1167282 or bassassin's Tokai Talbo to be different... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/91303-tokai-talbo-as-new-condition-rarer-than-a-rare-thing/page__hl__talbo

I picked up the earlier sonic blue p-bass recently for pretty much the same reasons you outlined. A very well made instrument I think, good bridge, adequate tuners and felt nice to play... the stock pup was OK (but I've changed it for a wizard trad P), the only let down being the crackly electrics. A quick look inside revealed something that looked like it came out of a christmas cracker, and that's all now been swapped out for the sake of a couple of quid off ebay. Added some new flats and I've got an instrument I'd happily play out anywhere without worrying too much about it's welfare. One unexpected drawback was when I took it to my local luthier for a once over. Last time I'd been there I took a newish american jazz and some labellas for a setup and they did a sterling job. This time around with a Squier and Fender flats I got the distinct impression they weren't too arsed about doing a good job of it! (which meant it took three visits and a few cross words to get it done well).

Vantage double p-pupped thing here I'm going to have to keep an eye on. Collection only from Liverpool though... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260881497789?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This halloween, when people see you in fancy dress costume and say "you look great", simply replace "great" with "a ****", for a more honest appraisal of your appearance.

In a similar way to you, I picked up a classic vibe P bass from here a couple of weeks ago as a backup. A Wizard traditional P pickup appeared in the for sale section here a week later for £35 and I jumped on it, (I already have wizards installed in my jazz). With upgraded electrics plus new flats it sounds real nice, and is now in danger of usurping my american standard as my goto bass. In true basschat tradition of recommending whatever you use, that's what I'd suggest, but there are many, many other after market P pups out there that somebody else here can tell you about.

Play more notes. Compensate for the lack of lead by putting more movement into the bass. Some of the old songs won't work like they used to but some of the others might get a new lease of life from a re working.

Just round the corner from me this. Belongs to a pro player called, unsurprisingly, Marty who usually has some choice instruments in his possession.

Purchased a Wizard trad P-Bass pickup from Nick and I'm very happy with our transaction. I wouldn't hesitate to do business again. Many thanks.

Ah, I know it. In fact I'm a good friend of the manager Neil. He told me yesterday he'd been getting in a few bands recently, yours must be one of them. PM'ed.