basshead56

Been on a bit of a pedal detox the last few months. Got rid of most of the synthy stuff and downsized a fair bit overall. Amalgamated the newly-downsized big, big board and my much smaller, more simple set up, to create one board for all occasions. The Irish tricolour scheme on the bottom was just a happy accident

It was exactly one of these that re-stoked my love of the Jazz! Picked one up in March last year - lovely Firemist Silver, which is more of a light blue if I'm honest... But WOW! The feel of the neck, the sound of the pickups, the matching headstock and the lovely stacked knobs! Truly beautiful and almost impossible to put down! It does feel like a genuine vintage bass, for the most part. Since then I have added a few more Jazz basses: a 2003 Am Deluxe QMT, a 2010 Victor Bailey, a 98 American Standard and 2 x American Pro II's (the most recent being the Dark Night, which will serve as the last bass i ever buy - still no one believes me hahaha) I started off on a Jazz many many ago (Mexican Standard J - still at my parents house in Ireland to this day) but decided the P was way more punk back then hahaha. Always preferred the look and the feel of the Jazz but preferred the sound of the Precision - maybe that's why I love my pink Mark Hoppus Mk 1 so much! I agree with some of the above posts around them sounding a little less full when compared with a P. They definitely need a bit more tweaking when trying to get them to sound more bottom-heavy but I do find them to be incredibly versatile when it comes to dialing in some different tonal options. It has taken me a long time to learn that the trick is NOT having both pickups and tone all the way up. I like swapping back and forth between J's and Stingrays live. I do find myself having to play a little bit lighter when playing with fingers and swapping from P or Stingray to a Jazz, as I find the Jazz pickups are a little less forgiving when it comes to 'digging in' - never a problem with any of my Precisions!

Have decided to go with the Halon option. Placed an order this morning for their drop in Musicmaster bridge with brass saddles and 17.5mm spacing. Can't wait to see how it goes

Hi all, Now that I've finally managed to put down my newly-acquired Am Pro 2 Jazz (amazing!!!), I am circling back to my 75 Musicmaster project. It's still playable but rough enough to warrant the need to make some changes. I am happy overall with the neck (needs a buff, polish and waxing, fretboard will need de-greased and oiled), tuners (will de-gunk those), pickup and a few other bits but I will definitely be needing to completely redo the tone pot, input jack and bridge. Still debating as to whether or not I'll repaint it. A luthier in these parts is apparently very good at doing 60's and 70's Fender catalogue colours and I have always fancied the Daphne Blue look... Anyway, looking into bridges, I have happened across two viable options: 1: Halon Musicmaster bridge from Greece https://halonguitarparts.com/product/musicmaster-bass-bridge/ 2: Albridge Musicmaster bridge from Via Ampshop in the US https://www.ampshopbassexchange.com/product/albridge-parts-mms18-vintage-bridge-for-musicmaster-short-scale-direct-replacement/ Both look like excellent options. My question would be - has anyone had experience with either provider? I've heard great things about the AmpShop products but not-so-great things about communication, lead times and customer service. I've emailed Halon and have had a reply from the owner, Haris, who seemed quite nice and helpful. Keen to hear your thoughts

Will be coming off this evening

The Dark Night is probably the lighter of the two American Pro 2's - at least it feels that way on a strap but it is marginal. Will get the scales out tonight to confirm. The rosewood is also a little darker/richer looking up close. They both sound identical for the most part and the feel in the hand is very similar also. I do love consistency!!! The black 98 Am Std is a different beast to the PRO 2's. Heavy as a very heavy thing. Slightly different feel to the neck but still very much a Jazz like I remember them, different radius I imagine. But it just absolutely roars! Definitely covered for all my Jazz needs!

A trio of triumph! Spent the day with all 3 and the SVT. JOY!!!! Fairly confindent in the assertion that this will genuinely be the last bass I buy 😎😁

The latest (and final) addition

One last pair 22 American Pro II Jazz in Mercury 21 American Pro II FSR Jazz in Dark Night

Well I did it. After watching this one for over 2years online with the local agent, I pulled the trigger and bought myself the one bass I will never put down. I have promised both myself, my long-suffering better half and most of my mates that this is genuinely the last bass I ever buy. Feel free to screenshot this post and remind me if you see me lurking 🤣🤣🤣 But anyway, here she is: One N.O.S. 2021 American Pro 2 Jazz bass 75rh Anniversary FSR Dark Night with Rosewood board. Genuinely cannot describe how beautiful this thing is, all around. It feels amazing in the hand, sounds exactly like a Jazz should and it has the most beautiful rosewood I have ever seen on any neck! This is a pretty good place to end my GAS Odyessy 😎

Back in the old country, I quite often would take a train to Dublin for picking stuff up (4-4.5hrs each way from Tralee). While not specifically FOR a bass, but I went back home to Ireland last year for family reasons and while I was there, I came across a Fender 60th Anniversary Roadworn Jazz on a couple of the sites I used to use when I lived there. Seeing as it was my 40th birthday while I was there, I thought I'd treat myself. Borrowed the old man's car and did a 3hr drive each way. Got it home, un-bolted the neck, tied up the strings, bubble wrapped the body and popped it in my suitcase. Wrapped the neck and left it in the hard case. Checked in bags. No issues when I landed back in New Zealand Picked up another Jazz in March for for my 41st lol! That was an 8 hour round trip (with a stop for lunch). Heading up the road again this Saturday to pick up what will most likely be the last bass I ever buy (genuinely!). About 240KMs each way. First thing I've bought new from a shop in about 10 odd years. I am a little bit excited...

Another, another pair of pairs... 😋🤣🤣 70's Olympic White Fenders: A 1978 Precision in Oly White A 1975 Musicmaster in Oly White Shortscale/Offsets A Squier Rascal A 1975 Musicmaster

Yeah I've contacted Ampmaster about getting one of their replacement bridges. Hopefully they will be able to ship to New Zealand. From what I can see, they are an excellent solution - drop in replacement but woth added functionality for intonation etc. Just ran the bass throughmy Darkglass AO900 and it sounds monstrous in both A and O model- the original pickup seems to thrive in OD territory. Doesnt seem to be tone of annoying hum either. Amd the only crackles I get are from the tone pot which I suspect needs a good blowout. Will wait till I have a new jack organised before pulling it apart

Well it arrived and I'm pretty happy 😁 In reasonably good shape (I was expecting worse tbh) Much less yellowed than my 78 Oly white P Bass. Pickup sounds good. quite thumpy. The not-so-good bits: Definitely needs a new input jack. Definitely needs a new bridge. Needs a good scrub but pretty great shape for a 50yr old bass, overall

Without a doubt, one of the most incredible instruments I have ever seen, heard or played. The build quality and feel is well above many Custom Shop basses I've tried (IMO) and it just looks incredible too. The stock preamp has been pulled in favor of a Bartolini one and it absolutely sings now. Sadly I don't have a second one lol. But the chap I bought it from had both this IV and the V string version. I did own a Victor Bailey sig acoustic bass years ago but completely different of course.

Another pair of pairs: Late 90s: 98 American Standard Jazz 97 American Deluxe Precision Passive US Jazz goodness 22 American Pro 2 98 American Standard

Updated pic. 98 American Standard 22 Ameican Pro 2 13 American Deluxe (on the way out -watch out for the replacement...) 10 Victor Bailey 03 American Deluxe QMT 21 60th Ann. Road Worn

The Dusk purple and Harvest Green Metallic look cool on the Jazz but hardly anything spectacularly different. Fender seem to think a preamp and a different/extra pickup equate to revolutionary. Would've been much cooler with a Meteora or Rascal or something a bit bolder than the traditional fare of the last 40 odd years.

I absolutely love my Pro 2 in Mercury. the neck is incredible! Hoping to land a matching Dark Night Jazz later on.

Worst I've owned was probably my old Ampeg B500DR. Seemed like a great idea at the time - 4 programmable presets and 500 watts but it was absolutely gutless. Could never get it to maintain stage volume or keep up with the band, not overly loud even . It was a disappointment across the board. Other amps I've played through at gigs and felt pretty meh about - a couple of Markbass combos, one was a 1 x15 thing and the other was a little 2x10 - guessing they were LittleMarks but both were very thin and a bit farty. I"m on the fence about keeping my Darglass AO900 or moving it on. Overall, nonplussed I suppose. Love the tones but not sure it's getting anywhere near the use it deserves after being relegated to the home Jamnasium in favour of my GK 1001RB rig for live stuff. Bought it to do clean and distortion stuff live but I find I prefer the sound of the dUg pedal pre in front of the GK a bit more. Especially comparing the clean tone options. Also having a Darkray I can call on to do the AO thing probably doesn't help. Seems like a lot of kit to just have laying around.

Updated. After a good fretboard oiling, new strings, slight action adjustment, new black sparkle pickguard and a set of straplocks - the latest addition is looking pretty darn tidy

Hi All, Had a punt on an auction site yesterday and ended up winning. Soon I will take delivery of a 1975 Fender Musicmaster in what was once Olympic White. All original except for the pickguard, which the previous owner has swapped out for a custom cut stainless steel one (ngl, don't hate this!) Given it wasn't anywherenear expensive as I thought it might be, I'm in two minds as to whatto do - keep her as is, or make it a project bass. I do quite dig the Mojo on this bass in terms of it's look. But I'm also intrigued by the thought of doing it up. Options I'm considering are: sanding it back and respraying it in another colour from the period - Daphne Blue or Dakota Red. Would add a white plastic pickguard and maybe strat knobs and a tugbar too. Then theres the pickup. Keep it stock or add something like a Curtis Novak pickup that sounds a bit more familiar. Would love a lipstick style pickup. Then, do I make it my only bass with flats? Oh the possibilities... Keen to hear thoughts/suggestions on this ☺️

I've shifted quite a few basses in the last couple of years but only to make room for stuff that I've wanted more . Honestly thought I'd be more upset shifting some of them but as time goes on, I find myself feeling less attached, sentimentally anyways. Definitely thinking more logically, at least that's what I tell myself. Quality and value seem to be more important in my reckonings on curatong my collection these days. Most recently, the Thunderbird Studio. Had it for about 16 yrs. Never thought I'd be ok to sell it as it looked brilliant and sounded great. Only Gibson I've owned that O've actually gotten on with but given I've hardly used it at all, I found it relatively easy to sell it on last week, to make way for something else. Ditto for my Stingray 4H, both Jags, Dean Cabbie, 79 Precision, 90's Dano DC, Jackson Minion, Squier CV 50's and my 2011 Am Std Jazz (probaly a couple of more too) But they've all gone away in the last 18-24 months and made way for some stuff I have really been enjoying: EBMMDarkray, Am PRO2 Jazz, 03 Am Dlx QMT Jazz, Victor Bailey Jazz, EBMM Stingray 4HH, a 75 Musicmaster (inbound, as of yesterday) and hopefully another Am PRO 2 Jazz in the coming weeks There are always a couple that I will regret but time and GAS heals all... To quote Mr Burns: "I'd trade it all for a little more" That being said, I genuinely don't know if there is anything I now own that I'd be happy to sell 🤣🤣🤣

None at all that I noticed. Just tried it on a strap again about 5 minutes ago and neither it, nor my Victor Bailey have a hint of neck dive. tried 3 different straps too. Hope that helps. They are beautiful instruments.