basshead56
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Posts posted by basshead56
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I arrived home to a package 😁
Beautifully presented and arrived lightning fast once shipped from Greece, though lead tine was a month.
The steel pick made from an offcut used to make it is a very cool touch
Very happy with how it looks and feels, just need to strip the bass down and get her started...
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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
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On 29/05/2025 at 08:11, jezzaboy said:
A few months back I bought a 60th aniv Mexican road worn Jazz form Bass Bros. Usually I buy a Jazz, keep it for a few weeks, sell on losing a few bob and repeat this at regular intervals. But this bass has got under my skin and I don`t know why. The "wear" on the top edge of the body looks like it was done with a sander and I`m not very keen on the concentric vol and tone set up but there is just something about it I love.
Must be getting mellow in my old age.
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!
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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
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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
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
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11 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:
The dark night colour is great (more than great), but please get that sticker off... it's got me scratching at the screen!
Will be coming off this evening
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12 hours ago, BassAgent said:
Very very nice! Enjoy that. How does it compare to the other two?
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!
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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 😎😁
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Jazz
in Gear Gallery
The latest (and final) addition
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One last pair
22 American Pro II Jazz in Mercury
21 American Pro II FSR Jazz in Dark Night
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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 😎
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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...
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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
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17 minutes ago, DF Shortscale said:
Yeah, I think their intention was to update the functionality while allowing it to be a drop-in replacement so it’s definitely not a vintage-styled copy. Same applies to the Ampmaster basses, they’re basically refined Musicmasters without the issues that can affect the originals (noisy pickup, intonation, neck dive etc) but all the individual parts fit Musicmasters perfectly.
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
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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
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Jazz
in Gear Gallery
On 18/04/2025 at 12:44, Bagman said:you like the Victor Bailey? did you have a second one of those??
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.
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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
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Jazz
in Gear Gallery
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
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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.
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Gorgeous bass, always fancied one of these!
Out of curiosity, do you know how much it would cost to post across to Ireland?
I'm heading home for a couple of weeks in July. Would hop on a Ryanair flight to and fro but that would make it less of a bargain...
No worries if it's too much of a mission though
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5 hours ago, joel406 said:
I played an American Standard Jazz for about 5 years. Switched to American Pro when I went 5 strings. I'm loaded with 2 American pro V jazz and like 3 or 4 Pro IIs. I did recently find an American Standard Precision V in CAR. With sparkles. A 2013 model. Pairs nice with my 2021 American Pro II V. Yeah, I'm a Fender freak.
I absolutely love my Pro 2 in Mercury. the neck is incredible!
Hoping to land a matching Dark Night Jazz later on.
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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.
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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
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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 ☺️
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"higher end" Fender basses
in Bass Guitars
Posted
Sure do! It is ABSOLUTELY ye olde business!!! Easily nicer than some Custom Shop stuff from the same peroid (the couple i've played). It juat feels like it has a hearbeat or a soul, or... something. Not sure how to put it, but it just sing! Every time I open the case I giggle 😁
Also, in terms of excellent build quality, I have to say the early 2000's American Deluxe QMT Jazzes are also INCREDIBLE! have an 03 and im afraid to pick it up because each tine I do, I cannot put it down for days at a time!!!!
I have had some incredibly lovely Mexican and Japanese Fender basses over the years (including my forst Fender, a white 2002 Standard Jazz) and some absolute planks too. Though not many out of Japan. My current Roadworn 60 Anniversary Jazz in Firemist Silver is a true thing of beauty. It just feels amazing. Does have a whiff of Custom Shop about it, more so the feel than the heavy relic, but amazing instrument!
The American made stuff I've experienced has been mostly great with the odd 'meh' unit and one absolute dud Jazz that could not be redeemed. Put me off Jazzes for years lol.
Picked up a 98 USA Jazz in March and despite being an absolute boat anchor in weight, it is easily worth that weight in solid gold.
The boomiest, smoothest Jazz Ive ever played in terms of the low end - i use it for gigs a lot.Most of the late 90's stuff I've played has been excellent.
And my 2 American Pro 2's Jazzes are both spectacularly nice!
A very good friend had a Pro 2 P Bass and said it just felt flat and lifeless despite endless tinkering. He returned it and bought a never Japanese Hybrid thingy in a cool lava kind of colour.
I think there is a decent level of QC across the Fender group as a whole but hey, the odd Friday arvo builds do get through now and then. One of the concessions in large-scale production.