Davo-London

Sure geetarists are the chordists, but when you spend so much time practicing on your own, playing chords is good for your development as a muso. I have small hands as well which probably means that P bass was a bad choice. It's just funny how things work out. Davo

I'm VERY late to this debate ... but it won't stop me. I think there may be a link between the simplicity of the P and a demand for straight-forward bass playing. I cannot deny that the P sounds good in the mix. I also cannot deny that my bass playing development has been significantly held back by only owning a P-bass. Chords don't work and I find it impossible to play fast and articulately. If only I had bought a Jazz instead of a Precision 32 years ago I think I would be a different player. That said, I would happily own a 60's P with a narrower neck. My 70's P feels like a great slab of wood. So I went from the sublime to the ridiculous and commissioned a Cliff Bordwell Ball Bass as my main fretted bass. They are different instruments, they really are but I'll try and use the P-bass next time I'm in church. I'll need to give it new strings though! As for Leo getting it right. Well he did alright. I don't think Fender's popularity can be so easily dismissed. There's been plenty of opportunity for other basses to take the No1 spot. But they haven't. And the resale of Fenders is by far the easiest route. Davo

'76 Fender P Dunno to all your questions. However, original bridge was in the wrong poistion. I moved it. Then I stuck a Badass II bridge on it for 30 years (my fault) - recently returned the stock bridge. Curious thing is the intonation is better! Explain that if you can. And yes I know how to set the intonation. The neck is dead straight to my eye. I wish it was a 60's P though! It might get played more. Davo

Keeping wives in the dark is akin to a martial art. I have lots of basses so one coming and one going goes unnoticed. It's easy to slip them in after dark. There's lot's of other techniques too. At some point someone will say, "you should talk with your wife about all your purchases and needs". I disagree. It's good to have secrets - you know you're alive that way. Davo

It is truly wonderful and I don't know how you can sell it! Using a Squier for this type of project is a great idea. I would love to have a go at that. Maybe my daughter will one day play bass and I can customise one for her ... Davo

Agree with these posts. For fretted it's a matter of taste. However, I would always go with rosewood or ebony for fretless. I had a maple fretless P-bass and didn't care for the tone, i.e. it didn't have the range I would expect from a fretless. I've yet to play a maple fretless that suits me. Whereas my Jaco fretless Jazz (rosewood board) is a tone oasis. I also don't think that rosewood is any less articulate than maple. Davo

I can play the first 32 bars or so, but not quite at Jaco speed. In fact I find the first 4 bars the hardest. Anyone broken this opening bit down and explained their fingering on Utube? Davo

His playing seemed fine to me. What do you expect him to play? As for bobbing, well, he didn't do it all the time so he might be saved surgery later! I'd like to say that I didn't hear a single word that was sung. Not a single word. And it wasn't the mix. It might as well have been sung in Greek! Davo

Or just get a MIJ Jazz? Davo

I own a 76 P and recently sold a 78 P. Frankly, if you want a vintage instrument I would by a late 60's P. If you buy a refinished 60's P it'll cost £2000-3000. '76 Ps are priced at £1500-1600. But IMHO they are not worth it. Plus I tried to sell my 78 P for ages (it was fretless) eventually selling it for £1000. So if you really want a 70's P look around and do not pay more than £1300. I really don't think they should be any more than that. Alternatively buy a '82-'85 P MIJ Fender. These are becoming collectable and are much much more consistent than any MIAs from the 70's. My E-series MIJ Jazz has an thick slab of rosewood on the board a la '60-61 era Fender basses and the quality and sound are amazing. Just my thoughts Davo

I also saw Zawinul's last tour. the whole band were steaming. Probably the most together band I've ever heard. As for Lindley, how can you call him a victim with playing like that? RIP Zawinul and Pastorius Peace Davo

I have a CIJ Jaco Jazz and am picking up a '86 MIJ Squier in the US shortly. I wouldn't buy any other Fender. I'm a total convert. They are how Fenders should have been since the 70's. Going to Japan would be a brilliant idea. Hmmm thinks. Davo

The whole Mexican, Japanese, Taiwanese, American class system is a very clever bit of marketing. I'm reminded of star-bellied sneetches story by Dr Zeuss. Surely one of the best anti-class, anti-race childrens stories ever written. And who is the Sylvester McMonkey McBean character? Davo

you might get a CIJ Fender Jaco Jazz for £500-600. Davo

[quote name='bh2' post='836821' date='May 14 2010, 08:13 AM']This has been going for years... I've a 62 Jazz you can have for £30,000.[/quote] Do you? Is it made prior to October 1962> Davo

I'm a big DR Sunbeams fan. In fact I have the same DR strings on my fretted and fretless basses as I love em so much. For me they have a wonderful flexibility and feel for a start. The tone doesn't fade in the way that stainless steels strings seem to. So they treble-fade much slower and so you don't really notice it. For me, months go past and I suddenly think: Oh Gosh I should be changing strings but the tone is lovely that I'm loathed to. I have a Jaco Fender Jazz fretless with an epoxy'd rosewood board - for me this creates the Jaco tone that I love. It is really melodic and sweet. On my Cliff Bordwell fretted ball bass the Sunbeams get the most out of the Audere pre I have on board. The bass, mids and treble EQ all respond tunefully to the string/pickup/pre system I have. I have Nordstrand big singles PUs. Try them out - I would be surprised if you really didn't like them. Davo

I wouldn't refinish the bass, if you've had it a long time with no intention of parting with it, then that's the bass folk know and love. If it is refinished then it ceases to be recognisably yours and somehow looses some character. Furthermore, these damaged sections help the wood to dry out and further improves the tone IMHO. So no, I wouldn't refinish it. I would only ever, refinish a bass that has already been refinished once before. Davo

Or you can buy mine for a knock down price and then you can try for yourself?? How about that for an offer? Davo

No I didn't have to do anything. I just whipped out the BII and slipped in the bent metal and voila. I guess they were both adjusted to get the same action. I am very conscious of action normally and so I would have spotted any significant differences. I'm surprised by all the shim discussion as I didn't have that problem. Davo

Here this should lighten the load. This was my contribution to the debate. [url="http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/1963478/1"]Fender versus Badass II shootout[/url] Really, at the end of the day, don't bother. Apart from the sonic debate, they don't look right. A lot of famous bassplayers who own Jazzes and Precisions have not changed their bridge. Think about it. Davo

I'm bound to say that MIJ Squiers are excellent period. I'm not sure the comparison thing is too healthy, but the Ed Friedland video demonstrates it's mostly in our heads anyway. I'm sure the guitarist or drummer would say they can't tell the difference. That doesn't mean there isn't a difference but it puts it into perspective. Davo

[attachment=48619:USED_042610_007.jpg] Here she is. Manager says she plays very well and so this is my hope ... Davo

Had a tell someone that I have bought the above based on photos and a description by the GuitarCenter manager in California! I'm in Cali next month and I thought rather than drag a bass all the way I would buy local! Cost is $300. Yup that's right, a real snip. Photos to follow when I land back in England! Although I'm sure you could find it under used in guitarcenter.com website. Cheers Davo

[quote name='smileegee' post='820626' date='Apr 27 2010, 01:46 PM']Which Pickups for my MIM Fender Jazz 5 string Bass. I play mostly, Gospel, R&B and Hip Hop Styles so looking for the right sound. I'm thinking EMG or Seymour Duncan Can you help? Gee[/quote]