Hutton

Excellent advice spider.

I must admit that I am perfectly happy with the Fender stock pups on my two precisions. I wonder sometimes if it is 'fashionable' to change pups? Whatever you do always keep the originals should you sell the bass on. BTW nick that is a slightly disturbing avatar. Mind you I suppose it gives you somewhere to keep your digestive biscuit between bites!

Nah! Too busy for my liking.

Great post. Many thanks.

Congrats on the Scout purchase WOT. I am actually on my second scout after my first one never managed to get rid of the gremlins that constantly beset it. The nice people at Mesa however exchanged it for the new model with the one jack socket and passive/active toggle switch instead of the two jack sockets. It's a great combo with the ability to fulfil so many roles.

Preparation is the key here. If bands are given precise instructions regading time etc and things like backline are discussed well beforehand then there should be no excuses apart from unforeseen circumstances spoiling the arrangements. Sloppy and lazy promoters produce badly run and frustrating gigs. So, bands and promoters both need to get their acts in order for the thing to work right. If the gig has been well organised beforehand then I would have no problem with telling a lazy band to sling their hook. If this was done more often then perhaps the offenders may get their act in order.

I would also thoroughly endorse the suggestion of Jimmy Moon. Jimmy changed a standard fretted fingerboard on my son's Jazz for an ebony fretless. The job was absolutely superb. Jimmy's website is: [url="http://www.moonguitars.co.uk/moonhome.html"]http://www.moonguitars.co.uk/moonhome.html[/url]

A very nice pair of basses Chris, congratulations! I have a Fullerton 83 standard precision in ivory. It's a really well built bass in superb all-original condition. BTW are you going to be selling your 74 with the rosewood board?

I should add to my earlier post that I have found a good few assistants in shops very helpful although the stock in the shop and the inability to order with confidence has tied their hands. Many are sympathetic and complain about their own shops policy. One even told me that he does a good deal of his shopping on the internet because he can not only get the goods he wants but he can get them cheaper even with his staff discount. I wonder if the accountants are driving the stock lists of stores? There are probably/hopefully good answers to these problems. Unfortunately the ordinary customer doesn't know them. There is however no excuse for rude and disinterested shop assistants unless the customer has given them similar treatment.

Good music shops are definitely a thing of the past. After saving my pennies I was on the look out for a top end Precision Bass. All I have been met with is "we don't have anything in stock nor are we likely to get anything. We can order for you but it will take goodness knows how long". At this moment in time there is also apparently only one custom shop precision coming into the country from the states in the whole of april according to Fender UK. Even the internet shops are advertising basses they don't have in stock. So if you want a standard instrument then all may be well as long as stocks last. However, if you want something a bit special the shops seems to be too scared to stock anything high end anymore. I should say I am referring to Fender basses. I also notice a distinct lack of good used basses these days in guitar stores. Whose fault is it? The customer, the store, or ebay? Or am I just looking in the wrong places?

Nice to see you on here Ritchie. Welcome!

I don't know too much about Jaco but I certainly wish you all the best with the dissertation. I wouldn't worry about grammar on this forum, unfussy people know what you mean. Plus I'm sure that when you write up your final draft it will be well polished!

Go and try some. You only have to look through these forums to find that just about every variant of the P bass has its devotees. If you then find it difficult to make up your mind I would go for the new American Standard P bass.

Good post elom! Were the Performers exclusively made in Japan?

I am a precision guy and reckon that the S1 was a waste of time on the p bass. However, my son plays a Jazz with the S1 fitted and used it all the time. He can't understand why Fender have left it out.

[quote name='Beedster' post='124345' date='Jan 21 2008, 08:48 AM']Stick some foam under the string at the bridge, gives you the muted thump without requiring any technical stuf with the fingers (the old Precisions would have had foam string mutes under the bridge cover). Means you can play the same lines faster also. Check out his concert from '68 with the TCB (Taking Care of Business) band. It was the bass playing on this as much as anything that convinced me that the bass was the instrument to play. In 'Suspicious Minds' - which sets off at a pretty frantic pace anyway - the bassist just goes off on one in an almost Entwhistle-esque style, whilst stil holding down a great groove. I think Elvis realised something special was happening 'cos at about the same point in the song he just stops singing and throws a few shapes (either that or a cheeseburger was repeating on him). Either way, pure rock 'n' roll. Chris PS if your band aren't doing Suspicious Minds, ask them too. Play it a little up tempo and it's a bass player's dream [/quote] Yep. Jerry Scheff is the man.

I agree with Beedster that Mighty Mite necks are excellent. I put a strat together using a mighty mite neck and body. The quality was superb and my guitar-playing son has been very pleased with the result. I got both neck and body from ebay. [attachment=5122:P7300001.JPG]