bakerster135

On 25/06/2025 at 21:06, Pow_22 said:

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/fender-precision-bass-3-tone-sunburst-1966-pre-owned/

I don't know if it previously wore flats before BD got hold of it, but those frets are very flat considering it's had a refret 🤔

Also, is it just me or is a recessed truss nut always a bit of a red flag for anyone else? I know the wood can compress over time, but it always suggests a potential unstable neck/truss issue, like the truss rod's needed a lot of adjustment and/or it's run out of adjustment room and started burrowing into the wood...

Only just seen this thread, but incredible work and documentation and congratulations on putting together what looks like a fantastic bass 👏 Dare I say, I much prefer the look of this to yours and any other Wal Mk1 basses I've seen 😬 Like others, dying to hear those sound clips 😉

As above, and at the risk of inciting a hate riot, I don't believe you'll experience any form of epiphany even if you pick up a prime 50s/early 60s Fender bass. You're probably even in a minority by not being concerned with it.

I've been through more 60s Jazz Basses than I and my bank balance care to admit. I'm now left with two 70s JBs and one 70s Stingray that really speak to me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

5 minutes ago, chriswareham said:

 

MXR Flanger / Doubler. Very popular in higher end studios at the time, and a bit of kit I'd love to own as it's responsible for the incredible synth sound on Soft Cell's "Youth". I've tried reproducing that sound with several other flangers but without ever getting really close.

Yes, as noted above I was thinking it could likely be one of these. 

Never seen or heard one in person but would love to have a go on one! I understand it was also Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell's secret weapon for adding that amazing thickness to his tone...

That sounds like a deep, metallic flanger to me. Also sounds like it's just sweeping, not hearing any envelope triggering personally.

Could be the MXR rack or pedal flanger, or an EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress, or even an A/DA flanger? I know they're all capable of producing that deep, metallic sound.

Whoops, missed that somehow! Thanks for letting me know, Steve.

Maybe been posted here before but this popped up on my YouTube feed today, and was only posted two days ago...
 

Perhaps goes without saying, but it's a good watch! 

28 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

 

I have two '73 Jazzes here and neither of them have a board like that. Mine are clearly thick veneers and follow the radius of the board which results in a slight curve in the rosewood at the headstock end.

 

I'd like to know when Fender started putting slab boards on Jazz basses in the 70's......

It's a good spot, I really don't think they did? Also bear in mind the bullet truss rod came in later 74 and stayed until the start of the 80s, so it rules that period out. Definitely casts further doubt on the authenticity...

3 hours ago, SurroundedByManatees said:

What year is it supposed to be? The decal with the offset part on the ball of the headstock was done from 1964-1968 I think. . 

 

The combination of this type of decal with clover tuners could only be a '68 I think, if authentic. Usually of the ones with the older logo have lollipops though, and the later '68s TV logo with clover tuners. But as it's Fender, there can always be a few that we're assembled in between transition.

 

Pickguard doesn't look authentic at first sight

100% agree, the clover tuner and decal was the first red flag for me. Every pre-TV decal late 66-68 block inlay Jazz bass that I've seen has the lollipops. 

1 hour ago, Belka said:

It's not an original neck in any way. That's a slab fingerboard, not a veneer, which it should be on any Fender from 1962-1983. Those tuners are the Fender branded Schallers that came out in 1976 and are still used in Fender's '70s reissue basses today. The guard is a clear repro. 

 

The body, electronics and bridge could be real, you'd need to a closer look inside to verify. 

How can you tell that's a slab fingerboard, it's got binding around it? 🤔 

On 29/04/2025 at 10:08, uncle psychosis said:

Discovered his channel recently, and Now I'm reeling from the revelation that "...and out come the wolves" wasn't a P bass - it was a Fender Longhorn Jazz 😮

 

 

I'd always thought it was the Precision, though, having seen a few live vids of Maxwell Murder, Time Bomb, etc. where he was using the black 78 Jazz, I subsequently suspected he'd actually used that...So this is a total surprise!

On 26/04/2025 at 21:46, Sean said:

HAZ vs Darkglass Tone Capsule

 

I'm struggling with the DG.

 

I'm now completely acclimatised to running the LHZ-03s on 10 and rolling back the treble for a few songs. Awesome (like a hotdog 😉).

 

Is the DG designed for folk that have time to potch (mess about) with knobs and stuff? Why on earth would you hide one of the controls inside? Why would you design something that is unusable when dialed to 10? What am I missing with this thing?

 

I can get some nice usable sounds but I feel like a safe-cracker getting the shower temperature just right (another EI reference, sorry).

I quite like the DG stuff generally though I do think the Tone Capsule was a total miss. With the Spector LT I think it was the worst possible pairing, totally removing any remnants of the classic Spector sound and leaving you with a low-mid mud pit. Also played a Thumb with one installed and that sounded even worse. Bin it.

The Automatic Doors

I've, technically, bought one bass off Reverb, but only because I spotted a bass I wanted that was being sold by a dealer dealing through it. I then went to the dealer's own website and the bass was £800 less than advertised on Reverb, I expect due to their selling fees...Deal done and, although not needed, I expect the aftercare would have been much better if I'd dealt with the dealer directly rather than through Reverb. I'm not deluded in thinking I'm the only person who's done this.

14 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yep, I had a 78 Precision that was around 7.5lbs, and a 77 that was 10.5lbs. And a mate of mine had a 77 that was exactly the same as mine except it was 14lbs. We used to joke that he stood on stage like The Ramones not to be punk but because that`s what the weight of his bass did to him. 

7.5lbs is pretty crazy in the other direction...I feel like it'd be hard to keep hold of that! 😆 

20 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

In my experience, the weights are all over, from nice and light, to boat anchors. I currently have 4 70's Fenders, and they vary between just under, to just over 9 lbs. The '78 Precision I had was 8 lbs 9 oz. 2 of mine have been played to death, and two have been looked after very well, they're all nice basses to play, and they sound great, though different from each other.

The condition of this one above is lovely, and I particularly like a black Jazz, they do look fab. The gap in the neck pocket is a shame, but if it plays ok, that wouldn't put me off, but the weight is the killer for me, my shoulder hurts just looking at it.

 

Rob

Yeah they are, but 11lbs is generally middling and, though too heavy for some, not too bad imo. I've got two 70s JBs, one's 9ish lbs and the other's 12lb+! Plays and sounds amazing though and perfectly comfortable on a wide, padded strap.

I think I've played every mid-late 70s JB that's gone through the Bass Gallery and there have been a LOT of boat anchors.

23 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

 

11 lbs !! 

As you probably know, that's pretty good going for this period...Seems a bit too clean for my liking though. Always a bit suspicious of 70s Fenders that are too clean as it makes me think no-one wants to play it! Also, the G string nut slot looks like it's been cut with a dinner knife.

4 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Check out this beauty! This is my second favourite pre CBS colour combo after black with matching h/s:

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/1964-fender-jazz-bass/

Oh man, yeah, that's the dream for me 🤤 Had an opportunity to buy a 65 with the same colour configuration for significantly less money about seven years ago, but couldn't quite stretch to it as our son was on the way...Barring a windfall, I don't think there's any chance I'll ever be able to get hold of one now with the prices the custom colour ones go for 😭

1 hour ago, Sean said:

One is going to be a case queen, the other is going to join Amber as part of the gig rig.

 

All my Spectors except this blue/maple have a name. I'm looking for a name to join Quint, Amber, Peacock and Zebra.

Is it bahama blue? It's got desert island vibes! Maybe call it Wilson? 😉

I see this image on the website which gives a bit of a better view of the decal, and this looks more convincing to me. You can see the decal edges better and the grain in the gold of the "Fender".

Also, no offence to the photographer, but the blacklight photo isn't the best. I think if they did it face on and in a much darker room then you'd see something closer to the strat photo you posted.

I'd bet money on it having been refinished from sunburst.

6 hours ago, SurroundedByManatees said:

Dear vintage lovers. I am looking into a '65 Jazz Bass. The seller says the logo and headstock finish are original. Though it all looks a bit pale to me, compared to most I've seen.

 

Any opinions on this? Second picture is under uv light.

 

It looks pretty legit to me for an early-mid 65. I know what you mean about it somehow looking a bit off, but I think the "Fender" has just faded a bit and everything else about it looks right. The PAT numbers are correct and in the right place, which is something 99.9% of the repro decals seem to get wrong. 

Also, yes, it should be a waterslide decal sitting on top of the finish, which it looks like it is as I can see the edges. As far as I know, they didn't start spraying over the decal until late 60s when they brought the poly finishes in.

2 minutes ago, Quatschmacher said:

Shite. That is all. 

😆 Oh dear...Please, do elaborate

5 minutes ago, ped said:

Does anyone have a recommendation for cleaning/polishing a cracked nitro finish? 

I've always used Gibson polish and 100% cotton cloth on my old nitro Fenders. It's always done a good job and never had any issues. 

51 minutes ago, SumOne said:

 Here' a quick noodle with Low Pass, Low Range, Drive Down. On a Jazz type Passive Bass and no compressor or preamp or EQ etc. 

This is great, @SumOne, thanks very much for posting!

8 hours ago, SumOne said:

Yeah that, low pass, low range, drive down sound is really good.

Pleeeeeeeeease could one of you be kind and post a recording!? I'm meant to be on super saving mode for impending house purchase, but if this sounds like I hope it's going to sound then I must have one!