Bassmingo

I'm sad the two-tone sunburst is no longer available, and the glossy neck is a no-no for me, but nothing some fine grit and steel wool can't fix. Quality is great but I think they're overpriced by about a hundred quid. 

On 10/06/2019 at 06:20, ixlramp said:

ADGCFBb ok. To recommend gauges we need to know what gauges you prefer for BEADGC.

ADGCFBb? I'd be going .140/.110/.85/.70/.50/.40 for a tradeoff between tension and thickness in my opinion.

I used to use a .145 on a 5 string stingray for Ab, G or occasionally Gb. The tension was fine except it was a little floppy on the Gb. 

53 minutes ago, prowla said:

Ah yes - CV as well... 🙂

But what are the differences?

I would assume they are as the name implies

Vintage modified - Like a vintage instrument that has been tweaked or upgraded throughout the years in an effort to keep it somewhat up to date, like an affordable "best of both worlds"

Classic Vibe - A modern version of a classic instrument, modern production methods, but vintage specs, again, a different "best of both worlds"

But as I've never played either I could be totally wrong. 

What would the total price be including shipping to Ireland?

Well, this week I picked it up.

This is the first new instrument I've bought in close to 20 years, having wheeled and dealed in used gear for a long time. I must say that I'm impressed with the build quality. I love the fact the back of the neck is satin, as I've been moving away from sticky glosses for the past while. After a quick setup, I've got it close to where I want it. It's a little raspy in places but I'm sure with a bit of tweaking that will pass. 

Sound wise it falls somewhere between my stock 2004 MIM P and my Parts Jazz (with 75RI pickups). It certainly sounds warmer and less aggressive than my P. I'm not blown away when the Jazz pickup is soloed, but the P soloed, both on full, or the jazz backed off a little is to my liking. This is all just going straight into my DAW and back on headphones mind, as I'll be trying it in rehearsal later this week.

The only slight concern I have is the G saddle is pulling down a bit (as in to the floor in playing position) but I'm considering swapping the stock bridge on my P to a high mass, so I may do it here too. I'm also itching to try GZR's on my P so I may put a set in this too. 

Another touch I really like is the headstock. It just has "Fender" and "Jaguar Bass" on it. Very minimal and elegant. 

All in all, I'm happy. I figured I'd be doing some modding, so I'm not disappointed. I'll give it a honeymoon first though.

Now a couple of pics, including one with my P for comparison. 

Absolutely loving the pics guys, so envious. 

@Geek99 what was the price?

On 20/11/2018 at 19:55, Mudpup said:

There's actually 3 in the range - all with the wide 44.5mm nut width, reverse tuners and gold anodised scratch plate.

Classic 50's Precision - Polyurethane finish neck and body and available in sunburst, red or blonde. 

Classic 50's Precision Lacquer - Thin nitro finish neck and body, available in black (i think there used to be a blonde version too). 

Classic 50's Precision Roadworn - Nitro roadworn finish body and a poly neck, available in red or sunburst.

I tried all 3 and there was something that worked better for me with the nitro ones, I cant really quantify it but they just felt a bit more alive to me and different enough from a standard Mexican P bass - I wanted a Roadworn one because they feel absolutely lovely to play but the Lacquer popped up for a great price so i grabbed it and its gradually becoming roadworn naturally :-). Someone had already scotchbrighted the neck so it has a nice worn in feel already. I'd like to roll the edges a bit though as i think thats what makes the Roadworns feel so good along with the amount of wood in the big old neck.

They're all lovely basses though.

 

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I guess it's definitely the Classic 50's P for me then, and I'd remove a layer of the gloss from the neck. I'm not a fan of glossy necks, nor do I like the overly orange look of the neck on the Lacquer P, and I see no sense in paying an extra few hundred quid for the Roadworn look, just to get the neck I like, when I can just take some sandpaper to the  Classic. Plus I love the 2T sunburst. 

8 minutes ago, grenadillabama said:

I think "lacquer" means the finish on both neck and body . -not Poly. There is a Fender 50s model for about $750 with a wide 1.75" nut , aluminum pickguard, and reverse direction machines. I might go for that model as it is not 'roadworn' and the bridge is shiney. They come in burst and a lovely blonde that matches the yellowish pickguard. The whole bass is close to yellow . -The neck and fingerboard are one piece.

Yes, that's the one I want too. 

Nice! I love a good black & maple, and she's a beauty. 

I'm a little confused by the difference between the Lacquer variant and the standard 50's reissue. Does it refer to the lacquer on the neck?

I never had the chance to try out one of these until recently, but now I see why so many rave about it. The weight, neck profile and fret size tick all my boxes. it's the spec I never knew I wanted. I could take or leave the roadworn look, so the standard classic is a bit easier on the pocket (by about 500 quid!)

I don't need one right now, but someday I'm gonna own one. (in sunburst)

So, MIM 50's reissue owners, show me your basses so I can live vicariously through you!

So, I've been casually looking around for one of these Jags since I started this thread. during my searches, I've found them to be fairly rare. This variation wasn't that popular, and the white even less so. I couldn't import from the US due to cites, and there didn't seem to be any in Europe. 

So I'm casually browsing the site of a local shop a few weeks back, and there one is. The exact one I'm looking for. New old stock. Yesterday I went and checked it out and he's had it in stock for about a year (he claims) despite it having a 2015 serial number. It played and sounded pretty well, but will need a setup tweak to suit my style. 

He wanted €799 for it, but when I countered with the fact that the new player series were at a €749 RRP and this is essentially "last years model" he didn't argue when I offered him €700 for it.  I popped a holding deposit on it and will pick it up when I scrape together the rest of the cash. It's exactly the one I was looking for and I think he was glad to finally sell it. 

So now that I own two white basses (I already have a 2005 standard P) can I still really say that I don't like white basses?

It's actually not a switch, just a pick stuck in the pickguard.

I just assumed a band of that stature would choose MIA's. Not that there's anything wrong with MIM's mind. 

Interesting. The reason I ask is that the current touring bassist for ghost is using what looks to be a MIM jag in white. I'm quite surprised it's not MIA 

On 11/09/2018 at 16:17, kyuuga said:

The American model also had an olympic white colour with tortoise pickguard, so there's both versions in OL.
 

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Was there ever a MIA version exactly like the one I pictured above? with no switching?

@Grangur I really want to thank you for your efforts in this. I was convinced the neck was a write-off, but you were adamant that it could be rescued. I'm looking forward to getting it back and strung up (and mentioning to a few guys on TB that they were wrong)

Thanks again!

Brilliant! That's narrowed it down to the model I'm curious about being a MIM.

Anyone know a little more about them?

Since the new player Jaguar series was launched, I'm a bit confused by the lack of colour options available. 

I know the Jaguar was once available in Olympic White, but I'd like to know more detail. Specifically, I'm curious about the non-short scale, PJ config without all the switching options. 

When was it introduced and when was it discontinued?

Was It MIA? MIM? CIJ?

Thanks in advance. 

16 minutes ago, kristo said:

There's one on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squier-Vintage-Modified-Telecaster-Bass-Very-Rare-32-Scale/132743092622?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Sadly, I don't like white guitars....

The  Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass. 

I found out about these basses after they'd been discontinued, so I never got to see one in a shop, let alone play one. I've always had a thing for tele body basses, and I've a plan to someday build a shortscale one.  These however are 32" so kinda medium scale.

I prefer the single pickup version, over the mudbucker/jazz config. 

Has anyone played/owned/still own/modded one of these?  any opinions?  or pics?

They seem to be hard to find nowadays. 

1 minute ago, discreet said:

Right that's it, get out!!

 

 

I'm a black and maple kinda guy......

I really don't like the look of white on white guitars, or white guitars in general.

I have only one exception though. A white P bass, with a rosewood neck and a black pickguard. 

Thankfully I already have one!

Grangur, it was never my intention to imply you're an idiot. It's just the some of the advice I received over on talkbass was from people with decades of experience so I deferred to them. 

If you feel confident that you could do something with my neck for the price of postage, have at it. I'm all for rescuing it if possible. But because of the monetary worth of the bass, my own lack of skills, equipment and experience, I though best just to get a cheap replacement neck and forge onwards.

Regarding the truss rod, I don't think it's bent, or at least I hope so. If it was then I'd definitely give up at that stage. A board-off repair would simply not be cost effective for me. 

If you still want to have a go at straightening it, just let me know. 

I've been assured that the neck is past saving, by an expert on such things over on TB. He's adamant that it would go back to the ski jump as soon as string load is on it. So that's why I got the neck so quickly. I want to teach myself fret levelling and polishing so I plan to use to Squier neck to practice on.