Mowac

James Jamerson would have been proud.....................

Just won this sweet Kawai off evilbay. It's an Alembic copy F2-B bass. It was made between 1985 and 1990 and it is practically in near-mint condition. One thing I noticed right away is that it has a carbon fiber nut. It is also 18-volt active. Oddly enough, both 9-volts have to rest in side the control cavity of their on accord. No battery clips to hold them in place. I've heard the expression that these basses are '...pianos in a bass's clothing'. That really sums it up well. Just one drawback. After a week, the output jack broke as it is one of those square plastic-bodied types with 8 solder lugs on it. I got lucky enough to get in touch with a rep. for Kawai in the U.S. and I was able to order the exact replacement for this bass. The only thing I've done is buff out the neck and frets and change the strings. It may be called the "Poor Man's Alembic" but I'll vouch for this bass any day.

[quote name='wombatboter' post='592135' date='Sep 7 2009, 09:48 AM']I bought a Jaydee years ago at the Bass Centre..I saved a long time to have one but when I had it, it was absolutely nothing but trouble. I know about the Mark King-hype at the time and there were inferior basses made but I still think that this is a disgrace and a quality-check should be obvious for every bass for every customer. Just think of someone who worked hard to get his dream bass and it turns out to be horror..
I had a lot of trouble with the neck which would twist within half an hour (took it to a bass-shop and when I came back home it had moved already). I tried everything, send it back to John Diggins (it got lost, came back severly damaged). Problems continued, had a refret job done but this just meant that the upper octave wasn't useable anymore..
No more Jaydees with refret jobs for me..[/quote]
A re-fret job is as only as good as the repair guy doing the actual work. If he truly is competent and knows what he's doing, then you shouldn't have problems like that. I had my MKII refretted by a gentleman luthier that I trust only because the frets had to be removed to repair the neck which had a high spot on the fingerboard at the 4th fret and that had to be sanded down flush with the rest of the fingerboard.

[quote name='MB1' post='592169' date='Sep 7 2009, 10:41 AM']MB1.
...That colours Vomit! [/quote]
Yeah.....especially where the paint was peeling which leads me to believe that it may not be an original Jaydee paint job. I haven't seen any other Jaydees paint jobs peel like that.

According to the current Jaydee U.K. site. The wait time for a new order is from a year to 16 months because as the Doc stated, John is currently on over 40 orders at this time.

[quote name='BB3000S' post='591369' date='Sep 6 2009, 08:21 AM']How about Jaydee series I, II and III - how do they compare sonically?[/quote]
The Series 1 has a kind of upper-mid range sound(passive mode) with more of a bottom end in the neck pickup setting becasue the pickup is closest to the neck socket. This area needs some space to play with IMO like on the Series II and III models between the neck pickup and the neck. In other words, when you are slapping on a Series 1, you can't help but to slap right on top of the neck pickup. Mark King actually slapped his Jaydees over the end of the fingerboard. The Series II and III models are a tad less boomy on the low end because the neck pickup is moved back from the neck socket ,sound wise, that's the only difference that I can tell from the Series 1. The Roadie has a higher midrange sound from the Series I, II, and III models because it is constructed in solid mahoghany. Different woods produce different sounds in general. Ash has the best sound in my opinion because it's a heavier wood with more resonance and sustain, however, if a Jaydee that already clocks in at over 12 pounds were made of ash, it would probably weigh almost 20 pounds!....Ouch! I don't know if that helped with your question at all, perhaps the Doc can shed more light on the subject. I just know from my own experience because I own a Series I, II, and a Roadie. I e-mailed John Diggins once about Mark King's EQ setting on his Jaydee and he said that he would have the low and treble settings on full and the mid-range setting at center. Also if you've noticed Mark King's bass amp settings as on his Trace Elliots and Ashdowns, the sliders aren't in the traditional 'V' pattern but more of an 'm' pattern. Check that out.

Here's that Jaydee Series III that is in the U.S. that is once again on Ebay. The price isn't all that bad. It's missing the pickup selector knob and one of the bridge saddles. The neck has had a re-fret job. No dings that I could see from the photos. Link is below if anyone is interested. It is definately a good candidate for anyone that cares to have a Jaydee refurbed instead having a new one built and at half the price of a new one. It's got a few paint issues but the bass can be refinished. A decent investment IMO.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/Jaydee-Mark-King-II-Supernatural-bass-Case-Jay-Dee-JD_W0QQitemZ270452144930QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3ef8343b22&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]http://cgi.ebay.com/Jaydee-Mark-King-II-Su...id=p3286.c0.m14[/url]

Here's that Jaydee Series III that is in the U.S. that is once again on Ebay. The price isn't all that bad. It's missing the pickup selector knob and one of the bridge saddles. No dings that I could see from the photos. Link is below if anyone is interested. It is definately a good candidate for anyone that cares to have a Jaydee refurbed instead having a new one built and at half the price of a new one. A worthy investment IMO.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/Jaydee-Mark-King-II-Supernatural-bass-Case-Jay-Dee-JD_W0QQitemZ270452144930QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3ef8343b22&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]http://cgi.ebay.com/Jaydee-Mark-King-II-Su...id=p3286.c0.m14[/url]

:brow: [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='584878' date='Aug 29 2009, 08:28 PM']Hallo!

The Mark King and Roadie models (plus the Session, Studio and Video basses) are/were available in three different body sizes. The Series I is the biggest, the Series II is a slimmer shape (still quite `long' in the body) and the Series III is a scaled down Series I. The GA24 models are a different shape again. All the basses share the same electronics and pickups apart of course from the Roadies which are available as either one or two p/up passive or active models, and of course, special order instruments.

Pickup placement - the Series I basses had the neck p/up very close to the end of the neck. The Series II Mark King basses (not the Roadie model) normally had the `funk groove' between the end of the neck and the front p/up - hence the p/ups were more closely spaced than the Series I. However, there are a number of Series II MK models out there that dont have the funk groove! There are also some Series II models with the same p/up spacing as the Series I models! Confusing eh!?

The Series III shape did not have the groove and the front p/up was further away from the end of the neck (similar to the Series II). Bryan (Mowac) has got a pic of three of his JD basses together, one being a white Series III bodied Roadie, plus his Classic Series I and MK Series II - can you post it here mate? You will then be able to see the differences!

Meant to say, you could have the following Roadie models - the I and II in this case refers to one or two pickups:

Series I, II or III body size: Roadie I - 1 pickup passive, Roadie II - 2 p/up passive, Roadie IA - 1 p/up active EQ, Roadie IIA - 2 p/up active EQ. All availalbe fretted or fretless and he has built 5 string versions (I had a fretless 5 string with a Series I body).

Here's some pics from the net of the three body sizes:

Series I in pearl pink:


Series II with funk groove. Note the narrower body width - the top cutaway is much narrower than the Series I


Series III in pearl blue - scaled down version of the Series I




Nick[/quote]

Nick,

Just a thought about how to determine the difference between the Series II and Series III's. If the string anchors are to the left of the XLR jack, It's a Series III, if it's right of the XLR jack, then it's a Series II. At least that is how I figured it out. My white Roadie is practically a Series III made from solid mahoghany. I'm seriously thinking about installing an exact XLR jack on my Roadie just to throw people off.

Bryan (Mowac)

[quote name='BB3000S' post='590123' date='Sep 4 2009, 03:18 PM']Congratulations! I see myself heading down the jaydee road eventually, in large part thanks to this thread and the jaydee porn one.


Oh my, 12 lbs is pretty hefty. I have two Fender J's in ash that weigh in at 11 lbs, and they do get heavy after a wile standing.

My ideal bass weight is 9-10 lbs, would a Seriess II/III be likely to land in that region? Then again, weight isn't a real dealbreaker - at 1.88m I'm a pretty big guy too so I wouldn't want a really small bass body either. How does the Series III body compare to a classic Alembic for instance?

Is sound characteristics very different between the three series?[/quote]
A series III is probably smaller than an Alembic. I've never owned an Alembic, however, the Doc may know the difference. I would think that the sound qualities are different because of the woods invlolved, the electronics, and your playing style. The type of woods involved really determines how a bass will sound. I like Fender-type jazz basses made out of ash as that is an excellent wood for good tone and sustain. I've got this bass I won on ebay from what used to be called R.A.L basses in the U.S.(no longer in buisiness) for 60 GBP. I thought it was going to be a mediocre bass. Cheap price, cheap bass, right? I couldn't have been more wrong. This thing was built solid as a tank! It was built out of ash with above average quality hardware and parts. The neck had a P-bass string spacing at the nut but with a J-bass headstock. I couldn't believe that a passive bass could sound this solid with awesome sustain and killer tone. It sounded better than my other Fender that had high-end upgrades that I made. I'll post a pic of it and make a video with it at a later date. I also won another bass exactly like it from a bloke that lived 25 miles from me off Ebay for about 55 GBP! I got two identical great basses for around 122 GBP.

I wouldn't play a bass that ugly even if it was under a court order. Hell, for that kind of money, I'd keep John Diggins at Jaydee busy for the next several years with my orders alone. I might have a Unicorn bass built, (They are about as expensive as Alembics!)

[quote name='bluesparky' post='577423' date='Aug 22 2009, 05:38 AM']It's just a strip of normal gaffa tape, he wraps it around his thumb for when he plays.
Most of the time the strip of tape is hanging on his mic stand ready for when he comes on stage.
Can't remember why he uses it - he thwacks the strings so hard and it's either to stop him mangling his thumb or the strings.
He usually throws it into the crowd after each gig..[/quote]

Mark said at a bass clinic once that he played so hard at a gig in Holland around 1980 that he literally split the side of his thumb. That's when he began using the tape. He said that because they had so many shows to do, the tape saved his thumb from damage. He also said that the sound he got with the tape was not as good. Which may explain why he plays real aggressively. He doesn't play the way he used to as he plays a more 'reserved' style these days. Back in the day, he literally wore the wooden pickup covers on his Jaydees down to the magnets!

[quote name='purpleblob' post='583954' date='Aug 28 2009, 02:40 PM']Wow, those prices are very good. I often look out for a good example of a Supernatural, but at those prices I could buy one new.[/quote]
Precisely mate........I've seen Jaydee MKII's on Ebay that weren't in the best of shape and they were asking above the cost of a brand new one.

[quote name='BB3000S' post='584940' date='Aug 30 2009, 03:45 AM']Thanks for sorting that out Doc! That groove looks pretty cool, does it really make poping more comfortable?

Amazing collection there Mowac, they all look smashing. Next to the other two the Series I looks pretty sturdy - is it somewhat like a Jazz Bass weight / body size wise?[/quote]

The funk groove is pretty much for looks. Other bass manufacturers have there own variation of that design. The Status MKII has what they call a "Slap Ramp" in which the end of the neck tapers down to the body of the bass at the last fret. The Jaydee's purpose is to be a recessed area so that you don't grind away at the finish when popping and it allows more room for the index finger to get between the string and body. IMHO John Diggins should have made this wider than it is.

As far as weight, The Jaydee Series 1 weighs in at 12 pounds,4 oz. It's a beast. I'm 6'1" tall and so a bass this size looks great hanging on me. Mark King is only 5',7" and that is why his Jaydees looked bigger on him. I have seen some very impressive Roadies that were in a Series 1 size and looked remarkable. The only way a Fender would come close to the weight of a Series 1 Jaydee is if the Fender body was made of ash. I couldn't imagine a Jaydee Series 1 made from ash. I'd be like ,"My back!....I've pulled my back!"

Did anyone notice the hexagon string anchors and matching master vol/tone knobs? Those are extremely rare. This was the first bass I've ever seen a pic of that had them.

PLEASE............TAKE THE CHROME BUMPER OFF OF THAT BASS!!!!!!

[quote name='daveski' post='563004' date='Aug 7 2009, 02:05 PM']Here is a couple of pics of my newly aquired Black Beauty prototype 23 (may 2003) i traded this bass with JD for a lovely S2 and a few quid his way. They are both cracking basses and i've enclosed a couple of picks of our get together, with our ensemble of equipment.[/quote]

That's an awesome line up in your collection, Daveski. I see you have a Pangborn there. Do I detect a hint of Jaydee electronics with these basses? Or did pangborn have their active control boards built at the same contractor that made the Jaydee control boards also?

"Bryan (Mowac) has got a pic of three of his JD basses together, one being a white Series III bodied Roadie, plus his Classic Series I and MK Series II - can you post it here mate? You will then be able to see the differences!

Nick"

As requested, just what the doctor ordered:

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='581381' date='Aug 26 2009, 08:50 AM']Try a BBNE2 and say that.[/quote]

Sorry mate. I don't play 5-string basses so I wouldn't know. I just didn't care for the factory pickups as they sounded very 'thin and hollow'.

[quote name='BB3000S' date='Aug 29 2009, 04:53 PM' post='584793']
Thanks mate, I now officially have severe Jaydee-GAS.
Series I, II or III will be a tough one though... Pity they don't explain the differences between them, the Series II and III seem pretty identical to my dull eyes... Oh well.

I thought I was the only one wondering that very question. What is the difference between the series II and III models? Anybody? Anybody?

[quote name='johnbob' post='584301' date='Aug 29 2009, 04:01 AM']I had this Jaydee build for me by Johnny Diggins a few years ago.
These are very fine basses with that beautiful distinctive Jaydee tone.
I had some features of the GA24 on this bass.
Like the string anchors and a custom made brass Jaydee logo inlay in the headstock
I sold this one 3 years ago and I regret it sometimes...but Status and Clover Slapper basses make things bearable
I owned a Jaydee some 20 years ago, the necks were very "unstable" then.
Now this problem is taken care of by using a stronger truss rod.
Here's a pic of my Jaydee bass
[/quote]
A gem of a bass my friend. It looks very Alembic. I love coco bolo. Does the teardrop string anchors kill the sound at all as opposed to the round keyhole type?

[quote name='RhysP' post='584458' date='Aug 29 2009, 08:28 AM']Same here. I had a lovely Supernatural (before it became the Mark King model) with the planet & UFO inlays, bound neck & headstock & inlaid JD logo.
I ended up getting rid of it as the neck was a bloody nightmare - I swear I spent more time adjusting the trussrod than I did playing the bloody thing.
To be honest I found it to be a bit of a one trick pony too; it was great for slapping but sounded terrible for anything else.[/quote]

I feel your pain regarding the truss rod, however, I had read that John makes upgrades (if you plan to replace the fingerboard) by using the option of carbon fiber rods to strengthen the neck. If I was having a new one built, that would be the way go. The reason the neck moves around so much is because of the laminates used during the neck construction 'give' as the woods flex with changes in temps, humidity,etc. If the neck was all maple or of another solid piece of wood then that neck moving around wouldn't be an issue. Also if there was one thing I'd change about the Jaydee active circuit is that I'd use a variable pan selector knob as opposed to a 3-way fixed. Who knows what sounds you could possibly get.

[quote name='Acebass7267' post='583565' date='Aug 28 2009, 09:12 AM'][attachment=31790:Picture_001.jpg][attachment=31790:Picture_001.jpg]I am selling a Jaydee Mark King Supernatural Bass Guitar. It was Made in 1985 and is a Custom Built Guitar. This Bass Guitar is in a wonderful condition so much so that it still looks brand new, it has the normal wear and tear you would expect to see on a bass guitar that has been gigged. This Bass Guitar comes with Bass/Middle/Treble/ Boosters. These Boost each of the EQs by as musch as 16db. It comes with the Standard Pick up selector like on most Bass Guitars. It also has a selection switch for making the pickups Active or Passive This Bass is Ideal for the Slap or The Real Punchy Bass Players out there. This is a real enthusiasts Bass Guitar. All This and it comes in a Gator Hard Case, What More could you want. All this for £1600 Bargain

Any Questions Please feel free to contatct me on 07872447068 cheers

_________________________
AceBass[/quote]

That's a lovely bass you have there and I hope you do fetch the price your asking. However, It looks to me that the bridge has been replaced with a fairly new Jaydee bridge and the master volume and tone knobs aren't the original knobs. I also would agree that you can have a brand new one built for less than your asking for this one. Lovely bass still, .....Best Regards.......cheers.

[quote name='gary mac' post='580933' date='Aug 26 2009, 02:51 AM']That looks just lovely. Well done on the refurb, time well spent.

All the best, Gary[/quote]
.....time and money well spent. This project cost me almost 600 GBP ( at todays exchange rate) for the brand newparts and that included all the hardware, the new SN2000 humbucking pups, and resurfacing and refretting the fingerboard.

[quote name='Mowac' post='577785' date='Aug 22 2009, 01:12 PM'][color="#0000FF"][/color]As promised are a few pics of my beloved Jaydee in pearl pink finish. It was made in 1987. As you can see, it was ordered with the rare 'infinity' inlays that I had never seen before I got my hands on this one. It is in near mint condition. I live in the U.S. so trying to find a Series 1 is like trying to find an honest car salesman. It didn't like the pearl pink color at first but after a while it grows on you. I'll post some of MK2 in cherry red in another post. Enjoy.

You can check out some videos of this bass here, you may have seen them before:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mowac&search_type=&aq=f"]http://www.youtube.com/results?search_quer..._type=&aq=f[/url]

The pictures files are very large as I forgot to size them down so please be patient.
Keep on slappin'![/quote]
Just a footnote:

I just found this the other day. This gentleman I met at the annual local guitar show in my area last year snapped a photo of me with my pearl pink Jaydee. Here is the link:

[url="http://www.grinningelk.com/diary_details.asp?id=9"]http://www.grinningelk.com/diary_details.asp?id=9[/url]

I believe I am officially an ambassador for Jaydee basses now in the U.S.