BassAgent

Speaking of 70's Fenders: please wish me luck on checking out this seemingly very nice 1970 Jazz tomorrow.

Well, speaking from experience that's really not true. I've never played a truly horrible post-1975 Jazz. They do have that reputation but I don't really see why. I have, however, setup a 1978 Jazz that was close to 10 kgs.

Not really, in that they're made in the same factories by the same people with roughly the same materials. They only differ in specs here and there: different colours, electronics, and so forth. IIRC my JMJ Mustang for example has a thicker fretboard than a Vintera, a different pickup, a relic blue finish and Hipshot lollipop tuners, but other than that is pretty standard.

I call any pre-1982 Fender vintage, but I have done so for the last 20 years so it might be time to rethink that rule. Ont he other hand, if I play a 1998 Fender (which would be "vintage" according to myself 20 years ago, if I keep the same timeframe) it doesn't feel vintage at all.

Oh by the way, is there anything else specific I have to look out for? Tuners without the trademark-R of course, pots with the correct code and the works, but anything specific for that time period?

I'm currently checking out a 1970 Jazz, refin in LPB. Is it possible to have a Jazz from 1970 with 60's bridge pickup spacing? I believe Fender switched somewhere in '70 or '71?

Finally had the full dozen basses at home again so had them recline on the orange sofa again. Had to use the wide angle lens on my iPhone so it's not the prettiest photo ever. But still. Top, from left to right: Sadowsky MetroExpress JJ5, Lakland USA JO, Fender CS '64 LE Jazz, 1966 Fender Jazz, Fender Standard Jazz fretless, De Gier Bebop 5 Bottom, from left to right: Yamaha BB N5II, Blade B2 Tetra Bass, 1971 Fender Precision, De Gier Soulmate, Fender JMJ Mustang, Sterling Ray34 with Boekholt fretless neck

The cab riser was present at the venue Really liked that. The Stingray is a Sterling Ray34 body with a Nordstrand pickup (and the original preamp) and a custom built fretless neck by Peter Boekholt. When I bought it, it came with a fretless Status neck which I sold a few months ago because I wanted a wood neck.

Today:

When I bought my Stingray Ray34 it came with a Kent Armstrong pickup and a Status Graphite fretless neck. I didn't like the pickup so I replaced it with a Nordstrand pickup. I also didn't reeeeally like the graphite neck, so I had a maple/ebony unlined neck made by Peter Boekholt (pbbasses.com). It was finally finished so I picked it up yesterday! Very very happy with this beautiful neck.

Wow, that looks amazing!

That is very very cool!

Somehow, within a period of 6 months I went from 1 gold bass to three. And I really like it. Soooo let's dedicate a topic to gold basses! From left to right: Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz (shoreline gold), De Gier Bebop 5 (pharaoh gold), Lakland US Joe Osborn (shoreline gold). So technically, the Lakland and the Fender are the same colour.

If it's a JV that's actually a pretty good deal.

I really don't understand people who categorically refuse to own a signature bass. If it has the sound, feel and looks you look for, who cares? Maybe you dislike that specific player's way of playing, but you're not them, right? I have a JMJ Mustang which I bought because I wanted a very very good Mustang, and this is one. I saw a fellow Dutch bass player doing a regular pop music gig with her Troy Sanders signature PJ. I have no clue if she's a big Mastodon fan, but my guess is she just likes a silverburst Fender PJ. So basically my point is: a signature model isn't different from any other model. There's just a signature on the headstock.

That is pretty expensive for basses that look like they've been assembled from not very expensive parts. I mean, my eyes have to deceive me or that red Jazz is a Sire body and a Squier Standard neck. It might be the angle of the photo but the aligning on the silver MM Jazz just looks...off.

A solid piece of concrete tree.

I've had a 78 Jazz in for setup that was around 16 or 17 lbs...🫣

In that same comment Roger has also said that the new generation comes from a new factory. I really really want to try them now. And also I do not want to try them, because I'm afraid after that, I'll have two MetroExpress basses.

Taking the Custom Shop out for its first spin tonight. Can't wait.

Just got in touch with Warwick: not possible.

IIRC there was somebody in China who already had the Sadowsky name trademarked. Roger stated that he was trying to get the name back, and that the RSD logo was a placeholder until then.

You do know why it doesn't on the first generation, right?

Well that's probably because it's not a Rockbass but a Sadowsky