BassAgent

Oh yeah totally agreed, a new set of strings is standard, on any bass (except brand new). The bridge sucks because it has the wrong screws and tie saddles are not tightly secured enough (they're movable). My repair guy already straightened out the neck so the alignment issue is gone I might still install a threaded saddle bridge to make the alignment even better, though.

It plays okay but I've had a chat with a few fellow bass players and well seated frets really enhance the sound.

Well, that turned out to be a little bit of a disappointment: I just took the bass to my regular repair guy to have the grounding issue fixed; he looked over the bass and found a few minor issues (the bridge sucks, I already knew that, the strings are two separate sets, I knew that, the neck needs a shim, didn't know that but no biggie) and one major one: the frets need replacement. There is, as he put it, "air under the frets". I've contacted the seller about this but he's not willing to compensate me in any way. I already paid quite a high price for this bass but now I know this I'm actually pretty bummed out.

Yeah that's what I thought when I hit "Submit" so I edited it into another snarky comment

Well, if that was true, me being a Dutchie probably wouldn't care too much either.

Well, at the end of the day a paint scheme would dictate my ability to take a bass on stage and enjoy it to the fullest. Plus, with a paintjob like that, I think it's just as important that other people, whose family or other people they know have been affected by the politics behind this particular flag, are bothered by these looks.

Yeah I feel the same and probably wouldn't have bought it because of that. Are you planning on having it refinished?

I wasn't planning on buying another bass any time soon, just got a CS Jazz with which I'm very satisfied but when this showed up... I've always wanted a late 60's/early 70's Jazz, with the TV logo, block inlay but with 60's bridge pickup spacing. I drove 3 hours, picked it up, took it apart (and put it back together) and took it home. It's a 1970 Jazz with replacement pots, bridge and case. It's also a refret and refin. But it's a lovely refin, the frets are good, the sound is thunderous and the neck is to die for. So, the 50th bass I've ever owned (yes, I keep a list) is my third vintage Fender. The colour is very hard to catch. It looks Lake Placid Blue, but it's more aged Ocean Turquoise. 1966 vs 1970: 1966 vs 1971 vs 1970:

The pots and case also turned out to be non-originals. To be honest: I don't care. It sounds amazing, looks absolutely stunning and it can be set up really smoothly. I will give it some new strings and oil the fretboard. I got a little discount because of the case and pots. The case is pretty old but I hate cases so I'm definitely selling it.

My '66 Jazz and '71 Precision are still pretty much original except for the finish and the frets, though😎

This is it, by the way. Looks (apart from the refret and refin) pretty stock to me.

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.