franzbassist

Hello all

One Jazz Bass bridge pickup for sale here. It's a Voodoo JB60's BL, and the [url="http://voodoopickups.com/JB%20Replacement.htm"]site[/url] says:

"Hand wound to get that ‘60s Bass Growl. These pickups are relicas of the pre '65 Black JB pickups.Using Formvar wire, sandcast Alnico 5 magnets, this pickup is perfect for that throaty Jaco sound."

It's in great condition, comes with the black plastic cover, and works perfectly.

A new pair costs $170 (£85) so one new would be £42.50 plus duty/tax/shipping from the USA. I'd like to get £35 for it (plus postage).

Cheques, cash or collect please.

Thanks

Gareth

I have a Bravewood Jazz with original March 1966 "dots and binding" neck. I've busily been replacing the repro parts with original 66 parts; the only non-original parts left are the body (which is superb btw), the neck pickup, and the scratchplate.

Anyway, the point is they are seriously good basses so if someone wants to help Chris out by buying the Bravewood they won't be disappointed!

[quote name='BassBod' post='114743' date='Jan 6 2008, 03:32 PM']Hi Walbassist,

I'm assuming you've changed these from your Wals for lighter versions (Hipshots?) - did it make much difference?

I've got a lovely Alembic Epic 5er that could shed some weight at the top...

BB[/quote]

Corectamundo BB. The Hipshot ultralites are each about 10g lighter. May not sound like much but it makes a difference.

The "cosmo black" set are now on eBay as well.

The plain black set (lower pic) are now sold, pending the usual....

Hi all

Gotoh tuners that came with my Wal. Very little use. Will fit a 3 over 2 RH bass.

Set is modern style in lovely "cosmo black", which is a grey/black pearl finish (they look silver here, but I can assure you they are much darker than this).
They have a 11mm shaft with a 14mm bushing. Screws included.



The other set is SOLD

I'd like £37.50 for the set, which includes postage.

Cheers

Gareth

My basses are as follows:



[b]Ken Smith BMT Elite G 5 string[/b] - made in 1994 as a fretless, I bought it off Reba McIntire's bass player and had it refurbed at the Ken Smith factory. Played it as a fretless for a while but then decided to get it fretted by Paul Herman (ex-Wal) and he did a superb job. It's pretty much my main bass, unless I am in the mood for....



[b]Wal Mk III 5 string[/b] - made in 2006, the last but one built by Pete the Fish. Totally tricked out to my spec with solid walnut core, spalted maple facings (supplied by me after a ski-ing holiday in Vermont), custom pickup spacing etc. Given the fragile state of the company at the time, and indeed since, I had Pete make me a fretted and unlined fretless neck as I wasn't sure there'd ever be another Wal made. Wonderful bass made by a wonderful guy.



For my blues band gigs my main bass has to be my [b]1996 Fender Jazz[/b], all original March 1966 (same month I was born) neck and most of the parts (either when I bought the bass or since I've owned it), but with a repro body by Bravewood Guitars. Without doubt the best passive bass I have ever played.

For pub jams, home noodling, it's a [b]Martin BC40[/b] 4 string. Sourced off eBay from a Martin employee who'd bought it from the factory; he told me it was the final prototype, and as it has no serial number I have no reason to doubt him. This means the bass is early 90s, probably 1991/92. No pic for this yet

Cheers all

Gareth

[quote name='BB2000' post='93231' date='Nov 23 2007, 11:04 AM']Yes, the offset contour decal is also in the wrong place, which is the worst thing "wrong" with it in my opinion (it's easy to tweak everything else).[/quote]

Yes, I noticed that too but forgot to edit my post!

Interesting, a dots and binding neck would narrow the period this bass is [i]meant[/i] to represent to the first half of 1966, and adding oval tuners would reinforce that, but the grounding strip had been phased out some time before that. Looks lovely though!

I have a friend who has one of the earliest Fender-badged Squiers and I have to say it's an amazing bass. The fit and finish is perfect and I have no doubt that this bass is the same (the black/tort combination is lovely). £500 is certainly [u]not[/u] OTT in terms of what these go for these days; anyone who knows how good these basses are should happily pay that. Best of luck!

Gareth

I think these are the guys who make the Overwater bags? [url="http://www.harvest-guitar.com/"]Harvest Leather[/url]

Also, Levys Leathers top of the range bags are very nice.

Gareth

[quote name='ped' post='91350' date='Nov 20 2007, 11:37 AM']I used to buy all the magazines and talk with people about what I wanted and what my ideal rig would be etc etc - really good fun. Now though, my setup is very different to what I 'imagined' it might be, and I never buy the mags or go into shops much because they kind of don't interest me as much now!! Same with you Gareth?[/quote]

Yes, I used to buy the mags and go to shops and shows, and of course the internet has been terrible/brilliant for the GAS, but now I think I'm just settled gear-wise and can focus on other things - like actually using the stuff!

Playing music is hugely important to me, it's part of what defines me as a person, and I've gone through a lot of gear to get where I am now (which, as has been noted, is some pretty top notch stuff - all boutique but still awesome gigging kit!), but I've moved on in what really drives me. I think having kids has made a big difference to who I am, priorities change, or maybe I'm just getting older and heading into a comfortable (early) middle age?! Pass the pipe and slippers please love!

Cheers all

A philosophical Gareth

I play in a disco tribute band and we play all the classic lines like "Disco Inferno", "Everybody Dance", "Ain't no Stoppin' Us Now". They all sound hard, but like anything the more you play them the easier they get. Plus a lot of the best basslines it's the [i]groove[/i] that makes them - "Sex Machine" for example - not a hard line in itself, but to nail the groove is another thing entirely. Same goes for the bass solo in "Le Freak".

Whispher it quietly, but I haven't changed anything in my setup for must be pushing a year now. This is unheard of for me, but I honestly think that maybe I have finally found the perfect balance of basses and amps/cabs for me. Every time I play I can choose a bass to fit the gig perfectly, my rig copes with anything I throw at it, sounds wonderful and doesn't weigh a ton or take up an estate car to move around. It's a nice place to be.

Just for reference, the gear is as follows:

1966 Fender Jazz
1994 Ken Smith BMT 5 Elite
2006 Wal Mk III 5 (Fretted and Fretless necks)
1992 Martin BC40 Acoustic 4
into
Epifani PS600 amp and two PS112 cabs

When I think of all the money I've spent over the years on gear that came and went it's pretty depressing, but at least now I think I've got it sorted.

Just wanted to share....

Cheers all

Gareth

Had an impromptu gig with the two guitarists from my blues band last night in the White Hart at Witley near Guildford. Just three voices, a Fylde Mandolin, a Lowden acoustic and my Martin acoustic bass. No drums, no amps, no keys, no mikes.

We played for about two hours and just reeled out loads of stuff (we know a lot of material - we've been playing together on and off for over 20 years!). Was a great time.

And in tribute to Rich's post above, here's a bassist's eye of what's in front of me at most gigs with my other band...



Cheers all

Gareth

How much? I'll probably take it if it's not crazy money.

Also posted in "Items Wanted"

About 6 years ago, maybe a bit more, I had Roger Bucknall at Fylde make me a wonderful acoustic bass. Like a fool I sold it, to a guy who lived on the Isle of Man I think, and now I'd love to see if I can get it back! Anyone know where it is now?

Cheers

Gareth

[quote name='G-bitch' post='69070' date='Oct 3 2007, 02:07 PM']I should check your nut width - should be around 75-85mm, I'm presuming the 55 is a typo![/quote]

No, Steve's correct. The nut width is 2 1/8th inches on a Smith 6.

I love Smith basses and have owned a fair few in my time. Not one of the more expensive US-made basses has been anything less than sublime in fit, finish and sound. £2k may seem like a lot for a bass, but for an instrument of the quality it is actually a very very good price.

If you're thinking of a boutique six then this is the kind of bass that would last you a lifetime...

Gareth

PS Here's my baby below

Nice looking bass, but it might be an idea to give more detail about who made the instrument?

I wanted one... wasn't selling one.

I agree that is pretty pricey for a hackjob. Scratchplate isn't original either.

I had thought I could make it but a check of the gig diary shows I am Welwyn Garden City that night with an afternoon setup, so I'm afraid I'll have to give it a miss

[quote]It's worth bearing in mind that one of the most sought-after vintage Fender basses exists entirely due to CBS' intervention.... the 66-ish Jazz with dots, binding and oval tuners.[/quote]

A few American collector guys I know say that the 66 Js are among the best and most consistent basses Fender made.

I have a pseudo 66 Jazz that has a dots, binding and oval tuners 3/66 (month I was born!) neck with lots of other 66 parts (bridge, pots, screws etc..) but the body is a modern Bravewood relic repro, voodoo vintage pickups, repro scratchplate and finger rest.

I bought the whole thing for somewhat less than £2k and have since been offered [i]more[/i] than that for the neck alone!

Good and bad basses exist at all stages of Fender's history; as has already been said, the key is to [i]play[/i] them!

Cheers

Gareth

Hi Luke

One of the bands I play in is a function band. When we started off six years ago we played gigs for a max of £600-£800 just to get on the circuit and build a reputation. Plenty of social club gigs too, but they were soul destroying!

From the start we were a slick outfit, with a truly special lead singer as the focal point for the band. We registered with loads of agents but little work came from them and now almost all the gigs we do are from referrals, repeats, and word of mouth. Six years on we earn a lot more than the £600 per gig we started. Sure we do the odd cheap (and, for charity, free) gig, but for the most part we can charge full whack because we always come highly recommended. That sounds arrogant but isn't meant to be; we have faith in our product and our clients do too.

So, my advice is start out cheap and make sure the band works well as a unit, if it does then you can go far pretty quickly.

Best of luck!

Gareth

Isn't this the same bass that was in the Gallery a while back?