gjones

I'm the same. I've found changing necks has a bigger impact on the sound than changing pickups sometimes. The first neck I swapped was on my Geddy Lee . I always felt it sounded very 'bass lite'. I assumed it was because of the pickups but before I swopped them for another set, I decided to change the ultra thin neck that was fitted for a chunky Allparts neck I had hanging around. The swop really made a big difference to the sound and gave the bass a much rounder deeper tone. Since then I can't stop myself experimenting with different combinations on my basses. At the moment I have a maple P neck on my Jazz and a rosewood Jazz neck on my P bass. Mainly because the extra wood in the P bass neck, when fitted to the Jazz really gives a boost in the bass frequencies which I really like.

The bass player has got 6 strings, so the guitarist has to have 8. [url="http://www.dprp.net/concrev/2012_notp_1/haken3.jpg"]http://www.dprp.net/concrev/2012_notp_1/haken3.jpg[/url]

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1383933617' post='2271062'] SOLD :-) Ordered one but ordered the Vintage covers and thumb rest too....... cheap 60s vintage bass :-) £1100 less than the American 63 Vintage but perhaps will look and sound similar.... [/quote] If you like jazzes, I don't think you can go wrong with it. It's a good un. Better to get a top of the range Mex bass (which the classic 60's is) than a bottom of the range USA. The Geddy Lee basses and Marcus Millers are now made in Mexico. Up until recently they were made in Japan. And the quality hasn't suffered.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1383812689' post='2269308'] Bizarrely, having decided to sell my Compact, I was complimented on my tone last night at rehearsal - by the SINGER!!! He said what a "lovely, rich" sound I was getting! Maybe I should keep it after all? Too late as I've already ordered one of the Genz Benz neo 212s... [/quote] I'm interested in your reasons for replacing your compact with a GB neo 212 (other than the fact that they're going cheap at the moment)? I hear great things about compacts.

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1383726472' post='2268097'] Here's mine. Such a lovely bass. I'm feeling blessed to have it. [media]http://www.flickr.com/photos/zilspeed/sets/72157637339981903/[/media] [/quote] I notice your auction has ended on the 'Bay'. I was hoping you'd have second thoughts. That bass and you were obviously meant for one another.

I've swopped the necks around on my basses a lot and it does change the sound quite radically. The rule is, the more wood on the neck the deeper the sound. I recently changed the neck on my Jazz from a very slim Mighty Mite Jazz neck to a very chunky Precision neck. The sound got significantly beefier as a result.

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1383761863' post='2268782'] The thick tone of a P bass. Now I get it. If it works for Pino... [/quote] I hope that means you are keeping the JV

The Mex Classic 60's Jazz Bass is basically a Roadworn without the nitro and the dents (although you can now get a nitro version too, without the relic treatment). I bought a neck from a Classic 60's and it was excellent. I also have a set of the standard vintage pickups from a Roadworn Jazz, which the classic 60's is also fitted with and they're excellent too.

The 'trick' when you're playing a multi band gig, is make sure you're not the last band on. The fans of the other bands are only interested in seeing their pals' band, not yours. So as soon as they've done their duty (i.e. watching their pals' band) they will be out the door like a rat up a drainpipe. Also, if you go on too late, large parts of the audience will have to leave to get the last bus or whatever. So what you find, is that the last band on is usually playing to an empty room. Recently, my band had a similar situation. Our Diva singer insisted on going on last, on a 6 band bill, because she felt she was the 'Star Of The Evening' (despite me telling her exactly what would happen - especially since it was a weekday). The 'Star Of The Evening' ended up playing to absolutely nobody but the promoter and the cleaner.

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1383655516' post='2267046'] It's the one in Falkirk Bo'ness actually. [/quote] A very shrewd buy John.

Lovely! That's not the one going for £150 in Falkirk is it? If it's not then there's another bargain to be had for somebody as it looks like an old MIJ Squier [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/fender-squier-bass-precision-bass-guitar/1037636070#photo-content"]http://www.gumtree.c...0#photo-content[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1383651701' post='2266963'] ...in your opinion. It makes me laugh when people have their car stereos way too loud. Their attitude is, 'check out what I'm into, isn't it great?' But it's never Mozart, is it?? [/quote] But I do! I feel I'm educating them. I used to have Nepalese student neighbours. Have you ever heard Nepalese disco?

I hate pointless bass solos too. But this melodic solo by Tal Wilkenfeld is the exception [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldt4tWNPSBU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldt4tWNPSBU[/url]

Just go out and buy a set of 'noiseless' pickups if the hum is bothering you. Most guitarists I know, who own teles or strats, hum like crazy. They don't worry about it. They just seem to think of it as part of the Fender sound. Jimi Hendrix albums are full of single coil hum.

I live in a flat, and what I tend to do is play along to music when I want to practice. It's not stupidly loud and anyone listening would just assume I have the bass turned up on my Hi Fi. I don't practice for extended periods and I have great taste in music. The only time my neighbour has ever commented about hearing me play an instrument, is when I was woken up at 7pm on a Saturday morning, by her plumber whacking away with a hammer about 6 inches from my head as he tried to fix her plumbing. I took the opportunity to plug my Fender Strat into my amp and give it waldy under cover of the racket he was making next door.

[quote name='Thebassman75' timestamp='1383468348' post='2264651'] Great article. Given what's happening with Squier JV's etc.. and the way that Fender is going, could there really be a point where Squier takes over the 'new' market fro Fender style basses? A few years ago, this would've been a ridiculous notion but now? [/quote] I wonder what percentage of Fender Guitars and basses are US built instruments. I'm sure it's pretty small compared to instruments manufactured elsewhere. I realise that the instruments built in the Far East and Mexico are getting better and better, and can compete with the quality of those built in the US. But it would be sad if Fender closed down the USA factory because they couldn't compete on costs.

Fender is not a healthy company. Recent plans for the company to sell shares to the public were shelved because of concerns about the companies viability. The Squiers and Fenders made in China, Indonesia, etc have the Fender logo on them because Fender have licenced the name to factories that were already making Fender copies. Fender will get a very small percentage of the sales on these instruments. Fender only make a profit margin of 3% on the guitars and basses they produce themselves, so I assume they will make even less profit on instruments made by other companies, that they have licencing agreements with, in the far east. Globalisation capiltalises on cheap labour and bad conditions. That is why your Squier is so cheap. They may be paid 'Western' rates of pay, which is much more than factory workers in Indonesia, but I doubt the staff at the factory in Corona are driving around in brand new Cadillacs. Sad tale of Fenders woes [url="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/business/fender-aims-to-stay-plugged-in-amid-changing-music-trends.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0"]http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/business/fender-aims-to-stay-plugged-in-amid-changing-music-trends.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0[/url]

I've a set of needle files in the post. I've mucked up cutting nuts before on a cheap replacement neck. I still have that neck so will practice on that first. If I'm still rotten at it or the files are not up to it I'll hand the job over to a pro.

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1383398750' post='2264045'] Hmm, I messaged the seller too - here's the response I got: [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]Hi There [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]I wish it was a Geddy Lee signature bass, but alas its just a standard American Jazz Bass.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]As you are only up in Andover, if you pay through PayPal, I will deliver it myself for free...[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]And no, I haven't bid on it.... [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]Edited for typo[/size][/font][/color] [/quote] 12 minutes to go and somebody's going to pay over £200 for a non existent bass. Edit: Make that £300.

Why would anybody bid on an auction that looks so dodgy. The thought of getting a Geddy Lee on the cheap I suppose. If they part with their money they will be sorry.

Jazz Basses. I thought they sounded too thin and twangy for me. Then I played a friends MIJ Silver Squier which had a great bottom end. Within a week I'd bought an Indonesian Squier for £95, a Silver Squier was snapped up off Ebay soon after, a Geddy Lee was purchased from a guy in California (when the £ was doing well against the $), then a MIJ 62 reissue on Basschat seemed such a bargain, that I bought that too. And, as if that wasn't enough, I then bought a MIM classic 60s neck, a VM Squier maple body, a set of pickups from a roadworn Jazz and a J Retro pre amp, and assembled my own Frankenstein Jazz Bass which ended up the best of the lot. Eventually reality kicked in and I sold 4 of my Jazzes. I've just got the one Jazz now.

He says it's an American Deluxe but looks like a stock picture of a Geddy Lee to me. [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=2][b]Dear 1962gareth,[/b] Its an American Made Jazz Bass, Active.. Hope that answers your question [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=2][b] - protecsolutions[/b][/size][/font][/color]

The guitarist who plays in my band has owned quite a few rolexes over the years, but never wears them. They're sat in a safe at home, which means he's always asking me what the time is on my cheapo Seiko. Guitars and basses are like watches; if you hate the idea of them being damaged or stolen, when you take them out of the house, then you should save yourself the bother and expense of buying them in the first place. You could have spent that money getting your old bass set up and modded to perfection by a luthier or tech. And not have to worry about some drunk knocking it off it's stand. Basses are for playing not for hanging on a wall and admiring.

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1383260118' post='2262431'] I think you've posted the wrong link. [/quote] Proper link posted......thanks

This smells fishy. No feedback, stock photo and minimal info. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251369187840?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251369187840?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649[/url]