gjones

[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]

I'd get rid of the blood first. Wear rubber gloves.

First of all buy a compressor and put it on full. Makes dodgy slappers sound half decent.

He's got a photo of the insurance valuation letter (wot his pal Nobby knocked up on his PC), so that's alright then.

Interesting stuff about cutting nuts [url="http://www.lutherie.net/nuts.html"]http://www.lutherie.net/nuts.html[/url]

Although I use the floating thumb technique, I mute mostly with my left hand (fretting hand). I think most people do it without being conscious of it by cradling the strings you're not playing, with your left hand, to stop them ringing.

[quote name='rhythmbug' timestamp='1382365548' post='2251221'] Stumbled across this thread while looking for solutions for the neck dive on my Corvette. Seller no longer appears to have anything for sale. Any idea who else might sell this strap, or a good alternative? [/quote] He does now. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Luxury-Suede-Leather-Guitar-Strap/190939592088?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D2307942820305623771%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D190875549598%26"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Luxury-Suede-Leather-Guitar-Strap/190939592088?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D2307942820305623771%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D190875549598%26[/url]

Very good video. Makes it simple when you have the right tools [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI9Y9MsmnEc[/media] Edit: although the prices of a set of bass guitar nut files are........eh? nuts! They're £72 for a set.

I'm thinking of doing something similar. The nut on my precision is brass and has been cut perfectly for a low action. In comparison I've noticed the nut on my Jazz is quite high so getting a low action is much more difficult. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for further advice.

That's £620 at today's rates. Duty on goods from the States (if your friend declares it or gets caught taking it through customs) is about 25% which would take it up to £775. I'm sure you could get a secondhand USA deluxe Jazz on Basschat or Ebay for less than that that. Tell him you'll buy it for $500.

I've only ever bought a bass brand new from a shop once in my life. All the rest were 2nd hand . Most were bought from Basschat and a couple of others were bought from ebay. Amazingly they've all been great instruments and any minor adjustments in setup I carried out myself. Unless I won the lottery, I doubt I would ever buy a bass new from a shop (although I have bought guitars and amps new from shops in Edinburgh relatively recently).

On the stratosphere ebay site some USA bodies are the same as the OP's and some aren't? Very confusing. This is a 2013 standard USA body [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-Fender-American-Standard-Jazz-BASS-BODY-HARDWARE-J-3-Color-Sunburst-/141079085779?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20d8f802d3"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20d8f802d3[/url]

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1382705670' post='2255669'] Indeed. I've just had some more delivered and are now on all 3 basses. [/quote] I didn't like them at all. I went back to my DR Hi Beams and Rotosound Swing bass. They feel cheapo.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1382711266' post='2255782'] That's a MIM mate. The Americans don't have the open cavity. The Mexi's in general are a low end instrument IMO. The Squier CV's are superior. [/quote] Weirdly no. US Jazzes are routed like that apparently. [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/c/948/bodies-necks/bodies/jazz-bass-bodies/"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/c/948/bodies-necks/bodies/jazz-bass-bodies/[/url]

No grounding strip from bridge to rear pickup and the truss rod adjustment looks like it's at the neck. So it's unlikely to be Japanese.