gjones

We've all had them. You know the ones where you were convinced you'd get stabbed before you could get though the last song. Or you've turned up at a gig to play with a band you've never met before for a gig in front of a thousand people and you've left all your chord charts at home on the kitchen table.

My MIJ Silver series Squier. It cost me £250 on ebay (plus a 2nd hand allparts neck that some guy had reliced with a sander) but with a set of DR strings it knocks the pants of my others Jazzers which were 3 times the price.

Back in the market for a new bass? Have you sold that Ray 34 you had on here a while back? I'm on the look out for one.

The Squier I had was just a standard from 2002, probably Agathis. Bodys are made from alder, walnut, swamp ash, basswood etc. As long as it's not plywood it will sound fine.

Up until recently I had an Indonesian Squier Jazz Bass which I gigged with regularly and it sounded pretty good compared to my other more expensive Jazzes. As far as sound is concerned I think the body is not as important as the pickups. Whack some decent pickups in it (maybe secondhand from Ebay) and it will improve the sound no end.

A while ago I tried the Squier CV Precision and I was VERY impressed by it's build quality. I was playing through a Hartke 4x10 combo in a small shop and I wasn't impressed with the sound though(more to do with the Hartke, which can sound a bit harsh to my ears, than the bass I think). My Precision curiosity started when I tried the new USA standard version about a year ago and thought it had quite a modern sound and not at all what I expected.
I could buy the Squier and put US pickups in it I suppose? A cut price Pino Pallidino.......

I think Steinberger headless basses will soon be making a comeback worn right up under your chin. The sleeves of your jacket rolled up obligatory (mullet optional).

I have a MIJ Silver Squier Jazz from around 92-94. I paid £250 for it and frankly it's my favorite bass and I have a couple of other very nice Jazzes. Don't know much about the Korean Pro-Tones though but they can't be any better than a MIJ Squier and I wouldn't pay more than £250 for one.

The reason I asked the question was because if someone asked me to advise them on jazz basses I'd have a list of models as long as my arm I would recommend to them(or warn them away from) but precisions.............I haven't a clue about.

One thing I'm pretty sure of though is I don't like clanky P sounds and maple necks. I played a friend of a friends P bass years ago and it had that warm woody sound I associate with them from JJ Cale records. The closest I got to that sound was with the Mex standard. You're right I should try a few more and look for that sound.................I wonder if they've got a road worn?

I went into my local Guitar Guitar shop in Edinburgh to buy a compressor today. Out of curiosity I asked to try out a Fender Precision...........and I liked it.
The ones I tried were the Fender 50's Classic Precision, the Mex standard Precision and the Squier vintage modified amber P bass (because the Jazz Bass VM is so good). They all had their own personality soundwise and although the 50's classic was the best looking, the sound I preferred was the Mex standard. I was very surprised that they sounded so different. I now really fancy one but know nothing about precisions.
What should I be looking for? Do you have any favorites? What are your opinions on the 3 basses I tried? Are there others I should try first before I buy?.

I know there's a lot of you out there who are big fans of Fender Ps. Your advice would be much appreciated.

Gareth

My Fender 'Silver' Squire Jazz Bass made in Japan in 92-94. Cost me £200 from ebay and although I have a Geddy Lee and a 62 reissue (both made in Japan) both of which cost me considerably more, I have to admit it does sound the best of my 3 Jazzes . It's mainly because it has a much deeper punchier sound than the other 2 which is almost precision like and fits much better in the mix than a normal Jazz sound.
If you ever get the chance to buy one of these secondhand go for it. You'll be impressed.

If you want something 'different', versatile (because it has a preamp in the guitar) and based on a 'guitar' design look no further than a Fender Jaguar bass. That would look good in any Indie band line up and has a nice thin neck too. They're from Fender Japan and they look like they've discontinued them recently but you'd get a good price on one secondhand.

Here's a groovy video [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzNaJ5gveY&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzNaJ5gveY...feature=related[/url]

B...............................................LING!

If you're after a combo I recommend the Ashdown EB line. They're 180 watts, which is loud enough for most gigs, they're light, have a built in compressor and come with 12" or 15" speakers. Mine has been very reliable and keeps up with even noisy drummers. You'll find them new for well under £300 which is great value for money.

Here's a review [url="http://www.guitarmagazine.co.uk/reviews.php?r=0da0f21d-1d7b-11e0-935e-002215530376"]http://www.guitarmagazine.co.uk/reviews.ph...5e-002215530376[/url]

[quote name='tom1946' post='1211174' date='Apr 25 2011, 08:10 PM']You think you got problems? hah!

I have 9 basses, 14 guitars and 6 cars. Cars are my other addiction, gets expensive. [/quote]

Oh and you forgot to tell us about your 3rd addiction.... 'Robbing Banks'.

To pay for all the others.

Are you talking about the tic tac sound? Originally they used to double up the bass line with a baritone guitar like a danelectro strung with flatwounds. This is good example of it [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6JpVmZb4bI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6JpVmZb4bI[/url]

Listening now........sounds pretty darn good.

[quote name='Circle_of_Fifths' post='1209690' date='Apr 23 2011, 11:55 PM']That'd be like buying used underwear and regurgitated steak.[/quote]

I do draw the line at regurgitated steak. Although my women have all been secondhand.

Well there was a time when music was my only source of income and I would be be forced to play crap gigs just to pay the rent. These days I have the luxury to make my excuses when I don't really want to do the gig and I often do.

Well here's an excellent review [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=63788&hl=ray+34"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...8&hl=ray+34[/url]
and if you check for ed freidland on youtube there's a video review as well [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Fo7AKwfA0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Fo7AKwfA0[/url] The Ray 34 is reviewed at the end.

When I buy a bass, one of the things I take into consideration is, if I sold it or traded it in for a better bass, would I get the money I paid for it? Which is why I've always bought 'preloved'.
I may try out basses in music shops but although I've owned 9 basses I've only ever bought one of them brand new (and lost a lot of money when I ended up selling it).

There's usually plenty to choose from in the for sale section for the price of a brand new bass collection instrument and if it doesn't suit you you can always sell it on for around what you paid for it.

The singer in Vintage Trouble was a class act......the others in the band were trying far too hard (they need to take a chill pill).
KD lang is still the real deal though.......even though she forgot her cue (she should really know where to come in she wrote the song).

It's amazing what a new set can do. I'm a big fan of DR Hi-Beams which can bring any boring old bass back to life.

You wouldn't know where I could get a midnight wine Highway 1 Jazz Bass would you? It's just I've been looking everywhere for one

This lot, in the USA, have a quite a lot of Squier and Fender necks available at any one time [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190521473867&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]
They are more expensive but at least you can be sure they'll fit and are made to a decent standard.