gjones

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.

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.

I have a set of trubass on one of my basses.......they're great. BUT amazingly one of these does the double bass thing even better [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=131681"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=131681[/url] had a google for videos and this is probably the best [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UotbyS_sU3E&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UotbyS_sU3E...feature=related[/url] The only problem is they just look so teenie weenie.

I love the look but it's the artificial thing I don't like. It's the pre torn designer jeans look. Frankly I'd feel a bit silly on stage with it. If it was a 40 year old bass I wouldn't have a problem with it............but it isn't. Although if it plays as good as people say it does I could always give it a respray

Well I bought my Fender Bassman TV 15 from GAK at a reduced price (about £100 less than any other shop) and when I got it, it did have the odd mark on it - like it had been a demo amp in the shop or something. It was obviously not brand spanking new but I had got a reduction so I decided not to get the hump about it. Although I would have still bought it at the reduced price, I would have much preferred it if they had actually said on the website that it was B stock or demo in the first place. If you paid full price.......send it back. If you got it cheap (like I did)..........keep it.