ead

Whilst being mindful the city is in lock-down now

Just in case the plan doesn't come together I'll be driving from Preston down to Wells, but not until 25th August.

I had one of the previous model Cali I VS4 passive basses. I though it was a cracker and easily the measure of any P bass. Eventaully sold it to buy a TT4 (passive). Still miss it tbh and keep looking out for it. Good to see Sandberg are offering the Cali II VS4 in passive now.

Very good isn't it, just purchased RR. Will investigate TTTT&TRE subsquently...

Thanks for the heads up. Not on my radar but I'll check them out.

Spector Euro 4LE '77 - OK, I know it's not passive but could easily be made so.

Special order I believe.

My new TT4 passive will have the Black Label p/ups and a Vol/Vol/Tone circuit. Best combo for what I play in the bands I'm in.

That sounds about right. I think there were a few 'transition' necks knocking about with combinations of dots and binding before the blocks and binding spec was settled in.

Never had the opportunity to play a J of this vintage. Interesting that '66 is seen by the collectors/purists as the start of the decline into CBS cost-cutting and yet there seem to be happy bunnies on here. Clearly a massively small sample size of course. George and Leo still involved of course but an interesting period for Fender instruments.

I did some basic recording of the '66 vs a newish Highway One (with Greasebucket circuit) and sound-wise there wasn't a great deal of difference even with slightly different strings on. All nickel rounds for the '66 compared to nickel-wound rounds for the HW One. Not done the full P bass on flats thing yet. In terms of general feel the vintage bass is lighter, has a nicer finish to the neck that tbf is probably due to it having been played over the years and so has worn down to a lovely silky finish. The profile is also slightly fatter and this suits me a bit more. When I bought it I went looking for a well used item on the basis that the fact it had been pre-loved and played as it was a good one. I think this is the case for the bass. I do gig it around the place, as much as when I had a more modern US Precision. The modern bass has long gone so I guess that re-enforces the above. I have a couple of old violins too and they also compare very favourable to the more modern instrument I have. It's entirely possible that there is a element of rose-tinted specs about the whole debate and the fact that these basses are costly may subconsciously mean some kind of justification filter is kicking in; who knows. I love mine and love playing it. Desperately coveting @Burns-bass 's '66J . That would be a lovely soul mate for my P bass.

Here's my '66P. I have dozens of pics of the various bits that would probably bore folks on here to tears but happy to share with the OP if of interest.

I saw that first Genesis Revisited tour with LP on bass, he was excellent. Didn't realise he had played with It Bites though.

I bought the CD shortly after it came out and have just about managed to get past the silly crowd noise. No idea why they could not have released a version without it, can't be that hard surely? Less of a Trevor Rabin fan though. I don't think he has Howe's subtlety of touch and I find the relentless overdriven guitar sound a bit monotonous tbh. I appreciate that I am probably in a mnority though.

I feel the need to see a pic of the old girl again This was that last one I have of the bass...

Ditto. I picked mine up for £90 iirc. Put some DiMarzios in and a new more substantial bridge.

If only I was a half decent bassist ☹️

I have a selection of ACGs, a couple of Spectors, a Sandberg, a vintage Fender P and an Anaconda. My favourite of the Yamahas was actually the RBX270FL that I owned and gigged regularly for over 6 years. It was my first fretless bass. 5ers just arn't my thing and didn't really gell will the P34 sadly as it's a lovely bass.

Currently none but have owned: RBX270FL BBN5 (2 of these at different times) BBP34