stevie

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='385438' date='Jan 19 2009, 09:36 PM']Well ... I know the charges are a pain. Seems most of the issues that site raises, though, are about what happens when you're a seller who accepts payment by paypal ... and then there's an ebay dispute.
Have you ever experienced these problems ?
Slightly worrying is the link at the bottom of each forum entry "CLICK HERE FOR [i][u][b]OUR[/b][/u][/i] PAYPAL ALTERNATIVE" which links to a paypal competitor. If I was uncharitable I might conclude that the whole thing has been set up by the competitor to try and defame paypal.[/quote]

The only time I've had a problem with Paypal was when I tried to claim on their guarantee. That was an eye opener, although fortunately the amount involved wasn't very big.

As far as paypalsucks is concerned, it may have been set up by a competitor. I don't know (it's certainly financed by a competitor). Even if it were, its size would attract a goodly proportion of genuine gripes. So I wouldn't discount everything on there - you just have to make a judgement.

There is plenty of discontent about Paypal all over the web. This one is typical: [url="http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/ec1009061.html"]http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/ec1009061.html[/url]. Put 'paypal account frozen' into Google and you'll get nearly 1.5 million hits.

I'm not on an anti-paypal mission. I'm just saying be careful and consider the possibility of withdrawing your direct debit authority once you have been 'confirmed'.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='385661' date='Jan 20 2009, 02:00 AM']Fantastic bass!

Just a small questione! Are the control knobs original - all the JV's I ever owned had flat-top knobs...[/quote]

Hi N, Yes, the knobs are original. There was a discussion on this on the forum recently.

I'd always thought the ones with flat knobs were fakes, but if you look here: [url="http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/gallery4.htm"]http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/gallery4.htm[/url], you'll see that the two-tone Precision like mine has rounded knobs, while the three-tone sunburst has flat knobs. I suppose it could be a reflection of the fact that the components on the earlier ones weren't entirely consistent.

Does it have a multiband compressor?

[quote name='simon1964' post='385321' date='Jan 19 2009, 08:11 PM']Definitely up for sale this time! I've just bought a Stingray, and Mrs 1964 has imposed a strict "1 bass in = 1 bass out" policy![/quote]

Hey, I thought I was the only one with a missus like that!

Very tasty bass, by the way.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='385188' date='Jan 19 2009, 05:41 PM']With 3-or-4 chord country, where the song is king, it's easy to fall into the trap of playing the same thing over and over again.

For that reason, you need to know the song inside-out - not just from a bass perspective. Learn the melody , and what the other instruments are doing, and work with those. Pick up on little moments, and embellish them. That's what will set you apart.[/quote]

In amongst all the drivel that appears on this forum (including mine), that is a really excellent piece of advice.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='384716' date='Jan 19 2009, 09:51 AM']I sold one of these too, and offered it on here, so definately not the first! Sold it on ebay though in the end, was slightly earlier then this, from the first month of production. Mine was the same finish too.[/quote]

Thanks for the correction. They're still pretty rare though.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='384645' date='Jan 19 2009, 07:00 AM']PM sent[/quote]

replied.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='384950' date='Jan 19 2009, 01:51 PM']Can you explain, please ?[/quote]

[url="http://www.paypalsucks.com/"]http://www.paypalsucks.com/[/url]

Says it better than I can.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='384692' date='Jan 19 2009, 09:19 AM']Heatwave my arse - we do that in our set and it's nowt like that. I learned the bassline from Standing in the Shadows of Motown - Babbitt plays a bit of it solo as well as the performance.[/quote]

Babbit's bassline is particularly stunning when you compare it to the original record. I guess he had a long time to refine it.

[quote name='bluesparky' post='384829' date='Jan 19 2009, 11:48 AM']I sell all of my stuff on here now or on gumtree.
It may take a little longer, but i'm rarely in a real hurry to sell stuff.[/quote]

I've found that, if you price competitively, it's much faster selling on here than anywhere - my record is about five minutes and I'm not a big gear seller.

The expensive stuff takes longer, obviously, but the key is knowing what your stuff is worth and giving your buyer a bargain. Asking for offers, saying 'I'm not sure what this is worth', is just limp-wristed. On some other comparable lists, people are not even allowed to advertise unless they state a price.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='384016' date='Jan 18 2009, 02:43 PM']I've got an instrument to sell on eBay (guitar as it happens, not bass) ... is this a good time of year to sell ?[/quote]

Some general advice. I feel like rambling today......

Know what your instrument will fetch on eBay before you advertise it. It could take a while if it's an uncommon instrument, but if you don't know what your item is likely to fetch before you put it up for sale, you won't know how to market it properly. Follow a few auctions for similar items to find out how many bidders they attract. Items that attract lots of bidders are much better with a very low start price, as this will pull more people into the auction. Note also which ads get the highest prices, and figure out why. The spread of prices achieved for identical items can be enormous - you want to make sure you are somewhere near the top.

If you are going to use a reserve, state it - or start off at the lowest price you are willing to accept. Hidden reserves put most people off, and are likely to lose you some serious potential buyers. As a buyer, I love hidden reserves. I email the seller to ask what the reserve is. Then I follow the auction and snipe just above the reserve. It works most times, because sellers generally fix the reserve at the absolute minimum they will accept, which is usually much less than the item's real value.

Offer to sell to Europe (and the US if applicable). When you do this, you increase the number of bidders many times over - and the number of people bidding on your item is key to driving its price up. Bear in mind also that the euro is now worth about twenty-five percent more than it was six months ago. Euro zone customers are therefore likely to pay more for your item, or at least push its price up higher.

Paypal is the devil incarnate. Don't give them access to your bank account. Limit them to your credit card.

If you are selling a bass, sell it on Basschat. As you already know its value, knock 10 percent off for Basschatters. You end up just as well off because eBay and Paypal don't take their cut. You can wheel and deal if you wish. And your buyer gets a good deal.

[quote name='Hiperi0n' post='384184' date='Jan 18 2009, 05:34 PM']interested in a squier vintage modified jazz fretless plus cash?[/quote]

Yes, I think that's the kind of thing I'd be looking for as a part-ex. I'm not sure about the logistics of swapping between here and Italy though.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='384029' date='Jan 18 2009, 02:54 PM']Still available[/quote]

These are great pickups. I'm surprised they haven't gone.

.... and a few more pics. Any questions, please ask.

This is my 1982 JV Precision Bass. As far as I know, this is the first large Fender logo version ever offered on Basschat. Because there are probably no more than a couple of dozen in this finish in the UK, you are not likely to see another one here for quite some time. Originally purchased from Dougie’s Music Store (the store label is still on the headstock) right after the Made in Japan range was launched in 1982.

It’s A JV02*** number plate and the neck reads 5.13.82, which places it in the first six weeks of production. Condition is good, with a few scratches on the bottom of the bass. The neck has mellowed to a beautiful golden colour and the scratchplate has turned creamy white.

Sound and playability are what you would expect. Powerful, growly and vintage. Absolutely no dead spots. Excellent definition. There’s no rust and the tuners stay in tune. Fret wear is miniscule. You’re very welcome to come and try the bass here through a Trace Elliot rig.

Priced to sell at £650. I’d prefer collection, but if you would like to send in a carrier, I can supply the hard case in the photos for £40 and pack it up really well. I’m happy to sell to Europe. Times being what they are, I’m open to part exchange for anything that I can resell easily and quickly, but would obviously prefer a straight sale.

[quote name='2x18' post='383347' date='Jan 17 2009, 04:34 PM']Carlsbro 60watt valve amp with reverb, in good working order.[/quote]

This is is a PA amp, isn't it?

[quote name='Merton' post='382546' date='Jan 16 2009, 03:51 PM']I think the earlier cabs were ply but they changed to MDF early 90s. I bloody hope the new 2005+ range are ply, properly braced and damped, coz I'm picking up a 1518 next week! If not, I have prob got enough wadding left from my home build to stick into it...[/quote]

Mine has the vinyl covering, but it's obviously not early enough. Yes, it is an empty MDF box. Not a piece of wadding in sight. Nor, and this is just pathetic, is there any bracing in it. I thought this was once considered to be the Rolls-Royce of bass amplification. There's a pretty bog-standard Celestion pressed-steel 15 inside, too. That won't be there for long.

They spent some money on the outside, though.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='382740' date='Jan 16 2009, 07:07 PM']Maybe the cabs are 12 ohms[/quote]

That's the most likely explanation. It's not a bad idea either.

[quote name='Merton' post='382518' date='Jan 16 2009, 03:35 PM']No prob! Be careful of the grille - hte first time I took off a port ring I also took off a chunk of my left hand when exposed to the sharp metal bits!!

Under the speaker you'll find a bit empty MDF box I reckon [/quote]

Thanks for the warning.

It certainly looks like a big empty MDF box when viewed through the ports. Who spread the rumour these were ply? I'm hoping they had the decency to put some damping material in there, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

There's a really neat explanation by Marcus Miller on the use of compression for bass on YouTube. He's demonstrating his eponymous amp, but still, it's worth watching:

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ljEuObKHYFw&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ljEuObKHYFw&...feature=related[/url]

Aha - so the rings are not part of the port itself. That makes all the difference. I've now managed to get the rings off and there's a piece of drainpipe underneath. It will be interesting to see what's under the grille. Thanks, Merton.

Are the ports in a Trace Elliot 1153t a push fit? They seem extremely tight and not very sturdy. I'd like to take a look inside the cabinet but the ports don't want to come out. Help.

Stevie

I agree it's overpriced. But here's how you can get one for free:
[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aOFvC2Emmu8&feature=channel"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aOFvC2Emmu8&...feature=channel[/url]

This company knows what it's doing.

[quote name='Smash' post='378685' date='Jan 13 2009, 10:05 AM']Couple of questions what are the pickups like on these BB's and can you change the bridge i.e. a swap version like Badass on Fenders without drilling?[/quote]

I can tell you about the original BBs. You can change the Jazz shaped pickup for a standard replacement but you have to use the original cover and sand the corners off the pickup bobbin. It's not too difficult to do with a small file. The wires will snap if you install a vintage-style pickup with the stiff, cloth covered leadout wires. You should therefore unsolder the cloth wire and use the original plastic wire, which is a lot more flexible.

Changing the P-Bass shape pickup is not straightforward and I haven't figured out how to do it yet (anyone??). I'm not even sure if it is worth doing. I changed the rear pickup because it sounded very thin, and was basically pointless. I put a Duncan vintage in there and got more output and a fatter sound. It may work for you. When I got the original pickup out, I discovered it was underwound for some reason - both the resistance and inductance were too low - which is probably why I noticed an improvement.

[quote name='Eight' post='378262' date='Jan 12 2009, 09:09 PM']I would love a copy... so I thoroughly encourage you to undertake the task.[/quote]

Me too, but I think you'd probably be OK. Have a look at this: [url="http://www.bemuso.com/musicbiz/musiccopyright.html#canchordsandbeatsbecopyright"]http://www.bemuso.com/musicbiz/musiccopyri...eatsbecopyright[/url]