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NBD: J & D YC-PB


mark76
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Ever since the band I was in broke up I've been thinking about buying myself a bass; primarily for the purpose of recording, although I wouldn't be averse to jamming with some other musicians once I can actually play the thing properly :rolleyes:

My initial instinct was to get a Squier, but then I came across the J & D's on the DV247 website. At less than half the price of even the cheapest Squier bass available locally (Affinity PJ at £206/210) I was sceptical that they'd be any good, but some write ups I read here and elsewhere convinced me to pull the trigger. So I ordered the white with black pickguard p-bass (£92 with delivery) because... Ramones f*** yeah, and it arrived early this afternoon.

First impressions. My! That's a lot of packaging. Two whole boxes in fact. Once I'd gotten over just how big the outer box was I got to work and soon freed my new wooden chum from his cardboard tomb.

Second impressions. This... This is actually rather well made. Neck sits nicely in the pocket; hardware seems decent; knobs and tuners operate smoothly and without any noise, and, after running finger and thumb down the sides of the fretboard I can tell you that I found no evidence of any lack of attention to detail in that department. All the frets look well finished, with not a sharp edge to be found. Also, the saddles on the bridge have grooves. Which is nice.

Third impressions. Plugged it into my Pathfinder 15 (because I don't have a bass amp), tuned up and... Oh no, it sounds crap. But enough about my playing (got you there :D ), it sounds bloody good considering what I paid for it. I'm in no great hurry to change the strings or the pickups. Though I am wondering about swapping the chrome saddles for brass. Just to see what it would do to the tone.

Anyhao, photos

[attachment=208849:IMGP2008.JPG]

[attachment=208851:IMGP2010.JPG]

[attachment=208853:IMGP2012.JPG]

[attachment=208854:IMGP2013.JPG]

[attachment=208855:IMGP2014.JPG]

Please ignore the date stamp :P

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Maybe Thomann requested no serials on theirs, but the early samples that got used for photos had them.

On Mark's J&D: WSM1505A05.0016

On the HB JB75-NA: WSM1404A03.0534

So that's 2015 and 2014 by the look of it. WSM must be Yeou Chern / J & D ? A few years back, the word was that Saein/Shine were making all the HB's but it seems not. I read on a German site that up to 10 suppliers are used for the guitars/basses. The HBs and J&Ds aren't the same though, the J&D's usually have an extra fret and the bridge is further up from the base of the body. Xaviere basses from GFS in the USA seem to be J&D's too: [url]http://www.guitarfetish.com/Xaviere-Bass-Guitars_c_362.html[/url].

Right, that's enough trainspotting for tonight.

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[quote name='rockmanrock' timestamp='1452302392' post='2948797']
Maybe Thomann requested no serials on theirs, but the early samples that got used for photos had them.

On Mark's J&D: WSM1505A05.0016

On the HB JB75-NA: WSM1404A03.0534

So that's 2015 and 2014 by the look of it. WSM must be Yeou Chern / J & D ? A few years back, the word was that Saein/Shine were making all the HB's but it seems not. I read on a German site that up to 10 suppliers are used for the guitars/basses. The HBs and J&Ds aren't the same though, the J&D's usually have an extra fret and the bridge is further up from the base of the body. Xaviere basses from GFS in the USA seem to be J&D's too: [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/Xaviere-Bass-Guitars_c_362.html"]http://www.guitarfet...tars_c_362.html[/url].

Right, that's enough trainspotting for tonight.
[/quote]

Interesting, and some of those Xaviere basses look tasty. But the end of the neck where it meets the body seems too square. Or is it just an overhang? J&D's are rounder, Fender-style.

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I think they're an overhang. The J&D ones look the same to me, quite squarish? [url="https://images.musicstore.de/images/1600/jack-und-danny-pb-bk-black_4_BAS0000912-001.jpg"]https://images.music...0000912-001.jpg[/url]

Spot the difference:

[url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/DLX-Bass-Active-Preamp-Carved-Body-Gloss-Black-24-Fret_p_4314.html"]http://www.guitarfet...ret_p_4314.html[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_b_450_black_progressive_series.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...sive_series.htm[/url]

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[quote name='rockmanrock' timestamp='1452333222' post='2948885']
I think they're an overhang. The J&D ones look the same to me, quite squarish? [url="https://images.musicstore.de/images/1600/jack-und-danny-pb-bk-black_4_BAS0000912-001.jpg"]https://images.music...0000912-001.jpg[/url]

Spot the difference:

[url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/DLX-Bass-Active-Preamp-Carved-Body-Gloss-Black-24-Fret_p_4314.html"]http://www.guitarfet...ret_p_4314.html[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_b_450_black_progressive_series.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...sive_series.htm[/url]
[/quote]


The Jazz J&D is definitely round and 'Fender-compatible'... but yeah, it could easily be an overhang on the squareish ones. And the others do look similar.

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[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1452342880' post='2949038']
The Jazz J&D is definitely round and 'Fender-compatible'... but yeah, it could easily be an overhang on the squareish ones. And the others do look similar.
[/quote]

Oh yes, the J&D 1975 Jazz looks very similar to the HB JB75 one. The cheaper J&D Jazz has got the square overhang 21 fret neck though, but the cheap HB JB20 Jazz has a rounded 20 fret one.

So I would guess the HB JB75 Jazz, J&D 1975 and standard Jazz, J&D P-basses are all made by J&D / Yeou Chern. The bog-standard HB P-Basses and Jazzes look to be from another manufacturer.

The J&D 1975 Jazzes come in some nice colours, and they're Alder rather than Ash. The HB JB75 ones do weigh a lot.

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I've got my eye on the J bass equivalent now. The black with white pickguard they sell for £79.

I think I have GAS :(

Talking of which... Does anyone make a P bass with a maple fretboard south of £200?

Anyone [b][i]other[/i][/b] than SX, I mean (God, those headstocks are fugly)

Edited by mark76
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The J&D surf green Jazz always grabs my attention and I believe DV247 offer easy returns if there's a QC issue so it's a no-brainer when the time comes.

While I've bought a few HB dekos, the models I was interested in I paid normal price,the PB-50 is a ridiculously good bass for £70.

Were J&D not marketed here as Jim Deacon over here ? Seem to remember the Deacons had a good rep.

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I think the Jim Deacon (now just Deacon?) are the same manufacturer as the SX ones. I don't know if SX have been linked to J&D/Yeou Chern, they've got a company called Team International behind them who maybe contract out to a company like YC. I agree about the headstocks, that big hook on them isn't very appealing.

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[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1452372110' post='2949412']
Talking of which... Does anyone make a P bass with a maple fretboard south of £200?
[/quote]

As kodiakblair mentioned, the Harley Benton 50s style P-Bass has got a maple board: [url]http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_50_sb_vintage_series.htm[/url]

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[quote name='rockmanrock' timestamp='1452430126' post='2949816']
I think the Jim Deacon (now just Deacon?) are the same manufacturer as the SX ones. I don't know if SX have been linked to J&D/Yeou Chern, they've got a company called Team International behind them who maybe contract out to a company like YC. I agree about the headstocks, that big hook on them isn't very appealing.
[/quote]
There's a good chance I've got SX and J&D and Deacon all mixed up.

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I did my similar no name bass upgrades with no issues the pickup swap from the stock's no names to some duncan designed , hand me downs from a Squire Vintage modified that someone had gone for Quarter pounders ... it plays wonderfully as the neck was already a dream and the pickup and loom / pots upgrade from kiogon meant its a great bitsa now for those gigs where the status should not go.

I could not find a pick-gaurd to suit the screw holes are all in the wrong places and as i was looking for a cheap solution didnt want to get a custom one made , so instead i followed somone's suggestion to cover it in sticky back vinyl ... worked a treat ...

Here's a couple of quick snaps .... the vinyl peel's off really easy and i have loads spare ... 4 Meter roll was 4 pounds.

[url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/synthaside/media/DSC_0677_zps4aidylbg.jpg.html"][/url]

A close to see my slightly less dodgey work with a craft knife and the white gaurd underneath giving a BWB 3 ply kind of effect

[url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/synthaside/media/DSC_0680_zpsggy4utbw.jpg.html"][/url]

Edited by synthaside
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