Metal-Mariachi

I tried one out and loved it. I bought the sunburst version, because it just looks right. I’ve already upgraded the pickups to Nordstrands, and bridge to a Hipshot A. Swapped the vol and tone pot for CTS and swapped the treble and bass pots to linier taper for smoother control. I’ve installed TI Jazz flats and am now very happy with it. It doesn’t sound like my American Standard Jazz or ‘70 Jazz (they don’t sound alike either), I like the sound and the different flavor it brings. I’ve heard complaints about hum and shielding but had absolutely no problem with mine right out of the box. My practice room has a dimmer and a florescent workbench light and neither has caused any excessive hum issues with that bass. MM

Retube the ‘70s one with 7027s like it came with. JJ makes them so no need to hunt for NOS unless you want to. That will give you a tiny bit of headroom and sound better. You can also experiment with the first preamp tube, a 12AT7, 5751 or 12AU7 will lower the gain and increase the headroom. MM

In amp rating, both Traynor and Ampeg measured the out put just before clipping to get the RMS, Max is the maximum the amp will put out. In speakers it is pretty much the same RMS= max signal before the speaker begins to break up, and max is the total amount you can push before damage. MM

Labella, D’Adderio, RotoSound, Pyramid and TI make short scale flats. Just Strings stocks most of them. [url="http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=juststrings&query=short+scale+bass&.autodone=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.juststrings.com%2Fnsearch.html"]http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsea...%2Fnsearch.html[/url] They will give you a nice deep mellow sound. The stock pickup is a guitar pickup, like the originals used. There are a couple of people making 4 pole replacements. Some folks like the sound of rails. MM

The Sonic Research Turbo Tuner. Fast, accurate, well built, easy to use and no tone suck. MM

Now I’m tempted to get a body or just one of these [url="http://www.rondomusic.com/piscesbk.html"]http://www.rondomusic.com/piscesbk.html[/url] and a routing template and do it. MM

Sad.. From the looks, stripped paint and the added tuner, I’d say a ‘70s conversion. A lot of butchery was going on back then. Esquires and Less Paul jrs routed for humbuckers, extra pickups added. Lots of paint stripping for that bare wood look. I wonder how many custom color treasures were lost. It’s probably tuned E-C which was popular on the Bass V. MM

[quote name='henry norton' post='670477' date='Nov 30 2009, 04:44 PM']Huge apologies to anyone who thought I'd just unearthed an ultra-rare predecessor to the Jazz, the mother of all modern basses. This is just an idea I had; I'm guessing it would sound beefier than a Jazz but with more versatility than a split P. Oh my life what a terrible picture, I didn't realise how blurred it was 'til I saw it posted.[/quote] I have thought of doing that myself. Kind of have it scheduled as my next project. When I have the funds free I’m going to have the body and neck made by USA Custom Guitars. Have been thinking of going for the hollow T with F hole. I’ve also played with the idea of a Charlie Christian style pickup closer to the neck pocket, and a 3 pickup version. So many options. MM

A few choices. [url="http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_genuinefender.htm"]http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_genuinefender.htm[/url] 2nd ones in the first and second lines. [url="http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_wilkinson.htm"]http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_wilkinson.htm[/url] First one [url="http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_gotoh.htm"]http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_gotoh.htm[/url] last in top line [url="http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_hipshota4.htm"]http://www.basspartsresource.com/bridge_hipshota4.htm[/url] first one. That covers every thing from the ’51 reissue, American Standard and Hipshot. Hope this helps MM.

Dangerboy beat me too it. The Dark Boost really kicks in the low end when used after other dirt/fuzz etc. If the cab and amp won’t get there nothing will help. MM

DR Scientist RRR. Per Ryan “I never restrict the low frequency content of my circuits and you wouldn't have to worry about using a bass with a Reverberator.” These are with guitar but you get the idea. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzfbmr0zfqc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzfbmr0zfqc[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FhrDw3eKgw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FhrDw3eKgw[/url] It is on my “next pedal” list MM

Sweet amp. I’ve wanted one since I first saw a photo of one. MM

Fender and Squire give the dimensions on their web site. [url="http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?section=basses&cat=precisionbass"]http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?...t=precisionbass[/url] [url="http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?section=basses"]http://www.squierguitars.com/products/sear...?section=basses[/url] Click on the specifications I found the 1.65” width of the MIJ ’51 reissue to be a very nice neck. It is a tad wider 0.15” than the Jazz bass, but has rounder contour. Switching between a ’70 Jazz and the ‘51 isn’t a big deal. The Mark Hoppus has a wide 1.75” width, flat but wide enough to be anointing to me. I replaced the P neck with a Jazz neck on mine. I’d suggest you just try out as many as possible and I’m sure you’ll find one that feels and sound right to you. MM

I have been lusting for their 6x12 cabinet. It should sound huge and it weighs a little less than my Aguilar 2x12 and tons less than my Ampeg 2x15. MM

Usually trying a new amp or working with studio gear I set the eq flat. P bass volume max to begin with, tone, rolled back around half way. Jazz bass, tone is the same, switch between the pickups. Then adjust the amps eq until I get the sound (tone) I like. Of course with studio work, it’s not so much the sound I like as it is what fits the music, so there is more give and take. I hate to admit it but some times the engineer or guitar player is right. MM