Lozz196

I know a lot of people dispute it but I`m firmly in the camp of both body woods and neck/fretboard woods really contributing to the sound of an instrument. I find maple fretboards to be snappier in the upper mids, and have found this when I`ve had identical basses, same year of manufacture etc, just different fretboard material. I also think that the ash body of that 77 will have a lot to do with it, so whilst a maple neck imo will get you towards that sound, it won`t be quite the same.

My old 78 Precision was a bit like this, and from what I`ve read Eric Claptons fave strat Blackie was also not the easiest to play guitar that he had.

And from personal experience, I found the Custom 62 is richer, with more in the lower mids and just more warm/thick sounding than the Original 62, which to me was much more what I would expect a vintage Fender to sound like, that woody tone and more upper-mids,

Yeah, something like a bass combo or bass amp & cab, plus a guitar combo, split the signal and have effects/gain on the guitar amp, keep the lows solid on the bass amp.

I must admit I do prefer to meet up to do the handover, at either home, or motorway service station, sheepskin jacket & brown paper bag of readies etc. However my last two sales/purchases have been from Scotland and Sunderland which are both possible with both parties meeting in the middle, and something I`d be willing to do, but posting to the door is that little bit more convenient. I`d always prefer collection - both as a buyer and seller, but sometimes it`s just not practical.

There was a comparison sound-clip on youtube of the Custom 62 & 63, the 63 being a bit deeper in the lows and having a bit more power to it if I recall correctly.

Did you fun my wife, cakesucker?

Not sure how far Stevenage in Herts is from you, prob an hours drive or so, but Terry Chapman, TJC Guitars is pretty good. Our very own Gary Mac does set-ups etc, not sure if he does routing for pickups but may be worth a try, he`s in Hoddesden, Herts.

It can be worth contacting the seller directly and asking. Some really will be collection only, but some will agree to a meet, or to source boxes/bubble-wrap for a good offer and confirmed sale. I`ve secured postage deals on collection only eBay items with direct contact before.

Seymour Duncan Steve Harris would get my vote for the under £100 category

Well the three were/are: Martin Herrick 65 - as the blurb on Martins site says, these had more lows & highs, and were a bit high-powered, went into breakup quite easily on my regular settings. Quite a modern sound really. Seymour Duncan Steve Harris - much more emphasis on mids, seemingly less lows & highs as a result, similar sort of power as above. Nice vintage sound. Fender Custom Shop 62 - my fave, the ones I have in all my Precisions. A very vintage tone, much like the Steve Harris, but not so powerful, so doesn`t go into break-up quite so quickly. A really vintage sound, I bought my first 2012-16 Series Precision based on a sound-clip of Sponge Bobs one that he put on here.

I named my ash/maple 78 Precision Ian Paisley as it just seemed to bark aggressively, there were no subtleties with that bass, especially with the (ham-fisted) way I play.

I used to use it a lot more than now, but then most of what I play now are one note bass-lines so there`s less of a need. Through doing this the span from thumb to pinky finger on my left hand is at least an inch more than on my right hand. Yoga in small amounts maybe?

I think pickups & electrics will have a major influence on this. As will body-woods, I found that in general the ash-bodied Precisions I had were more aggressive sounding, where the alder-bodied ones have been fuller sounding (maybe just a bit more in the low mids). But pickups really change it, I`ve had 3 different pickups in one of my Precisions, and the difference it makes getting the right one is pretty amazing.

In my quest of many strings over the years, I`ve found only Roto Steel Rounds are for me, so it may be the Monels are the only string for you. Why not put a new set on the G&L, then if you don`t like them on that then at least you`ve a spare set in waiting for one of the Precisions.

I daren`t think about that, as I`d then realise how many over the years I`ve eaten, and that my Mars Bar habit is far worse than my alcohol habit ever was.

Great shame, part of Motorheads best line up imo.

I think it`s good that starter instruments are cheaper, back in 1980 when I bought my fist bass it was a Kay EB-O copy, and cost £45. The action was almost half an inch, and it really wasn`t that good an instrument - at a price which was the same as a working mans weekly wage (I started drinking in `83 when a pint was 50p, so working in beer, my starter bass cost me approx. 100 pints plus, same as around £400 today). Now for a working mans weekly wage you can get a much better instrument, surely this is progress.

I wouldn't want to be the one who told him....................

One of the first things I did when I moved into my flat was talk to the neighbours about being a musician, and that if my playing ever got on their nerves, just tell me and I would turn it down/stop. I`m not to know when practicing if one of them has a migraine or is compiling a report for work, but if they tell me then I`m fine to down tools. as such if they`re ever making too much noise I`m not fussed about asking them to turn it down, though in all honesty the only time I`ve ever cracked was when the dog they were looking after barked for an hour non-stop. I think me banging on the floor (I`m in the first floor flat) screaming "shup up you c***" was pretty clear. They took it out for a dump, and said dog was then bark-free and happy.

Be accommodating, but when the next screaming match happens knock on her door and request the same from her.

I`m surprised that the Yam gets so easily lost Roger, but not that surprised that the trusty Precision sits so well.

Just before Xmas I bought a set of Hipshots for my MIM Precision. The bass itself is great, but the tuners weren`t so, and as I`m going to be using this bass on a few overseas gigs this year (I ain`t flying with my US basses) wanted the tuners to be as good as I could get them. Reviews read, Hipshot HB7s ordered as a direct fit on MIMs. Except they weren`t, all screw-holes lined up ok, but the supplied ferrules/bushes were too small, and the Hipshot tuning pegs rattled in the Fender ones. So I e-mailed Hipshot asking where I could purchase a set of these, and they said just send us your address and we`ll put a set out to you, no charge. Received them today, fit like a glove. Quality customer service imo, so a big thumbs up to them. And have to say, the tuners are a real quality bit of kit, much smoother than the stock Fender ones.

In all honesty I hope that I don`t, but the grooves are a good little precaution, just in case I get carried away. And that`s it, punk has got to be played hard.

The OCD in me says either the larger cab at the bottom, or in the event that both cabs are the same size, the one with the bigger cones in at the bottom.