bassbiscuits

Stamped codes on the bottom of a pickup is commonplace, but its just that its too indistinct to see what yours says. I've never seen a guitar's serial number on its scratchplate before so i don't know if there's any significance to them not matching the headstock's code. Neck pocket codes and marks also seem pretty random - there's stuff in mine that seems faily meaningless and don't really give any useful info about the bass's age. I expect the extra holes in the body / neck socket are where it was hung for spray painting etc. There are some fairly random marks, codes etc in vintage Fenders as far as I can tell. Be good to see a picture of the whole bass to determine whether the rest of the features match up to the year of manufacture on headstock.

"Pass the Parcel" for example would have fitted perfectly, and made for a family-friendly parlour game-themed hit.

Definitely still up for discovering new music, whether its something similar to my usual style, or something different. As others here have said that could be having your eyes opened to old stuff that you never listened to at the time (for me that's old Bowie) or brand new stuff (quite into the bass parts on current Dua Lipa stuff for example.)

Do we need to start a support group? Anonymous of course.

That’s minging mate.

Which is a shame cos they are lovely basses, with versatile sounds and they look awesome.

Tru dat. I sold my Epi Jack Casady for that reason. It was hollow and very light, and I have neck/shoulder injury, but all the weight was in the wrong place at the neck end, so the balance was horrendous.

Fender Mustang basses, if you're happy with short scale. Mine weighs about 3.5kg.

Singlecuts, basses with very exotic wood tops, anything with more than five strings, or anything that weighs a tonne are not for me. I'm no fan of fake relicing either - it's not a deal breaker, but some otherwise nice basses have enough ridiculously overcooked relicing to put me right off.

that's cool.

True. Its certainly good enough for what I need. I get anxious if I've got lots of money locked up in gear I'm not using.

I feel like a right party pooper here, but if I won the lottery I wouldn’t spend any of it on bass gear. I’ve already got enough for what I need - couple of decent basses, couple of nice amps and cabs. I’d invest in a better house with room for my growing family to live in. That would be more useful for me. Ill get my coat...

Good point. My precision is essentially a 1970, but the pots are dated 1966, the neck dated 1968, the pickups dated 1970 and the serial number anywhere between 1968-1970. Ive owned it for donkeys years, so I’m pretty sure it started out that way rather than being a bitsa - just a case of Fender using what was available at the time.

I didn’t do too badly tho I succumbed very early on. 2020 saw me get: A Barefaced Big Twin 2 Genz Benz Neo 212 Vox Amplug Boss Octave pedal Couple of secondhand FS-5U foot switches Some strings Folding equipment trolley .....and all of it from Basschat.

Wow - loving that passive jazz

Its down to you and which one you decide you like best. I don't know the value of either of them, but if its not a vast amount then keep both until the decision feels easier. FWIW I think that Camel looks fantastic - a bit of a rarity i expect too.

September, by Earth Wind and Fire is great to play. Too Much Too Young by the Specials. Lately been digging the bass to Dua Lipa’s Don’t Start Now.

Iron Maiden - Running Free. Was massively into Maiden in about 1985 and when I started playing bass a year later it was the first thing I learned. I’d actually been playing it on my violin - the instrument I learned before bass - holding it like a bass and plucking it. Something had to give.

Yes I would, if it was a relatively local venue and one which I played at regularly. I'd be happy to help out a venue which had treated me well in the past if it helped them get back on their feet and in a position to book (and pay) performers again.

Likewise! I think I was 13... I knew no better.

Yep - D'addario EXLs for me too mostly, usually from Strings Direct or GAK. Good halfway house between the warmth of nickels and the punch of steels. D'addario NYXLs are great too but more expensive.

Utterly ridiculous from the outset, but fast forward to the last minute for the man on fire, the backline exploding etc etc. Stunningly bad. Though I did buy this album at the time, when I was young and impressionable.