Quatschmacher

Rest of pictures. [attachment=75050:2011_03_...10_33_36.JPG][attachment=75051:2011_03_...10_34_26.JPG] [attachment=75017:2011_03_...17_15_46.JPG][attachment=75018:2011_03_...17_17_54.JPG] [attachment=75016:2011_03_...17_12_02.JPG][attachment=75019:2011_03_...17_19_50.JPG]

Hi all, I'd been gassing for a Precision for ages and picked this one up in December. It's lovely but I think I'm going to have to face the fact that I can't get on with nut widths larger than 38mm. (This was why I had to abandon the idea of a Stingray to get a Sterling (at least until I can get my mitts on a SLO Special).) I love the P sound and am going to have to get a P with a Jazz width neck. As regards condition, it is generally excellent with very minimal fret wear. There are however a few little dings and scratches, a nick in the fretboard and a bit of buckle rash on the neck plate (all from the previous owner) which I have photographed. (The white lines visible on the back of the neck in some photos are just reflections, and the "stripe" in the first picture is the reflection of the tripod leg.) The volume pot crackles a little bit when turned. Other than that, it's great. Bass weighs approximately 4.1kg (9lb). Nut width is the slimmer 40mm. So, as regards price, let's say £450 ono. Bass doesn't come with a hard case, I'm afraid, but I do have the box and packing material it was shipped to me in so could send it like that. If you wanted to organise a courier pick-up that would be fine. However I'd much prefer for it to be collected from me in [b]Sheffield[/b]. Alternatively, I could drop off in say Central London and pay a visit to a friend but I'd need time to work that out. Or if anyone from the North-East is interested I could combine a drop-off with a family visit. If anyone has reservations about my lack of sales record (I've only sold one bass and one set of strings on basschat) please check my flawless ebay feedback (same user name as on here). Please PM me with interest. Cheers. [attachment=75001:2011_03_...16_42_18.JPG][attachment=74996:2011_03_...16_40_30.JPG] [attachment=75015:2011_03_...17_20_32.JPG][attachment=75014:2011_03_...16_50_56.JPG] [attachment=75013:2011_03_...16_49_20.JPG][attachment=75012:2011_03_...16_48_44.JPG] [attachment=75011:2011_03_...16_47_52.JPG][attachment=75010:2011_03_...16_47_02.JPG]

Don't know if you've already checked this out, so forgive me if you have: Stingrays do have quite a big neck too (I find them even more uncomfortable than P bass necks). However Ernie Ball does a neck option called the SLO Special. It's a Stingray on which the neck has the narrower profile of the Sterling (38mm at the nut as opposed to 41.3mm). It's much more comfortable to play. However they have only been around for just over a year so there aren't many used examples floating around (been hoping to score one myself). Also, there are P basses around with more comfortable necks. Fender Japan do a 70s reissue with a 40mm neck, which is slimmer than the standard 41.3mm. The Lakland Duck Dunn is a P bass with a Jazz neck, as is the Sadowsky Hybrid P/J. Might be worth checking those out too if the only thing stopping you playing Ps is the neck. Have a free bump.

[quote name='tomb' post='1160796' date='Mar 13 2011, 06:03 PM']might be smart to ask for new pictures, since these one show the basses state a few years back and not as it is at the moment[/quote] Just to clarify, the picture of my old bass is the one posted by "hillbilly deluxe" in which the bass is resting on a blue cushion on a laminated floor. The pictures posted by the seller are presumably more recent (and are not even necessarily of the bass I used to own, though it is possible). Sorry for the confusion - free bump.

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='1151740' date='Mar 6 2011, 06:46 PM']Im guessing one of these,if it is,it's a bargain.[/quote] Funny to see my old bass! This is the pic I took when I listed it a few years back. [quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='1151774' date='Mar 6 2011, 07:10 PM']I say,no need to shout.I now im probly rite cos im smart i am. Looking at the pic that i posted,i just noticed that it has dots on the lower edge of the neck,how frikkin useless is that ? i still want one though.[/quote] There are also dots on the side edge of the fingerboard but in the places where the fret lines would be (as opposed to the space between the frets). This, combined with the dots on the fingerboard (also in the place where fret lines would be) gives a really good idea where the lines would have been, if that makes sense. It works really well.

Wow, this one does do the rounds doesn't it? Would have been interested (again) if I hadn't bought one in December (for more than this one's going for). I'm sure it'll go fast again.

Shame you can't just get a Big Al 5.

I'm sure I remember reading recently that someone wanted this exact model (can't remember if was here, on TB or the Ernie Ball forum though, may be worth doing a quick search).

[quote name='Quatschmacher' post='951450' date='Sep 10 2010, 08:41 AM']Does the Precision have a rosewood or maple board? I presume it is one of the new American Standard series with the high mass bridge etc. Is that correct?[/quote] Well, I'm presuming this is the one on ebay under an almost identical user name. If so, it's a maple neck (unfortunately for me). Looks great though.

[quote name='Bidd' post='951339' date='Sep 10 2010, 12:23 AM']How does the sound and neck compare to a standard US Fender Jazz? Please excuse my ignorance, but I've never tried a Sterling (or any Musicman) before.[/quote] The Sterling neck feels slightly thicker front-to-back and more rounded than the jazz basses I've played. The nut width is the same. I've got pretty small hands (long-ish fingers but a very narrow palm). It feels slightly different from a jazz neck but I got used to it pretty quickly. As regards the sound, you can set the pickups switch to single coil and play with the EQ to approximate a Jazz with the rear pickup played solo, though it doesn't nail the sound, partly because the Sterling pickup is closer to the neck than the rear pickup of a Jazz bass. Works better when using roundwounds. It's a good compromise if you've only got the one bass, as I currently have. Sterlings are fantastic basses and this is a really good price for one for this country. In fact I don't think you'd find one cheaper by importing in the current financial climate. If you can spare the cash you should go for it.

Does the Precision have a rosewood or maple board? I presume it is one of the new American Standard series with the high mass bridge etc. Is that correct?

PM sent.

Thanks for the photos. Didn't think this would hang around too long.

Sorely tempted. Been looking to get one of these for a few years now. In fact I came close to buying this last time you put it up for sale but was looking to get one with the stock pickup. I'm dithering whether to get this or shell out the extra for a newer one or the US version that someone has listed here. I just put up an ad for one of these a couple of days ago and now have £350 sitting in my Paypal account after selling my piccolo and a vintage sax mouthpiece this weekend. Just enough for the bass and a return to London. Clarky, any chance you could post pictures of the rest of the bass, front and back? Are there alternatives for the pickup? Not so keen on the cream. :snob:

To me, a Ray with flats is still identifiable as a Ray. Check out this guy's Youtube clips: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA_KrCDjbV4&p=8B2CC812430C5AEA&playnext=1&index=55"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA_KrCDjbV4...=1&index=55[/url] This is a comparison of rounds vs flats on the same 3-band Stingray (though the flats still sound quite new). Check his other clips with flatwounds.

As a way of taking the glassiness out of your Ray's tone, have you tried stringing it with flatwounds? I did this to my Sterling (which, to my ears is even glassier than the Stingray) and it did wonders.

Hi all, The Sterling in question is in natural with a rosewood neck and tortoise shell pickguard. It has Dunlop straplocks fitted. It's in overall great condition. The "issues" are as follows: there are a few small lacquer dings on the body (not through to the wood) and a headstock chip. The detente on the treble EQ knob isn't as positive as on a brand new bass but can still be felt enough to centre it. The are a couple of very small cracks on outside of the battery compartment, cosmetic only. This is barely noticeable but I mention it for those who may be as picky as me. These issues were present when I bought the bass and have never got any worse. They're very minor but I'd rather mention them. Included will be a Road Runner hard case. Pricewise, I'll start at £700 as that seems to be roughly the going rate for these. Bass located in Sheffield, I'd prefer local pickup. I can take other photos on request.

Wish I had known about this last week, I was in London! I'm really tempted but am concerned the neck would be too wide for me. If it has the same specs as the American Standard P then the nut is 41.3mm (the CIJ reissue has a 40mm nut). 41.3mm is also the width of a Stingray nut. Is the neck profile as chunky as a Stingray? I can't get on with standard Ray necks, but perhaps P necks are shaped differently? Also, what is the neck radius? Sorry for all the questions; never having played a P-bass means I have very little idea how they feel (I learned on a Jazz).

What is the nut width on this? Is it standard P width or is it more like the slimmer 70s P necks? Is the truss rod adjustable without having to take the neck off?