mikeswals

Nice to see a few have landed 'over there' and folls getting to play them. I got my serial# 14 here in the US the week they were announced. Here is a gig pic, also with my 2025 Wal Mk1 for an 80s gig.

I've always hated them, I thought they were very ugly and I kept wondering what they were thinking with an egg shaped oval. These tuners first appeared about Aug 65 on the Jazz Bass, and were in full use by Oct 65, while the P bass used Klusons well into 67. Back in 2018 I ended up buying a very late 65, and it had the ovals. Still not my favorite tuners, but I like the Jazz.

I don't know if the XL letters were an acronym for anything. But the yeah it was the sandwich body; it had alder on the back half and the thin slice of walnut I think. I owned several early Czech/Euro that were solid maple, and the LX's just sounded different to me. No, XL was not 35", Spectors NS5 was already 35" by 1999, and LX's came out about 2004. Back then, the 94-98 dot inlay SSD NS5 was 34", and then changed to 35" along with the crown inlays and SS logo in '99.

after Kramker closed and Staurt started up SSD making a Spector bass again, he wasn't yet allowed to call it the NS2 name because Kramer still owned the names and logos for several more years. So Stuart called the traditional PJ bass the NS4. Around very late 98 or early 99, he got all of his name rights and trademarks back.

Very lovely looker!

I'm in the States, and I remember making a 'dumpster gold' comment once here on BC and people jumped on me that you'd get arrested. The cops here aren't going to do anything about junk thrown out (only if there's a dead body in the trash can), they have way more important fish to fry.

Also, please do not destroy those grilles. They have not been available for two decades now, and impossible to find on the used market.

I used to have a 1516 for 20 years. It was never a favorite cab, my Mesa 215 was my primary cab, and I would add the 1516 to it for bigger shows. Mine was the same era as yours from the late 80s: single 1/4" input and 3-way toggle for the horn (hi/off/low). Its a 4 ohm cab. It was never a 'master of anything' as the single EV15 didn't like alot of bottom end exertion, and despite the rating, those EVs can really only handle 200w and then fart out. I destroyed the 15 twice. I would leave the cab alone, don't cut it up. Like already mentioned, people do search for them, so just sell it.

I know I have a very rare version!

Will the UK bass makers that were using Hiscox as their branded supplied cases, still be using them though? But yes, nice to know on the retail accessory-end that they'll still be available again.

' Beauty! I used to own a midi Mk2 in shedua, looked alot like this but with chrome hardware.

Here's the two side by side: The J cover is 47mm wide, the P cover is 57mm wide

Burst & CAR

one nit pick: the chrome neck pickup cover is for a P, its wider than a J cover

I have no idea if the extra import costs are dissuading anyone else in the US or not... be interesting to see if over time it does. My newest Mk1 order arrived in the US this year at the end of April. I ordered in late 2020, so this was a 52 month wait. Fees used to be 5%, now are 15%. But not like I was going to refuse the delivery at this point.

Alembics sound nothing similar to a Wal.

Yup, its no longer "1962". I really hate it when people do that. More than half is gone.

Strings, string, strings! I only play 34" for my 5'ers, I don't care for the feel of 35's nor anything longer than that. The quality of the B is what was I discovered it boils down to over the years, and I like bright tones with piano-like attack. I can get along with just about anyone's 4 string sets...these have been made great for decades. but B strings didn't feel as tight in the 90's, but many progressively got better as production techniques got tighter over since the 2000's. My two favorites are DR Hibeam/Sunbeam and then EB Slinky. I've also used Galli with excellent results. D'addario B's is very decent, but I don't love their feel. I cannot get long with any of GHSs' strings. And while I love R Cocco 4 string sets, their B strings are terrible, flabby, and the tone never matches the E-G strings. I have custom Wal 5's that are of course fantastic, as are my StingRay 5's... but you should try my cheap Squire Jazz 5 thats loaded with Galli 40-125 rounds and my own set-up work, you'd think it sounds and plays like a $2k bass! I use 125 B's if I'm standard tuned, and if I get hired by a band that tunes 1/2 step down then I'll go to a 130 B

This landed back in 2022, never did share a pic of it.

I am utterly suprised anyone that isn't a bass player, can even tell the difference between a Precision and a Jazz to ask for one. For anyone I have played and worked with, all they see is Fender on the headstock. And no one has ever asked me to bring any specific bass.

I am utterly suprised anyone that isn't a bass player, can even tell the difference between a Precision and a Jazz to ask for one. For anyone I have played and worked with, all they see is Fender on the headstock. And no one has ever asked me to bring any specific bass.

My U bass is well under 2 lbs... maybe like the weight of trashy love novel.

Mick had two Mk1's: One was tulip, seems he really favored that one. The other one was cherry. Both very rare woods, but a few cherry ones were made, as IIRC the cherry tree came from one blown down in a storm.

the US version does have the 70's spacing. I think the Japan factory was only going for the look.

About a month ago saw The Cult and Pennywise about a week apart.