Jean-Luc Pickguard

very sad news 🙁

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133850670529?hash=item1f2a1f25c1:g:PdUAAOSwfnBhGsIS mmmm - The logo has been put on with little regard to what a real one should look like, but I'm not sure whether the headstock shape looks off or not, It looks like a genuine neck but has the headstock been reshaped or am I imagining it? Love the way the strings could take someone's eye out when you swing it about.

Love the EMG GZR pickups but in my opinion bright pink woodgrain is rather revolting.

I like Fender's current range - particularly the incredibly cool curly cables which are streets ahead of the curly cables of the 70s

I really like the Fender flats that came on my JMJ - so much so that I put a set on my CIJ mustang. They don't do a 32" set but the long scales work without any problems.

It can run off a battery if you have one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294084739264?hash=item4478d100c0:g:gxsAAOSwpCxgXQQz

I used to own an old one with the textured sides and without a status LED. I have no idea what happened to it (or my original coloursound fuzz). I now have on my board a mooer bass sweeper which makes all the sounds I remember from my bass balls but with more variation possible without opening it up.

While you're in there, you'll do your future self a massive favour if you replace the existing jack socket with a switchcraft one. You can get one for about four quid delivered from ebay.

The dodgy logo isn't a transfer - it has been hand drawn, possibly with model airplane paint or india ink. It might have stated out with an Ibanez or Columbus logo on the headstock - like this one:

Looking into it I think my 'neutrik' one is actually Rean, but the vendor listed it as a product of the parent company. Perhaps they make them in China as there isn't enough space to stamp "Made in Lichtenstein" on them.

The pure tone one I bought was about the same cost as a switchcraft. I recently bought a neutrik one which went into my bitzer telecaster. That one looked very much like a switchcraft but was stamped “CHINA” rather than “Switchcraft” and was a bit cheaper. It seems to be working well and had the correct thread to screw into an electrosocket like a switchcraft.

That sounds like a good idea. I'm going to use one of the two I already have for this project, but I'll order a stereo switchcraft to try on another instrument.

Anyone tried these new-fangled pure tone jacks? The 1/4 inch jack/socket was first used back to 1878 so any new innovation has been a long time coming. I'll be replacing the Pots on my CIJ thinline telecaster soon with some lovely mojotone CTS ones and I can't remember whether or not I changed the jack to a switchcraft when I first bought the guitar. If I didn't then I have a switchcraft and a pure tone sitting here which I'll choose between. The pure tone looks like it should be as good as the switchcraft but its a totally different design, however in the pic above it is being compared against a crappy cheapo jack rather than a switchcraft or neutrik and that one's plug isn't even pushed in all the way - so i suspect there might be some element of marketing bullsh!ttery going on even if the product is good.

I bought one of these from Denmark Street when they first came out in 1986 and I still have it with the rectangular zip-up case. Great basses.

Its not a bad idea but I doubt it would show any improvement. Fender supply the JMJ mustang with long scale flats fitted. Mine hasn't had any problems due to the unsilked part of the string going around the tuner and I've not heard of any suffering any ill effects.

Before I settled on kala/gallistrings nylon core flatwounds on my ubass my favourites were the black Pahoehoe strings. i couldn't get on with the grippyness of aquila thunderguts.

I went through a few distortion/overdrive pedals before settling on a TC Electronic MojoMojo.

My Starfire agrees

I tried to weigh my '81 Ash precsion once but it broke the scales

I’m trying to work out why it has wheels. Stomp on a pedal and you’ll be chasing it along the floor.

It’s a sub series stingray rather than a standard Sterling stingray so it’s probably around the right price for a used one

The Duke & the King used one of these when I saw them at Rough Trade East a few years ago.

Its rare so it must be worth £300? I rembember these from the late 70s LINK -> Kay Precision copy I think the reason they're rare now is that they all ended up in a skip or on a bonfire - and deserved it.