ossyrocks

Forgive my ignorance of the MarkBass line (even though I have a Mark Bass setup), but what makes the “Blackline” amps cheaper or apparently inferior to the rest of the line? Is there a “pecking order” of MarkBass offerings? Rob

Well, my rig hasn’t ended up being the 1x12 combo I originally envisaged, and today I picked up a Traveller 1x15 to match the rig I ended up starting with. I now have the rig of doom, which some of my bass playing pals have informed me would easily cover a gig at the Albert Hall without going through the PA. Anyway, behold the wonder of the rig of doom in a tiny bungalow! I think they could hear me all over Morecambe this afternoon. Rob

@Deedee and @jimmyb625, I can solve this problem for one of you at least. You buy a nice 1965 Precision (my YOB), and I’ll trade you straight for my lovely ‘73. Simples. 😎

I think that's important too. I know from personal experience how things can go wrong. I once had a police officer knock on my door looking for a bass three years after I bought it. In this case I could direct them to where I bought it, and who currently owned it, and the original owner was finally reunited with his stolen bass. The full story is longer and more interesting, but it did involve a bass custom built by Manson for John Deacon of Queen!

After this “sold” for a lot of money, it has miraculously been relisted. I don’t know why people play games like this with ebay, it is now obvious it reached that price through shill bidding, so why would anyone bid on it again? Rob

Well, as bass noob, I’ve just read this thread from the top and subscribed to numerous channels. I think I’ve enough to keep me busy for a couple of years! Some I’d heard of before, but not subscribed, some are very new to me. Thanks chaps, I do love Basschat. Rob

Ah ha, Alegree sell them, £5 pair inc postage. Sorted. https://www.alegree.co.uk/products/precision-bass-height-foam?_pos=1&_sid=ccd92b312&_ss=r Cheers, Rob

Hmm, £4.61 for the parts, £12.96 for the postage. Is there something equivalent available in the UK?

@PaulThePlugcheers for that. I'll check them out when their website is back up. It says that they're "tuning up the store" at the moment. Rob

I’ve had my ‘73 P Bass for two months now, how time flies! I play it every single day. In that time, I’ve adjusted the truss rod, adjusted the bridge, lubricated the tuners, and strung it up with flats. It plays very very well. The last thing I need to do is replace the foam under the pickups. They just don’t stay “up” where they should be. So, to save me wasting time and money, what’s the best stuff to get to put it right first time? Cheers, Rob

In the early 80’s, still a teenager, I used to roadie for a band called Buffalo (NWOBHM). The bass player had one of these, it was heavier than the moon. Two of us once had to carry it up three floors of a fire escape on the outside of a building to access the venue. I’m glad they don’t make them like they used to!

I had a set of ACS for years, then left them in a taxi. For the second set, I’ve gone with READ Audio. The plugs themselves are much harder and have a rough texture, and I’m not sure about them. Lots of people love them though, but my ACS were more comfortable.

The Mark Bass does it for me.

Thanks. It is a lovely thing. I'm usually wary of critiquing prices on forums, but I do admit I said the word "whopping", I'll hold my hand up there. But also said "that someone has confidence in the direction of travel on prices for vintage basses". In this respect I agree, I see these things going only in one direction at the moment, and my own vintage guitars are out-performing any money I have in the bank by a country mile that's for sure.

It does make me think that mine was a good price now. I bought mine from ATB Guitars about a month ago, he's not renowned for offering bargain guitars, and some would say his prices are fairly high end. Mine is in very good all original condition including a vintage case, and yes it's a '73, not a '70, but it was over a grand and a half cheaper.

^That PB I pointed out on eBay earlier, was listed around the £2600 mark, and was listed more than once with no takers. It’s now popped up with Bass Monkey for a whopping £3995. That’s a fair old mark up over the previous ebay price, and certainly indicates that someone has confidence in the direction of travel on prices for vintage basses. Link: https://www.thebassmonkey.co.uk/basses-1/p/1970-fender-precision-bass-sunburst Rob

I guess things like that can happen with any instrument, even custom shop. This one is pretty tight, in fact I had to gently work the neck out and then back into the pocket it's so snug.

Cheers. I'm really new to bass, so once I got this set up, I realised just how effortless it is to play. The action is low, it's balanced, it's light, and it's just so comfortable. I'm now on a mission to make my Precision equally lovely to play. The neck will be coming off shortly!

I’ve just weighed it, 8 lbs 7 oz. So not as light as I thought, but still not heavy.

'73 Fender Jazz.........ooooh heck. I kind of hope you decide to keep it.

Well, the noob got another bass yesterday! My Precision is set up with flats, so I wanted something else to set up with rounds. This Road Worn Jazz Bass cropped up on ebay reasonably close to me and we met halfway yesterday so I could pick it up. It was in desperate need of a setup though, but a tweak of the truss rod took the bow out of the neck, then a little bridge height and intonation adjustment and it now plays wonderfully. It's a very lightweight bass, I haven't weighed it yet, but I reckon it's around the 8 lbs mark. I also took the opportunity to polish out the dull finish with Virtuoso Guitar Cleaner. I know these basses come with a satin finish, but I've never seen an actual vintage bass with such a dull finish, so now it's a bit more gloss. Has anyone else got an opinion on these Road Worns? Anyway, the pictures! Cheers, Rob

That must have taken all the willpower you could muster. I know you’re looking for one of these, and ^that one is an absolute belter. I can’t help with your dilemma over which one, except the MM, that’s sentimental, and you would probably regret selling it. I’ve sold two guitars recently which I thought might cause me emotional pain, but I’ve been a brave boy and it’s been ok, sniff. Rob

I’ve had a couple of amps stored in my detached garage over winter. It’s dry, but cold. Admittedly these are little Fender handwired guitar amps, but the first one I switched on in order to test it before selling did make a lot of noise. It’s probably down the the fibreboard circuit absorbing moisture. I left the amp switched on in the house for a day and it settled right down. Personally, I’m not going to keep amps out there going forward.

Your Dad has come up in conversation a couple of times in just the past couple of weeks. I was talking to an old bass player buddy of mine about tutors in Lancaster and he mentioned your Dad. He’d had a few lessons years ago and recommended him. A few days later I was talking to Gary Thistlethwaite in Promenade Music, Morecambe, and he talked about him too, and explained about his poor health. Gary may have some tales for you, he was very complimentary about your Dad. Rob