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Hi folks A box seems overkill, especially as it would need to be even wider than a box used for a hard case. Has anyone shipped a big/deep gig bag like a Mono or Fusion case and what did you use? I’m wondering if I could wrap it in brown paper or wrap it in bin liners and tape…it’s not going to require padding after all. Maybe I can just put stamps on it!

Thanks yeah no worries I think it’s probably best to leave it alone!

All the ones I’m reading up on say not to use on cracked finishes

I think I'm right in saying that the Squier is a signature model and that the pickup is standard Ah yes here you go https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-guitars/retro-bass-guitars/squier-mikey-way-mustang-bass-rosewood-fretboard-large-flake-silver-sparkle

Thanks! Yeah I think the key is to avoid silicone. Re the cracks, just wondered if getting polish in the cracks might not be best for the underlying wood but guess if it’s the right polish it won’t be absorbed as such.

Any recommendations? Looking for something to apply to a cracked and worn nitro finish.

I’m thinking about changing the vol/vol on my PJ mustang for blend/tone (don’t need a vol). Local tech said it would be fine but I could use a no load tone pot so when it’s on 10 it’s removed from the circuit. Might do it at some point.

Definitely! And the come in so many cool colours! I think I’ll put Elixir strings on the Squier and it’ll be a good opposite number to the Fender. The fretboard in the squier is really dark and nice looking. I was expecting to need to ‘feed’ it with Planet Waves Hydrate but it’s fine, especially compared to some I’ve seen online. In some ways holds its own compared to the Fender, especially for the price. The body weight very little so there’s a bit of neck dive whereas the Fender is perfectly balanced and weighs 7.6lbs.

Hm neither have I! Quite a few people change the lollipop tuners on the JMJ signature for lightweight ones so maybe you can find a set of those?

Always liked the look of these. I saw this one on eBay too and was pretty tempted. Really like the wooden covers and the little details. Colour looks great, too - prefer the white plate myself.

I think Fender have started using them again recently on some reissue models, so hopefully you can get some without the 'Vintage tax' I really quite like modified basses, and would rather have a vintage modified bass than a refinished one, weirdly. Both affect value in the buyer's favour of course

Yeah it sounds fantastic. I think the 'proper' P pickup gives it a stronger fundamental and a fuller P sound, whereas the Mustang P pickup sounds a bit more like a Jazz bass front pickup sort of P sound, if you get what I mean. I suppose back in the 70s people were less precious about early Fenders so they just had at it - fair enough if you ask me; certainly the rear pickup on this gives the bass a really growly sound. That said I'm definitely now looking at other variations on the Mustang; Pawn Shop etc - I mean I should really have at least one of each, and I know you'll agree

Here's my custom made foam mute (available for £39.95, PM me) It gets slightly thinner towards the treble side and has a special tab for removal. The dog hair is an essential part of the sound.

Oh really, that's interesting. Makes sense as now I can see other cases owned by the mysterious Victoria 🤣

They're fantastic quality - only a few minor signs of cost cutting such as a roughly cut pick guard and some minor setup required (though they provide tools and instructions). I'm sure if it was made in '66 it would be just as good as the other! Good idea to get her a YOB bass! You only have two months left.

This is why I should't be left alone during the week. I asked a friend about his Mustang bass, and he said I could borrow it to try out. I told myself it was so my niece could have her own bass when she comes round to 'play guitar' (which mostly consists of her pressing all the buttons and moving all the dials in my office/studio) I expected to want to change a few things on the bass ('Go for it' he said), but when it arrived I was floored with the little thing. I haven't played a Squier since my first bass, which was an Affinity P bass, which was great, but the neck in particular was pretty anaemic looking. This thing has a lovely dark tint; the fretwork is great (amazing for £300!) and I'm able to get a fairly low action without problems. I don't even mind the strings, despite having ordered some La Bella flats for it - I rather like the raspy little pickup and the poky sound. It's like a small happy dog and my regular P is like a calm Labrador. So now I have a pack of La Bella 760-MUS flats doing nothing. And you know what that means. I have gone fully down the rabbit hole, reading all about Mustangs and their history, even going back to Geddy Lee's book where they must have passed me by previously (tbh I was expecting Geddy to have some Stingrays, anyone know why not?) So then I bought this, because that's probably sensible right? A few days later I had a big vets bill which meant selling a lot of things (actually it was quite good to have a clear out) but when you're paying about £500 to boil a pan of water it puts things into perspective, so I decided to honour the agreement and get this thing posted. As you can see, it's a 1966 Mustang, from the first year of production - which would normally go for about £4500, but since this has been modified, allegedly in the 70s, with P/J pickups, it was to my mind great value. I'm not particularly worried about absolute originality, and rather like modified basses, especially if it makes them cheaper. The body, neck, hardware are all original as far as I know, and working perfectly. The neck is straight, the fretwork is lovely and the feel of the thing is spot on. Broken in but looked after, I'd say. The tuners are the lollipop style found for a short time around '66 when Fender made them in house to cut costs, I believe. The pickups are (we think) dimarzio (neck) and Fender (bridge) but I'll confirm at some stage. They sound great together, giving a nice 60s jazz growl together and individually the P sounds fantastic, like a mid heavy slightly more rubbery P sound with lots of articulation. The Jazz soloed is burpy and tight and not lacking in guts. Playing over the back pickup is more comfortable for me than on a regular sized jazz (not that full scale basses are difficult for me, I just wanted a mini P bass really) The slab body, as with my Stingray, to my eyes looks amazing (on the Squier, too) and really suits the narrower body. Super comfortable to rest your arm on, allowing the hand to naturally fall over the back of the P pickup. The controls are vol/vol - I am tempted to have them changed to balance/tone but I'm playing this bass 99% at home through my studio/headphone/bassboard setup where I can roll off the top end, although with flats and a custom foam insert (which slides in and out nicely) I'm really happy with the top end and can adjust it externally. I'll try and get some sounds recorded and post them here. The case is original and you can see the original owner was 'Victoria' which is pretty cool, can you imagine tracking her down now? Cheers ped

I spoke to David who sounded like a right legend, he said there's a 14 day money back guarantee and that he'll do something custom for you if required, such as a super hot overwound pickup with thinner wire, which he said I could swap for a standard set if I didn't like them. Sounds like they're worth a go.

I normally find the tracking number changes once it's landed and transferred to customs, at which point you can follow it as it's inspected, charges raised, then you call 'em. But it's probably different every time depending who's on strike.

Yeah you'll just have to wait and see. In either case as soon as it says awaiting charges, give them a ring. Some people say you need the 16 digit code in your letter, but most will happily let you pay with the tracking reference. If you get one of the former, hang up and try again!

Oh definitely, but it still deletes the final delay after all that initial messing about.

As soon as your item tracking says it's in customs, ring them and pay the fee - otherwise they send a letter which can take 3-4 days if Royal Fail can even be bothered

This should be front page news, under the headline 'the real cost of climate change' - just like when the war in Ukraine meant my mum couldn't get her knitting patterns any more! Glad you got it sorted, that must have been really mind boggling to happen especially to two basses at once.

Nice. One of the best Smiths I’ve played was a JJ Burner like that. Enjoy 👍🏼