Chiliwailer

My first proper bass was a Ray, happy happy days

[quote name='grahamd' timestamp='1428793171' post='2744672'] As an aside Flea favours a low action, go figure!! [/quote] Buzz buzz buzz!

To get the ball rolling... On a personal level, a Precision became my go to bass, the one I feel most comfortable on and which suits my style. I also like Jazz Basses and early MM Sabres, but the P Bass gives off an extra special vibe for me. My first was a Squier JV, black and maple. I've had too many in between, pre CBS, 60's, 70's, Deluxe, Custom Shop though strangely never a USA std even though I rate them. Currently using a Mike Lull. For my needs it's perfect due to the weight, balance and tone. I don't really have one I'm GAS'ing for as my Lull covers what I need. If the 6 lucky numbers came up then probably an original 1960.

There's been some nice posts on BC recently about players getting their first P Basses. Even though there's a huge amount of varied high quality basses out there, it's amazing how a 1957 design is still so useable, copied and appreciated. It doesn't have to be a Fender either, as long as it's split pick up, volume and tone, it's a P Bass isn't it? So what was your first Precision? Have you had a few? What's your current flavour? What are you GAS'ing for?

A pleasure to sell to Andy.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1428760355' post='2744341'] I used active basses exclusively for over 25 years, but there was always something about the sound that I wasn't happy with & as a result I was always farting around with the EQ on the amp & the bass. Over the course of the last couple of years I sold all my active basses & now just have two passive basses - they just sound "right" to me. Getting them to sit in a mix either live or when recording is a doddle too. [/quote] I get you there. When playing with others passive basses make me play better in that I feel the grooves better and it's easier to lose myself in that natural tone that sits in the mix. I like that different players get inspired by different tones. [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428761228' post='2744350'] I think people worry too much about all that. Isolated recordings are full of noise - but as the bass was never intended to be heard thus, it doesn't matter. All those little sounds, ghost notes, unmuted string rings and inflections are what makes the music what it is and proves it was played by a real person and not programmed by some git who doesn't know that bass guitars don't go below low 'E'. [/quote] Spot on for me too.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428760503' post='2744344'] Flea digs in like feck, so you'd expect his action to be moderately high. [/quote] Yeah, and the albums and live recordings are still full of fret buzz, I love it!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428760301' post='2744339'] Ah, you spotted the 'influences', very well done... [/quote] I had to, Keith Levene is one of my best mates! That really was a cool tune

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1428759877' post='2744332'] A lovely and varied collection Mr Wailer [/quote] Cheers Gary, it's taken some time to get it back together again since I sold the last lot and bought my flat, I moved in just over 2 years ago with hardly anything. This time round it's a little different, but equally as fun. I'm content and GAS free, but we all know never to say never....

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428266054' post='2739801'] Yes, there exists some ridiculous post-punk stuff from 1979 which found its way onto YouTube. So this is how the 19-year-old me played bass. I like to think I've improved since then... [media]http://youtu.be/hiI1zUsY2O0[/media] [/quote] Gang of Four meet original PiL, nice one!

One other thing mate, did I once read a post about your neck buzzing and that you wanted a low action? I find low action settings can stop notes breathing too, IMO my Flea prefers a regular action rather than low one. I was just wondering while having a quick noodle on mine...

Ah, you said switch...probably 4 wires so you'd need to tie the earths together and the remaining ones togeher.

For temporary measure you can just google 'jazz bass wiring' and check the images, they'll show you which lug to put the white wire on, which is usually centre. The black wire always goes to the back of the pot to earth it. That is assuming they are 2 wires? Or you could do a similar Google for Precision Bass and break up the loom.

I find that my Modulus Flea is clearer with the tones down, makes sense to me as the pre amp is so powerful, but I still get what you mean about passive v active and the difference in natural tone. Howie makes a good point. I sometimes play similar stuff on my Jazz Bass and Flea, the Jazz as you say, breathes better, which I guess also has a lot to do with the fingerboard and neck tone too, but then I find passive breath nicely anyway. The Flea does other stuff well and is a beautifully unique and equally bizarre bass in my eyes, I guess that's the charm?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jaguar-XK50-Custom-Shop-Limited-Edition-Stratocaster-21-of-25-/371302212610?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5673562402

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1428712289' post='2744069'] I know that probably seems a bit OTT. [/quote] Nah, call it passionate! Your argument is solid and from a professional point of view definitely not the most caring way to do it. I'd be happy to do it that way on my own basses though if I'm in a hurry, but only ones already knocked up cos as you say, the neck pocket edges can be weak spots for paint. And I wonder what it does to the screw holes in the neck too if done repeatedly? Did he really say "I have fun wrangling it this way"??? Says it all really. J What was more painful for me is that I had one of those basses and sold it to Beedster as I needed the cash and couldn't justify owning it at the time

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1428446023' post='2741442'] Do people actually buy these? Just looked at the Tecamp web site for specs and sizes and even the large one is only 4' x 2.5' (twice the area of the small one shown in the photos) and weighs in at just under 20kg. So for bass players who never move about on stage but still have their own road crew... [/quote] Good point. I used to guitar tech at We Will Rock You in the West End, Neil Murray had a similar set up, sounds like an ideal place for it.

As above, though it may also just be made poorly and need a bridge shave, whereby the bridge is shaved lower so that the saddle can be set lower. Good luck, hope it's a cheap easy fix.

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1428674777' post='2743685'] I had to look up the Proto, but I'll freely admit I quite like the look of it! But then I quite like the '50s body shape. I didn't think it was that radical a departure, but I guess some Fender fans can be incredibly conservative! Raises an interesting point, though - do you have any idea how well the Blacktops sold? I was tempted by the P myself (though ended up buying a Schecter instead) but they didn't seem to catch on (I only know one person who owns one). Were they just too radical for the Fender fans? And by extension, is it the fans' fault that Fender are so cautious with new designs? [/quote] Yeah, that 2014 Proto is cool in my eyes too think it got rinsed on BC when it came out (of course), it was the 2013 one I was thinking of, it's a little more risky shall we say. I don't know about the blacktop to be honest, I've been out of MI retail for donkeys years now so may be out of touch? I can only talk from my past experience, of selling Fenders and working for Fender selling to shops, that mostly people went in for the classics more than anything else, and the more variations of classics that were available the more people could get something 'personal', even if that was choosing a sunburst maple 50's Precision over a metallic blue modern one. Bad analogy, but how many times can you reinvent the P Bass, so they do slightly different variants like the Post Modern, and some people will love them. Something 'different' like the Blacktops or FSR's sold either well relative to the numbers out there, or simply eventually if they were risky ones. As this thread shows (and I'll freely admit as a 'fan'), Fender isn't perfect, there's a lot of bitching out there. Could Fender ever be perfect or suit everyone? Of course not. So the constant and boringly repetitive and very obvious bitching is pointless and negative isn't it as you can't please all the people all the time eh? The Fender range is so big right now that I'm not surprised you only know one person who has a Blacktop. I quite like that alternatives to the classics are out there, and get refreshed every few years in an attempt to please the people who don't see what they want.....perhaps?

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1428671832' post='2743638'] Yep, the white one. I had the TV Jones Thunderblade in my old La Cab build. I played the BoSB in Bass Gear last year and it was lovely. I was bust checking out the GK550 Fusion with a US Standard. [/quote] I've always liked the TV Jones guitar pickups, yet to try a bass one. Really want to, though it won't be Fender at all really will it?! The 2013 Proto was a P Body with Tele style neck and 2 x single coil old style P Bass pickups. As bizarre as it was, I liked the idea as those pickups are lovely and Im a Crazy Horse fan so the body and neck match up was cool... but the MoP pickguard didn't do it for me. Takes a brave man to get a Proto, hats of to those that do though. I can see that TV Jones Proto suiting a fair few players.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1428668008' post='2743582'] I saw one in GAK over the weekend, along with a tangerine and black over SB. [/quote] The version with the TV Jones pickup? Would quite like to try that one. Those black over SB Ltd Ed's are something special, real room shakers. Did you play any?

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1428667785' post='2743576'] yes... and no... Musicman seem to be managing well enough [/quote] Touché

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1428667154' post='2743562'] I'd just like to see a new body shape [/quote] +1 Edit - but not as 'safe' as the Dimension Bass. hard task though init?