Chiliwailer

The facts as I see them:[list] [*]There will always be a Fender company [*]There will always be high quality copies / interpretations [*]There will always be QC issues in any big company - Fender, Bentley, Apple etc. [*]There will also be QC issues in smaller companies, at times [*]People will chose what is right for them based on need, past experiences and taste [*]People will often defend or slag off ANY company, more so larger ones that have impact [*]People may also only see their side of the coin due to their experience and opinion [*]It's only a discussion, no one is right or wrong! [/list]

That looks stunning mate

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1420967717' post='2655464'] I have owned dozens of basses over the years, including some high end brands like Wal and Ken Smith. My main squeeze at the moment is a Fender American Special, it was less than £500, looks and sounds the business, is beautifully put together, and is one of the most resonant basses I have ever played. It's also really nice and light and has a wonderful shallow C neck. It's perfect in every way. There's something about the Fender P that, for me at least, is just "right". There are some amazing Fenders out there, just as there are amazing basses from most manufacturers. The trick is to find them! [/quote] I wish that were the case for me mate, though I agree there are tons of very good ones out there to be found and loved. My Lull weighs 7.5 lbs and balances and sounds awesome. It has a chambered alder body and wide B width neck. To get a bass that light and spec from Fender would be very rare indeed, and would almost certainly mean a Basswood body, which doesn't do it for me tone wise. If my nerve damage could handle 8.5lbs, there would be some lovely Fenders out there for me.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1420966729' post='2655455'] Traitors, one and all!!!! I`m 100% loyal to Fender as I just haven`t played any other bass that comes close for me. [/quote] Haha, don't hang us, please!!! Seriously, I wish I could be 100% loyal too, I value loyalty. Such a shame that Fender don't, or have never, made the spec'd P Bass I need.

Those Squires really do look the biz. Classic look, enjoy!

I'm half way with you there, and kind of reversed too in model issues. I have two Custom Shops, a 63 Jazz and a 55 ( old style) Precision. I love them both, the 63 has the best tone I've heard on a CS Jazz ( relative to my taste that is) and the 55 is an absolute powerhouse of a bass. But.... I've had 8 Precisions in the past 2 years whilst I've been looking to experiment and find the right one for me since I sold my fave pre CBS one. 7 were Fenders, a 1969, 2 from 1966, a Custom Shop 64 and 3 JV Squires, 2 of which were from the great Fender logo series. In the past I've also owned 3 pre CBS and some USA std's and dlx's. All great basses, but none that clicked in every department. I've ended up with a Mike Lull P4, it is incredible, the perfect P Bass for me. IT'S THE BEST BASS THAT FENDER WOULD NEVER MAKE. It's modern, but with an old school width neck that feels updated. The weight is incredibly light and perfectly balanced with no neck dive, which is super important and essential for me, and the tone is superb. The build quality is right up there, it's a proper custom bass. As a P Bass is always my go to bass, it's been worth experimenting to get to the Lull. If I was mostly using a Jazz, I'd probably have a Lulll or Lakland as well as my Custom Shop one, but as its just for fun I'm happy with my Fender. As for the Custom Shop 55, it's perfectly Fender and I doubt it could be bettered. It'd be a shame if there are lots of posts here slagging off Fender, they have their place, as do all makes.

Edit April 2021 - now got the bass back!! We've all done it, sold a bass that should have been a keeper and then regretted it later. There Is one I'd buy back in a heartbeat for purely sentimental reasons. A Stingray I had from 1996-2009 would be my absolute choice for this list. I was selling gear to save for a flat and stupidly let this one go, was making bad decisions due to rough stuff going on. The Stingray is natural and maple, has an added MM neck pickup and a Precision pickup in the middle. Was my first proper bass and I cut my teeth on that one. Anyone seen her? What would you hope to get back if the current owner was reading this?

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1420847271' post='2654304'] Some good advice here. I think im going to stick with doing small repairs for now and possibly see if there is someone local(ish) who does builds i could volunteer my time too. Also yes a business course would be good to. But also ive decided against getting any money from my friend. As it doesn't seem right. I would certainly love to do small scale builds and i love working on guitars and basses. But i think i probably have to work on some other life priorities first. Before starting my own business. [/quote] Most businessmen I know started from OPM - other people's momey. They then paid off the starting debt and we're all square, people that have made money can often get pleasure out of supporting someone else to do the same. Why not get a small loan to get some tools, take out some basic business insurance and advertise locally to do set ups at a decent price? You'd be putting your toe in the water at little commitment and can make a better informed decision then. I was taught in Denmark Street how to do set ups at the tender age of 15, it still amazes me how many people are not willing, or confident enough, to learn the basics, which are not rocket science or even particularly difficult. What I'm saying is, there is money out there to be made via set ups so if you're drawn to doing that then why not give it a go? I get great pleasure of doing them, it sounds like you do too.

I never understood why for so many years the Ray 5 had a ceramic pickup, yet the Ray 4 had the lovely alnico ones. I wonder how many people that disliked those ceramic version fives would like them again if they tried them with an alnico pickup?

Could be a prototype for the introduction of the 54 Les Paul Custom, some of those had Bigsby units. Strange that they didn't use that ABR1 bridge until 56 on std models, rather than the wrap around, I'd love a 56 with that bridge and P90's, that's a unique year before humbuckers were introduced in 57...dream on..... Anyway looks like a Black Beauty proto to me.

You've arrived! Congrats!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1420497567' post='2650115'] Very cool, Albert is scary when it comes to truss rods. [/quote] Yup, it was the first, and only, time someone has ever requested one that lose. I always guessed that he wanted the strings to be really springy when playing the typical reggae rhythm guitar stabs, nice to bounce off the stings and feel the groove that way. Cool pics you posted Blue.

I was lucky enough to meet Al, way back in around 2002 I think? I was working in Denmark Street at the time and he needed the truss rod on his electric guitar adjusted as he'd just arrived. I couldn't believe how lose he wanted the truss rod, everytime I adjusted it he kept asking for more relief, to the point where the action was seriously springy and the frets at the top end weren't happy. But, he's the man, super talented and he knows what he wants. He was verykind too, we chatted about the Wailers gig of theirs I saw the previous year or so and he was all excited talking about Family Man's immense bass sound. And what a girlfriend.....super sweet 20 something blonde from Sweden or Holland. Al Anderson = too cool.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1420018511' post='2644801'] Yes I like mine, great for noodling on, bit of a feedback monster when you plug it in though! Has yours got the nice book matched back? There isnt much about them on the net is there, mainly pics of a slightly newer version with a different shaped head and different knobs. I think I paid £250 used for mine in about 1999? I have never changed the strings and the ones on it are not even a matching set [/quote] Oh yes, my electrics go ripped out years ago, terrible! I used to gig it with a Fishman Rare Earth sound hole pickup and a set of flat wounds, that really did sound amazing. I still have the Fishman but never get a chance to use it. I got mine in around 1994, I was working in Andys and it came in, instant GAS when I was setting it up so I swapped it with Andy for a Hohner Jack. I got to use it the other day when my friend who's leraning acoustic came over for a play. Mine has the funky looking back too, really pretty, the new ones, and others in that size, sound awful, never did find out how they made these so good and so cheap?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1419974008' post='2644577'] It is indeed, well spotted [/quote] I have one myself, got it in 1994 when I was 16. I can't believe how good they are for cheap ones, nothing has ever tempted me away from it. Great to see another, yours is the first other one I've seen.

[quote name='NoirBass' timestamp='1419932262' post='2643995'] Loving that collection, great choices! [/quote] Thanks pal, it's great to finally be settled!

That looks seriously stunning, really suits the fan vibe perfectly.

Nice one!

Great thread! In - 2014 Fender CS Ltd Edition 1955 Relic Precision and a Mike Lull P Bass. Out - 1966 Precison, CS Precision There were a lot of others that were part exchanged to me or bought and sold whilst finding my keepers including a few CS Precision Basses, a couple of USA Std jazz Basses, vintage Jazz and Precisions, 3 JV's inc Fender logo ones, an Ibanez Musician Fretless and some Modulus Flea/Funk Unlimited's. All were great basses, I ended up keeping the ones that I had an affinity with. I am looking forward to a very quiet 2015 when it comes to ins and outs. At worse, one will have to go due to needing a new car, though I damn well hope not and fighting for that not to happen. But I don't see myself buying anymore, I hope.......

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1419856430' post='2643203'] Might take you up on that, cheers. [/quote] A hot cuppa or dram of Scotch await you!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1419852722' post='2643167'] Handsome collection once again Dan. Must try out a Lull for myself one of these days. [/quote] Cheers Gary, much appreciated. As you know, I've been through a few basses the past year or so as I rebuild my collection and find the right ones for me, I've now got all my angles covered again which is nice. The Lull is an incredible bass if you need something super light, excellently balanced and with a good tone, for me it serves it's purpose perfectly. If you're in NW London pop in for a go on it.

A big thank you to Matt for my lovely Mike Lull Precision Bass. I emailed him on Friday night and he personally delivered it on Saturday morning, that's what I call quick GAS relief. Clearly a very nice chap and very trustworthy, Cheers pal!

Now relieved from GAS, here's the bass family.... [URL=http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/chiliwailer/media/63%20Jazz/P1060937_zpsb1ec1930.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah227/chiliwailer/63%20Jazz/P1060937_zpsb1ec1930.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/chiliwailer/media/63%20Jazz/P1060940_zpsf245e853.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah227/chiliwailer/63%20Jazz/P1060940_zpsf245e853.jpg[/IMG][/URL]