Chiliwailer

Not to be taken too seriously…I’m challenging myself to only play one bass for the next 3-6 months, with the other 2 stored away.

Health issues means I just play at home now, so I don’t need a spare. 

I now play guitar more often so have less bass time and like the idea of having one bass to go along with the one electric and one acoustic I make good use of. 

I’m sure I’ll miss the passive/active and flats/rounds options that I really value, but my sentimental StingRay with a versatile John East preamp isn’t short of quality tones so it won’t be a hardship!!!

I’m keen to see what a few months with only one bass does to my mindset, and use of that particular bass too. 

Interested to know if anyone has done similar before, for whatever reason, and how it went? 

Just now, Dad3353 said:

 

Such proof is not asked when buying from other EU countries, it's simply assumed. No receipts to produce; VAT just doesn't apply to private s/h sales, s'all. 

Doh! Forgot all about pre Brexit already 😂

Got ya now 👍

2 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

It's not provable if (from France...), I buy second-hand from Germany, either. It's assumed, but not provable. Still, them's the rules, soooooo....

It’s about paying the duty first time to the country you’re in, whether that’s when it’s new, or anytime thereafter when it first enters the county. Unless you can evidence that the country already received the full fat initial tax i.e. with an original receipt. 

2 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Not here and not provable.

Quite right not provabe it’s already been paid here - unless you once went to the States with some blank receipts from the UK guitar shop you used to work for, and bought some nice gear and made up the receipts…

In guitar shops the VAT only applies to the profit sum on used basses, as full duty would have been paid once upon a time before. So if the bass cost them £200 and they sell it for £300, they only pay VAT on the £100 profit. 
 

I presume it’s only VAT on the auction commission of 4.95%. 

On 03/04/2023 at 22:19, Stub Mandrel said:

I'm getting really cross with facebook at the moment as I asked if anyone has experience of Fender's new 'Nitro over poly' finish and, because no-one on Farcebook reads posts properly, everyone is telling me how nitro wears differently to poly.

 

Argh!

 

I know the difference and have basses in both finishes.

 

Fender have started shipping basses with a (in full) NITROCELLULOSE FINISH APPLIED OVER A POLYURETHANE BASE.

 

There is no explanation of whet is nitro (just a topcoat for the less severe gloss, or the full colour finish over a poly primer, or something in between?)

 

My concern is that any damage or wear (or something like artificially checking the finish) could result in the nitro peeling, the poly cracking off or just strange effects if the mild nitro 'wears' down to bright gloss poly.

 

Has anyone got a bass with this sort of finish and had any experience of how it responds to real use?

 

You can phone Fender and ask - I’m selling a Strat with that finish and a potential buyer phoned them this week, according to Fender the poly/nitro mix came about due to issues with the full nitro ones getting damaged and flaking easy. Pretty sure they explained it in more detail to him regarding the exact process. 
 

I have two AVRI Strats with it, the one I’m selling has some chips but no issues (yet?) coming from it.  

36 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

Can anyone recommend a book about vintage Fender basses? I’d like history, timelines, details of features and changes as they evolved, and lots and lots of lovely pictures.

 

Ta,

Rob

This is a great site - http://vintagebassworld.com/description.php?manufacturer=Fender&product=Precision&year=0

My favourite book about Fender history is Fender the Golden Age, it’s not specifically about basses. But the golden era ones ate there, and the history is excellent. 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=fender+the+golden+age&adgrpid=137332748607&hvadid=583480889248&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9045969&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5628150757361082045&hvtargid=kwd-301829152221&hydadcr=17321_1802374&tag=hydrukspg-21&ref=pd_sl_30uov4oni5_e

Chrome sold

Black on hold 

Bump 

2 hours ago, fretmeister said:

'm on the waiting list for a King of Tone overdrive - it's been 3 years so far with an estimate for at least another year to go!

Ooh nice one. I got the Duke of Tone MXR version recently, really like it. The comparison reviews are very good, but the KOT would be a killer gem to have 👍

Chrome on hold

Black still for sale. 

Schaller black strap locks (old style) - one compete set of strap locks and strap buttons, plus an extra set strap lock parts. Used condition £15 - on hold 

Schaller chrome S-Locks - strap lock parts only, no strap buttons. Never used £10 - sold 

Cheers 

1 hour ago, LukeFRC said:

but equally the odd thing is a £400 Sire, or even a £150 Harley Benton is fantastic quality at the low price point. 

That’s a good point Luke. For me, in the 90s, I was a teen enjoying quality budget brands like Aria and Hohner, other good basses were around too like Yamaha and Ibanez. 
 

But I aspired to a 4001, StingRay, or vintage Fender. Even on a modest wage, I was able to get them in my 20s.
 

Just seems further out of reach now for someone in the situation I was in back then…? 

On 30/03/2023 at 18:53, Beedster said:

Just asking, prices are getting silly?

I bought a new Strat recently Chris, luckily second hand, as it’s from the new Fender American Vintage II range and they are nearly £2k brand new. I remember when we sold CS basses at that price a short while ago 😢
 

Thing is, these Strats are sold out with a wait until end of the year, so people are buying them. I probably would have paid that too as I was picky about spec and the ‘61 has all I wanted. 

Just glad I lucked out and got one used (and as new)…. Under £1500, as it should be in my head too 😊

Makes you wonder why they aren’t making these regularly - great spec and choice 👍

£4200…. Damn that’s just crazy…  

Sad for the generation that’s coming into this whole new level of bonkers pricing on premium factory gear - GAS killer for sure, not even a 0% card would tempt me anymore at these prices. 

19 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

I was there right up to the 3 bolt neck 🤷‍♂️

Haha! I seem to recall Sterling saying “I don’t do reissues” on the Old Smoothie promo vid… its nice to see one 👍

Calling @MM Stingray 62

BFR - Retro ‘76 Ray 🤤😍

https://www.music-man.com/bfr/spring-2023

Cool little pedal, nice and warm analogue chorus. Good condition, no issues. 
 

Comes with box and unused underplate. Has Velcro on rear. 
 

Post at cost. 
 

2 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

There’s a pic of mine up there^^

Oops, missed that somehow, very nice 👌 

22 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

That’s the way I justify it to my better half. I think my 73 has gone up quite a bit since I bought it in February.

Liking that… but you know the score, photos or it never happened 😊

2 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

I’m still trying to decide if I have the cojones to get myself one of these.

IMO a scratch that’s worth itching if you can. If you love it and you’re lucky enough to keep it then it’ll be a great move. And if you ever sell you shouldn’t lose cash. Guess it’s a win win as the long as the cash is there.

Finally, getting a Jazz Bass that I click with and can’t fault. Honestly didn’t think that’d ever happen again tbh  

I had the pleasure of owning this bass and sold it to @BCH, who’s a gent. 
 

Loving that an East preamp is now fitted to this bass, I have the same one in my StingRay and it’s just amazing. It’s designed to do the 2 band tone when the mid is at centre, and has a great mid sweep and usable treble boost. 
 

Shame I’m not in a position to get this one back. 
 

GLWTS 👍

Hello mate, I presume one of the reasons this thread is bare with responses is that, as you likely know, even similar/same model basses are so variable, including vintage and CS. The great Clive Brown once told me he felt  “some neck and bodies just aren’t meant to be together, it’s like the tone is vibrating in conflicting directions”. 
 

Having owned and played a ton of 60s and CS basses, my feel is they all differ widely, and knowing which variable is the reason why is often guesswork… wood? Pick up winding amount especially on a vintage one? Amount it’s been played? Psychological? Etc. Strings are a factor too, but often the basses natural tone can vary widely beyond that.
 

For example, at one point I had 3 X 1966 P Basses in my living room and all were very different, even when strung the same.  Similar again when I bought a 64 P and compared it to 5 or 6 other similar aged basses in the shop. Also had same experiences with CS basses in shops and when comparing friends ones…

Played 2 Pinos I can remember, sounded like I’d expect a vintage vibed bass would sound, I liked them. 
 

I now have a CS 64 Jazz which is great. It feels so similar to a real 64 Jazz I used to own, and not all CS basses do feel similar to a vintage one in my experience. I even prefer it to my old Bravewood, so it must be good. Tonally it sounds like what I’d expect a good vintage J to sound like - perhaps just missing years of vibrations through the wood if it’s a player, and you believe that’s a factor, which some respected folk do. 
 

Anyway, that ramble is why I wouldn’t feel comfortable directly giving my thought/answer to the question 😊
 

Edit - forgot to say that for these reasons, I’ve always been open minded when comparing a CS to a vintage.