Chiliwailer

****Relisted 16th June due to a payment issue from an overseas buyer. 

£1750 - no trades please. 

Gutted to sell this, but the slab body exacerbates nerve issues I have. I’ve been holding onto it for ages regardless as the tone is stunning, but it now feels like the right time to look into selling. 

Unique StingRay, 10 pole pickup (not usual 8) and special Old Smoothie epoxy coated preamp work so well with the alder body, literally a smoother Ray tone yet still punchy. The video below tells the story of this 1976 prototype made for Sterling Ball and named by Leo Fender. It’s a 40th Anniversary Ltd Ed.  
 

I’ve always had flats on it, but it will be sold with rounds on. 
 

The back of the neck was glossy, I’ve rubbed off the top gloss which in my opinion now makes it much smoother and comfier to play. 
 

The case has some marks and a small crack, all pictured for full disclosure  

Assuming it’s passive, Ernie Ball use this on the USA shorty: Passive 500kohm push/push volume POT for gain boost, 100kohm tone POT - 0.1uf tone cap

The passive Joe Dart has: 100k ohm Volume pot

The Dart may have a lower value as there is no other pot in the chain. 

32 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

 

Isn't this related to the idea that cats purr to promote bone and tissue health/growth because they spend most of their time asleep rather than being active?

Nice one, that’s interesting, looks like they putt for many a reason, perhaps even healing. 

https://www.pet-services.org/why-do-cats-purr/

12 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Like all such things (mentioning no names but h*******y springs to mind), if you believe it's true there's a greater chance that it's true 👍

True. Unless you’re Donald Trump 😊

edit - ahh.. guessing the H**y is the ‘luthier’? 

There really is only one way to know, I’ve made the call…

7 hours ago, Earbrass said:

I do seem to remember hearing that certain low-frequency vibrations can help with certain conditions. I think there was something about using vibration therapy to help astronauts returning from long spells on the international space station recover their bone density after prolonged weightlessness, and the suggestion that it could be used to treat osteoporosis patients. Can anyone confirm?

Possibly, this journal article from 2017 discusses benefits of vibration therapy and notes that NASA is doing studies with it.

https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/jfmk/jfmk-02-00017/article_deploy/jfmk-02-00017.pdf?version=1495184240

Google scholar has research that suggests frequencies can be linked to healing. Problem with the picture in the OP is that no references are cited, so who knows if it’s from tripe, poor or restricted research, or has actually been demonstrated. 
 

Here’s a link to a handbook from a PhD… though you can get a PhD for UFO studies too so maybe look into it a bit more to be sure…. But yeah, I’m open minded while I’m ignorant about it. 

https://nenahsylver.com/files/Rife_Handbook_5th_Ed_Appendix_C_Healing_with_EM_&_Sound_Therapies,_2018.pdf

5 hours ago, vincbt said:

. Before I even consider that, can I ask if the current wiring / soldering is original

 

No, not original imo. Although Fender were using up old coloured wires from their amps in the late 60s, this is too messy. The large green wire was also a common mod back in the day. 
 

For reference, here’s the coloured wire on a 100% original ‘69 I used to own 
 

3 minutes ago, probonopublico said:

You’ve opened a can of worms there Chilli. The jazz is the best bass I’ve played but the old P (as I’ve had it decades) is like putting on an old glove. I take the jazz on gigs. When I play bouzouki the guitarist plays bass and will only play the jazz.  And I love playing it.

 

I'm selling stuff in order - first to go are the Gibsons and a Martin 12

‘Old gloves’, exactly that 👍

Sounds like a good reason to keep the Jazz - it’s a lovely bass all round that one. 

9 minutes ago, probonopublico said:

I’m about to do this and get rid of everything apart from one bass and one acoustic 6 string. The bass may be the one I’ve had since 1978 but if I saw and played something better it would go. Everything else has been packed away for 4 months. 😬

So it’s been a good few months then pal? Still got that  Jazz Bass? 
 

Funny thing is, my Ray isn’t even my ‘best’ bass, I just a sentimental fool suppose 😂

6 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

I'm guessing it's going to be the Stingray really 😁

Yes; the John East preamp with mid sweeps is excellent, and the Empress Bass Compressor can add some nice touches to shape tone. Got an HX Stomp too, but would prefer to stick to one amp setting, so far so good, all in good fun and curiosity. 

19 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

The snag with one bass likely arises when you want a couple (or more) very different sounds for whatever pieces, genres or styles you're playing

Yeah, I’ve often thought that too, so am interested in that challenge over the next few months. 

27 minutes ago, White Cloud said:

IIn fact, I've recently downgraded from three to two as I don't like extra instruments laying around that don't get much playing time.

 

I hear that 👍

28 minutes ago, White Cloud said:

I

 

I could never be a collector 😉

Yeah me too, well at least until I win big on the Lotto - as you do. 

10 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

 

What was it about having multiple basses that you felt liberated from?

 

Can’t speak for @NJEbut I totally get that. 
 

I have 3 high quality basses, though often feel it’s overkill for my personal and financial situation, would be ideal to enjoy one bass just like I do one guitar, it’s like that’s anti-liberation to me. 

I get the biggest buzz playing my Ray, so often feel a bit spoilt when I play the others, even though it’s not hard to ‘justify’ them, do I really ‘need’ them? Doubt it. At least it’s safe money in case me and my wife need it, especially the way US prices are going up and up. 

15 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

You're letting the side down...

 

This is tantamount to GAS neglect..

Lol 😂

Well I am still paying off one of the basses that is in the cupboard 🙄

9 hours ago, meterman said:

I have done this a few times, although never with anything as posh as a Stingray! 

You’re so right there. I often think it’s nuts that I have such a great ‘posh’ bass that can sit there gathering dust at times. 

8 hours ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Back in the day I only ever had one bass at a time anyway, you couldn't afford another.

Now I'd be happy enough playing just Stingray and P bass as they each do something the other doesn't. 

Exactly this, I remember those years, some with this Ray when I was young, and then much later when I sold all my gear to buy a flat. 
 

I do wonder if I’ll end up with just the Ray and a Fender for the reason you mentioned above - or if I’ll adapt to using the Ray only, as I used to? Time will tell! 

1 minute ago, Beedster said:

@Chiliwailer 1-bass to rule them all is a very good approach, I’m trying to get there albeit with 1xfretted and 1xfretless. @Dad3353 you’re spot in, tone is 99% how you play 👍

If only Chris, that’s the dream! 
 

I fear I may still need a passive Fender in the cupboard for ‘security’, though wonder if these 3 months will change my mind 🤔

9 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

I have several basses, including a six-string fretless, a five-string active/passive fretted, and a couple of other four-string passives at my disposal, but have been playing my Hofner Verithin almost exclusively for over a decade now. I'm not looking to recreate any particular tone or whatever; I play what the bass wants to sound like, through whatever I'm using (Hiwatt amp, Fender amp, 'puter interface etc...) and almost never with pedals. I just go with the flow, in whatever 'style' I'm inspired to attempt (mostly 'jazz' chord stuff, or chord-melody things that I make up...). I don't (read 'can't'...) play 'songs' and stuff (I used to, when I was playing bass in the band...), and have more fun now trying out different things over 'Misty', for instance. No slap, of course, but one good bass can do so much more if one takes the time, effort and patience to just get the best from that one bass. 
Of course it helps a little that I'm a drummer, really. 

Cheers Doug, inspiring post and great to read about how you view that bass, and about  putting the time and effort in too - similar to something I once read Mr Miller chatting about with his famous Jazz Bass. 👍

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