Marc S

I think you're quite right here chris_b. Maybe we do tend to over-think these things? Although I was playing as part of a guest trio, at an open mic night a while back Someone asked me to play some pretty standard blues songs, and I'd chosen my bass to suit what the trio was playing (with the house bass amp, I might add) and it didn't quite have that "warm, old-school" type sound It was fine, and sounded.... OK, but I wished I'd had my P bass, and my own amp - I think it would've suited the blues band a bit better. Of course, probably no-one but me noticed or even cared - but I know I'd have been happier (a relative term, for a miserable old sod like me, of course!) So I think, even if no-one else notices, get yourself a set-up for a sound you're happier with. Of course, one of the problems with open-mic nights, is that you can end up with gear you don't particularly like

The neck I bought from eBay looked great. It's hard to tell from pics on a screen, but I think it was less orangey than the ones you have there Although, they do look pretty good - those blocks look great, and contrast well with the necks I've tried those stick-on markers in the past, and they were pretty good. Nice & durable too (though that may vary between manufacturers) They don't seem to stock much choice in the UK though I bought mine via eBay - a US shop, and they were quite expensive. I'll be really interested to hear your report on how the necks feel when on a bass And I'm now dreaming of a Yellow Jazz, with Block & Bound neck - so you've given me cheap-bass-GAS!

I've got a Euphonic Audio (EA) Micro head, can't recall the model number, but it's 550W when run at 4 ohms (for me, this is 2x 8 ohm cabs) or around 300W when run at 8 ohms. People tend to describe these heads as rather "hi-fi-like" but with the right bass and the right cab(s) mine sounds great - quite warm and colourful It can do very flat, dry and clean, with some tweaking of the EQ and the "dry - wet" control It's dead handy cos it's so tiny & lightweight and I really like it I get a good sound with DB / EUB too. I tend to use it with my Epifani UL110 lightweight cab, and sometimes my MB 2x8 or 1x12

Another +1 for that Jazz here too. Looks great in Black, with Maple board, blocks & Binding The Orange P bass looks pretty good too

I totally agree. You can put together a really decent gigging bass for not too much money, especially these days with easy availability with online and second-hand parts That Yellow Jazz body looks great too btw. As you say, you don't see many Yellow basses around, and looking at that Jazz I've no idea why? Re those China made necks - will you take a bit of the gloss finish off the back? I put together a Bitsa sometime back, using a Block & Bound neck (it was quite a bit more than you paid too) Looked lovely, but the gloss finish was a bit "sticky" I didn't alter it, as someone really liked the bass and I ended up selling it to them Also re the necks, the one I had was a tad chunky, front to back - what are yours like? I'd be interested to know, in case I fancy putting something else together in future Every now & then, I get an urge for a Block & Bound neck

Fair enough re the nut. It just looked a bit odd, I must admit. If it's fine, then leave it alone. I had a similar bass, MIJ with a broken neck, sometime back. I replaced the neck, and the pickups sounded superb Having sold the bass on after I finished fixing it - I wished I'd kept those Japan pickups, they were so good, yet there was no mark / stamp or brand visible on them You really can't moan for £50 - if you do, I'll give you £51 for it! lol

This is a proper bargain for £50! Why do I never find such gems for that sort of money? lol When replacing the electrics - be sure to keep the pickups, if only as a try-out. Some of those 70's Japan made pickups are surprisingly good Just make sure you shield everything while you're at it Re the body and the black over-spray on the upper chamfer... Don't worry too much about it being a laminate. From that era, it's likely to be a solid, good quality body anyway And I would definitely check that intonation, and probably consider re-positioning the nut back to its' original position - if correct and not too much work. Other than that - what a great gigging bass, for very little money. Great condition given its' age

As Razze and TPJ say - ask a luthier if they can make something for you I did try one of these Aria EUB's (a few years back now) and from memory, that support / balance bar just screws in place with some pretty standard sized bolts I think they were 3/4" bolts from what the owner said - in fact, I'm pretty sure he had some cymbal attachment, which fitted no problem (for some adapted stand) Perhaps you could even have a go at making your own balance bar? I'd be tempted to pick up a few bolts and have a go at shaping some wood or MDF Definitely don't try to make a wire one, like the Stagg employs - I didn't get on well with that Let us know how you get on - I'd be intrigued to see what a luthier would do, and at what sort of cost - best of luck with it

Bassists do indeed, also get their gear nicked - It's not just drummers or guitarists I've known of a few incidents over the years, including a pal of mine Re leaving gear in a car overnight, I'd never do that. I've known people do it and get away with it But I suspect if your car got broken in to, and gear stolen from the car - you probably wouldn't do it again I wouldn't even leave a cheapo / bitsa / backup bass in my car, as much as anything, to avoid the thieves damaging my car EDIT: That said, I do leave gear out of sight, in the boot of my car, but rarely overnight... just in case...

Ah, of course - I did see that. I suppose you were so dazzled by it, that you couldn't see him clicking "buy it now" on his laptop!

I was thinking more along the lines of, if the OP is anything like me - he'll put them in a very "safe" place ... and promptly forget where.... lol

What an amazing present Sylvia Bluejay! Did Happy Jack win the lottery? Or has he just bought himself two new basses? Did you think he'd taken up golf? Yes, Eminence DB's are pretty amazing. I hadn't realised they did a left handed version - great Hope you have a wonderful new bass year

Or me! lol

I've got a Shaftesbury faker, and it's absolutely great! However, it doesn't have the original Truss Rod Cover, it's got a replacement. I wish it still had the original cover If I were you, I'd keep those TRC's - Greco instruments from that era are well respected, and if you remove yours, you risk losing them You may regret that in future?

Saw Robert Cray a few years back, and glad I did My favourite blues player / singer in recent years is Eric Bibb Saw him at Cambridge Folk fest several years back - and I was simply blown away Not only is he an amazing guitarist, but he's got a wonderful voice too, and there's plenty of variation in hist style - it doesn't all sound like 12 bar His album dedicated to Leadbelly, where he covers a whole album of Leadbelly's songs, along with JJ Milteau is amazing - I would highly recommend that one This year, Eric is back at Cambridge and I'm really over the moon about that