dave_bass5

Just brought a red Polo. Thats 3 now :-) These feel very comfortable in this bloody hot weather, might get another one or two once (if) the designs change. Still have to find some way of shrinking in to my old BC Tee though.

I think my CVP is around 8.5, the Jazz is a bit heavier. One other thing not mentioned yet is the string spacing at the bridge. The High mass bridge that The basses come with has a 20mm string spacing. For me that was a bit too wide, or at least it felt it, so I've changed the bridges on mine to Gotohs. This was probably the one "must do" upgrade I did.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1343056823' post='1744446'] TBH a good passive jazz and a good P and you're sorted. What I think is great that a "good" version of each can cost anywhere between £100 and £5000 - and really, if you find a good one at the bottom end of that you are kidding yourself that one at the top end will be that much better. [/quote] Yep. my needs are simple so one of each is more than enough. Agree about spending more and not feeling like its been worth it. My Lakland DJ5 cost mew £1200 when i got it, and from the moment i plugged it in i never really liked it (loved the look though). I spent another £300+ getting it modded to a PJ and still no real love for it. Took a chance on the CV Jazz and while i felt it could be improved on with a pup change i didnt feel as negative, and i hadn't broke the bank paying for it. Sold off all my other basses and am pretty content now. I wish i had done this a few years ago, could have saved myself a fortune.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1343055884' post='1744422'] Tried dozens of jazz basses trying to find a good one, only one I regret not getting was a HW1, it was dirt cheap too [/quote] Well ive had two now, a HW1 and a HW-One and both were fantastic basses (also had a HW-one P). Saying that, i really dont think ive played a nicer neck than the CV necks. I love the vintage frets and how nice the back of the neck feels. I don think i could go back to med jumbo frets now. Although i have a Lakland JO neck on my CV P its only because i wanted a maple neck on it, and this came up cheap on here a while ago. Every time i get the CV Jazz out the neck just makes me smile. The two basses have cured all my Bass GAS......for now.

[quote name='mashup' timestamp='1343053955' post='1744366'] That's great Dave. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with me & for the very kind offer of ABing. Just out of interest, what Fralin's do you think could work really well with this bass? I was tempted to look into hum cancelling pickups but have read from player/users that the hum cancelling types of single coil pickups rob a fair bit of the single coil character away. Is this true in your experience? [/quote] No problem, glad to help. Ive no idea about the Fralins, just that ive always wanted to try a set. Ive had the P bass versions and they are very, very nice. The Jazz bass versions get good reviews but aren't cheap so i dont think ill ever get to try them on this bass. The only experience ive had with hum cancelling jazz pups was a Nordstrand i had on my old Lakland DJ5. Cant say i noticed much difference (or liked it, before or after) but then it was after i had it modded to a PJ so both pups were changed. I'd stick with normal pups if i was you, unless you really cant get the tone you want.

I felt the stock pups (and the bass in general) has a warmer, soft-ish tone to it. Its hard to describe but my fav Jazz tone came from my HW-1/one basses and these had a more middy, brighter tone. Not quite as deep but they seemed to cut through a bit better. The Wizards get me closer to the HW's, a bit more punch and upper mids, without sounding too bright. I actually started with Wizards 84's but found them a bit darker than i hoped for, so the 74's i have are in the middle of the 84's and the more vintage sounding 64's. I still feel the bass has a deeper tone than my HW's but thats fine, i like how it sounds now. I should add that i didnt really look around before getting the Wizards. I wanted to try them, and as they were pretty cheap i just went for them. I expect there are better out there (i'd love to try Fralins on this bass) but these do me for now. As its a cheap bass, and a back up i hardly use i dont want to spend too much on it. If you do want to compare stock with the Wizards you're welcome to come and compare mine to yours.

As far as the wiring goes, i'd go with Luke, wait and see how it feels and sounds. Ive seen many posts where people have upgraded the wiring and pots, its all nonsense IMO. Change it if its not working but dont bother just because others do. Some people like to put vintage wire in it, try and get it to be as authentic as possible, again, its not needed and really, its a Squier not a vintage instrument. The wires are so short that changing them wont make any difference to the tone at all, and the pots on my two CV's are fine. In fact if anything i'd say they are smoother than the CTS pots i brought for my CVP (because one was damaged by me). I brought 6 in total and still didnt find one as smooth as the stock pots. The wiring inside is pretty decent IME, although it cant hurt to check it all out to make sure its all secure. Pickup wise, well yes, im of the opinion that different pups can really make this bass come alive. I felt the stock ones were perfectly usable, but didnt offer quite the Jazz tone i was after so i swapped them out for a set of Wizards. Tuners? My basses travel to gigs in a practically un padded gig bag on my shoulder and still manages to be in tune when i take it out. Again, try them out first, and if they arent working properly then change them, but ive never felt the need. Enjoy the bass for what it is, a very high quality, low priced gigging instrument.

Just sold Rob my BDDI. Very smooth and pleasurable transaction. Great person to deal with. Cheers Rob.

My wish is for different colour combinations on the existing range of Polo's. Maybe we could have a summer or Autumn collection. I like the idea of the Mugs as well. Will they be available in both right and [s]cack[/s] left handed versions ;-)

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1342730098' post='1740232'] just out of interest is there a possible prize for whoever identifies this?? [/quote] [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1342627612' post='1738222'] Are you willing to post the prize overseas? [/quote]

I dont think thats a bad price for coated strings, about the same or slightly less than the likes of DR BB/Neons and Elixirs.

Are you willing to post the prize overseas?

I liked that intro (and the rest of the track). Not sure i could pull it off live but with the magic of the modern recording studio i'd have a go.

£10 for em if you don't like em ;-)

There is also a big thread (or two) on TB IIR. I'd be interested in your thoughts if you do get a set for your P bass. I'll probably be getting a set for mine next time i change strings (not for a while yet though)

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1342609702' post='1737746'] That's very true, in that case you could say that your thumb is used too. I can play my bands stuff fingerstyle, it just sounds better with a pick and it means i don't get my sweaty hands all over my strings as much. Liam [/quote] I really wish i didn't have to use a pick. It sounds stupid but i dont really like it a lot of the time.At home everything sounds fine with fingers but at gigs it all goes to pot. I think part of it is my band need me driving the songs along, and the pick sound works better, plus my speed is better with a pick, and it helps me keep the drummer in check.

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1342609241' post='1737726'] I'm mostly a pick player with the band, but mostly fingerstyle at home. Being good at both allows me to choose what the song needs, and also means if i drop my pick i'm not stuck in the sh*t trying to find another, i can just carry on. Liam [/quote] Same here. I find i get a better grove at home with fingers , but cant get enough speed up at gigs so tend to use the pick 99% of the time. Its something i really should work on. I tend to need my fingers to hold my pick so i guess its both ;-)

I'd love to go tonight but the other half is in Russia so ive got the kids. Still hoping to get to the Hoxton gig.

Oh bugger. Ive only just seen this thread. What a terrible shame. I love Bob's playing and to me he was THE Motown bass player, not that other guy with the hook ;-)

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1342440827' post='1734877'] I know 2 Fender Jazz players who swear by their Lindy Fralin pickups. [/quote] Fantastic pups but cant see the OP getting a set for £70.