ezbass

Can't do the balance pot and fret end dressing until I get a reply from Thomann, but a basic set up should be OK. A 1/4 turn more relief in the neck and it's all good there. All the saddles needed moving back for intonation, but plenty of adjustment still available either way for different strings. A good low action (for me) of about 2mm at the 12th fret is easily achievable, without any fret buzz. The pickup height is going to need a bit more work as the P pickup is as high as it will go with the foam provided (I had much the same issue with my shorty 'Ray) and I like to have some adjustment either way. It'll need more shielding as there is more buzz than I'm comfortable with (single coil in the bridge taken into account) but this was also case with my JMJ. The headstock finishing issue I mentioned above turned out to be left over compound and was easily removed with my thumbnail. However, in the daylight there is some sort of dye bleed on the neck binding, which indicates that the fretboard has been darkened to make the laurel look more like rosewood, which it does. Tonally it sits rather nicely between the JMJ and 'Ray, making neither redundant, whilst still adding an extra flavour (the balance pot should enhance this feature more I think). It plays very nicely indeed and certainly doesn't feel like £205's worth of metal, wood and plastic.

I’ve found a tiny chip on the headstock that I’ve also informed them about, the packing was not damaged, so it’s happen pre boxing. The finish on the headstock, where the matching black meets the maple, is a bit sketchy here and there, but only noticeable if you start looking closely. Still amazing VFM nonetheless.

The HB Mustang-alike has landed. First impressions are good, although the quoted nut width of 41.3 mm is incorrect, it is 38mm (Thomann have been contacted about this). Straight out of the box and tuned up delivered a pleasing tone that is in between my JMJ and shorty 'Ray. The setup isn't bad at all, yes it needs a little intonation adjustment (I really mean a little), the truss rod needs more relief (it was shipped with slack strings, so fair play) and the fret ends, whilst better than when my shorty 'Ray was new out of the box, wouldn't go amiss with some emery paper on a block (just a quick pass should do the trick). Regarding upper fret access, I can reach the top frets on my JMJ easily enough, but with the HB it is a breeze. It weighs in at just over 3.7kgs and balances nicely on the strap. The Gotoh tuners are smooth and positive as you'd expect from Gotoh, but the pots are a revelation, they feel really good too, the taper is good, although the tone needs some travel before any significant happens (a different value cap should sort that). For just a fiver over £200, it was a sold buy. I just need to wait for Thomann to comment on the nut width discrepancy before tackling any of the setup work and fitting the balance pot I ordered.

Hell Bent For Leather - Judas Priest

That looks like your problem, a tidy up and perhaps some judiciously placed insulating tape will hopefully sort your problem.

That looks like burrs from string it up to me. The nut material might be quite soft if that turns out to be the case.

Nor me, in fact when some berk decided to ruin my NBD by making snide remarks about my new Ric, he got a kicking from them (he had previous it turns out). I liked it well enough, but there were issues with what was considered sacrilege, again not from the mods but the everyday users. BC just has a nicer vibe for me, probably due to it being UK based and if I had discovered BC first, I probably wouldn't ever have ventured into TB.

I voted for the Gary Willis as I used to own one and it was very good indeed. That black strips off reasonably easily if it doesn't float your boat. The neck is really nice to play and those tuners are genius, if a little odd looking, although the ebanol will mark if using roundwounds (doesn't affect the playability, just cosmetic). Lightweight and balances well (those tuners again).

Quality, one of my favourite P colour combos and the same as my old ‘63.

Slippery People - Talking Heads

Want to get back into playing bass? Excellent! Hopefully, you’ll find some inspiration here, rather than becoming sidetracked by it . Great community, lots of help and advice on everything, not just bass playing.

😂

I already have a Fender JMJ Mustang, so I can compare and contrast - up to a point. I was looking at the Player PJ Mustangs, but at £619 new (3x as much), the HB had to be worth a punt. Time will tell.

Put the washer under the pickguard, all the advantages of spring tension without having to look at it. Put a normal, thin washer on top, under the nut for added security and less thread showing.

Stained natural as that’s some nice grain there.

Black one ordered today, together with a blend pot. To think I bought this, the pot, a stand, a gigbag and an eq pedal for less than half the cost of a Fender Player Mustang, including delivery.

I have a black one of these incoming, crazy money when you compare them to the Fender Player Mustang. I’ve ordered a blend pot to replace the volume control (I don’t really use the volume knob on a bass other than to mute, or occasional swell).

The Winner Takes It All - ABBA

Our House - CSNY

Er... Well... Hmm... There's a blend pot in there, a gigbag and a guitar stand, all of which could be cause for leniency. However, the eq pedal and an actual bass rule me out, out, big time .

Nice, nice, nice! 😍

Yeah, that kind of thing is in my wheel house having built a valve amp and various pedals. I don’t ride the volume control at all, so I doubt I’ll miss it. However, if I do, I’ll refit it and install a side mounted jack plate. Yeah, tort on SFG wouldn’t be my thing, although I think you’re talking tort in general. I bought a fret end and fret polishing kit for my SS ‘Ray, so I’m good to go there, if there are any issues. I was thinking about just lowering the bridge pickup to give that mix, but I was there and ordering bits and bobs, so a pot was just easy to add. Also, ordered a Fender SS gigbag as they had them, so I’ll be sorted in that dept too.

Having become wrapped up the recent Epiphone Newport release and furore, I completely forgot about the last SS that caused quite the stir (I am a bear of very little brain). However, following a desire for some tort on black action, not least because of a recent interview with Bruce Foxton in Guitarist, where he’s sporting a P in this combo and our own @Frank Blank’s recent Nordstrand purchase, I remembered the last SS that caused a stir, the HB Mustang-alike. Anyway, at £205 delivered, it was a no brainer and I pulled the trigger this am, before I could talk my self out of it. Also ordered a blend pot to replace the volume so I can get some in between action. Should arrive Thursday/Friday and will hopefully not look too different from this…

Nice upgrades, both sonically and aesthetically.