Steve Browning

Perfectly true. I wonder if the Red Special will still be in the May family 32 years after Sir Brian has passed?

In fairness, I wouldn't say "nobody wants them". Spot on for the rest though. 😞

I do find it mildly amusing the Sir Brian says it's all too painful and that Freddie's possessions are being sold to the highest bidder. Since Freddie's death, he has sanctioned the use of Queens music for such things as detergent adverts.

Very fortunate to be a Rotosound endorsee, which is enormously helpful and for which I am very grateful.

Really interesting. Thank you.

I honestly thought you were going to say you were amazed to find the back of the bass was concave.

My number 1 bass (the '66). I bought it at a time when headless basses were the thing and it had languished in the shop for ages. As soon as I picked it up it was like pulling on a sock, it just felt right. It always has. It doesn't go to gigs much these days (too valuable) but it's the one material possession I won't ever part with, in life. Just to add, I bought it around 1983.

Will they find Jamerson's in the same hands?

I bought a loom only recently.

It would be interesting to know what any shortfall is. Maybe the model can be tweaked, such that supporting members can place adverts but there is a more modest charge for general membership, with maybe a little more restriction on what lurkers can view?

Stolen? Might that be more likely for any current owner to keep quiet?8

I understand that if you stand on Portsmouth Guildhall steps and rattle some keys, it will find you.

Am I being incredibly dense here? What is the difference between using a power amp and an external pre-amp and using an amp with one built in?

Nine Below Zero - Live at the Marquee Rory Gallagher - Live in Europe (especially, although Irish Tour '74 ain't half bad). SAHB a whole host of others.

I was involved in a studio in Wardour Street in the early 90's. We often hosted TV companies as a location. One marvellous day we hosted David, Derek and Nigel. They were with us for 3 hours straight and didn't stray out of character for a second. It was hilarious from when they arrived to when they left.

The tuners are the key. Large plate = US parts. Small plate = Japanese. I believe the US pickup is made in Japan but to the US spec. Get a PB70US and you'll have everything you want, from what you've said. Get a picture of the back of the headstock.

I thought you were going to suggest the lower picture was taken from far away!! 🙂

Large (I think a PBUS) Small (non-US) Different model but you see the difference in size, of the backplate.

They have a good stock but they do seem be quite pricey. I believe (and I said it elsewhere and can't remember if I was corrected), but the US ones have large back plate tuners, whereas the non-US ones have the smaller back plate version. The one shown here has the large plate tuners. They're what I use as a gauge.

A Google search of Fender Japan catalogues reveals that there is a PB70 in the 1992 catalogue. They may be earlier but I don't know. Honestly, ignore the age thing, it's irrelevant for Fender Japan. There's no pre-CBS/late 70's early 80's quality issues that beset Fender US. Similarly, if you want to go down the route of changing the logo, there are the lawsuit basses from Greco, Fernandes and Tokai (and others) that are of similar quality (many came out of the same factory before it went over to Squier production - this is the Squier that became Fender Japan, not the later models from other countries).

Can't recall the exact years but my two sunburst ones were 2006 and 2010. They were awesome and I'd have both back in a heartbeat.

Not sure, but there will be no difference in age. The CIJ/MIJ thing is meaningless in terms of any perceived difference in quality. The only difference of which I'm aware is that they did two versions. The PB70 is basswood (body) and Japanese spec parts, while the PBUS is alder (and some were ash - I had a gorgeous 3TS ash one) and had US spec parts. I would be very surprised if the last one made was any different to the first.

You can't go wrong with a Fender Japan bass. A 57 will be a maple board while the 62 or 70 will be rosewood. The 57 is wider at the nut with the 62 slightly less and the 70 a little less again. I much prefer the PB70 as the neck fits my hands so much better. It also has the TV logo you want (as it's called). Check out Bass Bros who regularly have these.