Steve Browning

I was probably about 14 (that's close to 50 years ago now) when, at the house of a school friend, we went into his brother's bedroom and opened a case to reveal his brother's sunburst Precision. It was, and remains to this day, the most beautiful man-made thing on the planet. I never tire of looking at one. Ok, that all reads rather unfortunately, so I'll quit while I'm behind.

Never mind all that old cobblers. Let's see it!! 🙂

I would probably buy a Nate Mendel Precision but only because it's the right dimensions for me (B profile neck etc). I'm sure he's a lovely chap and fine player but he's using what would be a Steve Browning signature bass had I got there first.

My experience is that flats are worse and figure that it's because there's more surface area to flats than rounds.

Wunjo's in London is another one that comes up regularly.

Not sure whether this qualifies, I am a dyed in the wool Precision player and so the overall shape etc is hardly new to me. Something about this beaten up bass just called to me, from the Bass Gallery website, and I bought it at first sight. It now sports a tort scratchplate and is either called 'the wreck' or my Bo-Rap bass. It was (from the back) once sunburst. Lovely slim B profile neck. Interestingly, the lug that holds the pickup screw on the E string side, has been cut down so there's far more purchase for the thumb. Brilliant idea. The bass was (apparently) put together from bits in Mo Foster's parts drawer.

That's in commission as in commissioned officer, not a cut of the profits!! Forgive me. I derailed the thread. I'd always liked the look of Limelight basses but I don't believe you can get anything other than a relic (even a light one). I have dealt with Mark and found him to be a thoroughly decent chap.

I wouldn't bother now. In my day it was HMC&E, and the Inland Revenue were separate. Since the merger it's all changed. You don't get a commission any more.

There's certainly no law to say you must. I would suppose manufacturers that do both would test their cabs with their amps (and vice versa). Additionally, @agedhorse has previously said that Mesa cabs are designed to compliment each other. It stands to reason that you will get closer to what the amp manufacturer wants, but that may not be what you want. I have always been delighted with my (entirely) Mesa rigs. That would be equally true if I wasn't an endorsee (only my TT-800s have been bought as an endorsee).

Funnily enough, when I first joined what was (then) Customs and Excise, I heard a good few such stories. Friday afternoons might be spent watching the seized films while drinking the seized booze. My immediate boss told me of dealing with The High Numbers. Gives some idea of the era!

This my Achilles heel. I am such a sucker for candy apple red and a matching headstock, that I own a Jazz bass with that finish, and I don't even like Jazz basses. Now I adore sunburst but admit that the Fender version has the colours wrong, according to an actual sunrise.

It's quite something, isn't it? I've never seen wiring done in such a way. When he sent me those pictures I remember thinking 'that's what you call attention to detail'. I would suggest a 'who's got the cleanest cavity' thread but I can foresee issues! 🙂

I can see that you've also posted on the Tokai Registry site and this is probably going to be the best source. I have an older Jazz Sound. It is a JB45 and has the 3 screw tuners that the one in the pictures also has. As ever, it's a matter of how does it play, do you like it etc. Also, what sort of price are you being asked?

I'm afraid there's no answer that would satisfy anyone's partner! I have my two 'old' Precisions still, and my two SVLs (the current stage basses). I also have a 71 Precision that I got because it was going at a good price. They are all strung with flats (because I favour those). No different tunings etc. All 3 oldies are pretty much retired but I just love them. Now one of the old ones did have rounds on it (for use in another band) but I bought a Sterling SUB for that band (and then bought an OLP one - you need two, right?). So 5 basses all the same, and another two. I do have just the one fretless (now) but only use it for 3 numbers and I could use either other bass if I had to. I'm not convincing anyone am I? 🙂

This is how Simon at SVL does it. That's almost art!

I'm exactly the same. 2 x older sunburst Fender Precisions, then 2 x sunburst Japanese Precisions (same neck dimensions as the older ones) and now 2 x SVL Reserves (copies of my 66 Precision - except a different colour). I currently have 5 Precisions that are (essentially) identical.

You're not JTUK are you?

One of those is in the back of my rack, to power external stuff.

I raised this very point a while back but the demand is too small to warrant the dev etc, it seems.

By the way, I can highly recommend BCS cases, who are based near Wickham. They can make whatever you want. I have used them because standard racks are very deep and shallow ones a little too shallow. They've made some excellent custom backline cases for me too.