bassatnight

Folks, For the first time since playing Bass I have managed to break the nut. After putting on some new strings I noticed a crack in the slot for the E string. I literally touched the crack line and it came away in my hands. I now require a new nut, the Bass is a Fender Jazz Fretless can anyone advise of a high quality replacement, I have seen plastic ones, Brass ones and even chrome I just don't know where to start also what size would I require? Cheers, Steve.

Came accross this heading on E-Bay: [b]Bass Collection Active Bass Guitar Used by Muse Bassist[/b] Wow thought I, an actual bass for sale used by Chris from Muse bet that goes for a few quid but upon reading the description the seller states and I quote: [i]This SB330 Japenese Model is the exact model that Muse's Chris Wolstenholme used on the early Muse albums[/i] So by that logic I am going to sell my Fender P and state as used by Palladino, Entwhistle, Jamerson Trades description anyone!?

Appreciate this is an old thread but I have to say the Badass is very overpriced in my opinion. They retail over here at a hundred new, they are changing hands at upwards of £60 on E-Bay! The Gotoh is a real all rounder and a tidier fit in Fenders and less than half the cost of a Badass!

I think the great thing about the VM and Classic Vibes series is you are starting off with a decently built bass and for a small outlay it can be upgraded to the quality of an american series. I myself have recently decided to sell off my high end basses and purchased a couple of Squiers to upgrade. I have now managed to turn the Natural VM Jazz into a 75ri in all but name. Changing the pups to DiMarzio Ultra Jazz, the bridge to a Gotoh 201, removed the horrible chrome control knobs to the classic black skirted ones. Added a pup guard ala Marcus Miller and bought some 75ri tuners from Gumtree the changes are stunning its one of the nicest basses I have played and for the price of a MIM. I may even look at changing the neck as I have no intention of selling her and wouldn't get back what I paid but it was a real pleasure to finish this project. Just got a Squier P for £175 with duncan quarter pounders, a Jazz neck (supposedly a Fender mim but have my doubts) Schaller tuners. It needs some tlc and rework as the pups have a buzz when cranked up and I might change the neck as the frets do not have a lot of life left in them but it should be a pretty decent P when I am finished.

Almost embarressed to say but I had a Fender P 1978 model back in 1986 I got it in a swap for some cheap Wilson golf clubs I thought it looked clunky and ugly (This was the age of streamlined Aria SB's and Warwicks) had no idea about tone at the time. I swapped it for a Rayleigh Racing bike which was probably worth £40 tops. I Reckon that P would be worth a few bob these days!

How 'not' to run an online business it seems...

Peaches - Stranglers Rhythm Stick - Blockheads Rio - Duran Duran Le Freak - Chic Swing - Japan

Just done a bit of research, I have signed up to the TB website where one of the members there has signed up to the serial number 002 - As Mick reports this stolen in 1979 wonder what journey it has had to get to this new owner!? Perhaps I should tell Mick??

Touchy ground this, I too have sold on here for a small profit and also lost on selling. I agree with the sentiments of this being a community of brothers but where do you draw the line? Personally I if am after a particular bass and it came up on here at whatever cost I would buy it, I wouldn't think about what did the seller pay for it? is he making a profit? I would just think this is what I am after and I am willing to pay what the seller asks. Ok try this scenario; I am given a US Fender P for free and decide to sell it on here for £500 does that make me a crook?

I was just re-reading Mick Karns autobiography, in it he states that his first fretless was a Travis Bean which he bought around 1979, he actually had two the first one had the serial number 002 which was stolen. These basses are pretty rare these days anyone care to hazard a guess as to their value? I reckon that serial number would be worth a fortune these days. He only switched to a Wal as they happened to have a workshop nearby and he fell in love with them. The TB kept going out of tune due to the neck contracting with heat from stage work. Anyone own one?

This thread has become a little lost me thinks.

Don't touch this, Wherever I lay my hat, White lines, My Generation (The solo) Forget me nots

As funds are low what with Christmas etc I thought I would start looking at possibly adding a decent Bridge, may think about changing the neck as this one is ok but not great and frankly not even sure what it is, my guy feeling is it is a cheap old neck with the Fender P decal added so might go for a MM Fender P neck or similar.

I won an auction for an upgraded Squire on the bay and managed to win it for £175, which I thought was a bargain as the ad described it thus: [b]Squire P Body, Fender P/Jazz neck!?, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders, Schaller Tuners[/b], and finished in an old gold colour that I have not come across before and it looks nice. Ok, heres the review: On taking it out of the gig bag I was struck by the nice finish of the body, really nice colour my other half say's it looks like French mustard gold! works for me! The neck is a point of concern, it hasn't been fitted particularly well, there is a significant gap between it and the body, it feels fairly secure but I might have to whip it off and put it back on again with some loving care. Despite the sellers promise of buzz free neck I have had to adjust the bridge as the E string rang out something chronic. The pups were very loose and not screwed down properly, I think I might removed them and have a check at the wiring as it seems a little slapdash. I think overall its a fine bass but will require some attention to get it up to standard, it looks like someone had the right idea but rushed it. I intend to add some cheap upgrades myself and see what I end up with, as a project manager by trade I do like me projects! I am not sure about the neck, he described it as a 'jazz' neck and it seems faily slim but wider than my two Fender Jazzes, the head has a Fender P decal which I am not sure about as there is no serial number on it at all I thought at first it was just the original Squire neck with a Fender decal attached but it would still have the Squire serial number and judging by the fit I think it's from something else. It's a nice neck though plays fairly fast. My overall thoughts are it is a great buy for under £200 notes and with a bit of tlc an upgrade of the Squier bridge to a Badass or sinilar high quality bridge I will have a really nice P/J special. Very happy. I must also add he didn't charge me for shipping so you can't argue with that! Anyone know what colour this is?

Will start in a new thread

The bass turned up this morning, on initial inspection the neck which seems to be a jazz neck that has a Fender P decal attached, the pups have not been fitted well and are very loose, the screws are almost totally off and can be moved with my fingers. I shall take some pics later this morning after I have given it a proper check over.

Cheers guys, I'll pass this info on. The guy is being cool about it so hopefully I won't end up reversing the sale and taking a wack on the sale.

Folks, I have just sold a cheapish J&D Fretless bass via you tube, the buyer has just mailed me to say there appears to be an earthing issue (detailled below) the bass was fine when it left me so not sure if its had a knock in transit, there are no apparent knocks on the bass to testify to that. Any ideas as to what may be the problem and the best way to tackle it? [i][b]when plugged in, when I turn the lowest knob (if the guitar is propped up vertically - I assume it controls the high end pick-up), there's an electronic buzz. When I touch the tuning pegs or the exit point of the lead, the buzz disappears, so it must be an earth thing. I have tried different amps, different leads and also checked that my fender strat works fine through all leads and amps.[/b][/i] Cheers, Steve.

Squire every time for me, I picked up a 'mint' VM one for £155 stuck on a Gotoh Bridge a Pup cover and new Fender knobs for less than £50 and it sounds and looks as good as most basses three times its price.

My attitude was if it's not great then probably worth it in parts. From a more recent mail from the seller it has a Fender Jazz neck attached (MIM) I have a Gotoh Bridge I might add to it, its a back up so might be ok. Will let you know how she fares.

I was after a very cheap Fender P, was toying with a Squire and came across a bit of a Franken Squire. I bid and won it for £175 based on the following advert: [i][b]This is my sorted Squire Precision. The neck has been replaced with a jazz width neck £[u]95[/u], and the crap factory fitted pick ups replaced with seymor Duncan quarter pounders £[u]165[/u]. I didn't want to hack away at the body, so still passive as opposed to ABP'S. It did have tuning issues, so I replaced the pegs with Schallers which never lose tune £[u]125[/u], see the pic for the pro replacement job. I couldn't get the action right, so i took it to a pro to set up who shimmed the neck, and now it's got the lowest action without any buzz or rattle. the band i am in now need an active sound, so this has to go (i now play a stingray and custom precision with active seymor's). This bass is too good to sit in my spare room and needs playing. Anyone is welcome to come over and give it a try. The hardware cost more than the bass, and i've been guilty of spending too much on it. For sale at less than it cost me to sort, but i've no use for it any more. I have restrung it with rotosound 105's recently, so there's another £25. Great for the passive jazzer or someone wanting an upgrade for their second bass. The case isn't included, but i will post it in a ritter gig bag, that's another £20. A small ding below the jack not visable from the front.[/b][/i] Worth a punt?