spongebob

I've joined a new band in the last few weeks after leaving my last one in February. Early days, no pressure....just enjoying playing. Leaving the last one was the best thing I ever did. Even before this band cropped up, I really liked, in a sense, the freedom of just playing at home. No songs to learn, no hassle, just digging some great music and rediscovering why I started playing in the first place. Enjoy the time out, don't rush into anything. Things will turn up on time when they need to.

I've already set up Sky+ to record! He had so many great musicians alongside him....great bass players too. For me, he was superb until around 'Inner Secrets', don't think they ever really made it back from the more poppy direction. I can really recommend one of his solo albums - 'Oneness' - up there with his best best work IMHO.

Did Jaco play on any more Little Beaver? I've got some of his stuff, and I love it.

I've owned a few - love the sound to bits, but have now come to the conclusion that I can persevere no longer!!

If your playing a pub/club with soggy carpet and flat beer, you can fiddle with the tone as much as you like, and it's still 'bass'! I think only bass players actually listen to what we do. Others probably just look at the headstock!

Any other 50's Precision owners with their experiences?

Great thanks!

I've been window shipping at the MIM Fender 50's Precision. Just done some selling, so looking for something new. I've recently acquired a Squier VM-P, and was looking for something similar, but maybe slightly better for recording, etc. Swore I'll never buy high-end again, so this seems could be a compromise?? They seem to be well liked. I sold a CV-P as I found the fretboard a little difficult - so looking at the specs here (before I even go looking I like to research online). For the 50's - Fretboard Radius 184mm Width At Nut 44.5mm For My CV - Fretboard Radius 241mm Width At Nut 41mm Sorry for an idiotic question (only recently took notice of such things), but one is wider at the nut, but has a smaller fretboard radius. I thought wider at nut - bigger all round? Could someone please explain this to me whilst I hide at the back of the class???

When I saw him supporting The Stranglers with Wilko in March, he was using the Jazz that's for sale. The man is certainly fast......!!

Good point made earlier about amps.... I do use Markbass stuff - great sounding amps that make most stuff sound good! Agree that excellent amplification is a big part of the job. Point about the venues was that in so many pubs, etc, band gets stuck in a tight space.....amps and kit stacked more for space than sound quality....no soundman, etc.....just the singer giving a quick 'sound okay boys...1,2,3,4....!' With this in mind, the subtle differences of a high-end bass I feel would be lost in the general racket! I played a gig last year where my car got vandalized outside. I was inside with 2.5k's worth of bass gear, and I thought.......is this really necessary??

I'm currently selling my Ric 4003 (owned and played a few....most have not been great ownership experiences!). Just really struggled of late to get a good sound and feel. Similar to another post on BC, just over the last few months finding trouble to feel at home with it. Never thought I'd say that - I always assumed this particular one was a keeper. Thing is, I'm primarily a pub/club/function player. Nothing fancy or earth-shattering. Playing the Rics in various venues made me really think about how much value I was carrying about - and that does anybody actually care about my bass sound? I played my new VM-P last night with the band. It sounded awesome - with no fiddling, just plugged in and go. Couldn't believe that a bass costing about a sixth of my 4003 actually had more presence and tone. Shocked isn't the word. Nobody batted an eyelid over the Squier headstock - it was a very good tool for the job. I do use a Markbass amp set-up, so obviously this helps get a good a sound and the best from a bass. I'm now, or will in days be down to a VM-P and a CV Jazz. If I need another bass, I doubt if I'll go much above the £350 price tag. For what I do right now, these seem just fine. I could go any buy a US standard Fender - but playing in bands in rooms and places that have never got that great a sound, I'm starting to think it would be a waste. The cleanest of bass sounds would get lost in the pub's sticky carpet....and does the guy shouting for 'Mustang Sally' want to discuss the origin of my maple or through-stringing?? My old guitarist had a 2nd hand £90 amp set-up and a £80 Les Paul Copy. He was an amazing player, and just felt comfy with what he had. Have I been duped over the years? Does an amateur really need 2.5k's worth of bass gear to play down the Dog 'n' Duck or in the corner of the Christening Party?? I've come around to the fact I don't....!!

I picked up a VM P a couple of weeks ago, and TBH, it feels very, very similar to a MIM P I owned a couple of years ago. Similar weight, neck, etc. I love the colours of the VM/CV basses. Actually prefer them to the current crop of MIA colours!

[quote name='RhysP' post='1234111' date='May 17 2011, 11:30 AM']Yeah, thanks Chris & Geddy for making me waste money on a couple of bloody Rickenbackers only to find out they're atrociously made & really uncomfortable to play. [/quote] Pretty much all my Rics I've owned have had 'individualities'! My one I have now had a broken pup on receipt, and the repair somehow blew another! It's all good now, but for the vintage tone selector working in reverse on a certain setting! It's odd, but it's my odd Ric! With ref. to the actual post, my foray into newer basses was a Rickenbacker 4004. I know they came out in the '90's, but the looks for me put them in the modern category! Owned mine in 2008/9. I really liked the tone - like a 4003 on steroids! Only thing was the neck - chunky isn't the word....but they have apparently been reduced on the newer ones. It was the looks which put me off - I must have stared at the 4004 from so many angles, but just couldn't love it. It just looked to me like any old modern bass, all garish colour and no soul. So it was back to the 4003 and all the issues.....but I wouldn't change it for the world.

I think it's just down to versatility. I love my Ric - owned and played a good few - but in certain situations, you need something else. The J and P basses offer a good variety of sounds, feel comfy, and look timeless. My J and P are both of the Squier variety - for what I do, I couldn't justify the extra cash when these do the trick. If I want to impress, break out the Ric! I played my first rehearsal with a new band last week - took the Ric - but struggled all night to get the right sound for some reason. Next week, I'll take the P, as I know she'll cut through anything!

I've got a CV Jazz and a VM P - can't say enough good things about them. Both seem pretty equal in quality and sound - and they look fab, too.

Thanks guys. It's certainly a nice looking bass, and I'm very happy with it. You've just got to love these Squiers, haven't you? I just wonder what they're going to come up with next. The reaction that they get everywhere seems to prove that Fender are doing something right by upping the Squier quality. Obviously can't be hurting the MIM/MIA sales either, so maybe they are just selling more guitars. The 6-strings look quite tasty too.

I recently let go of my Squier CV Precision - loved the bass, but couldn't quite get with the fretboard. Asked on here for advice, and..... Picked up a Vintage Modified Precision in Amber/Maple Neck. Neck width is 42mm on the CV, and 41.3mm on the VM. Makes a nice difference in my hands, just more playable. The maple neck is quite odd for me, as I've normally only played glossy necks, like my CV Jazz or Rics. Been giving it some serious play - I love it. I had a MIM P a few years back, and TBH, I'd be hard pushed to spot any differences, I'd actually say the body on the VM feels a little more sturdy. Having now played both CV's and this VM, they seem to be equally great ranges. The VM certainly feels no 'less' of an instrument than the CV....don't quite know what I was expecting.....suppose because it's a little cheaper, thought it might feel very different. Set-up from the factory was excellent - a little tweak on the action, and it was ready to go. I'll re-string it over the weekend, but TBH, the stock strings aren't that bad. Pups are very powerful - as much P as my old MIM or CV. Neck is very, very playable. Even the wood match on the rear is pretty good. I wouldn't care too much anyway, it's to be played after all! In essence, I'm starting to think that more expensive basses are wasted on me - I seem to get more pleasure and ease of play from these CV's and VM's than things 4 times the price! Here are some pics -

That's really helpful - many thanks and question answered!

[quote name='Scoop' post='1225178' date='May 9 2011, 03:12 PM']Where to start... The night in Birkenhead when the floorboards gave out underneath the drummer and he disappeared arse first into the pub cellar... The night when a very drunk bloke in Stockport insisted he [i]could [/i]get up and sing a song with us as he'd "just got out of prison"... The night I was depping and had written my charts out using the only pen I could find, a red felt pen. When the gig started the stage lights came on for the first time and I found out I was situated directly below a permanently switched-on red parcan... The night in Oldham where we played to two bar staff and the pub dog. Midway through the first set the dog passed judgement by ambling stage front and cocking his leg on the singer's monitor wedge... I could go on and on...[/quote] Classics!!! The mental image from number 1 will stay with me forever......arse first into a cellar? Oooooouchhhh!!

I recently passed on my CV 60's Precision. Loved it, but just couldn't quite get with the neck width....found it a little unwieldy for my hands! I've read that the 50's P has an ever wider neck....but how about a smaller one? I know my Rics and how they can differ, is it the same for P's? Is a VM-P, for example, very different? Is there an era of the slightly smaller neck? Not looking to spend megabucks, as it's not meant to be a main gigging bass. I'm no expert at all on these, so any advice would be good.

I sold my CV Precision through BC - only because I couldn't quite get comfy with the Precision neck! Loved the bass, though. However, I would never part with my CV 60's Jazz. Plays and sounds just like it should, and only cost me about £280 just before the price rise at the start of this year. If anything happened to it, I'd totally buy another. At £319, they are still a steal compared to other Fenders. I'm looking forward to the range increasing, a thinner-necked P would certainly tempt me! ...and I think the CV colour schemes look better than the Fenders as well - I've never really been a Fender fan, so for a Squier was no problem whatsoever. If it's not a Ric, it can say whatever it likes on the headstock!

Sky +'d it last night.....really love R.Kelly, so should be great. Beck once called him the last great Soul man....I fully agree, a totally superb artist. First act I've actually wanted to see on Jools' show for an eternity!