spongebob

Still searching...... [size=4] [/size]

Loving 'School Days' - just bought the 'brown' album and 'Journey To Love'....and the RTF LP 'Musicmagic' Also been really into the Return To Forever 'Anthology' - great album which covers the essential stuff from 73-76. Enjoying the journey - what a great era.

Bass arrived - and returned. One of the unlucky ones. Weight-wise, it was about the same as a Land Rover towing a trailer full of overweight Elephants....... [size=4] [/size] [size=4] [/size][size=4]Managed to find a used US P instead! [/size]

I've recently acquired another P. Shouldn't have sold the last one really! I do find them so easy to play - and they do fit in anywhere with very little fuss. I also find that wherever I play (pubs/cubs, wherever..!), I can always hear myself - something not always so easy with other, often more expensive basses. I resisted a P for years as I thought they were a little 'obvious' - more fool me. A bass that well recorded and performed with....there's good reason. [size=4] [/size]

Got it back just now (luckily off work today as I didn't know it was coming!). What can I say? Fantastic job. Card confirms it's had a new neck and a complete set-up, and couriered here for free. It plays amazingly well, so I'm a happy customer. Only dropped it off a week ago last Friday. Full marks to Fender - I can't imagine Rickenbacker/Rosetti (who I've had dealings with) doing this. Last problem I had with a brand new 4004 I was told with the problem it had, 'that's the way it's supposed to be'!

Today it's playing brilliantly! The tweak did the trick - little move back, then a bit of push forward.....strings are perfectly positioned for me - very nice low action. Even better, not a hint of string buzz at all. I've had luthier set-ups that I've been unhappy with, but this I like! [size=4] [/size]

Excellent - will do - thanks. I did give the TR a very small tweak earlier as the bow was quite excessive at the 12th. Very stiff, but a small turn back to loosen, then forward (as my old luthier always suggested) to tighten a fraction seems good so far. Will leave overnight - play it a bit too - and report the results tomorrow!

Thanks Lozz - it's a great bass (will post pics once all ready). Not my first P, but I should have never have got rid of the others...... I've just stuck a set of my usual 45-105's on there, and although the strings seem nicely playable (maybe a tad floppy), the action seems to have raised at the 12th by a fair bit. Suppose best thing is to leave it overnight, play it a bit, and the tighten the truss rod a fraction tomorrow? I thought the heavier gauge meant loosening the TR?

Thanks guys. I might be lucky, it might be fine......hopefully!

Do I assume that if a tweak was required, it would be left loosen?

I've just grabbed a gorgeous used Precision from Bass Direct. Bass has been fully set up, and Mark restrung it with Smith strings (these are new to me) Nickels, 40-100. I usually use D'addario Nickels, 45-105. Question is, will changing over throw the set up out? Also, I haven't cranked it up yet - but I was thinking that the current gauge is a bit low for P bass thump? Also, if a slight tweak is needed, would it be a 'lefty loosey' to reduce tension? Bit reluctant as it plays brilliantly right now.

Just been reading up/watching about truss rod adjustment. Can't work out whether to loosen the strings or not. Fender site says yet, but quite a few say no! Probably been asked 1000 times, but loosen or not?

Actually just added to the 'companion' post - Squier VM Jazz ordered today, the 70's 'natural' one. As nice as I can stretch to right now!

Ordered one today, should be here tomorrow. I need a no.2, and at the mo, this will hopefully do the job, as it'll be for practice and the odd emergency (or dive!). MIA will still be the main player when it comes back. Going to try my hand at basic tech stuff too (will no doubt need a good tweak on arrival), so a good place to start. Also, interested in any upgrades others have done to theirs?

Spoke to Fender today. They adjusted the neck on Friday, and it had moved again by Monday. Opinion is the truss rod isn't gripping properly. Solution is, they have a neck on order, and will replace it when it arrives. I've been promised the bass back, fully set-up, late this week or early next. Very friendly people to deal with. If this all works as promised, customer service 100%.

I'll keep you all posted as to how this develops......

I had a 2011 JG that all the lacquer started cracking up over the back. It looked like the bass was falling apart! Aside from the bubbling all over the chrome bridge when I received it..... [size=4] [/size]

That's really kind of you, Stu - really appreciate that. Ordering a back-up today, so will be here Tuesday. Had a phone call this morning asking me to dep for a gig in August (outside of current band), lots of stuff to learn, etc. Such a rarity - and all happens when bass-less....what are the odds? I couldn't make it up. This weekend has been a lesson learned - always have a back-up - and as I said earlier, something I always did until a week ago! Thanks again for the offer Stu. If I can ever help you out, just let me know. [size=4] [/size]

Being in the sudden market for a backup bass, been looking at the VM Jazz's today. Had a CV bass sometime back, so aware of the quality, etc. Actually (briefly) had a VM P. Prices of the VM sunburst are about £60 cheaper than the 'natural' 70s VM. On paper, they look like pretty much the same bass, aesthetics aside. Am I right? Though a VM would be a good backup/practice bass to the MIA (when I get it back from Fender). I also though it'd be a good bass to play with - I'm getting less scared about the technical stuff, so a VM would be less scary to truss rod-fiddle than my MIA?

I think I'll have invest in a back-up. Always thought I could cope with a single bass.....and as soon as I do, there's a problem! I think it's a way of telling me that me that as an active bassist, you should have a spare. Just wish this had happened before I sold me perfectly fine 'other' bass last week...... [size=4] [/size]

Cliche response alert spoiler...... 4 strings were enough for Jaco! Glad I got that in first....... [size=4] [/size]

We sometimes use a dep drummer, and he's technically amazing. What I really like is his spontaneity - he throws stuff in that you'd never think would fit. It makes it really great fun playing alongside (nearly said 'with') him, puts a real sense of fun in the music. I think part of the thrill is the change - the band immediately feels totally different....but I'm not sure it would work full-time....as sometimes, in a simply 3-chord 12-bar, he'll throw in some way-out jazzy style stuff! I think I spend all my time watching him when he's with us!

When I've sold basses, pretty much all through Ebay, I was insure - I want it to arrive in one bit as well! Bags of parcel tape in a proper guitar box - they'd probably withstand nuclear attack! But I fully agree with the OP - it is the responsibility of the seller to ensure things are packed and sent properly. You can always take a photo when you send it as proof of the packaging, too.

Spoke to Reidy's today. They did apologise, but said I'd have to fill out a request to return, and probably wouldn't get any response until next week - even though I phoned at around 10am! Bit miffed, so I rang Fender direct. Their UK address is only about an hour from me - they were really cool, and said I could pop in and drop it off to them. I did that this afternoon - chap I spoke to was really nice, and after one look, said it might need a new neck - which may take some time to acquire and fit. Even so, great confidence was installed as it was clear they were taking it very seriously. Now's the other problem - last week, I went down to one bass...and now it's off, I'm bass-less for the first time, well, ever! Lucky there's a couple of weeks until the next gig, and no rehearsals as we're looking for a new drummer. I hope it's not like an appliance that breaks when 'new', you never trust it again and keep inspecting it for faults. I'm half tempted to grab something similar, and sell it when it's all fixed....it's just the end to a very crap week, so my heads all over the shop!