Paul S

Yup. I reckon the body is light enough to use as a float and I can paddle along with the neck. Oddly, no neck dive. I lowered the action, tried it, fine. Lowered it a bit more, still fine. Now set lower than any of my other basses! Great neck.

Indeed - two very sweet basses. Been a good week all round - one to treasure.

I recently bought this on eBay (thread hijack linked here http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217681-shergold-marathon-woo-hoo/page__view__findpost__p__2225488) It eventually arrived yesterday - I spent the afternoon giving it a clean (it was filthy, especially in the corners) then stuck some flats on it. Some pics: [attachment=146304:marathon1.jpg][attachment=146305:marathon2.jpg][attachment=146306:marathon3.jpg][attachment=146307:marathon4.jpg][attachment=146308:marathon5.jpg][attachment=146309:marathon6.jpg][attachment=146310:marathon7.jpg][attachment=146311:marathon8.jpg] Interesting to see the pickup mod was stamped by the luthier, Jim Cairnes. I guess he made those pups himself? Certainly the little scratchplates look home made. Might get the BassDoc to tidy that up and bit if I can't live with it. Also notice the bridge is not the original, judging by the screwholes. Anyway, scruffy as heck - the pictures managed to capture the Shergold paint crazing quite well! Covered in 40 yrs worth of dinks. The neck is in really good shape, some fret wear but plenty of life left. I need to set the action a little lower but it looks like that is not a problem. Works as it should, sounds absolutely gorgeous with a deep, woody thump when the tone is rolled off, half way you start to get a livelier sound. I imagine all that extra routing has helped the weight, which is a ridiculous 7.5lbs. Happy chap, here! I am really looking forward to seeing how this cuts through in the band mix.

I bought Luke's JV Precision. An absolute pleasure to deal with - great comms throughout, friendly chatty guy. Posted at first opportunity, lovingly packaged - the bass was in better condition when it arrived than I had hoped from the pictures and description. I really couldn't be happier.

Bought some strings from Alain in a totally smooth transaction. Great comms, friendly chap, great price, speedily dispatched, beautifully packed. Cheers!

As you were, bingo! Found them - PM me your address and I stick them in the post.

A brief update cos I know everyone is waiting by their pcs - this Marathon arrived today. Tatty and dirty, the only parts of the body where the paint isn't cracked is where there isn't any and it is worn through to the wood! It needs a couple of little things sorting out and setting up - but absolutely gorgeous. Electrically it works and sounds nice and thumpy with a warm and individual tone. Neck felt a little bit wide when playing yet somehow still seems comfy. So I was surprised when I measured it and it is actually 41mm at the nut and 43mm across the neck. Off the bat I would have said this was too wide for me, but there you go. But the biggest and nicest surprise is that it weighs an almost insignificant 7.5lbs. I think I got myself a good deal here. Pics to follow once I have cleaned it up.

Hmm, after a cursory look I haven't found them. They *must* be somewhere, but where....

I have a P retro in my Precision and I fairly recently re-strung it with La Bella flats. It brings out the woodiness and tone in a way that roundwounds never could and gives what is, for me, the absolutely perfect old school precision bass tone. So, yes, go for it! If all else fails and you don't like them, I'll buy them off you...

I may have some kicking around - I put a J East U Retro in mine and have the old ones 'somewhere'. I'll have a look and get back to you - if I find them you can have them.

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1381832256' post='2244221'] You can get a flat response version of the Retro just ask John. You can get a U-Retro with active/passive and tone control which works in both modes. [/quote] Yes, I have one in my Precision Lyte. Fantastic bit of kit.

Some interesting stuff there. Not much would translate to 2 guitars, bass a drums, but enjoyable to listen to. I like the idea of a bossanova 'Enter Sandman and particularly like the slowed down reggae version of Beat Crazy (at least I imagine that is what it is). Anyone have any simpler favourites?

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1381775227' post='2243611'] If you prefer flats to rounds (& forgive me there isn't a lot to go on in terms of likes) then something like a Quarter Pounder is much more modern and high output. You may prefer a more traditional sound like Seymour Duncans SPB-1 which gives that classic tone. Changing the pickup can take the bass in a number of directions so any decision really comes down to what you are hoping to achieve. Fixing a problem with strings may mean something better quality but less dramatic is required. if you wanted more oomph then I'd be looking an SPB-3. The second hand market is good for pickups as they don't really hold their value and the Antiquity range by Seymour Duncan are expensive but eBay bargains can be had. Equally I've tried and used nice alternatives by Wizard (recently stopped making them but still around 2nd hand), Kent Armstrong (not quite as good but cheaper) and Dimarzio. It's really just a case of knowing what types of sound you are looking for. [/quote] ^^This^^. Most of us carry a sound in our heads of the tone we would like to get from our basses. Listen to records, find and identify those where the bass sound is the one you would like to achieve then come back and say 'what pickup/strings etc' are going to give me a sound like this'. Tone is just too subjective to make cold recommendations. Quarterpounders have been bigged up - yet I really don't like them for most circumstances! Not good for old school sound at all, for me they lose the Precision bass identity.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1381400200' post='2238440'] Getting mildly excited, too, as I have sent Howard my old Fender Musicmaster that he is routing out and installing a P pickup in, together with a new pickguard. So my new 'Mustangmaster'®©™ is on its way back home any day now. [/quote] Quoting myself here, the Mustangmaster®©™ has arrived! Lovely thing it is too - Howard has done a marvellous job. This was a 70s Musicmaster with a fairly serious split in the body making it pretty much unsaleable (although muggins bought it like that... although not for much, it has to be said). An old MIJ fender pup out of a precision I bought, a Ki0gon wiring loom, Howard routed out the body, made a new scratchplate, fitted it all together with new knobs. I wasn't sure what it would sound like. Answer - it sounds like itself. Doesn't sound a great deal like a Precision, but then it doesn't sound a great deal like the original Musicmaster. There are similarities but this has a much deeper, fuller and richer tone, great output. Some hastily snapped, poor quality pictures... Before: [attachment=146101:musicmaster2.jpg] After: [attachment=146099:Mustangmaster1.jpg][attachment=146100:Mustangmaster2.jpg]

Howard did a little conversion job for me - routed out my tatty old Musicmaster bass to accept a P pickup which he fitted along with a new scratchplate, loom and knobs. Plus additionally a new s/p for a jazz bass. Great comms throughout, totally perfect job. I couldn't be more happy!

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1381745722' post='2242994'] Check out Melvin Duffy with Los Pacaminos! [/quote] Los Pacaminos! Seen them a couple of times, great band. Jamie Moses is a Star, capital C. I go line dancing and there are a handful of country bands/duos doing the circuit that play live pedal steel. It is one of the joys of country music! Yeehaw.

I am looking for some unusual covers and stumbled across this - Deep Purple playing Smoke on the Water, jazz style. Not sure about Ian Gillan's voice these days but the music is great! [url="http://youtu.be/BLUusW_P7II"]http://youtu.be/BLUusW_P7II[/url] Anyone have any favourites they have found? I quite like the Pink Turtle stuff but am trying to find things that can easily translate to 2 x guitar, bass + drums.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1381659490' post='2241823'] Let us know how you get on with the new bass! Don't forget to get a sunburst bathrobe [/quote] That's easy, I'll just not wash my white one for a few weeks. Its already like that around the back...

I bought a Hipshot BT2 detuner from Martyn in a very smooth, easy and quick transaction. very friendly guy, good comms, wouldn't hesitate in dealing with him again.

I'd say the difference was always there, well before Love is Like Oxygen. They'd been writing, and had a cult following for, their own B sides on most/all of the early hits. They came out of the heavy rock closet with the album 'Sweet Fanny Adams' in 1974 - the track 'Set Me Free' was a belter of a rock tune. Mick Tucker had a huge following as a powerful and talented rock drummer. http://youtu.be/SW6zZAigmMo

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1381521767' post='2240366'] It's for sale in the classifieds - wihite/maple neck 57ri [/quote] I know, Ted, and I have been reading your ad over and over again, poring over the pictures, for the last week ... I think it is the best looking JV around at the moment. However, after much deliberation I have decided on another one and am actually in the process of buying Luke's Fender Logo one - I decided that as it is part investment, part new bass, it made more sense to get the earliest one. I don't understand why yours is still here, though - it really is beautiful. Matching bathrobe, too.

Thanks for that, so not all the same. I have a feeling I am going to cave in...