Paul S

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1382630714' post='2254718'] 10 and a bit pounds, and 41-42mm sounds and feels so so so different to your JV! [/quote] Thank goodness! I've spent enough recently... Edit - I should say - without finding myself looking for more basses to try and buy.

Nice one, Luke. 2 questions from me - how much does it weigh and how wide is the neck?

I am going senile - just found a post from a while back where I asked pretty much the exact same question. Never mind, maybe there are some new people!

I notice there is one for sale on here at the moment. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/219767-aria-pro-csb-blackngold-made-by-matsumoku-1982/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/219767-aria-pro-csb-blackngold-made-by-matsumoku-1982/[/url] I don't know what the protocol is for discussing bass models that are currently for sale so please, mods, delete if I am breaching any kind of rules here. I certainly have no intention of buying this one as it would end up costing more than the bass is worth to me with taxes etc. But - I am very curious about this particular model. Pros and cons. I know Cliff Burton famously used one of the other Black n Gold models, but it is particularly the CSB styling I like the look of. 32" scale, by the spec on the Matsumoku site. Cool colour combo - black with gold hardware. What are they like - anyone have/had one? What do they sound like - anything like a Precision? Neck width? And are they really an 8lb bass? And how would other CSB series vary in terms of quality/weight etc? ta.

Hand size has little to do with it - whatever feels most comfy is what you should go with. try some out in a shop!

Plenty of time left. But it reads as a bog standard Squier, nothing about it being Silver series - might go unnoticed. Well, other than on here. Also worth mentioning they are fairly lightweight. At least, mine is. And, yes, exactly how do you mistake writing 'Chelmsford' for 'Winchester'?

I'd get most pleasure from a room full of 80s and 90s Japanese basses, rather than one or two boutique jobs. One each of all the different Squiers, Westone, Washburn, Greco, Aria Pro etc - the good, bad and ugly!

The listing doesn't mention it being a Silver Series, or even made in Japan, but the pic of the headstock shows it quite clearly. This is likely to be a bargain if the seller doesn't realise he has a top quality instrument there. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squier-jazz-bass-guitar-1992-/141095681780?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20d9f53ef4"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squier-jazz-bass-guitar-1992-/141095681780?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20d9f53ef4[/url] Edit - Worth mentioning - I have one and the neck is 40mm at the nut - this looks wide, also.

If I wanted to spend £200 on a Precision bass I would hold out for a Silver Series Squier. I had one and it is the second best Precision straight off the bat that I have played (the best being my newly acquired JV). They are lightweight, have a beautiful neck and a warm, dark, woody tone especially with flats on.

Whenever I have played Whitesnake from that era I just simplify the bass lines to fit in with my own lack of ability. No-one has yet laughed and pointed. I've managed to convince myself that his bass lines are overly fussy for the tunes, so don't have any issues with doing simpler versions.

Band issues aside I think the scary thing here is that cataract surgery is pretty much taken for granted these days, just a routine in and out op, so if it goes wrong it is all the more chilling. I can't imagine what it would be like.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1381932312' post='2245666'] I sold my JV this week, it should be delivered with it's new owner tomorrow. /,,,,/ It's sad and I just hope the new owner has as much fun with it as I do. [/quote] I feel obliged to pipe up again. I put some La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats on Luke's ex-JV this morning. *NOW* I get it - I fully understand what all the fuss is about. The build quality and finish are a given, I think. Lightweight - yup, bonus. Comfy neck - yes, definitely. These things are all mechanical/physical. The tone? That is something else. There are nuances in there that I haven't found in any other Precision bass. Extra special.

Pete bought my Fender Power Jazz Bass Special in one of the quickest, most straightforward, no messing about transactions I have had on Basschat. Hope you enjoy the bass!

Howard did a conversion for me of my rather tatty Fender Musicmaster, routed out and fitted a Precision pickup and made a new scratchplate for it with new Ki0gon loom, pots and knobs. Some hastily snapped, poor quality pictures of my new Mustangmaster[size=4]©®™[/size] ... Before: After: He also made a new Jazz scratchplate which was an absolutely perfect fit. My latest scheme is for him to fit a Musicman pickup into my Westone Thunder Jet in the MM 'sweet spot' rather than the current P-Bass split pup. A custom scratchplate will cover all the changes. Looking forward to that one being done.

Sounds like it is a good thing I got in with the bass early...

Don't suppose it makes you feel any better about letting it go if I say I love it to bits already, does it?

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.