Paul S

I have two Fender Precisions that aren't really precisions: Fender Power Jazz Bass Special, which has a P body (no scratch plate), Jazz neck, P/J pups and active electrics. Fender Precision Lyte - strat-sized body, slim Jazz neck, P/J pups and active electrics. Neither sound particularly P-bassy and look a bit different.

If I hadn't been to London before and only had a day I wouldn't want to spend it looking at bass guitars. I'd check out the tourist things - pick from Tower of London, Westminster Palace, The Eye, Tate Modern, South Bank, Borough Market, Museums of all descriptions - the list goes on of really well presented, top class places to go and see. London is an absolutely wonderful city with a long and diverse history often taken for granted - I know I do as it is on my doorstep.

My 'go-to' bass at the moment is my Fender Precision Lyte, fitted with a J. East preamp. Weighs in at around 7lbs, nothing lyte about the sound!

One time we were all set up and waiting for the guitarist to turn up. About half past start time his daughter walks in. 'Dave* can't make it, he's had to take our rabbit to the vet' I haven't used his real name. Which is Neil. Neil is in another band now.

None here yet - but they were only shipped on Monday!

If you had a Midget it would come with 2! All the BF range come with 2 now, apparently.

I have a TC Classic 450 and a BF Compact. I have just added a BF Midget, which I used for the first time at rehearsal last night. And I am still smiling. Physical connections are easy - daisy chain the speakers as both have 2 x speakon sockets. The Midget adds what the Compact lacks, and Compact adds what the Midget lacks, both together exceed the sum of the parts.

Yes, a 5 hole bridge and just lined up for an exact fit. The Power Jazz Special is MIJ, maybe that makes it different? Not that it helps you much!

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' timestamp='1328603655' post='1529674'] A wide strap will sort any heavy bass. [/quote] No it doesn't. You either don't have a back problem or are lucky enough to be able to 'sort' yours with a wide strap. If I wear a bass that is over 9lbs for more than an hour I pay dearly for it the next day. I have a wide leather strap and a Comfort Strapppp, both wide. Yes it helps, a bit, but it doesn't 'sort' it. For gigs if my back is playing up I select one of my 7-8lb basses, if it is ok the I go for either my Fender Power Jazz Special, which is just under 9lbs, or my pimped Westone Thunder Jet, which is 8 and a bit lbs. For rehearsals I generally go sub-8lbs. Believe me, it makes all the difference in the world.

[quote name='mikegatward' timestamp='1328264679' post='1524527'] did you have to redrill the Power Jazz to change the bridge ? - mine is a 4 hole bridge and I'm struggling to find a replacement bridge for the original which is badly tarnished [/quote] Mike, no, it was a straight fit. I had a problem with a cheapie I bought on here that had different spacings to mine (even though it had been used on a fender) but the Gotoh 201 was a perfect match. A very small issue was that I wanted black, and when it arrived it was black chrome - there was nothing to distinguish it on the packaging.

Looks good to me. One of my bands does 'Use Somebody' and it really goes down well. The first time we played it we followed Doctor Feelgood at a charity do (no pressure ) and we ended our set with it to huge applause.

Maybe the sound you are making is too clean? The GB is a very clean sounding amp. Maybe a spot more overdrive (rather than distortion) might cut through? I found that, at home alone, I would prefer to hear a nice resonant clear bass but, in the band context, it needed to be dirtier. For rock, that is. There are a few pedals that might introduce some 'tubey' overdrive sounds - if you catch one secondhand, if it isn't what you like, you can move it on quite easily without a massive hit. But maybe it also depends on what you want the bass to do in the context of the track you are playing. My default is effectively a mid-scoop but for something where the bass needs to really stand out - Chelsea Dagger is one that springs to mind, plus we are just starting to do Eton Rifles, for example - I need to boost the mids much more. Again, playing that in isolation I don't like the sound but, with the rest of the band, it sounds just right.

PMd Well done everyone!

Sounds like a plan. Does that get me in the queue?

I fitted a Gotoh 201 to my Fender Power Jazz bass Special because I think they look better but, mainly, because I rest my palm on the bridge and find them more comfortable. I also fitted a Gotoh-a-like internet cheapo (£14 or something?) to my pimped Westone Thunder Jet. Both originals were BBOT bridges. On both I had to change the grub screws to shorter ones because of the bridge height thing - with the saddles down low the stock screws stood proud and caught on my hand, but I was able to get the action low enough for my liking without shimming the neck. I can't honestly say I have noticed a difference in tone or sustain on the Fender/Gotoh, not even playing solo, but for the difference in look and comfort make it worthwhile for me. I am certain there was an improvement between the Westone BBOT and the Gotoh-a-like. There is, however, a marked difference between the build quality of the Gotoh 201 and the internet cheapie. Again, I can't say for definite whether there is a difference in tone or sustain between the two as I didn't A/B them but the Gotoh is a better bit of kit. Having said that, the cheapie is perfectly adequate and an improvement over the BBOT. Depends if the extra tenner is going to break the budget, I suppose.

I understand from the little that is out there that the Fury I (if they called it a 'I' at the start? I am not sure, but the passive P-Bass-a-like that I think you are mentioning) was excellent. Said to be very P. Bass like but with a skinny neck. Made in the USA I think - are the T-40s USA? The Fury II is Korean and a different shape - they got into the skinny horn thing. I was just curious about the pup on this one. The early model Fury basses obviously don't crop up very often as there is little information to be had. Anywa, I am chuffed to bits at getting one for so little.

Just a quick bump on this to see if anyone knows about the pickup? A Peavey VFL pickup - people seem to speak quite highly of it in what little I found - does anyone any experience with them? Anyway, I gave it a tweak and got the action down a bit and through my rig - TC Classic 450 head and BF Compact - it is unexpectedly good without any mods. Easily good enough to gig with. The 3 band EQ is extremely useable and useful. And that awesome neck!

Pick up The Pieces, Average White Band, springs to mind.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1327765026' post='1516465'] All that said, a "Wing" series bass wouldn't be my first choice. Although I love the guitars, the basses are poor performers by comparison, and not in the league of other Japanese makes of the time. [/quote] I would disagree here - I had a Scavenger bass and it was better build quality than Westones I have had. To be honest, I'm struggling to see how it is any worse quality than my MIJ mid 80s Fender Power Jass Special or more recent MIJ Fender Jaguar. maybe I was lucky - it was an early one so perhaps better than later models? Yes the electrics let it down - easily upraded in budget - but way it was put together and quality of the components is superb. Neck was absolutely briliant. But - mine was over 11lbs. And, yes, the neck was slanted slightly further away so fretting an F was always a bit of a reach.