Velarian

I have a MIJ Jazz Bass (‘62 Reissue) and the the way the volume and the tone pots work doesn’t seem right to me. They’re marked A250k. I’d be grateful for any views on what is ‘normal’ and any possible solutions if what I’m about to describe isn’t normal. There are two main issues: - Starting from full volume, the volume pots are OK when turning down for about the first 15-20% of travel and then they drop off rapidly so there is very little fine control of the volume of each pickup. The tone control behaves similarly but it doesn’t actually cut the top end very much and it acts more like a volume control. It has a 0.047uF capacitor (marked 473k) which I would have thought would darken the tone quite a bit but it’s still relatively bright but at a much lower volume. I’ve done some reading on how pots work and from what I’ve found, the rapid drop-off of volume sounds a bit like a 'Commercial log' taper and I wondered if this was trying to recreate the characteristics of Vintage ‘62 instrument? So, my question is, should I do anything about it? If so is there anything I can do short of replacing the whole wiring loom?

Ah, the Vaults bar in Bradford, I spent many a drunken evening in there. I don’t particularly remember that track but to be fair I was probably too drunk to remember much at all TBH! I do however remember listening a lot to Providence on King Crimson’s Red album and John Wetton’s bass solo in the last third of the track is just epic.

I was tempted by it as I had an identical one in the late 70s with a serial number just a couple of hundred different to this one. But not at that price unfortunately.

I was looking at that same one just now. Shame about the pics but it does look in remarkably good condition. What’s it really worth do you reckon?

Hi Larko, You’ve reminded me of the lovely time I had at a campsite in Bonporteau in 1981. It must be fantastic to live in that part of world. Really beautiful.

Not a live album but John Wetton’s bass playing on ‘Providence’ from King Crimson’s Red album blew me away when I first heard it.

Is it still a pickguard if you play with your fingers?

Speaking of insane, either I’m out of touch or this is nonsense: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264754366975 “A beautiful example of a 1970's Fender Jazz bass. Solid body” ! in need of some TLC 😂

Thanks for the welcome guys. I’m currently in Halifax, originally from ‘Briggus’

Hi all, I just joined the forum today. I originally played bass for a few years from the late 70s up until around the mid 80s and then quit for all sorts of reasons I can't now remember. TBH back in the day I was never that good and somewhat lacking in imagination. However, I recently started looking back with a little bit of regret that I'd not kept up with things. Then I stumbled upon Scott's Bass Lessons channel on YouTube and started to think, hmmm, maybe I could do this again? The amount of great information that's available online now should give me a clear path to follow which was something that wasn't readily available all those years ago. Back then, being in a band didn't require you to actually be any good and I foolishly thought that the bass was the most accessible instrument to play; after all, it's only four strings, how hard can it be, right? It turns out that there is more to it than just thumping away on the root of a chord and there is some truly amazing playing out there now to inform and inspire. I actually still 'own' a couple of basses but they're not in my possession, having been on semi-permanent loan for the past 35 years to a more musically capable friend who now lives at the other end of the country. So, fast-forward to this week and I find myself half inspired and half on impulse pulling the trigger on a new bass, a Squire Precision with P/J pickup arrangement. Not a fortune but, from what I can gather, a half-decent (re)starter instrument if it's set up correctly and certainly good enough to get me up and running again. I'm now waiting impatiently for it to arrive. I'm looking forward to the journey and, given that I've pretty much forgotten everything of the very little that I knew before, expect some obtuse 'noob' questions from me in the weeks to come 😉 Cheers