Velarian

What a great subject for a thread. I’ve given this a little thought but not fully formed the final selection. One track I’d love to be played is “Close to Home” by Lyle Mays, probably as the file out but it’s over six minutes long and the way it ends is something I’d like everyone to hear, so it’s likely that most wouldn’t hear it. Perhaps it should be the reflection but is it too long for that? I know many funerals are a bit of a time-limited conveyor belt so I suspect it may too long for that. Thinking about that I’d rather the music be played instead of people spouting platitudes because that’s what is expected. For the rest of it, I’m thinking Elgar’s nimrod played by the Grimethorpe Colliery band and probably Praise by the Pat Metheny Group. So, if this would work in the usual funeral format, it would be: - Arrival: Nimrod, Elgar Reflection: Close to Home, Lyle Mays File-out: Praise, Pat Metheny Group

How about this?

The price doesn’t seem too bad for a ‘62. Is that down to the non-original case and strap buttons and general condition, or is there more to it than that? For example, does the difference between the dates of the pots, neck and serial number suggest that it may have been pieced together?

So, your fret position markers are spot on which is good. It does beg the question why the original position markers were where they are though. I believe that the G string is what determines the scale length so really the break point of the G string saddle should be set at 34” and tweaked for intonation from there, with the lower strings correspondingly further back. Have you tried that at 34”? (Others may correct me if I’m wrong!). Regarding the fingerboard thickness, I’m guessing that more material may have been planed off the neck than mine when it was modified so the extra thickness makes up the difference.

Can’t say I’m keen on the colour but the pickups look interesting. Are they unique to the brand or are they more widely available?

The neck on this bass is similar to my '77 P Bass which was originally a one-piece maple (with a skunk stripe). For reasons I cannot fathom now, back in 1984 I had it turned into a fretless with an ebony finger board. At the time this work was done, it had an identical Badass II bridge to yours. There was no change to scale length, the position dots remained in the same place and everything intonates as it should. I've added some pictures below for comparison. I'm a long way short of being an expert in these matters but what strikes me as being odd about your neck is how thick the fingerboard is compared to mine and I wonder if this contributes to the intonation issues? If the Badass bridge doesn't impact on the scale length (and as far as I'm aware it shouldn't as this was a common replacement for many P Basses), then the 12th fret position marker should be exactly 17" from the face of the nut. On mine it is, but judging from the original position markers on your pictures it looks to be a few mil further along, which doesn't seem right. I think it would be worth getting a luthier to take a look at this as they may be able to tweak things. As others have mentioned I don't think I'd entertain the idea of returning it to original. The extra pick-up route has been done very well and everything else looks to be quality kit. If you were set on having a fretted neck I'd be inclined to source a Fender licensed replacement neck and use that - these can often be picked up on eBay for £100 or so (this is what I should have done before having mine made fretless as I would have still had the neck in original condition).

Ian Ferguson, BBC West Weatherman

Richard Hammond

Back in 80s I had a custom bass made, loosely based on a Yamaha BB shape. I went to town specifying all sorts of pickup/wiring options with active thrown in as well. Anyway, it was bloody rubbish! 😳 Obviously I didn’t have a clue what I was on about. I should have stuck to the P Bass. 😂

Just to confirm what has already been alluded to, having a short cable to connect the device to the headphones is no big deal deal at all and in no way inconvenient. I don’t think having a wireless version would bring much to the party other than added cost.

If the video has a transcript this is a quick way to copy the content to paste in to a document. I’ve found this quite useful a few times. (The explanation is only a couple of minutes 😉).

Could it be that the original tuners would have been reverse wind and they were changed to avoid confusing the hell out of someone with other, more modern basses? I know this from experience. 😉

Same here. Last purchase was 25th July 2022. I should make it to the end of the year hopefully.

Another vote for the TC Unitune. The display is clear and unambiguous.

Far out man (both the belly and the paisley pick guard) 😂

👍

I have two black/black/maple Fender Precisions but one is US and the other is Mex. Does that count?

I think it’s a load of bunkum. When I changed a white pick guard for a black one I didn’t notice any difference at all 😉

Just when you thought it was safe to venture out, we now have ‘tone pickguards’ to add to the mix! A new revelation in the quest for perfect tone or emperor’s new clothes? Discuss 😉

Ian Allison on SBL refers to this kind of thing as double art. The instrument itself is a work of art and it can be used to create more art.

There’s something rather beautiful about the contours and textures, particularly that ebony top. Just begging to be caressed. 😳

The Antigua Jazz is conspicuously absent in that picture.

There’s a lot of history at that venue. I remember going to watch a mates band playing there in 90s. We weren’t sure how to get there from the hotel we were staying at so we got a taxi. After 15 minutes or so and many twists and turns we forked out a small fortune to pay the driver. Turned out it was less than five minutes walk away. 😂