Shaggy

That's the exact blurb he had in the previous 2 listings - not sure why he left it out now as it's what a prospective punter would want to know about an obscure bass. Just somehow has that "Far East" look to it, although I guess the info is genuine.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120572683339&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url] About the third time he's listed it. Looks quite decent, and I love a nice semi (ph'nar ph'nar..... :brow: ) anyone know anything about the make / maker? Would be tempted if I wasn't GAS-ed out (curse this site!) probably totally impossible to sell on though.

Violin. 4 strings and no frets - more in common with bass than you'd think. Seeing JJ Burnel in '77 helped decide me too. Many of the most "musical" bassists are multi-instumentalists anyway - Macca, Mick Karn, John Deacon, John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee - and some of the most "rythmic" guitarists started on bass (Paul Weller....er..can't think of another)

Any info on the long-term stability of graphite? Most plastics ultimately get brittle with age. (not that it'll worry me, but my sons will be inheriting an assortment of manky old gear, including the aforementioned Ovation Magnum 1 )

Just to go off at a slight tangent, two of the nicest basses I ever played had aluminium necks - a Kramer 650B and Travis Bean T2000 - wonderful ringing tone, and of course no pesky truss rod. Makes me wonder (a) why they never really caught on and ( why I haven't got one yet!

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='844122' date='May 21 2010, 01:36 PM']I think that the rout in question is for the optional,at the time, DFA control.[/quote] DFA??? [quote name='wesfinn' post='844200' date='May 21 2010, 02:40 PM']Hillbilly could be correct. heres a shot with the earthing cable attached.[/quote] Useful shot for the rebuild...... [quote name='BurritoBass' post='844217' date='May 21 2010, 02:54 PM']Thanks, that'd be great. I'm not in a position to buy yet but I fancy doing something in the future. I have a neck so I'm at least out of the starting blocks![/quote] PM'd

[quote name='wesfinn' post='843934' date='May 21 2010, 11:03 AM']You are correct there sir. Plus the rout is too far back for it to be a rest hole. The rout as far as I am aware was purely for the earthing eyelet and would of had a date in there too originally. Early 80's construction was a bit odd but was all done to save time in terms of drilling between channels which takes a lot longer than it would for the cnc to just cut one large cavity for everything to fit into.[/quote] Ah-ha - so the eyelet is a central earthing point?

[quote name='Clarky' post='843582' date='May 20 2010, 09:44 PM']It appears to be perfectly sized for a cunningly hidden fold-away ninja death stick. Did the previous owner mention 'Grasshopper' at any point in your negotiations?[/quote] Master is wise in the ways of Bass-Fu........ :ph34r: [quote name='wesfinn' post='843611' date='May 20 2010, 10:20 PM']The routs are all original. Thought the body would of been probably paired with an s9 serial number bass which means the body could be from any time up to 1983 as the s9 serial numbers lasted for about 3 and a hlaf years. There wouldnt off been any additional switches etc. the circular routs are from the CNC machine marks and the little straight rout with the eylet was for the earthing wire to screw to.[/quote] Thanks wesfinn, sound info. I wasn't too hung up on getting it excatly matched to the neck (a '78), just thereabouts, un-messed with, with an original natural or 3TS finish. Was a good price too [quote name='BurritoBass' post='843673' date='May 20 2010, 11:15 PM']Unfortunately Greg it means it's broken & you should allow me to take it off your hands for you Looks great - I've been GASing for a stripped 70s body for a while but I can't find any sellers wishing to trade in magic beans![/quote] You've got quite enough Precisions, matey! Parts seem to be much easier to source from the US for some reason, more of a market for "breaking" old basses. There's a guy in the UK does supplies them that Chris Beedster put me onto, I'll dig out his email for you - not cheap though. [quote name='Ghost_Bass' post='843756' date='May 21 2010, 01:20 AM']That route is to acomodate the screws of a thumbrest, in my opinion. Probably back then the thumbrests screwed to the pickguard and not to the body or had some kind of reinforcement plaque under the pickguard. Don't realy know, just trying to guess what it is but it seems in the right place [/quote] That definitely sounds like the most likely explanation. It can stop bugging me now! Thanks guys, informative and entertaining as ever!

I'll probably sound like Mr Thick from Thicksville being particularly thick here , but anyway - I recently bought an (alleged) -'79 Fender Precision body from the US to form part of a fretless rebuild project ( [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=87357"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=87357[/url] ), a very nice piece of ash with the natural finish largely intact but nicely worn; not too heavy either. What's baffling me is; what's the purpose of the little straight route going off from the main cavity towards the neck? There's a little electrical eyelet just at the origin. Logical reason would seem to be for a switch or a rotary control - any models of that era have switches mid-pickguard then? Is it a ganja / rubber johnny stash? (not v accessible ) Termites making a Tom, Dick & Harry tunnel "Great Escape" style? Here's another one: [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Fender-Precision-bass-body-w-Kahler-bridge-GREAT-/330433560214?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item4cef5ffe96"]http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Fender-Precision-...=item4cef5ffe96[/url]

"Woodbine" neck shim and 40 years of patina can't beat it

[quote name='Clarky' post='840498' date='May 18 2010, 08:26 AM']McCartney's? Impressive [/quote] Nah, I chucked his out, it was a worn out piece of cr@p..........

[quote name='Clarky' post='840229' date='May 17 2010, 09:38 PM']IIRC McCartney used flats on his 4001. Beedtser tried all manner of strings including flats on his old fretless 4003 so why not drop him a PM?[/quote] I've currently got his old 4003 FL with the Pyramid Gold flats he put on still on; as said above completely changes the character of the bass. A much thicker, thuddy tone compared to rounds, more mids and more cutting still than a P; think late Beatles / early Pink Floyd. I've never been keen on flats but have to say I'm quite hooked; going to try La Bella Deep Talkin' next change.

That's absolutely lush - I love the early models I reckon it must have inspired some the new Fret-King designs too

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='835872' date='May 13 2010, 08:19 AM']I find a pack of 4 is more useful. Maybe I should stop using the G. [/quote] I get lost once I move off the low E anyway.......... :wub: