Beedster

Folks, just to clarify I've never held this bass! Re weight, as I understand it from Jay, it's 'daft light' at around 8lbs. Re finish, Karl thought it rough but Jay appears to think it just looks a little reliced. Re year of manufacture, no idea, sorry. Karl's original link is here http://basschat.co.uk/topic/274529-traded-thanks-fender-american-vintage-57-precision-reissue-bargain-but/page__hl__av+57__fromsearch__1 I don't make a habit of selling basses I've never touched or seen. Luck has it that musical priorities have changed substantially from live to recorded over the last few months and the need (want) for this bass came at the very tail end of the former, hence the rather odd back story and rather short turnaround. I also enjoy a good project and this was going to be stripped and oiled and a P-Retro dropped into the cavity. However, I've since decided to sell off all of my project instruments also (that's going to be avery long thread), so omn both counts this is on its way. So, I can't really speak for this bass. Usual rules apply though, if you buy it and there's a problem, I will either solve the problem or you get a refund. I know Jay well, and whilst I've never met Karl his reputation suggests a high level of trustworthiness. In short, if these guys rate this bass, I can't see there being a problem. If I can get any firmer answers when I actually pick up the bass this week, I will! Chris

[quote name='stu_g' timestamp='1453680377' post='2961832'] oh i like that one lovely [/quote] It's currently residing in Margate Stu......

See link for original sale here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/275894-fender-precision-usa-57ri-cg-case-l700/page__fromsearch__1."]http://basschat.co.u..._fromsearch__1.[/url] [url="http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/vernoj02/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpso1oaxsnt.jpeg.html"][/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I bought and paid for this bass about three weeks ago. Not only have I not played it, but I've not even collected it (my fault, not Jay's). However in the meantime both the expense and time required to get my Manshed studio up and running is dawning, so this bass, which I was going to strip and do all sorts of things to (there was a pre-amp lined up also), is now back on the market at £100 below what I paid Jay.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]£600 for a US AV series bass? No brainer.[/font][/color]

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1453676096' post='2961778'] +1 As I said earlier today on his Ampeg for sale thread, Chris is too generous for his own good. And here he is again, proving that fact even more vociferously.. Can only echo and underline what's already been said about Chris, he is a true gent and a Basschat legend. He also really knows his stuff, so any piece of bass gear passing through his hands will be absolutely top draw. And this very lovely Wal will be no exception! [/quote] Nik, that's really kind of you mate. Bottom line is that BC gives us all the opportunity to try, own, and trade in gear that otherwise many of us would never have had the chance to own, and whilst I buy and sell a lot, it's always with that in mind. If I have good gear, it's because I've bought it from other guys on here with equally good taste and expertise. I grew up in the '70s, and it took months to save enough cash to buy an awful Satellite Precision copy. I used to dream of Fenders and Musicmans until Mick Karn came along with a sound and vibe so extraordinary that the Wal thing haunted me until I had anough cash to buy one about 30 years later. Having owned the two I've had recently has been a real pleasure, almost an honour given their history and provenance, but deep down with a move to recording over live work, I just prefer good old fashioned passive single PUP instruments. But I will miss it

Lots' of PMs re re-fretting this bass, please keep in mind that as it is it's a wonderful fretless bass

Thanks for the above comments folks. I'm about to reply to PMs. Chris

Manshed Studio is coming along [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/277091-manshed-studio-build/page__st__30__p__2961092__hl__manshed__fromsearch__1#entry2961092"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2961092[/url] and is focusing my mind as to what I have and need to keep, what I don't have but need to find, and what I have but can probably do without. My decision in ensuring I can fund things was that I would have one of each of the following; fretted bass, fretless bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and one double bass (along with a few smaller strings such as mandolin, fiddle, uke and, dare I say it, a banjo). So on this basis, and after some serious deliberation, this 1983 Wal falls into the last category above, i.e., can probably do without. To cut a long story short, whilst it's by far the [i]best[/i] fretless bass I own (having recently let go of a slightly later Mk1 with ebony unlined board), it's not my [i]favourite[/i] fretless, and given I'm going to keep only one, this one's for sale at what is a very very good price considering what it is. That is, a vintage Wal with a completely new Wal PUPs and electronics, the work having been done by Paul last year. My intention was to refret it, but ultimately I think I'd still end up moving it on one day. OK, it's the one on the right below. It looks fretted but isn't. [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/2015-10-24%2011.07.03_zpsbut5afap.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_5555_zpsm4lxglvt.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_5552_zpszqfg9zyb.jpg.html"][/url] If you're interested, please read the background to the bass in the thread here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/224386-waljazz-mongrel/page__st__90."]http://basschat.co.u...l/page__st__90.[/url] The asking price is about £350 less than it owes me in total, and whilst it's never going to be an all original vintage instrument (it was of course originally fretted), the price tag is more than justified by two things. Firstly it's an authentic Wal, with elements of old and new, and of course these days there no such thing as a budget Wal. Second, it's also a bloody good example of a Wal, as those who've played will no doubt attest. Even when compared with other Wals it has a subtle but tangible warmth and substance to the tone, perhaps as the result of the rosewood board (others I've owned/played have all been ebony) Anyway, I will take more photos tomorrow, having finally made the decision today that it has to go I wanted to start the process ASAP. I'll also be listing five project basses that haven't made the cut over the next couple of days. No trades on this please, I've spent a lot of money on studio-related gear this week and will need to re-fund so to speak. Thanks for looking Chris

Beautiful

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1453579548' post='2960818'] Wow - That is such a good price for this rig!! Chris - you are too, too generous to the Basschat community.. Surely, this won't hang around much longer at this price? GLWTS [/quote] Thanks Nik, to be honest I've been on the receiving end of similar generosity from another BC member today, and what goes around comes around. But yes, it's around half price for a glorious piece of kit

OK, I've made two very important purchases for my studio this week so I'm prepared to let the above go at the following prices PJB Briefcase **NOW SOLD** Aguilar rig: DB-750 plus 2 x DB112 £1400 collected OVNO. I will not split the rig at this price. Ampeg B-15 Heritage £1600 collected OVNO. These are high class rigs at ludicrous prices. No trades, thanks.

I'm wondering how much selling all my basses and amps will raise, might just do it....