cameltoe

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1437141130' post='2823974'] Primarily Bravewood make replicas of vintage Fender instruments, so i imagine that because Fender didn't offer a 33 inch scale, john doesn't either [/quote] I didn't even ask as I wasn't sure it was what I even wanted. I've never played a 33" scale, but I do find the first fret a bit of a stretch as we all do, so I dabbled with the thought. But to be honest I've never had a problem with a 34" Fender so it wasn't an issue, just a conversation I was mulling over. I saw John's jigs and they are vintage accurate, therefore a replication in 33" doesn't exist- hence he can't do it, unless (I presume) he was to just 'guess'. From what I gather from the website and from talking to John his instruments are based on fact, so body shape/contours/pickup spacing/neck profile are all as they would have been in the year they are attempting to replicate.

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1437168090' post='2824251'] Don't forget about tokai... I got this jazz sound recently off ebay and it's a lovely bass. And cheap too! I've gone down the japanese fender/tokai route as the guitars are made very well, and if you get an older one, the wear is for real. I personally hate the relicing thing, and they still feel new anyhow. [/quote] What's the '57 P at the back? Looks nice.

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1437129043' post='2823796'] Very cheap if indeed it's right. No stamped plate. Can't quite see that it has a raised A pole like my 57 so, presume it's a 62. 62 JV maple necks (I think) don't have a walnut plug either but the 57 does, which indeed mine does. So, I'd go for 62 if it's JV. Don't think it's an SQ as I believe they had a walnut plug and a skunk stripe. Any thoughts? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Squier-JV-by-Fender-Precision-Bass-Made-in-Japan-1983-/221828822536?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a6073608 [/quote] Well it's definitely a '62 as '57's didn't have rosewood boards! Looks good, headstock decal looks right and there would be more visible grain I reckon if it was an SQ, as well as the walnut plug as you say. Worth a punt I reckon, and have a look for the neck pocket stamps and heel date.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1437138251' post='2823936'] I have no hands-on experience of the Bravewoods, but I've never been keen on be relic'ing. I much prefer the look of the lightly-relic'ing Limelights, and the J I owned was a stunner. Yes, you're more limited for options - that's why I went down the Maruszczyk route. (Incidentally, they also do relic'ing). [/quote] Visit the bravewood site and look at the lightly reliced stuff. It's amazing. He doesn't always go to town on them!

I need to see this. Pics!

I've just ordered a Bravewood (another thread on this). The reason I went in this direction is that he is local to me, builds the guitars [i]from scratch[/i] I love the way they look, and I could be very specific in what I ordered, right down to the fine detail such as neck profile and width, weight, body contours etc. Limelights look great and have great feedback- they are also cheaper than Bravewood, but I chose not to go this route because Limelight could not provide me with a 40mm nut width or a 7.25" radius board, as their parts are supplied to them. If you want a standard width neck and are not fussy about fretboard radius then it seems Limelight would be a great choice from what I have read online. I would certainly rather buy a Limelight over a Nash. Fender Custom Shop- very expensive. You get the fender name, I'm not exactly sure what choices you can specify from the standard custom shop (i.e not Masterbuilt) but I have a feeling it's getting less and less. Try a Road Worn also- I have one and they're great.

Just had a play on my silver series, in 3 tone sunburst. If this one sells for £750, mine is going straight up!

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1437079155' post='2823493'] I now have Bravewood order GAS. [/quote] Ha, it happens to the best of us! What would you order?

[quote name='Christian Houmann' timestamp='1437070079' post='2823386'] Cool! Did you talk with him about 33 scale? [/quote] Nope! Figured that was a dead-end, and it makes sense why. He's been totally accommodating on my other requests though.

[quote name='edpirie' timestamp='1437070783' post='2823394'] Thanks cameltoe - I tried 21frets but it's almost exclusively Squier JV and very largely Strat rather than basses, so not much that I could find on there to enlighten me. [/quote] Look again- the first three models listed on the Guide to JV models page (before you get to Squier badged models) are all Domestic Fender badged JV's, with specs and info. It leans a lot toward guitar as you say, so you have to use it as a guide, but you can get an idea of what the specs were like. I guess the biggest thing to find out is whether it's a JV 115, 85, or 65. These were the markers for the different price points (115,00 Yen, 85,000 Yen etc) so the lower the number the lower the spec. Have a look through the page again as it's pretty specific in terms of components and quality per model, and it does mention the basses that were available.

www.21frets.com IIRC depending on the year, the domestic models are not as sought after as the export models, and there were various levels of quality and price points available which further confuses things!

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1436998640' post='2822789'] For the sake of my own vanity, anything made whilst I've been alive is not Vintage. I'm old enough to remember a time when '80s instruments were not considered vintage. When will this madness end. I don't get the love that old '90s MIM instruments get, for whatever reason. Those cheapskate Jazz basses with the two identical-sized pickups and the single-ply white pickguard, to name but one example. A 2015 MIM standard will out perform the '90s instrument. Some stuff is just legitimately better for being newer... [/quote] I agree, and I'm one of those people that think the 90's was 10 years ago.

Well I went to see John today, and I was totally pleased with how pleasant a guy he was, and how much attention he gave to me and my request. We spent a lot of time talking about what I like in my instruments, and he played all my basses to better understand what I'm after. I had a feel of a Precision he had kicking about, and he was more than happy to show me some work in progress. His stuff looks ace. I'm chuffed to say the order has gone in, and I'm very much looking forward to getting it!

"the only difference between these and the highly regarded JV series is these had USA pickups" Well, I have a JV and a silver series. Play them back to back and then tell me there's no difference other than the pickups. Then you can have a look at your 'USA pickups' and see the ceramic bar hanging off the bottom, as these didn't even use Alnico pole pieces. I'm actually about to drop a new pickup into my silver series, maybe I should try and sell him the original? 'Vintage 1991 USA P bass pickup.'

Bought P bass pickups from John. Great comms, fast delivery, easy transaction and as described. Very happy

Another great service, was sent the day after I ordered! Quality work as always. Thanks John!

Do what I do, and say you swapped it for other bass bits you had lying around in a trade deal. If your missus is anything like mine, she knows the basses I have, but doesn't have a clue about amps, cabs, pedals or other bits. 😊

It's been refinished too unless I'm mistaken. I don't think they did Silver's in shoreline gold did they? He's certainly trying to pass it off as original.

Use a P bass. That is all!

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1436876704' post='2821562'] If I was fussy I would say doing it as part of a band. I just want to feel like I'm living life rather than just excisting, I don't know whether I'm slipping into depression about it but at the moment it l kind of feel like whats the point if I dont at least try to do what I want to do in life. Then theres the sensible boring part of me thats stopping me from taking any risks! [/quote] I thought like this at 22. I was coming to the end of a long-term relationship and stuck in a dead-end job. I didn't dream of going on your though, I was thinking of backpacking across America. Even doing the Oz thing. I just wanted to do something. Having been in a serious relationship since 18 I felt I'd missed out on a lot of fun, and had watched all my friends go off travelling and having a great time. Anyway, I then met a girl and it never happened!! She's Mrs Cameltoe now though so it worked out in the end. I'd say go for it- just go do something now while you're young!

I have a silver series P, and have owned a J too. They are good guitars, for their relative value, but this description is something else... pure fantasy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281744321582?

I tried a set of £6 stagg strings once thinking there would be no difference. Never again! I could hear and feel the core rattle around inside the winding. No punch whatsoever! Couldn't wait to get them off.