bigjohn

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='654816' date='Nov 14 2009, 08:31 PM']Thanks! what about cleaning the frets and the neck?[/quote] Best way to clean frets is by masking the fretboard and using wirewool. You can mask em with masking tape, or if you're lazy, cut a fret width hole out of sheet of plastic, the length of the longest fret. You can use that to protect the wood / lacquer.

[quote name='Sibob' post='653808' date='Nov 13 2009, 04:57 PM']Just skimmed the above posts, so sorry if I'm repeating, but as far as I'm aware the pickups and pre in the MIM deluxes are the same as the US deluxes. It's just the hardware that is downgraded and the MIM isn't available in Ash. So as long as you find a nice one that sounds and feels good acousticly, you won't be a million miles away from the US ones. Remember as well that the US Jazz Deluxes have slightly smaller and different shaped bodies to the MIM deluxes. The MIMs have a more traditional size and shape. I personally prefer full size Jazz shapes, not the US Deluxe shape. Si[/quote] The MIM Precision Bass Specials Deluxes have US hardware. US pickups. CTS pots, US vintage spiral bridge and the same tuners as you get on the Highway Ones. The do have slimmer necks (front to back) than US basses. And yeah, they're all alder.

[quote name='The Funk' post='649477' date='Nov 9 2009, 10:38 AM']I don't see anything wrong with a few months of noodling after a few months of intensive learning. It's a good way to internalise everything you've been working on and incorporate it into your playing.[/quote] I agree. Also, it's often that when there's not so much structure it's easy to think you're not making progress, when in fact there's lots of progess being made, it's just small and incremental.

[quote name='Tinman' post='647466' date='Nov 6 2009, 06:04 PM']Thanks again John. At the moment I'm definitely interested, looking forward to trying some and then arguing with the staff in Guitar Center - Vegas, last time I was in there they were no better than some of the guys in Denmark Street Still, I won't let that put me off.[/quote] Oh Dear! I really like mine, although I did find the neck very slim - not really nut width slim - just slim from front to back. Mine's now got a standard MIM precision neck on it instead, which again is a bit slim front to back but has the extra 0.165" at the nut. I don't really know about the active electrics as mine's a passive one. They are, like their name "special" though. I bought mine off ebay - it came with all the paperwork and tags and stuff. Someone paid £699 for it when it was new. Good luck!

[quote name='Tinman' post='647447' date='Nov 6 2009, 05:51 PM']Now that's interesting, thanks John. One thing though, are you saying the tuners are not great?[/quote] Nah - the tuners are fine. I think they're the same ones you get on a highway 1 too. They certainly look identical. EDIT : they are the same - part number 0036400000 here's the [url="http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdf_temp1/basses/0135700_02B/SD0135700_02BPg3.pdf"]parts list[/url].

I've got a [url="http://www.korg.co.uk/products/tuners/pitchjack/tu_pj.asp"]kork pitchjack[/url]. It's not wildly accurate I don't think, but it's good enough and it's very handy. I use it a key ring for my case keys.

Those California Series are nice basses. The MIM Deluxe Specials are very, very similar in looks & feel. I couldn't tell you the difference in sound as I've not played a Cali Series plugged in. The MIM Deluxes also have US electrics, pickups and a US vintage bridge. MIM tuners though - same tuners as the MIM "upgrade".

[quote name='Bassassin' post='646026' date='Nov 5 2009, 10:08 AM']Sorry, never done that - but I'd be interested in how to replicate an age-darkened maple look if anyone else knows. J.[/quote] I've not done it but I've been told [url="http://www.behlen.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=B103-021&Category_Code=AERFINISHING"]Behlen[/url] by the fella's here that this stuff has a sort of amber, aged quality stuff to it. The gloss less so.

[quote name='MythSte' post='645518' date='Nov 4 2009, 05:46 PM']Are the new specials active? If you can find a passive one that plays nicely then I think you'll be onto a winner. Otherwise most all Fender mex actives ive played have been hella noisy. Enjoy yourself in the States![/quote] Aye, the passive MIM specials are where it's at. MMmmellow. The active ones are HOT and not really in a good way.

[quote name='Moos3h' post='644301' date='Nov 3 2009, 12:27 PM']I'd be interested to hear how you get on, I ordered a shielding kit recently, but couldn't for the life of me get the tape to stay stuck to the body - I cleaned the painted surfaces but it should wouldn't stick![/quote] I've found a little sand paper is useful - and tape that's not too thin. I've never managed to get tape less than about an inch thick to stick. You can cut it thinner, but if it comes thinner, it's not that sticky I've found.

I've always used copper shielding tape / foil. It does quieten things down a little.

All good now. WD40 and cotton buds. There was a bit of rust in nut, which I've cleaned out. It now moves easy peasy. Cheers John

[quote name='Moos3h' post='641219' date='Oct 30 2009, 03:48 PM']As you're looking at it, lefty-loosey, righty-tighty! Try using a screwdriver bit on a socket to give you more torque - you could also try a tiny amount of WD40, but I really mean tiny - it won't do the wood any good if you soak it... Cheers, James[/quote] WD40 to the rescue! Ok - it moves, but it's still a bit stiff. I might try to remove it and oil it up.

Hiya, I've just bought a 65 reissue MIJ jazz. It came with roundwounds and I've since put TI flats on it, which are lower tension - so I need to adjust the neck relief. It's one of those necks with the truss nut at the heel end (which is a pain for start!) now I've taken off the neck I can't get the truss to move clockwise or anitclockwise at all. Any one got any tips? also - I've only adjusted truss rods from the headstock end before, do they work the same way around? ie anti clockwise offers less resistance?

I got myself a CIJ '65 reissue on Saturday. I'm still giggling. Not sure when it will end. :brow: