W1_Pro

As would I...

Thats a handsome thing. I've got one of the chinese ones with German pickups, which is nice, but not in this league. It might be just a trick of perspective in the pic, but were the old bodies bigger? This looks bigger...I've only had one small lager this evening...

If anyone is interested in aquiring an Orignal, theres a newly refurbed early eighties one on sale on FB marketplace. He wants reasonable money for it but Its a nice looking thing and of course it has just been refurbed (by Overwater iirc). https://www.facebook.com/groups/4888919827/permalink/10162410126259828/ ..and I should say this bass is absolutely nothing to do with me, don't know the guy, caveat emptor, etc etc.

And to answer your question about age. The burst one is the oldest, thats from the late seventies according to Chris (May). The blue one is around 1981 and the fretless is about 1983 iirc. I'm not really sure about the Artisan but I think its around 88 or 89.

As JPJ said, they will still make custom orders in this shape. The thing is about the early ones (thats the two originals on the left of my pic), are the Bill Lawrence humbuckers. The best passive circuit/ pickups I've heard on any bass anywhere (and yes I know thats hugely subjective but I can only speak for myself 😆). So if you fancy one of these, maybe watch out for one secondhand. They come up quite regularly and the prices are usually pretty reasonable for a UK luthier made instrument.

I've got four. Two Orignals with Bill Lawrence pickups. A fretless Original with a Kent Armstrong and an Artisan. Best necks I've ever played. Sound fantastic. Heavier than a small star.....

It might be a good way to try a multi scale singlecut if you don't want to spend a lot of money. £297 for the cheapest one. I've never really been taken with the idea of multi scale or single cut, but at this price, I'd be tempted to give it a go. I don't know how they do it..

So it's done! Strung up and working perfectly. That I believe is what the young people call 'a hack'. Thanks to everyone for the comments, help and ideas and a particular thank you to Shawn (luckman67) who offered his spare Hofner machine heads FoC for me to experiment on. Top quality basschatting there.

OK, so its done..kind of. I have reamed out the hole on the e string tuner using a 3.5mm HSS bit and my trusty Makita on a slow setting. It seems to be OK. I'll string it up just now and report back but the Thomastik low E (.96) now definitely fits through the hole.

They were long enough, but the E string wouldnt fit through the hole in the tuning peg. Infuriating.

So thats interesting. I've tried a set of harley Benton shortscale flats, and they didnt fit. With the cobalts....did you get the silk onto the tuning head?

That is very kind of you. I would be happy to take you up on the offer. I shall PM you.