It's taken me ages to find this thread! I just wanted to share a few images I snapped on my phone yesterday evening. My 1978 all original Mocha, My 1989 MIJ (with replaced CIJ neck) tobacco sunburst and my 2006 orange anniversary model. I also own the 51RI but didn't have a 4th stand to put it on! Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone thought the collection lacked maple (my 89 P-bass was maple until Wednesday).
Has anyone heard any updates on this book? Amazon have changed the status from available June to currently unavailable and I can't find anywhere else so much as mentioning it. Cheers.
I owned one for a while, traded it off ChrisWilliams666 & sold it on to Stevie who sold it on again. I thought it was a great value for money bass but moved it on for the same reason as Chris, I'm a Precision player and the active style wasn't me. It was a good well built bass and I reckon it must be on it's 5th Basschat owner by now. I don't understand it.
Some basses do seem to hold their value (Epiphone T-birds for example) where as others don't seem to at all.
There are a couple on here who know more about 70s Fenders than me but I do know a bit and own a 1978 Precision. The 3 bolt neck isn't a problem but can be on older basses. Weight is the main thing to watch for on late 70s Fenders. If you are not sure get advice. The vintage market is different from spending £1200 on a new Fender. Potentially I wouldn't be put off with this bass but do your homework before committing to a sale. Best of luck
It is if it has the original parts that have been replaced with it as spares. 3 bolt neck though & have you checked it out? The weights can be ones to watch. An all original 78 Fender is just the wrong side of £1500, without going on much more than those photos I'd say that was priced fairly.
[quote name='Clarky' post='837592' date='May 14 2010, 08:29 PM']Eagle eyed BB! Yep, my family is big into plastic figures[/quote]
That's the way we roll in my house
er, back on Planet Earth I have a Fender Bassman 135 head. It's a 1978 model. These ran from 76-83 and came in 3 sizes, the 135w being the loudest. I'd quite like the matching cab but I hear the heads are good (a great one trick pony, if you like what they do great, if not they ain't for you) but I've heard the cabs are a bit weak. Anyhow, some pics to share...
Two of my Fenders have it, two don't. I like the string through option but there is little difference and I certainly wouldn't look to 1) have it added or 2) be put off by a bass that didn't have the option.
Funnily enough OTPJ I thought of your bass when I snapped the photos. It's all original and what the photo doesn't show is the fairly horrendous lacquer cracks along the underside of the bass. The neck is from a 2004 CIJ so it really is looking a lot newer now.
And Clarky, a hot sweaty night - I was spitting in that picture. How terribly uncultured of me. Turned out nice in the end though!
It took me a while to work that one out too. I did excell myself in stupidity recently trying to work out why there is a strap button on the back of the headstock of 60s Fender basses! Luckily I manages that one too. D'Oh!!!
I mentioned this in a few other threads but I've owned my 57RI Fender P-bass (MIJ) since I started playing seriously. It's a 1989 model and saw REALLY heavy use around 1994/5. Being young, drunk and dumb I kicked it about and mistreated it. In recent years I've discovered GAS but this is the one bass I'd never get rid of. Together it's been on TV with me, it's played the Marquee with me, it's toured most of England with me and I can account for every battle scar. When I half heartedly tried trashing it one night in Bristol I was told by my local shop at the time I'd permanently bent the neck but he'd straightened it out "best I could". However I've since been told this was not true. Recently I thought the neck was finally bowing so decided to get a new neck. I swapped the pickguard and added the ashtrays about 12yrs ago (oh, and the thumbrest). I've also recently become more of a rosewood convert so decided to give it a 62RI vibe. I acquired a 62RI neck and it's gotten a new lease of life. I hope you enjoy the pics.
and in it's original incarnation (the model has aged less well by the way!)
Pretty much every MIM Classic series I've played has been stunning and I've played a lot of them. I'm certainly not disputing a couple of the above comments as you always get duff models but I'd lean towards these bass owners being unlucky. I've played literally dozens (including the 70s RI Jazz) and they have all been great instruments.
[quote name='StevieD_FenderP2009' post='834855' date='May 11 2010, 11:09 PM']somethings telling me that a set of Seymour Duncan SPB-1's could be making their way into it if I buy one haha[/quote]
I have the SPB-1 in mine
the 51RI neck is much chunkier than the 57RI neck.
Superb bass, especially if you like the retro vibe. My first bass was / is a 50s RI but from back when they were MIJ. The new current crop are as good
Very nice
[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='834556' date='May 11 2010, 07:18 PM']Unnecessary bits removed for playing...[/quote]
Still, good for a pose though!
I remember all of this the first time around and didn't care for it too much then. Definitely born into the wrong era. I started playing in the 80s too
[quote name='steviedee' post='833338' date='May 10 2010, 05:59 PM']Thanks for that mate it's all quite tongue in cheek but we have a great time.
Our singer was actually originally the drummer and had never really sang before but stepped up to the plate to give singing a go when our original guy left, which took a bit of balls. He is improving all the time and is a great guy which is the most important thing, you can always get singing lessons but it's harder to fix a dodgy personality [/quote]
Completely agree. For the record I'd come & see you if you were local. I've worked with weaker singers so hope that observation didn't come across as too picky.