hooky_lowdown

If only we knew what type of bass, it may help??? If it's a P bass, may be something here: https://www.wdmusic.co.uk/pickguards-c62/fender-basses-c111/precision-bass-mexican-c159

There's an easy way to find out if the bass is a Yammie or Ibby or the Encore. Ask the seller for the weight? Yammies, Ibbys are fairly lightweight. The Encore would be heavy!

Controls and shape is similar to 90s Encore pj bass...

The price increases are probably due to Fender incurring a huge fine for price fixing, so they are recouping the costs by higher prices. Prices only go one way. Up!

I find it hilarious some folk think everything should be perfect. In most cases imperfections gives the track character. I think Butch Vig is an excellent producer.

Can you get 5 string Tonerider pickups?

If your basses have poly finish then there's no problem, nitro may be slightly different. I've played hot, sweaty bar gigs before, very humid, no problem. 👍

Nail polish is not a good idea.

Putting some tape over the strings will help. Alternatively you could get some of these 'closed pickup covers':

You looking for fashion tips here @Barking Spiders ?

Not sure if it's the angle of the photo, but the headstock shape looks funny. 🤔

Take a look at Limelight relic's. Everything from subtle to heavy roadworn.

I used to design record sleeves, so have a bit of an insight of what happens behind the scenes, so to speak. Record exec's, band management and other management can't help themselves but get involved, so if the band or record exec's choose a track list, it's not unusual if someone comes along at the last minute to change things, everything from cover image, track order, even small print, nothing is off limit to last minute change, so this is where a lot of errors occur. If something is changed and someone in another part of the process isn't informed then you'll get these anomalies.

I think yours may be one of the very early ones (1989 or 1990!), You can usually tell by the position of the string tree, if it's before the E in the logo it's early, the later ones were after the E in the logo.

It's an Encore E83, was produced between 1989-93.

Halfrounds or Groundwounds (same type of string, different names) may interest you. These are ground down roundwound strings, so smoother to the touch, and have the brighter roundwound fundamentals.

I didn't limit anything, I gave a suggestion. You take things too literal. Entwistles btw are not vintage voiced.

Can I ask why you're thinking of changing the pups? Many people think - cheap bass, rubbish pickups. But this is not always the case! The stock pups on your bass are pretty hot, and I know many people who like the stock pups. Nothing wrong with them. Most "vintage" sounding (alnico) pups will have a lower output than what you have now. Wilkinson alnico pups will give you a great vintage tone for peanuts. If you want great tone and highish output look at DiMarzio.

Squier P Mini bass (28.6" scale), comes in black or red. Can be had for under £140. Seems good to mod?

New 👍

What do folks think is the best bang for buck bass available on the market today? I'm amazed by the Vintage V4 reissued basses, build quality is very good, decent hardware and the pickups sound very good. For the money, very good value imho. 😁

Did you not check out videos on YouTube? I wanted to paint a body, but it takes several weeks to dry and that's with quality paint. I don't have the patience. So didn't do it.