Starless

.... and sold pending the usual.

And just to further complicate matters, I've just weighed myself on the scales and I'm 12st 3lbs (what a slim dude). Grabbed the Sterling and weighed myself again - and it says 12st 12lbs. So there you go, if bathroom scales are only accurate with someone standing on them then the bass is 9lbs.

For anyone else's information, this bass is approaching 10lbs (according to my bathroom scales - scientific precision though is not their forte). It could be more, it could be less. The online shops all quote Sterlings as "9 lbs (4.08 kg) - varies slightly". If my bathroom scales are to be believed, then they must weigh these things at the factory before they put the pickups in. If they are all made of the same wood, same electrics etc, then why such a variance in weight?

[quote name='neilb' post='1134757' date='Feb 20 2011, 08:18 PM']Ive obviously developed cataracts....... this is not black n maple.[/quote] Yeh, OK, you know what I mean. Anyway doesn't matter... SOLD PENDING etc etc.

**************** SOLD SOLD SOLD ********************* The final part of my clearout (for now), is my 'backup' EBMM Sterling 2005. What's the point of a backup for a Sterling I hear you cry. I know, I know. Pointless bass to have as the main player just keeps going and going.... It's a Sterling ferchrisakes. Tough choice to make, but the blue one has to go. I've not had this too long, and prior to me it was obviously a well-used bass. Major Downsides: A previous owner obviously thought it would be a good idea to wear a bleeding great belt buckle (you get my drift... check the pics). The non-glossy nature of the back of the neck also means that it's a bit, ehm.. 'grubby' (I've tried to show this in the pics also). If you know how to actually clean these things then this would be a good one for you to test your skills. Apart from that, it's just a Sterling innit? Plays like a dream, these necks are to die for, sounds like anything you want it to sound like, currently strung with TI Jazz Roundwounds (£35 I'll have you know), gigged it on Friday (just to say goodbye) and just loved every minute. If you have never owned a Sterling, then here is an inexpensive way to get into them without having to resort to these cheapy Indonesian jobs (a new one of those will cost you what I'm asking for here for a REAL one). It's been used, but not abused. The odd ding and scrape here and there, but looks superb up front (check the pics). Also included is the Musicman hard case, BUT this is virtually worthless (check the pics) as it is cracked on the top and side and splintered (missing pieces) on one corner (it's 100% fine on the inside though). So, please no complaints about a crappy case - I'm telling you up front - it's just to assist with shipping. £599 for the bass in the case. Shipping will probably be around £15 to £20 insured to mainland UK, or you can specify a courier of your own choosing. Located just north of Aberdeen for anyone wishing to pick up in person. [attachment=72812:s1.jpg] [attachment=72813:s2.jpg] [attachment=72814:s3.jpg] [attachment=72815:s4.jpg] [attachment=72816:s5.jpg] [attachment=72817:s6.jpg] [attachment=72818:s7.jpg] [attachment=72819:s8.jpg] [attachment=72820:s9.jpg]

[quote name='aerodyne precision' post='1134635' date='Feb 20 2011, 06:40 PM']Hi - what is the width of the neck at the nut and the 12th fret? Cos I don't like P necks either. In the absence of a Aerodyne P knocking around, this bass may be just the thing for me. Ta, Chris[/quote] It is 40mm at the nut (Jazz bass is 38mm), 56mm at the 12th (Jazz bass is 56mm). So it starts a millimetre wider on each side at the nut and gradually meets at the 12th to be the same as a Jazz neck. I think the 60's Precisions were real clunkers at the nut - 43+mm? (although I've never owned that kind of model). I am a Sterling/Jazz skinny neck kind of guy, but have gigged the P (2-1/2 hours) with no after effects - I notice the difference that the extra 2 millimetres makes, but it's not enough to make it uncomfortable for me.

******************** SOLD SOLD SOLD ************************ And into the buyer's market, I toss this stupidly priced little gem: Fender Japan (MIJ) 1993-1994 70's Re-Issue Precision Bass I don't like Precision necks, but this is the 'middling' 70's width and I can get away with it. The main point to note about this bass though, is it hardly touches 8.5 lbs on my bathroom scales. Fantastically light bass which I have used whenever the old back has started playing up (which it does quite a lot these days). Main downsides: the odd ding here and there (almost visible in the pictures) but it is a fair few years old now. Also (in my opinion not a bad point) there is a rock'n'roll fag-burn on the headstock. Some one somewhere in the past (not me) has wedged their ciggy between the E string and the headstock and obviously had to watch in increasing despair as the lead guitarist's solo has gone on and on and on.... and the fag has burned down....down...down. It is not a serious flaw, more of a scorch mark than a complete melted burn, and in a fortuitous kind of way, the dark spot matches the dark spots on the body wood grain. Main Upside: Did I mention how feather-lite this bass was? Only changes I have made to the bass since I got her are replacing a white pearloid pickguard (eeech) with a black one, replacing the pickguard screws with black ones, replacing the pickup screws with black ones, replacing the chrome knobs with black ones (anyone see a pattern emerging here....?). Everything else is as it was (and you've got to wonder just how light this thing would be with lightweight tuners on - but I didn't get round to that). Lovely player, currently strung with TI Jazz flats (oohh, that thump.... just ace). Definitely a bass for an old-timer, or a young 'un who has finally seen the light and realised that slapping is just a noisy gimmick that will hopefully die out very soon). £380 for the bass. Shipping extra (but should be in the region of £15-20 insured for mainland UK - or feel free to arrange your own courier). Located just north of Aberdeen if pickup preferred. What might help with shipping and can be included for an extra £40 is a SKB FB4 case. These are around £100 new and this one has been out of the house twice and is less than a year old. It is perfect for a Precision - but hopeless for a Jazz. Don't believe the blurb on these things which states that it fits a P and a J. Sure, you can get a Jazz in it, but you have to really cram it in. I would like to sell the bass with the case, but if somone wants the bass without the case then the case can be made available for sale separately. First dibs on it though is for someone buying the bass. [attachment=72792:p1.jpg] [attachment=72793:p2.jpg] [attachment=72794:p3.jpg] [attachment=72795:p4.jpg] [attachment=72796:p5.jpg] [attachment=72797:p6.jpg] [attachment=72798:pc1.jpg] [attachment=72799:pc2.jpg]

************ SOLD Pending the usual **************** Time for a clearout and it's a buyer's market, so priced to sell. Fender Japan (CIJ) 1999-2002 '62 Re-issue Jazz Bass 3TS, white pickguard (more on that later), spiral saddles, copper earthing strip, strap button on back of headstock. Just a perfect example of what Fender Japan do so well. I have gigged this a few times over the last 2 years, and although well used has also been well looked after. No need to worry about getting that first ding in her, she's already got one or two (but hard to show up in the pics). Main downsides: slight rash on back of body (can't see it in the pictures), a few slight indentations on the edge of the headstock where the odd cymbal has brushed against her (might just be able to make them out in the pictures) but finish dings only - no wood. All original apart from Schaller strap-lock buttons on the body, and replacement white pickguard (used to be tort). The pickguard is 99% a perfect fit apart from one screwhole which almost lined up but not quite, so rather than force it (and possibly mess up the hole) I have not put a screw in there. Makes no difference. As a bonus, but also to assist during shipping, I am including a perfectly shaped Jazz Bazz case (tolex covered) which is completely intact and structurally sound. Check the pics, but this case was made for a Jazz (not one of these one-size-fits-all-Fenders jobbies) and the body slips into the soft yellow interior like, ehm, something really slippy in a fits-absolutely-perfectly kind of way. The exterior of the case is stained and has many years of dust ingrained in there, but mojo-wise is the bee's bollox (or dog's knees if you prefer). £380 for the bass in the case. Shipping extra (but should be in the region of £15-20 insured for mainland UK - or feel free to arrange your own courier). Located just north of Aberdeen if pickup preferred. [attachment=72781:j1.jpg] [attachment=72782:j2.jpg] [attachment=72783:j3.jpg] [attachment=72784:j4.jpg] [attachment=72785:j5.jpg] [attachment=72786:j6.jpg] [attachment=72787:j7.jpg] [attachment=72788:j8.jpg] [attachment=72789:j9.jpg] [attachment=72790:j10.jpg] [attachment=72791:j11.jpg]

...and... Export or Not-For-Export, not a blind bit of difference. This was purely business politics. The basses themselves were all of the highest quality.

MIJ 1982 - 1997 CIJ 1995 - 2008 MIJ (again) 2007 onwards Makes no difference anyway. All of these models are superb. As good as the over-priced Made in USA (with no QC issues) and far superior to any Mexican made model.

OK, still loads of trade offers coming in, but just to re-iterate - I'm looking for JAZZ style neck, FRETLESS and COMPLETELY UNLINED. Nice though some high-end basses are, I won't be tempted by anything that isn't JAZZ style neck, FRETLESS and COMPLETELY UNLINED, or cash offers now welcome.

Thanks for all the offers to trade so far, still holding out for a skinny necked un-lined fretless.....

[quote name='ingenius' post='989411' date='Oct 15 2010, 04:38 PM']Howdy, nice ric... Keep me posted on that Hipshot regards Keith M[/quote] OK will do. Just need to polish it up and make it pretty... No sticky-out bits. Intonation? - simples.

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='989310' date='Oct 15 2010, 03:18 PM']Is this a darker shade of red than the modern fireglo 4003 model? Or is it my bad eyesight haha.[/quote] It is darker, but I think it would have been the same Fireglo as all the other Fireglos when it was new. 13 years of breathing the atmosphere have matured the colour nicely. It must be the same sort of effect that happens with white ones when they start to yellow.

Andy, that is a lovely, lovely bass. If you had been putting it back up for sale with a jazz neck on it I would currently be in my car halfway to Manchester with a ton of cash in the glove compartment. I can vouch for the 'wow' factor of this one. I gigged it a few times and without fail before, during interval and after the gig, the punters were coming up and eyeballing it very closely. I am probably the un-coolest looking band member in history, but with that thing strapped round my neck I was an attention grabber. Best of luck with the sale.

[center][b][size=4]********* DEAL DONE - NO LONGER AVAILABLE ************[/size][/b][/center] 1997 Fireglo finish which is maturing nicely from it's original red colour (buy a new one and they are a bit red and pink for my liking). Unusually for a Rickenbacker, it shows signs of actual use (rather then being hung up as a very expensive wall decoration). Slight scuffing (break out the Zymol to cure that) and minor dinks here and there which can only really be seen on very close inspection. No buckle rash. A couple of nicks on the body binding (check close-up pics). She is subtlely pre-dinked, so no need to panic about it coming to grief in a gig situation. The neck is what I would describe as 'middling', not a 4001 skinny, but certainly not the type of clunker that has been on the go in recent years. All original parts apart from the saddles which have been replaced with genuine Ric newbies (the old ones were getting a bit too deep in the grooves). I have not filed the saddles and am letting the strings make the grooves. The string tension keeps them in place no problem, even when digging out some Jam riffs. Bridge pickup unit is complete with pointless cover in place (feel free to remove it - I only put it back in place to move the bass on). The nut is the original black one, but I will also include a new white/cream nut for that vintage look. The nut is not glued in place, but again the string tension keeps it solid. I prefer to do this because it allows me to adjust the nut sideways to increase/decrease the space between E/G strings and fretboard edges. The original Ric case is also included. It has been well used and done its job. It still protects the bass perfectly, but the feet on the bottom edge have collapsed and the plastic is cracked around them (this is how I got it and I have had no need to replace the case - works perfectly - total protection). I am looking for a fretless bass, unlined with a Jazz type neck. Fender Jazz fretless itself, or something like a MM Sterling fretless. As long as it has a nut-width of 38mm and a reasonably shallow profile. Nothing too outrageous in terms of body colour (no blues, greens or oranges). Happy to take a bass plus cash, but don't want anything valued over £999 (I just wouldn't gig it). Also happy to take bass plus something else to make up the difference - not sure what yet, so will update this if something comes to me.... And here's the eye-candy: [attachment=61429:1.JPG] [attachment=61430:2.JPG] [attachment=61431:3.JPG] [attachment=61432:4.JPG] [attachment=61433:5.JPG] [attachment=61434:6.JPG] I will also be selling separately a Hipshot replacement bridge (best after-market Ric upgrade ever) and a set of vintage Rick knobs.