bakerster135

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1411651197' post='2561550'] Another thing to watch though is the pup screws, all the ones on my Jazz pups are frozen and as the pups aren't that high in output I would've liked to raise them a bit. [/quote] Oh no, that sounds like a bit of an issue! Do you know why and how they're frozen? I imagine that'll be an issue if you want to swap them out at any point!...

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1411644226' post='2561445'] You could just get them here: [url="http://www.axesrus.co.uk/Vintage-Style-Strap-Pins-Reliced-p/he004-dist.htm"]http://www.axesrus.c.../he004-dist.htm[/url] [/quote] Good call! Will do. Thanks!

[quote name='three' timestamp='1411586099' post='2560984'] Re: the frozen bridge, it was perhaps over-reliced and the process (oxidisation) had interfered with function. One intonation screw and six of the saddle screws were entirely frozen[/quote] Balls! I do have this problem with a couple of the saddle height screws...I didn't need to check them after initial set up, but checked last night and three are locked (including both on the G string saddle). I'll have a word with Mark, as I'm also interested in getting an aged strap pin for the back of the headstock!...

[quote name='three' timestamp='1411546446' post='2560461'] only gripe is a frozen bridge - I've now replaced the saddles with really nice brass units and the action/intonation is better than any Fender I've played or owned (and that's a lot!) [/quote] Do you mean the saddles wouldn't move up or down? Don't seem to have that issue on mine...What brass replacements did you use out of interest?

[quote name='eddiehoffmann' timestamp='1411392154' post='2559009'] Question: How thick are the headstocks on these basses? Are they thicker like modern Fenders or thinner like the real vintage ones? I know it's a minor thing but... I love my American special but it disturbs me when I look at the headstock and it's much thicker than on my older basses. Minor OCD I guess... [/quote] The headstock on mine's thin I guess, exactly the same length and width as the headstock on my 62 AVRI if that helps?

[quote name='eddiehoffmann' timestamp='1411392154' post='2559009'] Question: How thick are the headstocks on these basses? Are they thicker like modern Fenders or thinner like the real vintage ones? I know it's a minor thing but... I love my American special but it disturbs me when I look at the headstock and it's much thicker than on my older basses. Minor OCD I guess... [/quote] The headstock on mine's thin I guess, exactly the same length and width as the headstock on my 62 AVRI if that helps?

[quote name='bumnote' timestamp='1411227133' post='2557711'] Ready for action last night. Sounded great [/quote] Love the look of this one too! Only thing I'm not sold on with mine is the shade of the Burgundy Mist, and yours looks to be the same. It's a lot more purple and darker than on vintage Fenders, and the CS models. Guy Pratt's looks quite a bit lighter for example...I wonder what paint Mark uses for these?

Actually, I forgot that Nate Newton from Converge used a Stingray for quite a while (since switched to Precisions). Unconventional but awesome Stingray tone at 0:40 on [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsLzD1R-QdU"]this[/url] track!

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1411125945' post='2556692'] Stunning jazz bakerster, well done that man! Does a bit of a good job that Mark fella [/quote] Cheers Karl! Well I had the neck off it this morning, small tweak, then action and intonation, and now it's just how I like it! Put it through the Mesa this arvo, and the pickups definitely sound nicer than my 62 AVRI Jazz. Warmer and a bit more in the low mids. Very intrigued to know what he uses too now!...

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1411125945' post='2556692'] Stunning jazz bakerster, well done that man! Does a bit of a good job that Mark fella [/quote] Cheers Karl! Well I had the neck off it this morning, small tweak, then action and intonation, and now it's just how I like it! Put it through the Mesa this arvo, and the pickups definitely sound nicer than my 62 AVRI Jazz. Warmer and a bit more in the low mids. Very intrigued to know what he uses too now!...

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1411068708' post='2556246'] Well that is beautiful! Such a lovely colour! Also, first time I've seen one of his basses in a case, do they come with a case? [/quote] Thank you! Can't say I was ever a massive fan of burgundy, but this has won me over! I think it's actually darker than the standard shade...I do love it though, it's beautiful :-) I paid for the case, though Mark has a deal with Hiscox so it was a lot cheaper!

Apparently "This item doesn't currently ship to United Kingdom" though, unfortunately...

[quote name='Subbeh' timestamp='1410817089' post='2553619'] Always liked the tone Roger from Less Than Jake gets from his Ray [media]http://youtu.be/dZD2dXLSw7M[/media] [/quote] That's definitely a Musicman [b]Sterling[/b]. Similar though!

Some photos of the Burgundy Mist Jazz! Bit rough, but it's the first chance I've had since I got it... [url="http://s66.photobucket.com/user/albakio/media/Limelight%2064%20Jazz%20Bass/20140918_090753.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s66.photobucket.com/user/albakio/media/Limelight%2064%20Jazz%20Bass/20140918_090812.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s66.photobucket.com/user/albakio/media/Limelight%2064%20Jazz%20Bass/20140918_090903.jpg.html"][/url] It sounds and feels great! The only initial issue is that it's come with a higher action and quite a lot more relief than I'd usually like (about 0.8mm), so I need to get that neck off at some point and give the rod a tweak...Very happy with it though Mark's craftsmanship and attention to detail is astounding, i.e. slightly shrunken scratchplate, wear at the end of the neck and on pickups (as though the strings have actually been whacking and bouncing off them for 50 years!), and I have no idea how he's done such a convincing job of "yellowing" the scratchplate! ...

Thanks for the advice guys. Yeah, just a wee bit terrified about even taking any bolts out of the neck, but I guess it's the only way...

Does anyone know a good method (or tool) for adjusting the truss rod on an old Fender bass (at the heel) without having to take the neck off!? I'd rather avoid that if possible...

[quote name='Raslee' timestamp='1410899629' post='2554555'] Well ? [/quote] Bit delayed, but it's here and awesome! Photos very soon, I promise!...

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410635210' post='2551534'] Well here is Cass Lewis playing a Cutlass live in 1995 only months after forming the band so you better ask him again [media]http://youtu.be/LY9G2bNd8eo[/media] Obviously that does not prove the album was not recorded with a wooden necked Ray but as we are [i]clearing things up[/i], lol. I know Flea went to a trans Ray, his main bass before getting well known here, thats why I said [u]Debut[/u] stuff, and the Wal thing has been known for a long while, fwiw his best sound was his early Modulus days IMO. As for Tim C how do we know he used a trans era Ray on the album but not live? Just curious as he appears very connected to his pre EB bass, gaining the Badass bridge and the smooth pickup over the early ratm years. Ta [/quote] Definitely made myself look a bit of a plum with the RATM comment...Definitely a modified pre-EB (no body contour), I just kind of assumed it was a transition one because of the era. Whoops! Bit pedantic but I'd still say Flea didn't debut with a Cutlass. He did use a pre-EB Stingray, but switched over to the Cutlass live to get away from the neck stability issues he was having, so I'd say he [u]debuted[/u] with a Pre-EB Stingray! Agree about his Modulus sound, though my personal favourite is still the Higher Ground intro with a Spector NS-2! Word is that he did record Aeroplane with a Stingray however, possibly using the B/B/R EB Stingray that he was using live at the time. Excellent tone on that song, and great exposure on that solo! Cass was playing in a mate's band when I met him, at the Half Moon in Putney (band was called Asylum, unfortunately didn't last too long!...). He was playing a Cutlass at that gig, and when I asked him about it he said he started collecting them around the time of Stoosh as he had a bit more dosh. I think it's probably the case that he had only that one before, but started [u]collecting[/u] more later, so sorry for confusing things on that one. The reason I mentioned the Stingray on P&S is because I asked him what he used to record Little Baby Swastika specifically, and he said "an old Stingray". Either he was calling his Cutlass a Stingray, or it's possible he actually used his transition Stingray (seen on the Weak video) to record just that song, or the whole album!...Don't know, but that's why I mentioned it! Anyway, apologies for storming in again with false information! Let's get on with celebrating the wonderful tone of the Stingray I would also cite Paul Denman and his lovely 'Ray tone with Sade!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410624208' post='2551397'] The three big Ray users mentioned here used variations on the theme to start with on their debut stuff and all pre EB too, Cass Lewis- Cutlass rather than Stingray and more known for using a Sabre anyway. Flea- Again a Cutlass as you can see the modulus neck in the early 1984-5 footage. Tim Commerford- Stingray Pre EB but with a Badass bridge and some kind of smooth faced pickup. Oh No maybe it is all in the fingers after all [/quote] Just to clear up a couple of things here: Cass Lewis - Definitely a pre-eb Stingray on P&S (I've spoken to him about this). He didn't start collecting Cutlass 1s until later on, while he was using G&Ls Flea - Used a Cutlass live a lot in the early days, but switched to transition-era EB Stingray (see the Give it Away video...). Recordings post - Uplift Mofo Party Plan are usually Spectors or Wals, very rarely a Stingray. Timmy C - Definitely used an 80s EB transition Stingray on that first album

Defo the first RATM album or Skunk Anansie's Paranoid and Sunburnt. Classic 70s & 80s Stingray tones!

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1410465287' post='2549807'] Can't wait to see the pictures of this one! It's taunted me every time I visited his website! [/quote] All being well it'll be with me on Tuesday, and I'll have photos up straightaway of course!

Congratulations Kev, that's just beautiful Right number of strings too!