essexbasscat

If you're ready to pounce quick, they can be found 2nd hand for around £650 (ish), usually closer to £700. There was one on BC for a number of weeks at around £725 a few months ago. The e-bay deal I had was just a lucky chance bid that came off. I paid almost twice the e-bay deal for my other one, which was still worth every penny.

[quote name='Bigwan' post='1328212' date='Aug 5 2011, 07:57 AM']How cheeky, as a matter of interest?[/quote] I put in a bid on the off chance it may win, but really expecting it to be well and truly outbid. Felt like Christmas when I won it !! Let's just say it was under £500

I've probably bored the pants off everyone talking about my RW Precision, basically saying the same things as the OP. The Precision came along after buying a RW Jazz from OutToPlayJazz (where is he these days ?) That Jazz turned out to be one of the finest Fender Jazzes I've ever played, but I still didn't have a sunburst RW. A cheeky bid on e - bay for the RW sunburst sorted that one out ! now there are two

[quote name='BottomE' post='1324650' date='Aug 2 2011, 06:32 PM']In some other threads i have seen a lot of love for Wizard pickups. Being in the same boat as you i am watching this thread but think i am gonna go stock Fender as i want the bass to sound like a Fender Precision. I am figuring that Fender pickups will give the most authentic Fender sound with other brands being a variation of the stock sound?[/quote] Confusing isn't it ? I wish there were some way of doing A/B tests with this or those brands and models without parting with cash, otherwise it seems a case of an expensive march through the market. There must be a better way of doing this, the P bass was around while Elvis was in short trousers !!

So the love seems to be for Lollars, SD Antiques, SPB1's and Fender originals. Thanks folks

[quote name='Vibrating G String' post='1322683' date='Aug 1 2011, 12:46 AM']I don't think that's a reasonable way to describe pickups as it assumes all '64's shared a common spec which they didn't. I would look to the winders of your choice and ask what they mean by those years. Generally I find they will ascribe the same tonal differences claimed by the wood choices associated with those years which is illogical to me.[/quote] Hmmm. Something I hadn't considered here, as I admit I did hold the assumption that Fender pickups of certain periods would be made to the specs of that time. Popular opinion seems to rate quality control as a bit of a wildcard here. VGS - you say that 64's were made to different specs. Can you give more info here please ? I'd genuinely like to know more. Reflecting a bit further on this topic, I now realise the whole idea of evolving pickup specs over time has been fostered by aftermarket manufacturers offering pickups to the specs of this or that year i.e Wizard 64's or 70's (that may not be exact, but I hope you get the point). Did Fender change specs over time ? for the same model P ? did specs change for different models ? Can anyone comment on QC on Fender pickup manufacture ? and the effects on the sounds generated as a result ? Oh- Skanks - you're so right. The range of aftermarket pickups is bewildering Thanks for all your replies so far everyone

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1322202' date='Jul 31 2011, 03:42 PM']The "Original/Vintage" Precision pickup from Fender is very good. I had one in an MIM P-bass, and it certainly upped the game on that a fair bit.[/quote] A Fender pickup(s) would be a great way to go. Are new pickups available from Fender to earlier specs across the years ?

This one's probably been done before, so forgive me if I'm going over old ground. I'm seriously considering an alternative pickup for my P bass, but which one ? Aftermarket pickups (Wizards, Kent, SD, etc) describe pickups as 64's, 70's and on and on. My question is, what are the audible differences between different years of Fender's original manufacture ? are earlier ones noticably different from later models ? Also, does anyone recommend a particular brand of aftermarket pickup as being really representative of the original Fender for a given year ? Thanks for reading

Bought a few stands and bits + bobs from Pete. All arrived in packaging built to withstand a nuclear blast. Thoughtfully arranged too. Also excellent communication and a good guy to speak with into the bargain, I'd recommend Pete anytime Cheers !

Happy to lend a hand if needed

Bit like attending an evolving feast, have a nibble of everything more of this, less of that. As has been said already, there's usually something that tugs at the ear in most genres.

[quote name='james_guitar' post='1317884' date='Jul 27 2011, 01:52 AM']I'm fortunate enough to make a living out of teaching and gigs, but have recently purchased an AER Compact Mobile (battery powered) amplifier for busking with my classical guitar. I have also purchased a Phil Jones Briefcase (also battery powered) for busking with my double bass, as my partner plays jazz piano and we do a duo. I invested in this gear as I liked the idea of being able to generate income from busking should my students cancel or gigs fall through. Anyway, once I got the amps I contacted my local council who charge you £5 per day to busk on the high street (in Weston-Super-Mare - don't laugh!). Not only that, but they only allow you to do so if you have public liability insurance (I'm not sure how my classical guitar could be a danger to anyone, but I played the game and spent £170 on the insurance). Incidentally, there are no U.K. laws against busking; however, a few councils have introduced busking fees to generate extra income. Here's what happened... Having paid for both public liability insurance and a weeks worth of busking fees, I took my classical guitar and amp on to the high street and tried it out. Financially it was great; I got £60 within an hour and the elderly people that are usually the most likely to complain against this sort of thing really enjoyed the classical and jazz pieces and were very generous with tips. This was great until a local counciller told me that I wasn't allowed to busk with an amplifer and told me to go. I went back to the councillers who had issued my licence and they agreed that I wasn't allowed to busk with an amplifier. They also confirmed that it's okay for bagpipes, brass instruments or even drum kits to busk as they are unamplified, but classical guitars, double basses or other quiet instruments that require it to be heard are not allowed to use amplification. In summary, I've invested a lot of money in to my double bass and classical guitar busking gear and my local council have now made it impossible for me to use this gear for its purpose. I've just had an article printed in the local paper about it, but it probably won't change anything unless there's some public interest... [url="http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/musician_highlights_busking_red_tape_1_970917"]Weston Mercury Busking Article[/url] Have any other members of this forum encountered this problem? I can't work out how anyone benefits from this red tape in any way...[/quote] Heard through a friend the same situation exists in Brighton

[quote name='molan' post='1315092' date='Jul 24 2011, 08:36 PM']How about one of these: Or these: Love this product shot, lol: Sorry - forgot product links: [url="http://www.fretbase.com/blog/2010/06/the-heads-up-strap/"]http://www.fretbase.com/blog/2010/06/the-heads-up-strap/[/url] [url="http://www.neckheavy.com/index.html"]http://www.neckheavy.com/index.html[/url][/quote] Thanks for that B, very handy to know

Try the book; How to Read music by Alan Charlton` ISBN 978-1-84786-305-8 Very helpful and takes it in easy stages RRP £9.99 as stated on the back cover Good luck

Ta for that one

Can't add much to this in the way of "do this, it may help", but I do remember my fretless being set up with individual piezo saddles by a well known luthier. It was a time consuming and painstaking process to get the saddles at the correct angles and heights to give an even output across the strings. To summarise, it may be a case of just spending some time to get things correct across the board, rather than a one - stop solution. Hope it goes well for you