Conan

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1331637607' post='1576177'] Pimping bridges, nut and tuners are all small positive changes which can be done, but for amplified sound the biggest one by a country mile is the pickup, pots and wiring. I'm not a believer in 'tonewood' as far as the end product (an amplified bass in a band setting) goes. [/quote] You are talkin' my crack-a-lackin' language!!

To the OP... I see you are in Newcastle. If you like, you could pop round and try my "Fecker" jazz bass. I bought it as a no-name J-copy a year or so ago. It plays REALLY well. The only upgrade it has is a pair of Wizard Hammer pickups. I love it. Not only does it play beautifully, but it now sounds fantastic too! I also make a mean cappuccino Bass cost £100. Pickups £60. I now also have a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz. The neck is very different. Not necessarily better, but different in that it is so slim and has far less lacquer on it. I love both basses. Does it feel or sound like there is a £700 difference in price? No. Not even close!! The key with buying a "cheap" bass (which in itself is a subjective term!) is to play it. Some cheapo basses play very well but (as others have already said) are let down by poor quality parts and sound cheap. Replacing the neck is pointless IMO, as it is the neck that makes a good one playable. Replacing the body is also pretty pointless at this price point. I'm also not convinced about this "tonewoods" argument either.... to me, the wood of the body is there to look good. If it is going to be painted, what does it matter? The pickups have a far bigger influence on the sound anyway. As do the STRINGS!! Everyone forgets about the strings and rushes to upgrade this and that part. Try some decent strings first! Remember too that any bass body can be repainted in whatever colour or finish you choose! And if you are struggling to do it yourself, the Bass Doc is local to you too!! Have a go!

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1331733053' post='1577898'] I don't think the Geddy Lee existed in 1994/5. [/quote] From Wiki: "The [b]Geddy Lee Jazz Bass[/b] is a Japanese Artist Signature bass guitar, [b][i]made since 1998 [/i][/b]by [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Musical_Instruments_Corporation"]Fender[/url] in honor of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_(band)"]Rush[/url] bassist/vocalist [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geddy_Lee"]Geddy Lee[/url]."

Done!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1331626275' post='1575903'] I use the right bass for the job. It's age is irrelevant. [/quote] Yeah. Any bass that has stood thirty years of proper use is unlikely to fail on you and was probably a "good 'un" in the first place. Buy a new one and who is to say that it won't prove to be a friday afternoon special? Go with your feelings, not your head.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1331573759' post='1575113']Being technically very good is only any use if it enables you to say make an interesting artistic statement. Music is about art, about creativity. Technique is just an aid to that.. It's quite possible to be technically very good and have little or nothing to say...[/quote] A colleague of mine is an English teacher. He knows all about sentences, grammar and stuff like that. In other words, he has great technique. When he speaks though, nothing but dull monologues come out. Nobody wants to listen to him... Is this relevant?

Over-rating bass players is over-rated.

Is he after a Wal? I didn't like to ask - but maybe he'll take a fence...

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1331426089' post='1572813'] £50 is a reasonable price depending on the amount of 'work' the seller says it needs.[/quote] Indeed. Fifty quid is a very good price if the guitar is a good 'un. But it does depend how much "work" is needed and whether you can do it yourself. If you have to pay someone else to sort out problems then it probably isn't worth it. IMO of course.

Nut has already been replaced, and bridge pickup needs replacement if the guitar is to be playable. Oh, and the frets are shagged too. Sounds like great value. Not. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Vintage-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-1966-Sunburst-Hardshell-Case-/390390029317?pt=Guitar&hash=item5ae50f1c05#ht_2505wt_1270"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Vintage-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-1966-Sunburst-Hardshell-Case-/390390029317?pt=Guitar&hash=item5ae50f1c05#ht_2505wt_1270[/url]