ead

Thanks for the heads up. Not on my radar but I'll check them out.

Spector Euro 4LE '77 - OK, I know it's not passive but could easily be made so.

Special order I believe.

My new TT4 passive will have the Black Label p/ups and a Vol/Vol/Tone circuit. Best combo for what I play in the bands I'm in.

That sounds about right. I think there were a few 'transition' necks knocking about with combinations of dots and binding before the blocks and binding spec was settled in.

Never had the opportunity to play a J of this vintage. Interesting that '66 is seen by the collectors/purists as the start of the decline into CBS cost-cutting and yet there seem to be happy bunnies on here. Clearly a massively small sample size of course. George and Leo still involved of course but an interesting period for Fender instruments.

I did some basic recording of the '66 vs a newish Highway One (with Greasebucket circuit) and sound-wise there wasn't a great deal of difference even with slightly different strings on. All nickel rounds for the '66 compared to nickel-wound rounds for the HW One. Not done the full P bass on flats thing yet. In terms of general feel the vintage bass is lighter, has a nicer finish to the neck that tbf is probably due to it having been played over the years and so has worn down to a lovely silky finish. The profile is also slightly fatter and this suits me a bit more. When I bought it I went looking for a well used item on the basis that the fact it had been pre-loved and played as it was a good one. I think this is the case for the bass. I do gig it around the place, as much as when I had a more modern US Precision. The modern bass has long gone so I guess that re-enforces the above. I have a couple of old violins too and they also compare very favourable to the more modern instrument I have. It's entirely possible that there is a element of rose-tinted specs about the whole debate and the fact that these basses are costly may subconsciously mean some kind of justification filter is kicking in; who knows. I love mine and love playing it. Desperately coveting @Burns-bass 's '66J . That would be a lovely soul mate for my P bass.

Here's my '66P. I have dozens of pics of the various bits that would probably bore folks on here to tears but happy to share with the OP if of interest.

I saw that first Genesis Revisited tour with LP on bass, he was excellent. Didn't realise he had played with It Bites though.

I bought the CD shortly after it came out and have just about managed to get past the silly crowd noise. No idea why they could not have released a version without it, can't be that hard surely? Less of a Trevor Rabin fan though. I don't think he has Howe's subtlety of touch and I find the relentless overdriven guitar sound a bit monotonous tbh. I appreciate that I am probably in a mnority though.

I feel the need to see a pic of the old girl again This was that last one I have of the bass...

Ditto. I picked mine up for £90 iirc. Put some DiMarzios in and a new more substantial bridge.

If only I was a half decent bassist ☹️

I have a selection of ACGs, a couple of Spectors, a Sandberg, a vintage Fender P and an Anaconda. My favourite of the Yamahas was actually the RBX270FL that I owned and gigged regularly for over 6 years. It was my first fretless bass. 5ers just arn't my thing and didn't really gell will the P34 sadly as it's a lovely bass.

Currently none but have owned: RBX270FL BBN5 (2 of these at different times) BBP34

True enough, but there are a lot of grumpy people in the world and it makes little sense to add to their number. Sold the bass again a week or so later so no real drama.