JapanAxe Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 I have recently been following fretless basses in the BC Marketplace, particularly 70s Precisions, but having realised how bad my fretless playing is, I had a bit of a re-think. Some nice relic Jazzes on the Bass Gear website caught my eye, including a couple of stack-knob early 60s replicas, so I fore-warned Barrie (Molan of this parish) and took a trip down to Twyford this afternoon. I took my Streamliner and Midget for ease of comparison with what I already have. After a welcome cuppa I started working through the possibles in my mental list. I tend to know quite quickly if an instrument is not going to suit me, so after a couple of hours I had tried and put back 8-10 instruments; nothing wrong with them you understand, just not for me. My favourite to that point was a one-off replica of Herbie Flowers '59 stack-knob Jazz (see [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/117779-herbie-flowers-jazz-bass-replica/page__hl__herbie"]original build diary[/url]), fitted with flats. I quite liked the control layout, and the sounds were closer to what I was searching for, but it wasn't saying 'take me I'm yours'. When offered a try of the one other flats-loaded fretted bass in the shop, I thought it rude to refuse, so I found myself holding the '73 Precision pictured below. Consider this: I reckon not to like woody-looking finishes and maple fretboards, I thought my Precision itch was already being scratched my my Sandberg, and I wasn't even [i]looking[/i] for a P. But when I started playing this one, I just kept on playing, knocking out on-the-spot bass lines, and enjoying the range of the passive tone control and its wonderful sweet spot. Unsurprisingly, it came home with me. Playing it at home only served to confirm I had made the right decision, as I played along with iTunes set to shuffle and routed through my studio speakers. Thanks Barrie, Vic and Phil for putting up with 3 hours of my noodlings! I am one happy bunny. Quote
franzbassist Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 A good choice. I played that bass the last time I was there and it just felt right. Enjoy! Quote
skej21 Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1396471659' post='2414159'] I have recently been following fretless basses in the BC Marketplace, particularly 70s Precisions, but having realised how bad my fretless playing is, I had a bit of a re-think. Some nice relic Jazzes on the Bass Gear website caught my eye, including a couple of stack-knob early 60s replicas, so I fore-warned Barrie (Molan of this parish) and took a trip down to Twyford this afternoon. I took my Streamliner and Midget for ease of comparison with what I already have. After a welcome cuppa I started working through the possibles in my mental list. I tend to know quite quickly if an instrument is not going to suit me, so after a couple of hours I had tried and put back 8-10 instruments; nothing wrong with them you understand, just not for me. My favourite to that point was a one-off replica of Herbie Flowers '59 stack-knob Jazz (see [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/117779-herbie-flowers-jazz-bass-replica/page__hl__herbie"]original build diary[/url]), fitted with flats. I quite liked the control layout, and the sounds were closer to what I was searching for, but it wasn't saying 'take me I'm yours'. When offered a try of the one other flats-loaded fretted bass in the shop, I thought it rude to refuse, so I found myself holding the '73 Precision pictured below. Consider this: I reckon not to like woody-looking finishes and maple fretboards, I thought my Precision itch was already being scratched my my Sandberg, and I wasn't even [i]looking[/i] for a P. But when I started playing this one, I just kept on playing, knocking out on-the-spot bass lines, and enjoying the range of the passive tone control and its wonderful sweet spot. Unsurprisingly, it came home with me. Playing it at home only served to confirm I had made the right decision, as I played along with iTunes set to shuffle and routed through my studio speakers. Thanks Barrie, Vic and Phil for putting up with 3 hours of my noodlings! I am one happy bunny. [/quote] Lovely! Time to update the signature? :-) Quote
JapanAxe Posted April 2, 2014 Author Posted April 2, 2014 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1396472309' post='2414181'] Lovely! Time to update the signature? :-) [/quote] Just done it! Inevitably a sale will follow (1 in = 1 out), but can't be more specific for fear of infringing forum rules! Quote
Lozz196 Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 Great looking bass. There just something about the ash/maple combination, sounds really nice. Quote
JapanAxe Posted April 2, 2014 Author Posted April 2, 2014 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1396473051' post='2414197'] Great looking bass. There just something about the ash/maple combination, sounds really nice. [/quote] Yes it is plenty bright enough with flats, authoritative in the mids and lows, and even in volume both across the strings and up and down the fretboard. Btw this is the second time I have gone out shopping for a Jazz and come back with a Precision or version thereof. I may as well just leave Jazzes to them as loves 'em! Quote
theyellowcar Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1396503666' post='2414316'] Lovely, sweet grain too [size=4] [/size] [/quote] This. Looks in pretty good condition given it's age! Quote
JapanAxe Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 [quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1396509016' post='2414351'] This. Looks in pretty good condition given it's age! [/quote] There are some dark marks and dingson the neck, but nothing that affects playability. In fact the playability is nigh on perfect! Quote
madshadows Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 That's an awesome looking bass, love maple necks, it's all I play ! John Quote
police squad Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) can't beat that colour combo, but it's needs a black guard Edited April 3, 2014 by police squad Quote
Dingus Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 Beautiful bass, Graeme . Enjoy it. Ash/maple/white plate is one of my favourite combinations, and [i]screams[/i] early 1970's. Over the years, I have loads of Precisions from this era and if you get a good one then in their own way they are just as good and just as desirable as pre-CBS basses, in my opinion. I can tell just by looking at it that that this bass is going to have an aggressive sound and be a bit of a hooligan. Great stuff! Quote
skej21 Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 [quote name='police squad' timestamp='1396534037' post='2414780'] can't beat that colour combo, but it's needs a black guard [/quote] Yes. Yes it does. That is lovely! Quote
Geek99 Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 [quote name='police squad' timestamp='1396534037' post='2414780'] can't beat that colour combo, but it's needs a black guard [/quote] There's a typo there - you typed black but actually intended to type "tort" Quote
JapanAxe Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 That scratchplate is staying white - there's nothing I need to change! Quote
molan Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 This is such a great bass. It's been the P bass of first choice for testing new equipment in the showroom for quite a while and I know at least two very senior pro players who've also picked this ahead of anything else to demo stuff Quote
Bassman Sam Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 Beauty, I love the headstock colour too. Great score. Quote
JapanAxe Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) [quote name='molan' timestamp='1396559490' post='2415199'] This is such a great bass. It's been the P bass of first choice for testing new equipment in the showroom for quite a while and I know at least two very senior pro players who've also picked this ahead of anything else to demo stuff [/quote] Good job you've still got some Precisions left in stock Barrie! [quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1396559829' post='2415208'] Beauty, I love the headstock colour too. Great score. [/quote] I think it's stained like the body, but in that pic it almost looks like a solid colour. Edited April 3, 2014 by JapanAxe Quote
molan Posted April 4, 2014 Posted April 4, 2014 Just remembered this - a little basic demo from Vic & Jim: http://youtu.be/aP8iLSRzeTU Quote
JapanAxe Posted April 4, 2014 Author Posted April 4, 2014 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1396609553' post='2415616'] Just remembered this - a little basic demo from Vic & Jim: [media]http://youtu.be/aP8iLSRzeTU[/media] [/quote] Aha! Different strings? It currently has D'Addario flatwounds on (no need to change them!), but I guess those were rounds? Quote
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