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Topics - copacetic

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31
Fender Basses / MIJ '66 Jazzes
« on: December 16, 2013, 02:10:04 PM »
Well picking up several sets of strings the other day I happened to witness a Jazz Bass being unpacked from a shipping box. The fellow knowing I was a bass player asked me to give it try and verdict. So sat down with a Roland 120 and thumped away. Verdict: very nice actually. Have to mention that this was a very stylish version, lacquered fingerboard w/ real block prearls ( not the painted/decals) and what they call an Olympic White finish with matching headstock,  ( I am always a sucker for matching headstocks) well balanced and..yes Jazz pups passive. This Olympic white was more " white" so it actually reminded me of the sno glow Rickenbacker and more so because of the matching headstock. I told 'em " nice bass". Did not want to seem too enthusiastic cause ...did not want them too be too excited yeah another Fender Jazz among 100 million of them.. Have to mention not so sure if it had authentic '66 appointments, hey where were the lollipos? ( never liked 'em anyhow). So went home, woke up the next morning and gas. Wife told me get out of bed and go into another room. In that room it started snowing. Today scheming on what a simple trade in for that is going to be!?

32
Gibson Basses / Dual serial numbers
« on: August 25, 2013, 12:10:55 AM »
I have a Leas Paul Signature Bass with 2 serial numbers stamped on the back of the headstock. They are slightly overlapping. Any theories on this? It is a Sunburst (more like a tea burst) version. Never refinned.

33
Fender Basses / VTVT
« on: May 17, 2013, 06:05:43 PM »
Thanks to the advice from several of you here I am in the process of deactivating several of my Fenders. One of them being an American Jazz deluxe. Since there are 4 holes on the control panel I am thinking why not do a vol. & tone for the neck pup and a vol. & tone for the bridge?..I know several of you here are tech savvy on the pickups and electrical issues. Normally on the Jazz Bass and P/J basses (in passive) the tone control is for both pickups.. Is there any problem with having a tone control seperate for each pup? It still keeps thing pretty simple which is what I like.

34
The Bass Zone / De-activating a bass.
« on: May 07, 2013, 02:09:38 PM »
I have a 2010 Fender Precision Special  (p/j) configuration that I like all aspects of: weight, balance, beuatiful thin all maple Jazz neck, black w/gold guard. Oh yeah and the sound but not the zing of the active circuitry. I do not want one of those switches that will give you the option of passive or active because they usually don't give you the full options in passive mode. Any one ever done this or has some ideas? Thanks.

35
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Poly urethane vanish
« on: January 13, 2013, 11:17:46 PM »
Is there a way to get rid of a poly urethane coating and keep the tobaccoburst finish intact? Ii's a nice '51 MIJ Fender P, nice and light weight, balanced and sounds pretty good. I don't mind if in the process perhaps some of the actual finish ( I am not trying to make it look like a 'relic') might get affected/worn/matted. I just really can do without the gloss. Anybody done this or knows who can? 

36
Gibson Basses / EB-0 Mod
« on: October 24, 2012, 12:56:48 PM »
I have a pretty much mint '69 EB-0 that I have rarely ever touched. I had been thinking of selling it one day putting it towards something I really want(ed). (Maybe the new G-3). However after just taking it out of the closet a few weeks ago, I have grown to really like it's playability, neck and look to ...get a little more in the sound department. Yesterday, I went over to a friend's place and played his '66 EB-3. Now I want to add a pickup that will blend better the mud and the tone than the EB-3 does. Has anyone here made that mod with a pickup that will blend better than that original setup? I am not adverse to positioning the pickup more towards the mid position if necessary. I have a Gibson Supreme with the maple top and mahogany back (bass of the month some years ago. I know Uwe has one also) but that is b asicly a TB+ and the rear pickup on that one is nothing to write home about either. Anyone?..

37
The Outpost Cafe / Life changing concerts anyone?
« on: October 05, 2012, 12:25:04 PM »
For me:
Beatles Tokyo, @Budokan '66. What can ya say about that?
Jefferson Airplane @ Concertgeboew, Amsterdam '68 (day I met Jack Casady and saw a new direction in bass sound)
Miles Davis @Keystone Corner San Framcisco.  Electric beyond electric.
Wailers (w/Bob Marley pre big fame) @Matrix, San Francisco '73(wow)
The Meters @Boarding House, San Francisco @'75 (double wow)
Fela Kuti and Africa'70 @Shrine Lagos Nigeria '79(you had to be there)
Bill Laswell & Zakir Hussain @Fillmore '02 (out of this world)
Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland Tony Williams @Blue Note tokyo..'92 ish.

All the aforementioned had bass players of distinction. I'll say Casady took me by surprise and  changed my whole approach both with his playing and rig. He took the time to even show me what he was up to during sound check. By this time I had seen the Who (yeah a lot of bass thrashing, loud and good angst show but went home and slept).
These days not as excited going to concerts. Prefer clubs small settings.

38
Bass Amps & Effects / Fan noise in Walkabout Scout
« on: September 22, 2012, 07:08:50 AM »
Recently acquired a new Mesa Walkabout Scout. This combo is quite nice in all aspects, however the fan noise is bothersome even at mid settings. Can understand in the din of a club or stage this would not be too much of an issue, but otherwise the fanlets you know it is working. I'm thinking at low volumes it might not be necessary and perhaps to install a on off switch for this. It really sound like a low level hairdryer. It surely is not necessary to be that loud. Anybody ever dealt with a matter such as this?

39
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Slight body reshaping
« on: August 02, 2012, 12:19:35 PM »
I have a few spare bodies on hand (Fender p slab) and want to do some 'stealthifying' and rond a few of the horn edges. These bodies are already finished (tobbaco burst). I don't mind 'filing' sanding them down and not worried about altering the finish. Has anyone done this? Would I need to send this to a custom shop who has fender body shape tools to insure even shaping as by hand it might not come uot as perfect in this case?

40
The Outpost Cafe / Pricing structure for music storesm.
« on: July 17, 2012, 06:19:12 PM »
I am just wondering what the pricing structure is for American music stores. There is the msrp and it seems all stores and web sites have a price listed 25-30% below that price across the board. It seems that is to give the impression that you are getting a deal. Not sure if I am correct on that, but it seems so. Also it seems based on that, the actual cost of the instrument to the store is from 25-35% of that 'artificial' msrp. So when they really have to wheel and deal they can come down another 5-20% +. Also wonder if the big stores like GC in fact really buy their instuments as opposed toi have them consigned. (Maybe the limited editions, special orders, boutique makers have to be paid..?). I used to work for and with music stores in Japan and their buying, pricing structure was very uniform esp. With imported instruments.

41
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Bass weight 'mod'
« on: July 11, 2012, 04:42:50 PM »
I have a Pulser Bass 400, Made by Yamaha in the late 70"s or early 80's, maple cap neck. It's as good as any Fender P I have ever played. Except for one thing it is 10 lbs.  Even sitting down with it at this point is slight uncomfortable. I am thinking to route out some of the body top in the shape of a Telecaster pickguard and figuring to lose at least a pound and a little more. Am aware of possible unbalance/ neck dive issue but will take it step by step. Any body done this before or have any suggestions? 

42
Fender Basses / '51 CIJ P pup & bridgeI
« on: June 11, 2012, 02:56:49 PM »
I've got a really nice lightweight balanced late 90's '51 ri.  It has the original SD that it came with, however the E string is lacking in response. I changed the string to see if it happened to be a dead E but same thing. Anybody has/had issues with one of these?. Could always just get another from SD or Bartolini but am open to other suggestions.
 This also has that string through bridge with just the 2 saddles which does sometimes limit the adjustment, but never really bothered me UNless I need to lower that E and keep the A from buzzing.
I have an extra Badass II but would rather use something else. Anyone know of another bridge that will drop in on one of these?

43
The Bass Zone / Re Leland Sklar
« on: May 17, 2012, 12:15:49 AM »
Has anybody ever tried a duo split coil (precision pickup) system? I am curious. I always thought it somehow looked weird but wonder how it sounds. Some 36 years ago I had the honor to meet Leo Fender and he had a prototype Music Man with him and in the bridge position he had a precision pickup. I played it but cannot recall the sound (just that I did not really like the feel of that bass) Now reading that Leland Sklar interview reminded me about his go to bass.  I have several blank bodies and been thinkin what to try out. Anybody tried or have this P/P combo?

44
The Bass Zone / Mildew on Bass case
« on: January 22, 2012, 02:06:01 PM »
I had one of my older bass cases in a closet storage and there is some mold on the outside of the case.
Nothing going on inside. Any suggestions?  ( the case is for one of my 66 Guild Starfires)

45
Gibson Basses / Noisy TBIV pick ups
« on: March 04, 2011, 12:52:08 AM »
I am having a noise problem with my '02 TBIV. I shielded the whole cavity and it did not make a difference. It also is not a ground wire. I recall hearing others mention this in the distant past. Any one come up with any solutions beyond the 2 mentioned?

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