The Last Bass Outpost

I've got a non fender jazz bass body made of ash, loaded with EMG's, with a BA II bridge. This bass has been my main player for a long time. I had an Ibanez Black Eagle Neck on it. I finally found a Black Eagle bass body so now I need a neck for my main player. I want to use an original equiptment jazz neck this time. But which...American or Mexican. What is the main difference between them. The only visible difference I can see from pictures is the American jazz has the star truss rod adjuster at the base of the neck and the Mexican neck has it up by the headstock. I prefer it at the headstock because it seems easier to deal with, but this is not the deciding factor. This place called STRATosphere sells 2008 replacement Fender necks on e-bay, both American and Mexican. Has anyone had any experience with them?

Quote from: gweimer on February 29, 2008, 06:01:08 AM

btw - Mike, I still think I have that CD we cut that night of The Waste Wheelers.

I'd like to have a copy of that...

Gary's bass sounded good out front. It's been a while ago, but I remember it having a very round tone. Nice and fat. I do remember it cutting through the mix well also. I remember the guitar player and I both commenting how great it sounded.

I'm pretty impressed with the ET-285. I'm still experimenting  around with it. It's got a nice bassy round midrangy tone with both pickups full on. If I play back on the bridge pickup I get a nice clear almost piano like tone. This thing has some old rounds on it right now and I'm so impressed with it, I may just stick with rounds instead of my traditional flats. This bass sounds incredible and may have bumped my 78P to second choice fretted four string. If this is a taste of the gibson sound, I've been missing the boat a long time. I have two issues with the bass so far. The first is that some idiot drilled two holes in the headstock. Why I have no idea. But as this will be a players bass I'll not worry about it too much. The second issue is the truss rod nut is stripped. I got it to adjust to where the neck is correct, but it will need replacement before I do any other adjustments. Has anyone ever replaced one on this type of bass?

I'll post further reviews, as I have not played it in a band situation yet. I'll be using it to play music for a play at the end of the month. I have my first play practice with a drummer, two guitar players and a couple singers on Tuesday. I'm excited to hear how it does.

Thanks...Thats good to know. I'll just trrow on a set of TI flats and I should be good to go.

I'd like to keep the pickups stock as long as they sound good. I do have some barts I could stick in there if all else fails

I'll be pretty excited to finally try it out when it gets here. I'd still like to get a "holy Crap bass" one of these days though. I thought that baby sounded great at the show we did together. Does this have the same pickups as yours?

The guy had it down as a 600.00 BIN, which I thought was too high. Is that the original bridge cover? It looks kind of Fenderish to me. One of the things that attracted me to this bass was the bolt on neck. (which I usually prefer) I may toy around with the idea of making a short scale batwing neck for it and painting the body black to really create that Marshall Grant look. Maybe a blend knob where the pickup selector switch is. Just ideas...

Well I decided to take the plunge. My new Johnny Cash road bass. I've always had good luck with Japanese stuff...as well as read a couple good review on this style bass. It was cheap enough at 331.00. Probably the closest I'll ever get to the real thing..

Cool thanks for the link. I'd like to get involved in that one of these days. This weekend we are playing in Merrionette Park, IL this Friday night the 22nd.

Crapola eh..I like your Holy crap bass. Do you know where I could find one?. What are the problems with the 70's bolt ons. I'm trying to get that Marshall Grant vibe in the tribute band.

What is one of these basses worth? Might be the start of my Marshall Grant "tribute bass"

The one I am intrested in is a bolt on neck.

Well Cool. Now I just need to find a black newport:)...

Thanks for clearing that up...So I guess that Gibson made a one or two pickup version? The one in the Cash pic has two pickups and this one has only one.

More pics. Which one is this?

I think it was an Embassy, but I'm no Gibson historian by any means. I'll try to find pictures but I know it had a mudbucked pickup neck position and I think a smaller pickup by the bridge.

Quote from: gweimer on February 20, 2008, 08:16:50 AM
Very nice!  And if a Johnny Cash tribute band comes along, you're all set.   

Hell yeah!!!..Thats what I need. I'm in a Johnny Cash band. If I could have one Gibby that would be the type of bass I would want. For now I just have to keep playing my un-politicially correct 78P.

I've only played one Hofner in my life, an older one. Nice tone to my ears and it did have some growl. He got it at a garage sale for 150.00 dollars. Where was I?