The Last Bass Outpost

 I have wanted one of these for years, I guess ilan's post got me going. I thought this was a good deal $550 shipped. This is my B-day present to myself.

 I bet you didn't see that coming ! When they first came out I bought one for all of $225 brand spanki'n new. I love the pickups ! I blew more speakers with that thing. I sold it in the early 80's and wished I never did. I have been watching ebay for a deal for quite a while............................. seems everyone gets a deal but me. In the past couple of days there have been like 5 black ones with the maple neck (I think these look the best). I got out bid on a couple so before I went to bed last night I tossed a bid of  300.00 one one ( about 50 bucks more than I wanted to spend but whats $50 when you want something ?) Well I woke up this morning and it turns out I won it ! I'll post pics as soon as it is here. Oh my back they make a SVT seem light.

 They had one at the House of Guitars so I gave it a whirl, I didn't plug it in but here are my thoughts. It looks cool, matte black finish with the chrome pup. The first thing that surprised me is that the neck is set, I like that. There is a big volloute one the back of the headstock replacing the scarf joint headstock of the original. The back of the neck is finished matte clear, a nice contrast to the black body. The neck profile feels more like a Ripper than a Grabber.  I think my '78 feels and plays better. From a collectors point of view a cool bass but I think a vintage Grabber would suite most peoples needs. I doubt I would spring for one.

 I had to take Char out of school for a Dr. appointment yesterday, afterwords we stopped at the House of Guitars so she could check out basses. She has had a Hofner copy for quite sometime and has been using my Peavey Fury to practice for Jazz band. Once she got a look at my J bass she really wanted one of her own. we looked at MIM Js fretted and fretless (she plays upright in the orcestra). The bass that really caught her eye was a Standard Squier Jazz bass. She loved the red to black sunburst ! It was such fun to see the look on her face when I said we could buy it, she just lit up. Reminded me of when my Dad took me to the HOG for my first bass, I hope she remembers the day as fondly as I do. I'll get a picture of her playing it. In the mean time here is the MF picture. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&base_pid=512733&index=0   Here she is posing with her Douglas Hofner knock off.

 Yesterday my '76 pickup cover came back from Seymour Duncan's custom shop stuffed with their vintage repro Thunderbird pickup. I know others have done this and I have even had the opportunity to play one of Bill's (drbassman) basses with one of these pickups. I installed the pickup in the bridge position of my  much modded 2001 Gibson Thunderbird ( aka the Butcher Bird). Wow  is all I have to say these pickups really nail the Thunderbird tone, For me the attraction of the Thunderbird pickup has been the cutting mids and sparkle while maintaining nice lows that no other unit can seem to match. This pickup works great with the Dimarzo Model G, it gives the bass more cutting power and  sparkle ( I love that word to describe Tbird pups). This was well worth the $ imho, $29.00 for the cover and ring, $197.00 for the pickup so for a total of $226.00 delivered you get a excellent repro Thunderbird pickup. I would use these for TB builds, Converting a new Tbird to chrome, restoring a '76 (I never liked the '76 pickups). If I had a 60's Thunderbird needing pickups these would work also but I think If I were restoring a 60's Bird I would go the extra mile and buy the Mike Lull repro pickups for the astetics, covers made with the original dies and two holes where the '76 covers have three holes and a bigger radius on the top edge.

 Musicians Friend is clearing these out in ebony for 1,154.00 and I am thinking of taking the plunge. Any reviews comments etc would be appriciated.

 So I bought this body blank off ebay listed as Honduran mahogany, turns out it is African Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. here is a picture showing the  difference. African is pinkish brown very open grain, Honduran is redish brown tight but open grain. The Honduran is on the right.

Did I need this No, could I pass it up double no. White with matching headstock, tort guard and stock Badasss bridge all tucked in  G&G case. this thing listed for almost 2K for most of the year they were selling them for 1,400.00. Blow out for $865.00 12 months no payment or interest, who could say no to that ? It came stock with some SCN pickups whatever the heck those are. This is one great sounding and playing Jazz bass ! I am really happy with it.