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Post subject: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:24 pm
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Hi all,
I bought it used, and it's a simple control layout. See:

Image

I'm deciding if I like it- actually I pretty well do, I'm just getting used to it! I like the pick guard, and I'm having some fun with the 32" scale. The tone is very different- I described it to some friends as being "a crayon compared to a paintbrush", which sounds terrible- but it's just a comparison. It's got a 'cuter' tone than my Squier P-Bass, for instance, which is a killer bass with a pretty fat sound. The Urge is definitely a generally different idea, even this one with the simpler approach to controls and two J p'ups.

I'd be interested to know about the serial number, and how to decode it. It'd be cool to know its history, year made, etc: It's Serial # MSN3 1821, made in Mexico. Is there a database handy?

Thanks...


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 2:20 pm
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This is a Fender Signature Series instrument. Now they call that series the Artist Series. Ran it through Guitar Dater Project for Fender and got this back:

" Guitar Info
This guitar is from the Mexican Signature Series
made at the Ensenada Plant (Fender), Mexico
in the Year(s): 1996 - Present, While this line of guitars was created in 1996,
the serial numbers do not correlate with the subsequent years
hence an exact date cannot be determined from the serial number"

Bummer there but there might be neck stampings/date codes on the butt end of the neck but you'd have to remove the neck to see them.

In addition to the Urge I which you have with the Jazz/Jazz pickup arrangement, there was an Urge II with a Jazz/Precision /Jazz pickup arrangement.

This instrument used several design components from the Fender Precision Bass Special now known as the "COWPOKE" model which went out of production when the Stu Hamms started. The headstock profile, pickguard shape, Kubicki stacked twin controls and preamp (previously also used in the Precision Plus Deluxe) were retained. The body got rounded off instead of the sharper body edges of the Cowpoke. The price went up too. These are really good players, but so were the Cowpokes. The Stu Hamm Urge models cost significantly more than the preceding P-Bass Special. COOL instruments!


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:46 pm
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Hmm, well that seems like some thorough homework! Might be a conflicting story about the model- someone called this a "Standard" on another site, and gave it a serious panning! For what it's worth. But I guess I'll go with the Fender-originated info, thanks!

I'm actually looking into removing the preamp. Something I... don't like about what it does. But I'll wait until I'm sure- play a few gigs with it and see. Not ready to go taking it all apart just yet! I do dig the bass though.

Again, thanks for looking in there, Brother Dave!


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:30 pm
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I believe it should say URGE I on the headstock.


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:50 am
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It only reads "Urge". Stu Hamm's sig logo is on it also. I think perhaps it's a "Standard"... it's made in Mexico.


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:06 pm
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I have one just like the one pictured in the first post.
I am wondering if the pickups can be used in a passive
wired circuit ?
I would like to change the wiring to a jazz bass,
changing out the controls etc.
I never was fond of active circuits in the instrument.
Would be nice if I could use the current pickups.
Anyone know if this is doable.
Rok on
"Bud"


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:14 am
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rockerz wrote:
I have one just like the one pictured in the first post.
I am wondering if the pickups can be used in a passive
wired circuit ?
I would like to change the wiring to a jazz bass,
changing out the controls etc.
I never was fond of active circuits in the instrument.
Would be nice if I could use the current pickups.
Anyone know if this is doable.
Rok on
"Bud"


There's a guy on TB who removed that active thing and wired straight to the output- said the p'ups were very strong-sounding. Now I think it was the Urge-I, and I don't know if the p'ups are the same as on the Standard. If you're doing homework on that, would you post the results here?


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:02 am
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The Urges® were all discontinued because Stuart moved to the Washburn® camp in 2011.

Image

The last Urge® bass known to date was the Urge® II; unlike the Urge® I and the aforementioned Urge® Standard this bass featured a full 34"-scale length, Posiflex™ graphite neck reinforcements, dual coil ceramic Noiseless™ Jazz Bass® pickups (neck/bridge), custom Precision Bass® split-coil humbucking pickup (middle) and a custom 3-band active EQ powered by an 18V supply.

A 5-string version nicknamed "Chester" was also made for him but never released publicly.

Image

The Hipshot® Drop D Xtender was added 2 years before the Urge® II left the Fender pricelist in 2010.


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 4:49 am
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The Urge 2 is the only one I've messed around with. Was the Urge 1 labeled simply URGE?

When did the price go sky high on these?


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:26 am
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@brotherdave

Never saw the existence of a fretless Urge II until I saw Stuart owning one.

Unfortunately I was unable to find a picture of Hamm playing "Fred" onstage.


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:06 pm
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I have both an Urge and Urge II USA. Both feature j/p/j pups. I believe it is only the Mexican model that has just the two j pups.

_________________
Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: Stu Hamm Urge, Mexican
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:29 am
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affprod wrote:
I believe it is only the Mexican model that has just the two j pups.


Yep, the Urge Standard lacked off the middle-position split-coil humbucker.


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