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Post subject: New situation
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:50 pm
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Roadie
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Location: Canada, NB
For the last month or so I have posted many times on this site about the standard mim p bass. that was considering the fact that i had 200 $ and didn't want to save up for to long. My grandmother died about 6 months ago and apparently in her will I get 500$. thats great for me i want to you use it for a new bass, but not any bass. a special bass because this is special money. so throw out the best basses (of any brand) for anywhere from 800$ to 1000$! thanks a lot.
Will P


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:40 am
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Hi Will, first of all, I am VERY sorry about your loss. Second, I'd look at a Precision Bass Special. This is one of the best instruments Fender ever trucked out of Enenada. Really I'd look at it. Or a used USA Deluxe.


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:30 am
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Thanks brotherdave i'll check them out. I have a question on the 51' reissue. I've seen some of your comments about it on other posts but i have to ask one or two I didn't see answered.
First Why the 1 ply pick guard? I don't mind the pickup or bridge but the pick guard gets me. my squire jazz has one and IMO i think it looks really cheesy.
is there some reason for making them like that?

also the mike dirnt p bass has almost every upgrade i would want on a 51 i think (bridge, Pickup) but is it kinda lame to buy the bass of an artist you don't even like? I like his bass but not his playing or band.

Thanks, Will P


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:33 pm
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will pumpkin wrote:
...First Why the 1 ply pick guard? ...is there some reason for making them like that?


The originals were single-ply so the reproductions also are also single ply. Jeannie pickguards has about 100 different materials they can make into a '51 RI pickguard. I got one for mine in tortoise/white/black/white. It looks ok. See here:

Image

Image

will pumpkin wrote:
...also the mike dirnt p bass has almost every upgrade i would want on a 51 i think (bridge, Pickup) but is it kinda lame to buy the bass of an artist you don't even like?


Not if you can play it better than he can. I looked at the Dirnt and liked it too but went with the '51 RI for several reasons. I also considered the Sting which I like a lot. I like everything about the Sting except the 12th fret inlay. I've done a lot of upgrades and have my '51 working well for gigging.

The '51 RI and Sting are NOT for everyone. They have their own little idiosyncratic features like the tiny vintage frets which are really guitar frets, the single coil pickup with an inherent vulnerability to RFI noise and the two-saddle bridge.

The Dirnt is an all around crowd pleaser that plays and sounds more like an upgraded second generation P-Bass than a first generation. I agree the Dirnt is loaded with great features. For most people with no emotional connection to first generation P-basses the Dirnt is probably the better choice.

I still think the Precision Deluxe is the better value of the two MIM's and if I needed an active bass with a Jazz neck then the Deluxe would for sure be my next new Fender. I bought one of the active see-through-blonde 95 "Cowpoke" Precision Deluxes. I sold the Deluxe to a friend who hasn't used it hardly at all since he is primarily a keyboard player. He still has it and I'm considering buying it back from him right after the holidays if I have any money left. LOL.


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 6:16 pm
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thanks! I went to my local music store today to ask about the basses i might get. I think the 51 is for me on price and look but I still have to play one. There is a sting p bass in another town not to far away so is that a good bass to try and see if I really like the 51 reissue? If i order it in I have to pay 20% right off the bat and if I end up not liking it (which I don't think will happen) i loose like 200$. So what do you think? Sting and 51 reissue close enough for good opinion?


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:21 pm
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The STING and the '51 RI are pretty much twins except for the body contouring on the STING which I really like and different strings. Same neck, frets, electronics. Both bodies are ash. So yes, it would be a good thing to try a STING. Just keep in mind that the 51 RI body doesn't have the body contouring and is basically a slab. It will otherwise sound and play about the same. I played both a Sting and a '51. If it wasn't for the 12th fret inlay I'd have bought the Sting. If you can buy the Sting at the right price, you might just want to take it home.


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:18 pm
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One last question then I think I'll be done. Can I anchor my thumb on the pickup? I do this while I play on the e string but on the others I anchor it on the e string itself. So is this bass safe to do this? thanks a lot, It's great to have so much info on something before I make a big purchase.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:57 pm
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No you should never use a first generation P-Bass pickup as a thumbrest.

You either have to use the E string, put on a pickup cover so you can use the pickup cover or add a thumbrest. If you put too much thumb pressure on the top of the pickup you will pull the top of the bobbin off of the pickup causing the pole pieces to fall out and the bass is then dead silent until the pickup is replaced.

I've seen several of these with broken pickups. This usually happens to people accustomed to using the 2nd generation split pickups as thumbrests which is perfectly OK, so they continue the practice on the first generation pickup which isn't designed for that purpose. I've also heard of it happening when someone borrows a bass for "one gig" or wants to "try it out" for a minute or two. Apparently it doesn't take much abuse to break one up.

The first thing I'd do is put a pickup cover on. Angela.Com sells them if your local dealer doesn't have them. If you decide to shield the bass you can ground the cover also which helps with RFI rejection. Just run a ground wire to the cover screw by the "G" string using a small "O" crimp on terminal. That was the way it was done in '51.

This has never been a problem for me as I've always used the chrome covers.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:35 am
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Hey Will I have to agree with Bro. Dave as I have two (actually one true PBass Special) P Bass Special's. One (1'st) is a California Series P Bass Special. The other is a Aerodyne P Bass. They are both setup exactly the same. A seperate volum control for each (2)pickups, and (1) single tone control which is shared by the both pickup's. Really like the Jazz necks on these basses also. Seem to favor the American model (neck) over the Japan. Could be that it is more worn as there is about 10-12 years difference in their ages (as it is the older model). Think they are both outstanding basses. You may want to check the Fender Aerodyne Jazz as I don't think these(PBass)are in production anymore. Good luck in your search and happy thumping.


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