NBD - NHC - Picked up a Closet Queen 2014 American Standard Precision Bass

[tbonesullivan]

Being the OCD person I am, I realized I didn't own any of the classic "three tone sunburst with tortoise shell guard" guitars or basses. I figured I'd dovetail my desire to have a simple, one pickup Precision bass type guitar into one, and found this 2014 on Reverb. Then it went on 15% sale so I went for it. They took like one picture of the case, but based on the advertised condition and pictures, I kinda expected the case candy to still be there, and lo and behold, it was. Aside from some minor oxidation on the metal parts, frets and some swirlies on the finish, it's close to unused. I plugged into my practice amp at work, and it really sounds great. I'm running out of basses that I still need to own, but

Right now I'm debating whether I want to put flats on it and turn it into an R&B bass. I think with it being the exact color scheme that Donald "Duck" Dunn played in the Blues Brothers movies, I'm almost required to.

[Jimbilly]

ooh!, nice!!  flats and a pick, Carol Kaye style

[crunchee]

A couple of years ago, I bought (cheap) a used Fender MIM 'Road Worn' three-knob Jazz Bass (I don't like the later two-knob 'stack' knob version) with factory nitro-finished Sunburst body/Tortoise shell pickguard, mated perfectly to a Fender 2000s MIM Jazz Bass Standard fretless neck with rosewood fretboard and strung with flats, natch.  Jaco without the steep price tag or having some idiot throw it down a set of concrete stairs first!  I wouldn't mind having a fretted 'Road Worn' Jazz Bass neck to go with it (like it originally had); but the correct used necks ain't cheap, and besides I like it just fine as is, it's fun, and it ain't going anywhere!  

Edited October 16, 2024 by crunchee

[Jimbilly]

I think I had a 78 sort of like that a long time ago. 

 Coincidentally, I've been working on this one today, it still has the flats on it I got it with, I think I got the wiring sorted out, and a pretty good setup. The fretwork on these old ibz's is generally quite good and allows for low action, well under 9 pounds for this one too!

[Jimbilly]

1 hour ago, crunchee said:

A couple of years ago, I bought (cheap) a used Fender MIM 'Road Worn' three-knob Jazz Bass (I don't like the later two-knob 'stack' knob version) with factory nitro-finished Sunburst body/Tortoise shell pickguard, mated perfectly to a Fender 2000s MIM Jazz Bass Standard fretless neck with rosewood fretboard and strung with flats, natch.  Jaco without the steep price tag or having some idiot throw it down a set of concrete stairs first!  I wouldn't mind having a fretted 'Road Worn' Jazz Bass neck to go with it (like it originally had); but the correct used necks ain't cheap, and besides I like it just fine as is, it's fun, and it ain't going anywhere!  

since you mentioned Jaco, and MIM: my 'jaco' bass is a Ibanez Silver Series neck on a MIM jazz body with basslines. 

  My other other jazz bass is a '90s MIJ Fernandes, - those are actually quite nice, and still cheap. 

[Steve Haynie]

Put flatwounds on that bass and explore the heck out of that tone.

[RobB]

Tapewounds. Be a grizzly. 

[G Man]

Nice Bass!  Not just any flats, TI Flats, worth the extra money, and you only spend it once.  

[tbonesullivan]

11 hours ago, G Man said:

Nice Bass!  Not just any flats, TI Flats, worth the extra money, and you only spend it once.  

I honestly had not heard of Thomastik-Infield until just now. They certainly are a bit more expensive than La Bella or Ernie Ball stainless flats. As a former Carvin fan, I pretty much used only La Bella roundwounds on all my basses until my EBMM Stingrays.  For four strings, .045 to .105 was my usual choice. Question is what Flatwound gauge matches that. the TI flats are only available in .043 - .100. No Idea if the tension would be similar.

Also full disclosure, I almost never change strings on my basses OOPS. I do clean them but I like them once they are "broken in" a bit and have a bit of wear from the frets on the bottom.

Edited October 17, 2024 by tbonesullivan

[G Man]

I also prefer broken in bass strings, and between that and the price of the TI Flats, I usually keep my eye on the classifieds section of TBF for a used set.

https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/categories/for-sale-parts-strings-and-accessories.129/

[topekatj]

I’ve never seen a split pickup P-bass feature a string through the back bridge. I need to get out more. 

[tbonesullivan]

24 minutes ago, topekatj said:

I’ve never seen a split pickup P-bass feature a string through the back bridge. I need to get out more. 

Oh jeez, I think all of the American standard series P and J basses have been that way. They first came out in 1995... They went through a few different bridge designs, but all were string-through, with the option of putting the strings through the back of the bridge plate. Some purists switch to having them anchor on the bridge. And many, like me, are not sure it makes a huge difference.

[tbonesullivan]

22 hours ago, G Man said:

I also prefer broken in bass strings, and between that and the price of the TI Flats, I usually keep my eye on the classifieds section of TBF for a used set.

https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/categories/for-sale-parts-strings-and-accessories.129/

Wow, they are so sought after people sell them used? DANG.  I looked at them a lot, but the tension seems pretty low. I really want to be able to dig in Duck Dunn style. I heard he used heavy gauge La Bella flats. I'm not sure I am going to do that far, but the La Bella "Deep Talking" flats seem to be very well regarded, and they even make a version for through body basses, though the bridge on the bass can use top loaders as well.

[Dutchman]

Congrats! It's beautiful!! I had a 78 Cherrybusrt P Bass that I bought almost new. It left me like all good things in times of shit luck and being broke. I still have my 2Tec which to me is the better of the 2. Boy it was sure pretty tho. This is a picture off of Reverb as I couldn't find one of mine. Rare color !

Edited October 18, 2024 by Dutchman

[Jimbilly]

2 hours ago, Dutchman said:

Congrats! It's beautiful!! I had a 78 Cherrybusrt P Bass that I bought almost new. It left me like all good things in times of shit luck and being broke. I still have my 2Tec which to me is the better of the 2. Boy it was sure pretty tho. This is a picture off of Reverb as I couldn't find one of mine. Rare color !

great color Cruise!  - I'm imagining that one with a white mop guard. I think some of the old Hamer parts/accessories are still being sold off?, there was a link on the fs page not long ago? 

 When Hamer was still in capable hands, I got a mop guard from Mr Keller for my transparent white Cruise 5.  

[cmatthes]

Nothing like a good P-Bass!  A 2TEK gets bonus points…Mike Hansen installed this one for me himself:

[velorush]

On 10/17/2024 at 12:16 PM, topekatj said:

I’ve never seen a split pickup P-bass feature a string through the back bridge. I need to get out more. 

 

On 10/17/2024 at 12:48 PM, tbonesullivan said:

Oh jeez, I think all of the American standard series P and J basses have been that way. They first came out in 1995... They went through a few different bridge designs, but all were string-through, with the option of putting the strings through the back of the bridge plate. Some purists switch to having them anchor on the bridge. And many, like me, are not sure it makes a huge difference.

My '97 American Deluxe P has the through-body / topload bridge.  I've always put them through the body.  A few years ago I switched to La Bella flats.  La Bella makes a set just for through-body as (I've read) bad things can happen with a conventional set of flats when bent that way.  Love the sound and feel of the flatwounds.

 

The only mods from this stock picture are a tort guard and Hipshot tuners. Nine pounds on the dot (9.5 with stock tuners).

[Jimbilly]

no 'thru option on this one, - since we're just showing off now

[tbonesullivan]

1 hour ago, velorush said:

 

My '97 American Deluxe P has the through-body / topload bridge.  I've always put them through the body.  A few years ago I switched to La Bella flats.  La Bella makes a set just for through-body as (I've read) bad things can happen with a conventional set of flats when bent that way.  Love the sound and feel of the flatwounds.

The only mods from this stock picture are a tort guard and Hipshot tuners. Nine pounds on the dot (9.5 with stock tuners).

I think the LaBella flats will pretty much break where they go through the bridge. The wrapping material they use just won't take that level of bend. Also won't go around the tuning peg either, so you've gotta make sure they match whatever bass you are using. I don't know if other brands are the same way. Seems to really depend on what they are being wrapped with, and how much extra space there is at the ends.

I still have 3 Carvin basses, and ALL are string through the body. All are also using La Bella Strings, who was the OEM maker for Carvin when I got them. I think both of my Carvin 5ers have the "exposed core" type B string, which makes intonation a little weird to set. Also means If i want to move away from exposed core B strings, I will most likely need to call up Hipshot to get some shorter adjustment screws for the saddles, as they are way out towards the neck.

[velorush]

35 minutes ago, tbonesullivan said:

I think the LaBella flats will pretty much break where they go through the bridge.

That was exactly what I was reading when I bought these "for Through Body Bridges."

Absolutely love the sound and feel.

Would love to try a fiver, but so far I keep thinking about how seldom I play bass and how, for the price of a fiver I could have a nice guitar or amp or... 

[tbonesullivan]

5 hours ago, velorush said:

That was exactly what I was reading when I bought these "for Through Body Bridges."

 

Absolutely love the sound and feel.

Would love to try a fiver, but so far I keep thinking about how seldom I play bass and how, for the price of a fiver I could have a nice guitar or amp or... 

I have a set of those on my wish list, just waiting for when I know I'll have time to actually get the bass ready to go.

In "things I never knew", I have had a bunch of people suggest the Rotosound V77 monel wound flats, and noticed that the .50 - .110 sets are also known as the "Steve Harris Custom".

If you were to ask me who would be least likely to play flats, the Bassist from Iron Maiden would be near the top of that list.