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James Jamerson Model Precision
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
They exhumed
They did exhume his body, and every one of these basses is signed with a pen held between two of Jame’s actual finger bones.
I do hope his heirs make some good bucks from this. Considering his contributions, i think that if the world were just, none of his heirs would ever have to hit a lick at a stick.
Also, he did not play a medium gauge flatwound string, he played the heaviest LaBellas available then and now.Roberto's opening statement is fabricated - Fender did not take James's bass to get all of the exact dimensions, measurements and the weight to create this bass. Any of us knuckleheads who have followed the Jamerson story know this is patently false. I'd also expect him to know more about the strings. The facts aren't a mystery, it's just puzzling that made up info is being shared.
James owned several Fender P-basses between the late 50's all the way up to the end of his life. His basses were off the shelf, nothing special - as we all know, it was his playing that made them special.
The bass in the most famous photo that we all know is a '61 or '62. However, his final bass (which was stolen before his death) was a mid-60's model, likely a '65 or '66.
They did exhume his body, and every one of these basses is signed with a pen held between two of Jame’s actual finger bones.
I do hope his heirs make some good bucks from this. Considering his contributions, i think that if the world were just, none of his heirs would ever have to hit a lick at a stick.
Yep - the same strings used on the James Jamerson Tribute Bass built by the Fender Custom Shop beginning in 1990.
Although a romantic notion to string the basses with the same gauge that JJ used, the 760M's are a tough string to play. In hindsight, having the bass strung with a set of La Bella 760FS strings would have been a more practical choice.
Oh well done Fender!
Even managed to get that detail wrong.
Everyone knows Jamerson only used one finger bone.
I put the 760Ms on my 1995 AmStd and they kept yanking the grafite reinforced neck out of shape.Yep - the same strings used on the James Jamerson Tribute Bass built by the Fender Custom Shop beginning in 1990.
Although a romantic notion to string the basses with the same gauge that JJ used, the 760M's are a tough string to play. In hindsight, having the bass strung with a set of La Bella 760FS strings would have been a more practical choice.
View attachment 7527779
*graphite*I put the 760Ms on my 1995 AmStd and they kept yanking the grafite reinforced neck out of shape.
I go all the way down to 760FX on my P. They work because it has a narrow nut width and it all feels in proportion.Yep - the same strings used on the James Jamerson Tribute Bass built by the Fender Custom Shop beginning in 1990.
Although a romantic notion to string the basses with the same gauge that JJ used, the 760M's are a tough string to play. In hindsight, having the bass strung with a set of La Bella 760FS strings would have been a more practical choice.
View attachment 7527779
I have an 95 Am Standard too, with not only the graphite stiffeners but also a thick slab ebony fretboard i put on it, and I still have trouble leeping the relief manageable. I’m going to try once more.I put the 760Ms on my 1995 AmStd and they kept yanking the grafite reinforced neck out of shape.
But if the neck of whatever bass you play can handle those, the action can be set very low, and they’re not difficult to play. I assume that if Fender built that signature bass with those strings in mind, they built it with an extra sturdy neck.
The sound of a broken in set of those on a p bass is like no other, in my opinion. The 45-105 set gets close after break- in, but not quite.
I use the Jamerson strings in my Hamer cruise. Super slim neck, 37,5mm nut. No problems at all.
They previously were on my 1975 P, also with no problems.
They previously were on my 1975 P, also with no problems.
Those Cruise bass necks were very stable. I think mine was v. 2. …never put ‘54’s on it thoYou're a brave man!
Cruise Bass v1 or v2?
. Ya think they mighta ripped that 2-Tek out of there? …nah!
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You're a brave man!
Cruise Bass v1 or v2?
Those Cruise bass necks were very stable. I think mine was v. 2. …never put ‘54’s on it tho
1st generation Made in Korea, haha!
I had a 69 Jazz for many years, its was 8.0 lbs soaking wet wearing both chrome covers.
My 64 J is like 9.1
Agreed! Hamer's were very well built, and very underrated.Those Cruise bass necks were very stable. I think mine was v. 2. …never put ‘54’s on it tho
The 4-string with the 2-Tek bridge was also the first bass to ever receive a perfect score in Bass Player Magazine, something I was very proud to be a part of.
Cool! You're still a brave man for muscling those beefy strings!
BTW, your Slammer is the Korean version of the Cruise Bass v2 (v2 is just another way of stating int's the 2nd generation of Hamer Cruise Bass - they were launched in 1995.)
Here's an original Cruise Bass from the early 80's:
I mean, if you watch THIS video with a couple Japanese guys playing this 62' you will understand it's not ALL James's hook finger that's so magical afterall and it IS about the bass. The strings, mojo, pickups, etc of the old ones just has it. Not sure one of the newer JJ's can actually sound like this or not but the average guys playing sure seem to the "sound" out of it which could easily be EQ'd a bit for the Motown sound.
