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Jaydee Basses
- Thread starter Walbassman
- Start date
I owned two JayDees, a Supernatural Mark King model and a Roadie fretless with one PU. The Roadie was ok, but the Supernatural...I had to save up my money for a long time for my bass heros instrument, and then this disapointment. The playability would probably been superb if it wasn't for that completely warped neck.
Another thing the JayDee definitely doesn't have: versatility. Very gnarly mids when played fingerstyle, extremely percussive with zero low-end when slapped. Actually, the perfect Anti-Alembic, despite its looks. Personally, I soon changed to Stingrays because I wanted to be heard in the band as a bassist, not as a percussionist.
I know the JayDees still enjoy some popularity with the UK colleagues, but they also drink warm beer
If you want to know more about these instruments, just go to Invalid Link Removed and ask Nick. He knows almost everything about JayDees.
BTW: It looks like they have a neck-thru construction but actually it's a glued in set-neck. John Diggins in his own words hates neck-thru's...
Another thing the JayDee definitely doesn't have: versatility. Very gnarly mids when played fingerstyle, extremely percussive with zero low-end when slapped. Actually, the perfect Anti-Alembic, despite its looks. Personally, I soon changed to Stingrays because I wanted to be heard in the band as a bassist, not as a percussionist.
I know the JayDees still enjoy some popularity with the UK colleagues, but they also drink warm beer
If you want to know more about these instruments, just go to Invalid Link Removed and ask Nick. He knows almost everything about JayDees.
BTW: It looks like they have a neck-thru construction but actually it's a glued in set-neck. John Diggins in his own words hates neck-thru's...
Walbassman said:
I have owned more than 10 Jaydee basses over the last 15 or so years, including various GA24, MK, Session and Roadie basses, two jazz copies, and a thunderbird copy, and only one bass has had serious neck problems, where I was continually having to tweak the truss rod (and yes it was bloody annoying, so much so that I sold it). The others generally require or required tweaks twice a year with the change of the seasons, some more frequently, in part because I like a thin neck, use light gauge strings (generally 30-90 and no heavier than 40-100) and a very low action. I don't slap, certainly don't have any desire to emulate Mark King and like to think I don't have a problem with my bottom end, though as I like a middle honk kind of sound it may be that the sound of a JD just well suits me. I would say that I am comfortable doing my own adjustments on the bass and I think a little extra mobility is the price you may pay if you want a really thin neck like I do. My own experience has been that the necks with the maple-walnut laminates are a bit less mobile than ones with the mahogany-walnut-maple laminates and my newer basses are better than some of my older basses (they also have better pick-ups). Clearly, they are not for everyone. Anyway, good luck Walbassman if you decide to go ahead with your purchase.
Possibly the coolest - a one off custom Jaydee, built to a specific customer order...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for the full story.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for the full story.
knarleybass
Commercial User
You know, I think I own that Jaydee bass... It was originally purchased at the Bass Center in Los Angeles by my neighbor Rob Thomas (not the singer). He sold it after a few months, and many years later it was sold to me when I was working at a guitar repair shop in Fountain Valley, CA. I recently sent it to Jaydee for restoration, IE, have the neck refinished, preamp repaired, and other various little problems fixed.wyleeboxer said:My main bass growing up for the most part was a white supernatural JayDee. The laminated neck I believe went all the way through the body to the end. Yeah, thin rubbery necks on them, I took the finish off the back of the neck to make it play even faster. I was into slappin and fast funky licks at the time, Ive listend back recently to a 4 song recording we did back in 1990 and the tone of the bass was pretty up front and solid, my playing could have been betterBut I wish I had that bass back just for recording. It was always a bit neck heavy, as mine was the 24 fret version and with no real extended horn the neck seemed way out there.
I am still on the hunt...JDGA24, if you come across the Pearl Pink bass, I am totally interested....
ALl of the Firm pictures that I have seen show him with the Jaydee. I am waiting on the bass to be delivered. I am taking a chance on it. It looks for all intents and purposes like an active Roadie but the back of the headstock says 'Supernatural'...It looks like a tobacco burst and the headstock has been repaired as it was broken more or less in half. I did not ask for the serial number but I know where this bass came from and I go the skinny on it from the owner pre-headstock break. it had just been refretted and set up to kick and then it was purchased by someone and dropped by accident after purchase. I have pix of it that I may post.....JDGA, I would love to chat in Pm about this...
Walbassman said:
True, but I am pretty sure that I read somewhere that the first album was recorded with the Precision. He did do that instructional video with the JD.
Walbassman said:
The Roadie model is part of the Supernatural range of basses (as is the Mark King, GA24, Calibas, etc.), not distinct from it. The Roadie can be ordered with one or two P/Us, active or passive and was designed to be the more affordable end of the range, but as all of John's basses are of glued (set) neck construction (exception of bolt-on Celeste) and (with a couple of exceptions) use the same active circuitry an active Roadie actually sounds pretty close to the more expensive Mark King version. Tobaccoburst is a pretty common color choice for Roadie models and an uncommon choice for MK, so that's probably what you have bought.
Walbassman said:
Sure, send me a PM and I will do my best bass anorak impression (save boring the rest of the TBers). Include your e-mail address and I will send you a jpeg of my pink MK with SIMS Leds. Can't post it here, too big.
Well, the bass finally made it and I was blwon away by the playability of the bass. The neck had not been tweaked for a while and definitely not taken care of. I did not go with it. I loved the feel of the bass and the profile of the neck. THe preamp was toasted in this one also so I could not get an accurate jive of the tones but it sounded great passive. I definitely want one-even this one-if I could get it for a good price. This one I would have to get for next to nothing to make it worthwhile...JDGA, your bass is killer!!! That could be fun...send me another email with what you're thinking....
Chris2112 said:
Wow, I've changed a lot since I made this (namely, I discovered a love for Mark King!). I retract this statement, having played one more since and loving it.
however, the European Alembic is certainly Pangborn Basses. King used these back in the day, and Ashley certainly makes a fine looking bass!
Chris, I had not really played one before this one and I did not have any real commentaries other than I was interested....After yesterday, I am going back to get the bass anyway because I really liked the neck. There aren't that many of these on this side of the pond so I figure it will be fun to play regardless. Now to talk to John Diggins about a preamp....It is hard NOT to like Mark King's stuff as he is so good at what he does. I was watching the Wembley arena show from 1986 and the Reading UK from 2001....anyone who can play that well, sing AND chew gum at the same time is worth checking out in my humble opinion....Good to see that you have had a change of heart on the bass.....
I used to live by (one of? the only?) Jaydee's US distributor for a while. So, natch, I've played a few myself! 
4,5,6,8. Especially 8. This guy has a thing for 8-string basses...
4,5,6,8. Especially 8. This guy has a thing for 8-string basses...SO I got the bass and am still figuring out the preamp. It is working as it is supposed to The neck is soooooo smoooooth....I put a set of 45-90 Slinkies on it and man, speed for days!!!!I think I will have to have a couple more of these!!!!!
Walbassman said:
I know exactly what you mean - I happen to like the 70's hippie sandwich look, but even if you don't the necks on John's basses are (usually) a joy to play. The lowest, buzz free action I have ever been able to dial in, so much so that I struggle with other instruments now.
Walbassman said:
E-mail sent. Make me an offer and it could be yours!!!
Chris2112 said:
The Pangborn Warlord basses are certainly nice though they do draw somewhat heavily (cough) from Alembic (as well as Jaydee). They are superficially more Alembic-like in that most (all) are true through necks, while Jaydees are set necks and Ashley was and presumably still is a great woodworker. Rumor has it that he works for Gibson in Germany now. However, the electrics on the Pangborn's were a bit ordinary and they lacked any real character, certainly no comparison with Alembic's series electronics. Love them or hate them (see previous posts), Jaydees do have their own sound and I don't think I could say that about the Pangborns I tried (admittedly only a couple of examples).
