• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Jaydee Basses

#43
I've just been lent a JayDee Supernatural classic I by a friend as he needs the worn nut replacing. Never come across these basses before but Ive been a closet L42 fan since seeing them at University years ago. I always assumed he played Alembics and this was some Alembic copy. Its a really nice instrument, lovely workmanship, very slim neck but needs some general TLC. Anyone know where I could get some serial number history ? It is 77280.
 
#44
If you email John at Jaydee basses he should be able to get you some info regarding the serial number.

Like the Pangborn basses, Jaydee were very much something of a British Alembic for Mark. He would have undoubtedly wanted an Alembic (he's a big fan of Stanley Clarke) but Jaydee and Pangborn were good approximations. However, they are very much their own beasts and are both very cool instruments in their own right.

Although in the end, Mark did start using Alembic basses, when Level 42 recorded "Staring at the sun" and he kept them from their. He sold one to the Bass Center in 1996 when he sold off a lot of his collection, although he still has two left.
 
#46
I got an email directly back from John, it's an '87, well done Jaymi!:
DSCF0148a.jpg
 
#48
12stringbassist said:
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.
Click to expand...

Ian's link no longer exists but here is my custom Jaydee replica of Jim Lea's John Birch that JD built while working at Birch in the 70's Jim Lea kindly allowed his bass to be used as a pattern. without a doubt the finest bass I own
100_2074.jpg
000_0065.jpg
 
#50
Why that is Jim Lea of Slade ! One of the best bassists to come out of the 70's. Don't discount him because of Slade's stateside reputation. The controls are much like a Gibson EB3 but the rotary chicken head kicks in a built in over drive and the volume for that is on the pickguard. This bass kicks ass ! So does Jimmy !
 
#52
For all you Jaydee experts, a question. Were they the first bass company to offer wooden pickup covers? I know that they're fairly common on boutique basses now (albeit single pieces rather than JD laminae style) but he was doing it 30 years ago, right? Or did someone else do it before him?
 
#53
John they pop up in the UK on a regular basis but I don't think I would be off bass calling them rare. John Birch put a lot of instruments into the hands of '70s-'80s UK artists. Just to clarify the John Birch John Diggens/Jaydee conection. John Diggens worked at John Birch in the 70's before striking out on his own.artists
Barkless Dog said:
I found this site

http://www.johnbirchsg.com/

I was unaware parts are floating about?
I did not think many were made.
Click to expand...
 
#54
I always hoped that Jaydee would never be out of style , but I do not see many on this side of the pond and would love to have another....so......if anyone comes up with one, I might have a REALLY nice Rickenbacker to share..
 
#57
Here's mine :)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The one made by my dad for my first birthday(who is now back in the workshop with them).
, most kids get a teddy bear when they're born, I get a custom guitar.
It's so small it wont fit in the stand but all the electronics work.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

And Jaymi, can't post theBay links but search for them on the British one and there's a couple of Mark Kings on there and they'll probably ship them if you can sort it out, there's only one on the US site and he's asking A LOT for it.
 
#59
JDGA fan 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.
Click to expand...


Hello JDGA fan.. Some years ago I had a Jaydee Thunderbird in white, I had it from Dawnbreaker bassist the late Alan Keeley in Birmingham (UK) and he told me he'd had it custom built. I swapped a 70's blonde precision for it.

Many many years later I sold or part exed the TB at City Music in Birmingham (UK). More recently I went to contact Alan Keeley to see if he still had the blonde precision as I'd have liked it back. I then found he'd passed away.

My understanding was the Jaydee Thunderbird was a rare beast. Could this be the same one ? Are you in the USA? NC as in North Carolina ?

[email protected]
 
#60
Blimey, thread resurrection. Yes, a Jaydee Thunderbird is a rare beast, but not a unique one - I have seen, either in person or pictures, around half a dozen or so over the years. Mine has a "hippie sandwich" look with walnut facings, so not the same one. There is a picture of it somewhere on here. Ah, found it, see below.
 

Attachments

  • 102_0209_r1.jpg
    102_0209_r1.jpg
    41.4 KB · Views: 75
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back