Meazzi Hollywood (referenced) project

[JIO]

Keep it coming folks and thanks for your input! I am 100% supportive of thread wandering (negatively referred to as "derails") ... prefacing a visit back to the budget P I recently built-up. I did a couple coats of wipe-on poly, a solid coat of clear shellac, and 2 solid but thin coats of satin nitro. (Stew Mac rattle-can) Done! Checks all my boxes.

Subtle but distinct maple/maple adds some 'faux binding' effect in the right light. This in many ways is where I live as visual artist/finisher. (err on subtlety) Also, satin nitro is a bit 'gloss' when fresh - but settles back to a nice 'satin' look/feel over time. It also ambers over time under UV rays (our sun). Big fan of natural evolution. So much of initial effected "vintage tint" was/is over the top. Here, I'm taking advantage of that on the fb for colour/hue only.

This bass sounds really good - it's why I spent more time making it look good. I'm going to take it to a jam-session tonight to put it through its paces and I wouldn't consider doing this unless I was pretty confident it would allow me to express myself through the session. Will do a player/played review of it here tomorrow.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Keep it coming folks and thanks for your input! I am 100% supportive of thread wandering (negatively referred to as "derails") ... prefacing a visit back to the budget P I recently built-up. I did a couple coats of wipe-on poly, a solid coat of clear shellac, and 2 solid but thin coats of satin nitro. (Stew Mac rattle-can) Done! Checks all my boxes.

View attachment 4376866 View attachment 4376867
Subtle but distinct maple/maple adds some 'faux binding' effect in the right light. This in many ways is where I live as visual artist/finisher. Also, satin nitro is a bit 'gloss' when fresh - but settles back to a nice 'satin' look/feel over time. It also ambers over time under UV rays (our sun). Big fan of natural evolution. So much of initial effected "vintage tint" was/is over the top. Here, I'm taking advantage of that on the fb for colour/hue only.
View attachment 4376870
This bass sounds really good - it's why I spent more time making it look good. I'm going to take it to a jam-session tonight to put it through its paces and I wouldn't consider doing this unless I was pretty confident it would allow me to express myself through the session. Will do a review of it here tomorrow.
View attachment 4376872

Cool. Those are old Ibanez tuners right?

 

[JIO]

Cool. Those are old Ibanez tuners right?

Yes - among my faves - I snag them up whenever they turn up for sale. (for a reasonable cost)

...even had Hipshot do their drop-D on them.

 

[JIO]

 

[JIO]

...after 2am... took the red/maple P to the jam-session earlier. Bass sucked, a real downer. Couldn't dial a decent tone. Set-up was ridiculous/action was sky-high! Wouldn't stay in tune. Really awkward to play - Why did I waste my time on this POC???


NOT


I was reaffirmed earlier that one can assemble a very inexpensive parts-bass (with a little TLC and some experience) and have/create an instrument that makes you smile as you are playing it. I have not one bad word about this bass. It is (only) the 4th P-bass I've ever owned. (seems like a lot but I have many basses and most are in non-P bass configurations…) but, I know what a good P-bass sounds like and this bass sounded great. It was light on my shoulders, it was effortless to play and it sounded good in every setting. I could get ‘growl if I wanted it, or round pillowy bass, or a warm prog (treble) tone (I would have had had to crank the treble at the amp for that vibe)

Ok, so it might have something to do with playing with three other very creative, intuitive, ears-wide-open (improv) players… but… back to the bass…

Just.., score. This bass snuck up on me. I played it through my tc electronics BG250 112 combo amp set at noon across the board. I sat on the amp which aided greatly when manipulating output. (feedback etc) I realized the light basswood body was very resonant - as in.., it vibrated readily/invited feedback. Most likely that is why CBS Fender made those boat-anchor-heavy ’70’s ash bodied basses/guitars - to deliberately eliminate feedback, a common “negative” for professional studio recording/live show players. From my seated position, if I moved counter-clockwise I could squelch the feedback tapering it to an acceptable decay. It reminded me that an electric bass-player plays the (electric) bass and an (electronic) amp. At least in a live situation. Maybe not every bass player… but I can’t imagine that any of the best didn’t have an intimate relationship with their amps.

Gotta crash - two thumbs way up on this bass. I’ll have pleasant dreams this morning...

 

[JIO]

I came to some conclusions/reflections based on the Fiesta red PSO (P-shaped object) after playing it for about 3hrs in an 'in-deep' jam-session. I want to remind everyone that the pu's are (?) generic, the generic bridge operates successfully in every way, the basswood body and generic maple/maple neck with operational tr work as they should, and a few upgrades I added helped for sure. I bring this up in relation to basses that may sound/play as good that cost much more (I won't criticize specific brands/models) regardless of vintage. At the same time I totally understand why certain vintage P-basses are valuable, and why new/newer elite versions of a P-bass are also valuable. (across the brand spectrum) But.., here's a very inexpensive (more or less free to me) bass that I could play at any live performance and it will deliver a sound/tone I can 100% count on. (and like) My only caveat (and not a negative) is it favors what a P-bass does best.., which says a lot. J's do something else, Dano's do something else, hum-buckers do something else, active pre-amps do something else - but if I record this bass and anyone hearing that recording has ears for a P-bass, will know it is a P-bass - that sound/tone. Food for thought, especially considering the endless hair-splitting of one bass part vs another.

File under - perspective.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Totally get it. I have a few "mutts" I just won't part with because they are good examples (re: rendition?) of what they represent. My single coil P is a LPB Squire body, a MIM Cabronita neck, reverse tuners and bridge left from a body part out, a Duncan p/u. It does what it should, sounds as it should, and plays great.

And Bunkhouse Bob, my Telebass is leftover parts and the neck off the CV50s above and it also plays wonderfully and sounds like a good cowboy bass should. I've got next to nothing in that one. I've had several "official" ones and this still hits the mark without a giant investment.

There's a weird satisfaction in coming up with a pro level tool from found objects. I'm sure your P punches well above it's weight.

 

[JIO]

Totally get it. I have a few "mutts" I just won't part with because they are good examples (re: rendition?) of what they represent. My single coil P is a LPB Squire body, a MIM Cabronita neck, reverse tuners and bridge left from a body part out, a Duncan p/u. It does what it should, sounds as it should, and plays great.View attachment 4378133
And Bunkhouse Bob, my Telebass is leftover parts and the neck off the CV50s above and it also plays wonderfully and sounds like a good cowboy bass should. I've got next to nothing in that one. I've had several "official" ones and this still hits the mark without a giant investment.View attachment 4378138
There's a weird satisfaction in coming up with a pro level tool from found objects. I'm sure your P punches well above it's weight.

And not all 'easy', minimal investment, 'mutts'/renditions achieve that higher level - I've spent much more time, energy and money on a bass that ends up being/sounding... just ok. (probably better than just ok, but to my critical 'makers' ears...) If one plays long enough/the involvement to the subject is deep - the sound you want/expect will surface in a bass, or not. Then there's the further extrapolation of different strings, pu's, bridges, nuts, etc., and that can work either lead to that that sound, or not.

So it's rewarding (and as you say - satisfying... but not weird!) when a bass (any bass for that matter) surprises you with a tone/sound/feel and look you really like! (and sometimes can't live without!) Can you say "the origin of GAS?"?

 

[JIO]

So, while waiting for the mahogany slab to arrive, more on the R&B P. (red & black P-bass) Took it to our weekly The Sean Conneries rehearsal today and it was kind of ear-opening. With my band, I never use a P-bass. I realized that a P-bass has such a particular sound/tone that rests in the mix in such a specific way - that it sorta didn't really fit in our music. (to my ears *) I have one of my basses there and could have switched but wanted to understand more about how a bass can sound right or not to ones ear in an ensemble. I'm no novice as far as playing/hearing a P-bass, but in this context I heard it with new ears. In general - it sounded darker than what I'm accustomed to. My '66 P sounds dark for sure, but I have never used/played it with the band. I know a P-bass sounds great in an improv jam as I have used my '66 many times in that context. I found it very educational in a number of ways, but will henceforth refrain from playing a P-bass with TSC's.

first TSC's bass of choice - the Teiscobird - (and still used for rehearsing, live & recording) - mid '60 mahogany Teisco Del Rey ss body married to a 34"scale Epi-Goth neck and Guild RI Darkstar pu.

(lower coral coloured bass) TSC's mainstay bass along with the Teiscobird - '68 Coral (Dano) Deluxe Bass. The bass sound of TSC's and its cousin (upper bass) - '68 Silvertone (Dano) 1443 Hornet.

...and my '68 Custom Kraft "Bone-Buzzer" 34" scale (true) hollow-body.

I did play a P/J of mine (my only P/J) at a show once with Bond Girl (pre TSC's) and it sounded great. If both volumes weren't dimed, I think I favored the J pu.


* my bandmates as much as I love them are oblivious to my tonal concerns (and that's ... ok)

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

"* my bandmates as much as I love them are oblivious to my tonal concerns (and that's ... ok)"

The struggle is real. The most and almost always answer I get when asking in earnest for an objective opinion is "All your basses sound good." I mean that's great and all but not the answer I was looking for lol.

 

[JIO]

"* my bandmates as much as I love them are oblivious to my tonal concerns (and that's ... ok)"

The struggle is real. The most and almost always answer I get when asking in earnest for an objective opinion is "All your basses sound good." I mean that's great and all but not the answer I was looking for lol.

My drummer has said the same thing - and I take that as a solid compliment. I test the waters now and then asking/talking about my tone - it's just not something that is important to them in our band context and that's ok. One way to look at it is that it sounds good/correct to their ears and that's all the info they need to do what we do as a band. We all get pretty deep into our individual chosen focus/interest/involvement involving bass tone/sound and really have no right to expect anyone else going in there with us. Especially when there is so many other more important collaboration issues to deal with in a band.
No, I may make light of it - but I totally get that our obsession with bass tone isn't a "thing" outside of 'us'.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Yeah, I take it as I'm being competent on my end and it let's them focus on their respective sounds. We get each other.

 

[JIO]

Yeah, I take it as I'm being competent on my end and it let's them focus on their respective sounds. We get each other.

That's pretty damn special - one of the rewards of getting older ... we don't tolerate bs as readily as we used to.

 

[JIO]

Ok... let's talk about having ones antenna up and receiving signals otherwise missed... I've gone from not owning any Jolana basses to now owning two.

Non-original finish will be addressed (already have the perfect colour)

Original (looks to be leather) gig-bag included.

@Retro was nice enough to send this cool ad with electronic schematic (a real sales feature!) for the Disco bass! As you can see - the same gig bag!

 

[reverendrally]

"* my bandmates as much as I love them are oblivious to my tonal concerns (and that's ... ok)"

The struggle is real. The most and almost always answer I get when asking in earnest for an objective opinion is "All your basses sound good." I mean that's great and all but not the answer I was looking for lol.

I used to really stress about this. The idea of having a bass that was really clearly a "sound". What I realized listening to a lot of different recording was this. People who don't play bass will say, "Wow! That sound just a.... bass guitar..." Coz that's what most people think.

I reckon recognition of a different sound mostly comes from what the player is doing with it. I guess Geddy Lee is a great example of that. You ask, "what bass is that?!" precisely because his bass line is so awesome! So I stress less about the bass now and more about what I'm playing. Not to say put up with whatever you have, but rather, as long as you're happy with the sound, just do your thing.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Ok... let's talk about having ones antenna up and receiving signals otherwise missed... I've gone from not owning any Jolana basses to now owning two.

View attachment 4379643
Non-original finish will be addressed (already have the perfect colour)
View attachment 4379644
Original (looks to be leather) gig-bag included.
View attachment 4379645
@Retro was nice enough to send this cool ad with electronic schematic (a real sales feature!) for the Disco bass! As you can see - the same gig bag!
View attachment 4379647



[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

Really cool! It reminds me of a Gibson Artist I had once but in a Yugo version. Good thing they sent the schematic so you can tell if your kobylka is in series or parallel with your krk.

 

[Dynacord]

Ok... let's talk about having ones antenna up and receiving signals otherwise missed... I've gone from not owning any Jolana basses to now owning two.

View attachment 4379643
Non-original finish will be addressed (already have the perfect colour)
View attachment 4379644
Original (looks to be leather) gig-bag included.
View attachment 4379645
@Retro was nice enough to send this cool ad with electronic schematic (a real sales feature!) for the Disco bass! As you can see - the same gig bag!
View attachment 4379647



[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

Very cool! Building a collection
I'd be quite surprised if the bag is actually leather - 'pleather' type materials were big in Eastern/Central Europe in that era - and plastic coated canvas type material - even with military gear which would have been way higher in the supply pecking order than music gear.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Ok... let's talk about having ones antenna up and receiving signals otherwise missed... I've gone from not owning any Jolana basses to now owning two.

View attachment 4379643
Non-original finish will be addressed (already have the perfect colour)
View attachment 4379644
Original (looks to be leather) gig-bag included.
View attachment 4379645
@Retro was nice enough to send this cool ad with electronic schematic (a real sales feature!) for the Disco bass! As you can see - the same gig bag!
View attachment 4379647



[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

Cool RD Clone! Series wired like a Dano.

 

[JIO]

I used to really stress about this. The idea of having a bass that was really clearly a "sound". What I realized listening to a lot of different recording was this. People who don't play bass will say, "Wow! That sound just a.... bass guitar..." Coz that's what most people think.

I reckon recognition of a different sound mostly comes from what the player is doing with it. I guess Geddy Lee is a great example of that. You ask, "what bass is that?!" precisely because his bass line is so awesome! So I stress less about the bass now and more about what I'm playing. Not to say put up with whatever you have, but rather, as long as you're happy with the sound, just do your thing.

Words of wisdom.

 

[JIO]

Very cool! Building a collection
I'd be quite surprised if the bag is actually leather - 'pleather' type materials were big in Eastern/Central Europe in that era - and plastic coated canvas type material - even with military gear which would have been way higher in the supply pecking order than music gear.

Yah, most likely not leather, but close-up pics were deceiving. Anymore, the industry has gotten 'pleather' down, at least in looking like real leather. As long as it's relatively soft and not brittle as some of the original stuff aged. Being rain-resistant isn't a bad thing.

Here's the colour I will finish the body in - looks good w/a black pg and although not a Jolana shade, it looks suitably '80s.

A surprise serendipitous occurrence of the two Jolana's is that the (non-original) tuners on the '80s Discobass are the very same that originally came on a '70s vintage "Rubin" hollow-body. There wasn't close-up pics of them on the art-bass, but there's a chance the ones on it will fit on the Discobass, even if not original. (they are not closed-back, probably 'upgraded' generic Y tuners)

The Discobass headed my way - non-original tuners turned out to be the same as on a '70s Jolana "Rubin" hollow-body

Original closed-back tuners on an '80s Discobass -

...and look-lookie - original tuners (look familiar?) on a Jolana "Rubin" (same as the art-bass)