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Unofficial Jaydee Club

J

JaydeePlayer

Sep 30, 2009
68
0
#1
Not sure if I'm allowed to do this but I'd like to start a club for these basses. If no objections (but at least some interest!) it can be official!

Just to start things off here's mine (so I can claim No. 1 membership!) its an '86 Roadie 1 Active, the 760th guitar made by Jaydee. It has an ebony fingerboard and a body made from solid mahogany - maybe heavy for some. Plays beautifully.

I wanted an active bass (as I thought it was this that would make me sound like Mark King!) without looking for any brand in particular, wanted one pickup near the bridge. This looked perfect! Played great but the frets were too long and sticking out. I was told it was made for a show and these would be dressed before I took it away. I bought it - £500 brand new - took 2 weeks for the fret dressing and its been my only bass for some 20 odd years, never felt the need for another (until a little Fender journey in this last year or so!).

Its had lots of use, regular gigging/rehearsal etc, some recordings over the years and is well used but well looked after. A couple of little dinks, all seriously regretted at the time, otherwise perfect. Always been strung with fine (30s) Rotosound Swingbass, never used a pick (only a 10p piece for a John Entwhistle Live at Leeds sounds a couple of time!)

Let's see your Jaydees and the stories behind them.

I'll try to keep up to date with what's happening at Jaydee too.

Greg
Jaydee Club No.1

(ps sold an Aria SB to pay for it - wish I could have kept it)
 

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#6
Here is my Jim lea bass a exact replica of Jim's famous John Birch bass that John Diggens built around '76 while he was at John Birch. Jim even put up his bass as a pattern and signed it for me !
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#7
Welcome aboard, Godofthunder (thunder fingers?). That is a unique bass, very unusual. (Its great seeing those Hiwatts and Jim looks like he's lost a bit of weight since the Slade years too!)

What made you go for a replica of Jim's guitar? You couldn't have gone for a more authentic route. Do you actually know Jim?

I'm wondering what the 5th knob is? I'm guessing volume and tone for each pickup but what's the other one?

Thanks for sharing

Greg
 
#8
Thanks for the compliments on the bass.I have always been a big Slade fan ( something of a raritiy in the states) and Jim's playing always spoke to me. No I don't know Jim but there were several people who helped me get this bass made who do. When the bass was completed I was supposed to pick it up in Birmingham and also meet Jim but my finances would not allow for that. John Diggens knows Jim quite well and approached Jim about the project. Jim was very gracious. I still can't believe he put up his bass as a pattern let alone sign it, he also wrote me a nice message on the back , covered by a large scratch plate just like his bass. The 5th control on the pick guard is a on board distortion powered by a nine volt battery. The knob is off Jim's bass ! How cool is that ? The pick ups and bridge are vintage John Birch, The bridge was supplied by a friend and JD had the pickups. A once in a life time thrill !
 
#9
That's quite a story, amazing how personal yet international. There can't be many people in the world with such an instrument, not only bespoke but with such a contribution from their hero.

I must admit, I assumed you were in the UK, I hadn't realised there were ANY Slade fans in the US! (Can't be that many left over here either!)

John Entwhistle used to have a knob on his Alembic Spider basses with which he could play with feedback, might have been a similar circuit.

I presume that's you in the spotty bandana giving the bass somne action. How does it play?

I'm off to Spotify now to dig out some Slade - any recommendations?

Greg
 
#10
Yep that's me in the bandana ;) The bass plays fantastic, a finer piece of work I have never owned or played. I really cant say how super people were from all over in helping me get this bass built, people I never met, just fellow Slade fans. I think Jim was quite chuffed that someone in the states was such a fan. As for listening so many great discs! Slade Alive and Slade Alive II, I always liked New Old borrowed Blue, Nobody's Fool, Till Deaf Do Us Part and of course Slayed. Btw the Hiwatt 200 in the picture is one from Slade's back line, my friends Stu and Nomis in the UK came through again !
 
#11
Clearly a keeper then! Great to be part of a community no matter how large the ocean! In my thought of bassists Jim wouldn't, initially, come to mind, but now I'm wiser. In the thought of Hiwatts, Slade definitely do! Did anyone have more on stage? Be great to have an ex-Slade lead to complete the picture!

Welcome to the club, keep the pics and posts coming.

Looking for more Jaydees! Where's yours?


Greg
 
#12
.... and how I wish I'd gone down the same route as you did Scott!!!
In the late 90's I'd assumed that seeing the name "John Birch" on Jim's headstock meant that it was built by John Birch, but it wasn't. So it's not exactly how it should be, ie. just like yours Scott, but it sounds the same, with the same pups & wiring.
Mine was, but after he died it was finished off by JayDee, just to keep it "in the family", so mine is a JB/JD hybrid!!

Jim's bass was originally much darker & had an extra on/off & level pot for the overdrive, but it made it over-complicated & also got in the way when playing so it was removed; but Jim was a bit "tight" money wise so he didn't want to go the whole hog of having a new scratchplate so he kept the old one with the hole in it as you can see.

JD told me that after the bass was built it came back to him from Jim a couple of times with the spec. "Yeah, it's great ...... but can't you make it louder?" hence the overdrive.
Nice one Scott, got there in the end eh!!??
I did tell you I got one of Jimmy's cabs didn't I ;)
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#13
Hello Stu !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great to hear from you. One of Jimmy's cabs? Now I am the one who is jealous ! That is just terrific ! The picture of your rig looks fantastic, is the cabinet marked Slade ? My Hiwatt DR201 always gets comments and when I tell people the story they can't believe it lol. John Diggens is wonderful to deal with and finer work I have never seen. Thanks again Stu for all your help in pointing me in the right direction, sending parts to JD for the bass and getting my Hiwatt deal together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#14
Can I have a number? I just put my payment in for this: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Don't know how long it takes but it comes when it comes. I just want a good slap bass with "modern" sound and I am sure this will do............:hyper:
 
#15
Hi Antii
Sorry for being so slow, please be endowed with Jaydee Club No.3 (if godofthunder69 is no.2).

Series 1 Mark King has got to be the classic Jaydee, the time must be passing very slowly before its arrival. Perhaps you could pester them for a status report to see how its going, they may even send a pic of it being made if you ask.

Its certainly a good slap bass, I'm wondering whether some might consider its modern sound to be old fashioned already, I'm not one of them and I love its hi-fi bell like tones and ringing sustain. Such a lovely 'pop'!
 
#16
I am waiting this bass so much. I knew nothing about these basses but I remember watching these in 80's when Mark used to play one. It was "THE" bass for me but I found out who makes them just a year ago or so. I also found out the price is more than reasonable at the moment. So, there I was writing my order in. I will send you some pic's as soon as possible but it will take some time. I think they start building it somewhere spring 2011. And I am still thinking which one I should take, 32" or 34"?
 
#19
Like I said I knew nothing about Jaydee a year ago. WHen I found out who makes them and saw the price, I was sold. I must say it is like Alembic on steroids. But the price is some 1/4 of those. Just can't wait to get mine. I am pretty sure this is the last bass I will ever buy. 3 basses must be enough for one man. I am a type of guy who can't sell his old basses. They are all keepers.
 

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