...far too good, considering this is nothing that I in any way
needed for more than a cursory notion.
Yup, it's
new bass time, specifically a Fender Standard Jazz Bass in Midnight Wine. I was doing one of my usual Guitar Center haunts a few weekends ago noticing there were a number of unusually good used deals in the store
(I suppose Akron isn't a high-traffic store, with that amount of stock on a "Flyer Sale" Sunday) such as a fairly scratched-up but eminently workable Ibanez BTB-405 for $209 when I saw her. As I relayed to the TalkBass member running the "Made In Mexico" club for my membership number,
"I've just returned from GC with a near-mint used 2002 MIM Jazz in Midnight Wine... and when I say "near-mint" I mean it - not a scratch on the pickguard, and I've found one tiny 2mm ding on the back of the body . I think this was purchased back in the day for a beginner, played for perhaps a week, and stuck under a bed or in a closet - almost NOS." For $235, even Stephanie saw the logic in this purchase, and so my Christmas Present from her has arrived a few months early:
(Yes, that's Buzz Lightyear, Disco Stu, and the "Mah Na Mah Na" monster on top of my rack. Don't judge their relationship!) I'm still amazed at the "used" quality of the-yet-unnamed Jazz. Even without a "new bass setup" (which consists of my usual D'addario ProSteels strings, StrapLoks and a Neoprene strap... and a white pearloid pickguard for just a
touch of *bling*, all of which have already be ordered from Musician's Friend, and new pickups in the near future) it sounds killer, just like a Jazz should with no audible dead spots on the neck and a great "cut" in the tone. I pride myself on my instrument and gear deals through discontinued and eBay purchases, but this very well be my greatest "score", especially considering the condition (nearly NOS). It gives me financial room for upgrading:
Gotoh 201 bridge,
new tuners a Hipshot
Bass Xtender, and perhaps a set of
DiMarzio Ultra Jazz. The great thing is that I'm still working my new goal of lessening my "inventory" for one or two "great" basses. I've always known that I'd need a set of "bar basses" for the venues that are too grungy for a 2K+ bass, and this will be one of two that'll fill that role wonderfully.
...and if I can find a maple neck to trade for/swap out for the rosewood I'll have my own personal "Red Geddy" and it'll be perfect.
On other fronts my personal demoing continues with movement, something that was lacking for
years, I'm also working on a remix project of which I've several different directions I can head in
(an "Vocal Orchestral" version, a "Stripped-Down RAWK" version... I'm very glad they accepting up to 4 different entries) and the idea for yet
another online collaboration has come to light, this one from the past. Apparently you can't keep good metal down.
Re-arrainging the Top 8 in no discernible order other than perhaps "Famous Musicians I Have Actually
Met In Real Life", and other than that life's good. Stephanie's birthday went well, I didn't screw up the card or gifts, and dinner out was lovely with her getting extremely tipsy. Anyone in my life around my early Twenties would never have guessed I'd be with (going on 7 years, sports fans) someone who's such an alcoholic lightweight.
...but then again, I've turned in that direction as well. Or at least substituted it with prescription pain meds. ;-)