------------------
Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 03 January 2005 at 11:54 AM.]

credit: This is a forum post in the humor section from 1998 by John Macy that I saved. I tried to make a link to it but it doesn't turn up in a forum search--probably not archived.

> >
> > BASS PLAYER OFFENSES
> >
> >NAME OF OFFENDER__________________________
> >
> >INFRACTION DATE___________
> >
> >
> >MUSICAL OFFENSES FINE
> >
> >[ ] Playing loudly during warm up $10
> >[ ] Sound-checking amp with funk slapping $25
> >[ ] Loud cursing after mistake $10
> >[ ] Playing high and fast after mistake $20
> >[ ] Practicing 2-handed tapping between tunes $20
> >[ ] Asking for "E" tuning note $25
> >[ ] Playing E anyway when horns tune to Bb $50
> >[ ] Playing written-out walking line $50
> >[ ] Failure to play written walking line $75
> >[ ] Writing note names over ledger-line notes $50
> >[ ] Writing beat numbers under dotted figures $50
> >[ ] Playing eighth notes $5 each
> >[ ] Playing sixteenth notes $10 each
> >[ ] Playing above 1st octave immediate dismissal
> >[ ] Dragging fast tempo $75
> >[ ] Dragging ballad tempo $100
> >[ ] Blacking out during ballad $200
> >[ ] Ignoring drummer's tempo $100
> >[ ] Following drummer's tempo $250
> >[ ] Asking to borrow Real Book for All Of Me $1000
> >
> >UPRIGHT PLAYERS
> >[ ] Showing up before first downbeat $25
> >[ ] Playing audibly $25
> >[ ] Faking changes $25
> >[ ] Slapping $150
> >[ ] Missing tutti lick, then mentioning
> > vintage of bass $25
> >[ ] Excessive sweating $25
> >[ ] Pedal point double-stops during horn solo 50
> >[ ] Asking leader for a solo $30
> >[ ] Accepting solo when offered $50
> >[ ] Taking second chorus $100
> >[ ] Playing solo arco $400
> >[ ] Pretending to check tuning after
> > playing out of tune $100
> >[ ] Playing "A Train" ending on every tune $200
> >[ ] Playing extended "A Train" ending
> > on every tune $500
> >
> >ELECTRIC PLAYERS
> >[ ] Checking hair between tunes $15
> >[ ] Experimenting with odd meters $25
> >[ ] Missing root at end of blistering fill $25
> >[ ] Playing with a pick $50
> >[ ] Tuning during ballad $30
> >[ ] Playing Jaco groove on samba $75
> >[ ] Playing Jaco samba groove on ballad $150
> >[ ] Attempting last word on final chord $50
> >[ ] Achieving last word on final chord $100
> >[ ] Long gliss down to final note $200
> >
> >EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS - ELECTRIC
> >[ ] Forgetting strap $10
> >[ ] Changing strings after every set $15
> >[ ] Using electric tuner $15
> >[ ] Setting up mic "just in case" $75
> >[ ] Forgetting to turn amp on $40
> >[ ] Bringing amp larger than 1 person can
> > carry in 1 trip $50
> >[ ] Asking horn player for help moving amp $25
> >[ ] Bringing custom-made bass $100 per string above 4
> >[ ] Bringing more than 1 bass $100 per extra bass
> >[ ] Skull decals on bass $150
> >[ ] Bringing fretless bass $500
> >
> >CRIMINAL BAD TASTE
> >[ ] Telling bone player about all the
> > gigs you get $10
> >[ ] Asking bone player about their day gig $10
> >[ ] Sitting behind drums on break $10
> >[ ] Quoting "Birdland" $25
> >[ ] Practicing scales during break $25
> >[ ] Practicing scales during drum solo $50
> >[ ] Practicing $150
> >[ ] Beginning a sentence with "When I was
> > a guitar player..." $50
> >[ ] Casually mentioning to Musical Director of cheap
> > theater that you are "into sequencing" $100
> >
> >BASIC STUPIDITY
> >[ ] Wearing old Buddy Rich tour shirt $10
> >[ ] Wearing new Whitesnake tour shirt $20
> >[ ] Asking when the rock set starts $20
> >[ ] Continually asking "where are we?" $25
> >[ ] Continually shouting "Yeah!" $25
> >[ ] Asking bone player where "1" is $50
> >[ ] Taking cellphone call during 4's $100
> >
> > TOTAL ________

I guess I get a LOT of fines from the above list.

The Fender Mustang was a short scale bass of about 30in. Quite a bit shorted than the standard 34in. but great fun to play. You will probably not find a 5 string under 34in. due to the nature of the floppy B string. A lot of todays basses are 35in. and longer to compensate for the B string problem. Personally, the 34 and 35 feel the same to me but some players will tell you otherwise.

The Standard Jazz V you are interested in is a 34in. scale. Fender Standard in made in Mexico and some players feel they have quality control issues. There is great debate in the bass forums with the Standard vs. USA Fenders. I have a Standard Jazz (4 string) that plays and feels just great. But I had to pass on a few lemons before I found it. The good ones are there, but you have to find them.(funny thing is I have found the same probems with the USA models)
One other issue may be the pickup. I believe the Mustang used the same split humbucker as the Precision. That may be the old fender sound you are looking for. While I really enjoyed the growl of the Jazz pickups, the noise from their single coil design got to be too much of a problem for me. I ended up replacing them with stacked humbuckers.

I would have to second Ben's post about his G&L. They do play like a dream and an excellent value. Only problem is the L-2500 may be out of your price range. You may want to look into the G&L Tribute L-2500. At $599, it is a great deal. My son has one and once in a while, he lets me take it for the evening. (when I can pry it from his hands)

Another one I would recommend is a Lakland (pronounce Lake-land). This is my current 5 string flavor of the month. They make several Fender copies but can alway be identified by their oval shaped bridge. Their standard models can be priced as high as $3500 but they have a Skyline Series that starts at $699. Another great bang for the buck.

Good luck in you quest (hope I wasn't too long winded)

b0b
I have a G&L Tribute L-2000 (natural clear w/rosewood fretboard). Paid C$525 for it at a music store blowout.

Growlly and articulate after you 'dial it in' with the truss rod (see "Tuning the neck" thread).

Go try a $1500 USA model that's setup to perfection, then buy the Korean one (Tribute) and have it professionally set to sound like the USA model. You may never hear the difference (except for the crackling pots; replaceable).

Bass forums suggest that the G&L has a tone pallette that covers most of the vintage Fenders. The switch is actually not a coil tap, but runs the pickups in series or parallel, from what I've read.

Good luck!

[This message was edited by Tom Gorr on 04 January 2005 at 10:06 PM.]

Blue guitars sound better.

[This message was edited by Ben Slaughter on 05 January 2005 at 10:01 AM.]

Does anyone know of a nice short scale 5 string bass?

blue L2500

sunburst L2500

And Tom, this is blue, but it doesn't look like blueburst, Legacy

A few years ago I bought a Peavey Fury 6-string bass, 34" scale. (I was debating between this and a Spector, didn't want to spend a lot). The "B" string probably doesn't have the definitive "growl" that is typical of a 35" scale, but it works for me, just doing home recording. IMHO, this guitar does not have anything close to the "Fender Tone", it has a darker sound, didn't bother me though. Active tone circuit has its own character. The guitar is quite solid though, stays in tune for months.

These are foreign made, the playability is not up to US made guitars, but at least Peavey doesn't have the poor quality electronics issues that foreign Fenders have, as previously stated.

As another relatively new member benefiting from this great forum, I just wanted to try to help by adding my comments here.