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Rod Trussbroken

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Ok thanks for all your interest its my Bass -and yes I can assure you guys its that nice-the fret wire I have another 77 stingray and a 79 sabre both have noticeably wider fretwire-than the bass for sale -Im no expert-if someone can help me out did they have an option in 77 or did they -since like all things ( it was a production line instrument ) use what they had -did they switch fret suppliers ? I dont know the answer-none the less ebay format wouldnt let me add more pic's so if anyone wants email me and ill send you a close up of my other 77's frets and one of the bass for sales frets youll see what im talking about -and yes the nickle tuners are a little tarnished and yes you could pull them off and use a dremel and some jewelers rouge and polish them -i chose to leave em alone-be happy to answer any questions you guys may have

I'd be interested in seeing the pics showing the different size fret wire. I thought they all had the very thin low profile frets. I can host the pics here.

[email protected]
 

Elad_E

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May 13, 2008
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Minty, or stupid nice, basses are out there. I got lucky with my '81, it's not showroom perfect, but pretty dang close.

DSC03684.jpg

DSC03687.jpg

that thing is beautiful!

it's exactley the same burst as in the original late 70's MM ads only I thought these looked like that because the print has aged.
I dig this elegant lower contrast burst a lot.
 

ampegjoel

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Sep 21, 2008
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Elad_E Thats a super nice bass !!-and yes the burst is the same as the late 70's im sure that this has been covered before but im curious what is the difference if any in sound between a late 79-82 MM with the strings thru the bridge as compared to an early MM string thru body
 

Freddels

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Apr 23, 2006
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I know Brian (HeavyChevy) and met his friend that owns the bass. I haven't actually seen this one in particular but I have played his Sabre and other vintage SR. I wish I had the money for it b/c it's quite nice. :)
 

Aussie Mark

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none the less ebay format wouldnt let me add more pic's


All you have to do is upload your pics to a free hosting site like Photobucket, then edit your eBay listing to "add to description", pasting the relevant photo links that are shown on the Photobucket site next to your photos. The photos will then appear at the bottom of your eBay description. Easy as pie.
 

Rod Trussbroken

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Fretwires%2E%20Two%201977%20Basses%20Compared%2EJPG


These are the pics Joel sent me. I had to scale one down a tad and then put them together for propper comparison. The one at top is the only size I've been aware of and is the same as my 1978/79 Bass. The one at bottom has noticably smaller fretwire!!!

Anybody?
 

Elad_E

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Elad_E Thats a super nice bass !!-and yes the burst is the same as the late 70's im sure that this has been covered before but im curious what is the difference if any in sound between a late 79-82 MM with the strings thru the bridge as compared to an early MM string thru body

I own an early 1980 bass with the strings thru body bridge and I'm curious too about the difference in tone.

also keep in mind that from '81 onwards the capacitors used in the preamp circuit were changed so this may cause another difference in tone.
 

Rod Trussbroken

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I've been sorting stacks of neck pics and it seems the thinner fret wire was the wire initially used before they went to the heavier guage. I'd never noticed. It would seem the heavier began being used around mid 1977 although there is an overlap. All the 1978 necks I looked at have the heavier wire.
 

ampegjoel

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Sep 21, 2008
Messages
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Thank you for your reasech Gov--the bass with the thin fretwire is the one for sale # 3716 the other with the heavier gage wire is # 5118 if that helps-as far as the tone the thinner fret wire bass has a deeper tone , however they have different strings on them the proper A-B test would be both with new identical strings -thru same amp same settings
 

Caca de Kick

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South Seattle
ampegjoel said:
Elad_E Thats a super nice bass !!-and yes the burst is the same as the late 70's im sure that this has been covered before but im curious what is the difference if any in sound between a late 79-82 MM with the strings thru the bridge as compared to an early MM string thru body

Elad_E said:
I own an early 1980 bass with the strings thru body bridge and I'm curious too about the difference in tone.

also keep in mind that from '81 onwards the capacitors used in the preamp circuit were changed so this may cause another difference in tone.

I have one of each (string thru bridge, and string thru body). But my white'78 has an ash body and my sunburst '81 has an alder body. So it's hard for me to tell you there is a difference, but because if the different body woods there is a difference.
 

ampegjoel

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Sep 21, 2008
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Well after a lot of thought -ive decided i cant sell #3716 played it for the "last time" that was it ! like all of us i sure could use the money but -I just cant do it-I hope i didnt tick any one here off-
anyway I look forward to staying around here -well yea ill admitt it im an early stingray/sabre junkie -lol
 

Caca de Kick

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That's kinda good to hear. I couldn't bring myself to off my mint '81 either.
Earlier this year I almost did...I called a collector I know and offered it to him because he was hot for one. He called me back and said I needed to keep it because it was too nice to let go.
 

ampegjoel

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Sep 21, 2008
Messages
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thanks for the affermation- i did sell a nice 79 fender jazz to a friend-a while back-truth be told i liked the bass but -it wasnt -or should i say didnt suit me well- great bass nice shape -well hate to say it it wasnt a MM- -so -ok my sabre and 3719 and 5118 arent going anywhere- i did sell a blue burst '89 fretless a while back -
 
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