Leaderboard

Absolutely fascinating.

And............STOP This is OK as the final coat of the top Any more and I will wreck it and have to start the process all over again (and ask me how I know that! ) So this will now sit somewhere safe for a week, to harden off enough for me to start installing the pickups and electrics. And then we just have to wait for lockdown to lift enough to be able to meet @Jus Lukin halfway to pass it across So, in the best broadcasting tradition, "This time next week, pop back to see the progress with another thrilling instalment of 'It's a bass, Jim'. And coming up over on our other channel, follow Andyjr1515's trials and tribulations in 'A Very Special Save..' where Andy is preparing to get his rags dirty!"

I've been after an unlined fretless since selling my Ibanez Portamento a couple of years ago. Every once in a while I'll look on here and a few shops to see whats around, but nothing really grabbed me, until last week. I just happened to look on The Bass Gallery and saw The One!! A Fender body with a Status neck, EMGs and a Hipshot KickAss bridge. It needs a couple of tweaks and such but it's bloody lovely! I may refinish the body black to have an evil looking stealth machine...

OK - this looks a bit better than the 5mm gap in the middle that there was before The joints both sides are good with just a light run-down of the glue joint to do with a single-edged razor. Funnily enough, not to take any glue off, but to remove this teeny edge either side: Basically, fretboards shrink a touch when you iron them off...but actually often shrink over time in any case. Ever had fret ends get a bit sharp on a new bass after a year or so? That's the wood shrinking and leaving the fret ends exposed a teeny bit. With the heel end of the board flush, this looks at first glance like shrinkage of the length of the board but is actually just where sanding the neck surface flat prior to fixing the board has cut into the headstock / neck curve. This will have a touch of finish applied to colour match: The adjuster, although smaller than the original, remains in the right position for access for the allen key via the body recess: So a tidy up of the edges, a final levelling and re-treatment of the fretboard, cutting of a new nut (the original didn't like being removed) and we can get this back to @Raslee

With @Jus Lukin 's headless sitting for a week while the finish hardens, then @Fishman has unfettered Andyjr1515 time (other than the fettering that MrsAndyjr1515 imposes, of course ). During the afternoon, I've been finishing off any remaining rough sanding stuff and got to the first sanding stage down the grits. This is fist stage finer down to around 180 grit: At this stage, before I go any finer, I have to know that any 'greater than 180 grit scratches' are identified so that I can dispense with those with some fresh 180 paper - and then I can go finer to get rid of any 180 grit scratches, and so on. It is, however, almost impossible to see these kinds of scratches on bare sanded wood so I use a 'reveal' coat of whatever is my first finish - which in this case is the stain. So, knowing that all of this will be sanded off whatever, a coat of stain goes on: And, hey presto, I found one small area with some oscillating sander 'snail trails' I'd missed and then these cross-sanding marks near the bridge: So tomorrow, I will sand those two areas clear of the aberrations, then sand all of the stain off, and then do 'reveal coat 2' to make absolutely sure it's clear of unwanted sanding marks. If it is, I will then drop to 240 grit before starting the 'proper' staining coats.

Fretboard levelled and re-finished. Just the nut to cut - I'm using a Graphtech Tusq blank from my bits box and it will be slotted to just shy of the fretboard top.

You mean like somewhere that you're not allowed to do certain things, like mix with other people, travel to other countries, perform live music or entertainment, criticise the authorities, go shopping for pleasure, visit other parts of your own country, spend time with family, protest against perceived injustice etc. ? Ah! It's hard to imagine somewhere like that from our privileged position.

A bit of a rude response, it was simply a suggestion of a UK builder that offers modern jazz style designd

One Hand In My Pocket - Alanis Morrisette

We have a turd in the punch bowl. I repeat, we have a turd in the punch bowl.

I totally agree. critical and well-informed friend : "you're all too loud, you can't hear the vocals. All turn down. The PA hasn't got enough power to go louder to get above the clatter that you lot are making without sacrificing the sound of the vocals further or us being greeted with wailing feedback. You drummer. Yes, you the one with the two chopsticks in your hands. You need to lay off the drums. Next time consider leaving half your cymbals at home... and no, you don't need a second bass drum... or a double kick drum pedal before you get any ideas. Guitarist - you need to turn well down. Yes, yes, yes, I know all about the 'you can't get your tone without being a certain volume' but people are here to primarily listen to the vocals, so keep your ego in check... and you're deluded if you think you are the next guitar hero. The vocals? Yes - that's the person behind that ridiculous Elvis mic with the fairy lights going down the stand. Anyway... back to you mr guitar - don't pretend I didn't see you rolling back your volume pedal. The underage kid at the bar trying to sneak his first drink is better than you already. And don't even think about reaching around for the volume, or playing softer in soundcheck, that stinky poo doesn't wash with me. Bass? Nobody cares about the bass anyway. Do what you want."

Easy. The one I use. I've got another one on the wall looking pretty, and another one in a case under the bed gathering dust. I've never really understood the point in owning loads of basses. I get it if you're a session musician or doing some recording. But for most pub band type players, who wants to cart loads of basses to a gig and faff about changing every other song? One bass for both practicing and gigging. Job done.

My bits 🥸

Anyone else discovered that while recording yourself can be fun and helpful it can also be deeply depressing, revealing that what you thought was your totally tight pocket is actually a shallow bomb crater?

Thats me back in the club. Just got a BB 434, sunburst, rosewood from GG. The itch had to be scratched!

And we are indeed back on track 😎 Bit of tweaking to do when the correct ferrules come in (these are 14mm, I want 15mm). The neck is on, and it is tight.

I'm a firm believer in not sacrificing the barely competent on the altar of the good...

This is basically what I'm thinking now.........👍🏻

Soooo I have an Eich endorsement which is absolutely terrific but lately I've also been GASsing for a vintage Fender Bassman. Yesterday, a friend of mine sent me a link with "just buy this ok" so I offered a low but decent price for it and surprisingly, the seller agreed! So I took all 55 lbs home and I'm super happy with this amazing amp. Everything works, it sounds absolutely killer and it included the original speaker cable. I'm still trying to figure out how to open it up to check the pot codes but that shouldn't be complicated. For now: yay!

I don't know if anyone had put this up here before, but it's an incredible watch. Found it today and I think I have watched it atleast 10 times already.

A long period of marketplace inactivity came crashing down this week. I've saved up, and I've sold so I can replace my aging pc and get myself a backbeat. Useful items both, especially with online rehearsal perhaps become a regular thing even after lockdown. Then some unavoidably irresistible stringed things appeared and my resolve collapsed like a soufflé in a sink. One of these impulse buys brings to two the Cort corner of my collection. This beautiful jazz joins the C4, also purchased here fairly recently. I make no secret, I bought both on the looks / price tag method of instrument selection. I'd only heard the Cort name mentioned here, and then not often. But always the remarks were favourable, always suggesting underrated, quality basses. My test is simple: if all other basses had to go would I be happy to be left gigging with this one? A resounding yes for both of these beauties. So playable, well balanced and comfortable. Underrated? Not here, not any more.

Back in 1969 I used always to fancy a Gibson EB3 but could never afford one I also liked Les Pauls but they didn't make a bass version. So I thought I'd have a go at making my own, also at the time a 5 string bass came to mind, I think only Fender were doing one. The result was a trip to the school woodwork department and scrounge some wood. The result was the one on the left. Anyway 52 years later after the initial bass was unplayable I thought I'd rebuild it how I wanted it to be in the first place and the result is in the next picture. This time it's a 4 string with 3 different pickup options Magnetic, Piezo and Roland Hex system. Having just sprayed it with clear finish I might have to do it again when the weather gets warmer. It's useable in the mean time.

Best get saving, they’re terribly expensive these days, so I hear... 😉

I haven't a clue why you are talking criticism of Ernie Ball so personally. You will have noticed both Admin and Moderator members comment in here, so rest assured if anyone takes anything too far, we'll act. In the meantime, perhaps step away from the thread if you don't like where the conversation is headed, but at the very least refrain from any attack on other members because their opinions on a bass builder you like differ with yours.

Thanx Frank, Douglas and SpondonBassed, being welcome feels good .

You do have to be very careful with some of the inlays. The old pearloid Fender & Gibson blocks don't fare well at all But hmmm - in terms of a heated separator, it's actually difficult to do that. You have to get a lot of heat into the glue before you can even get a razor-blade in - this one was 15-20 minutes at full setting! Getting that much heat into something the thickness of a razor blade would be out of reach of most DIY technologies. Once you get it going, however, there is more chance - it is actually one of the reasons I use the acoustic guitar side bender protection sheet - it holds the heat while it's creeping forward. Nevertheless, even if you were wafting a gas burner onto the sheet steel, because it is so thin, I'm still doubtful that enough heat would be transferred to do the job. However - I have found that fretted boards are a lot easier. Luthier suppliers have heating blocks with grooves in so you can heat the wood and not the frets. But I use a standard iron, because I WANT to heat the frets - because the heat goes very quickly down the tangs to almost the glue line - as well as the wood, even though the iron is a frets depth clear of the surface.

Has your wife hacked your account??

52 years you say?? @owen is going to have to go some if he thinks his "Slowest build ever" is going to beat this...

the combination of woods and that shape are just perfect! love it

I had heard about it, but haven’t listened to it yet. I’ll check it out. These popped up in my feed the other day. Made me laugh....

By the way, this is a copy of the BB1000MA pick up ring. The original one is made from diecast nickel-plated steel, the copy from aluminum. The lightweight of that thing in comparison is freaky 😛

Feeling better about my chances already! Thanks a lot and congrats to those who are still here! We're 9% done already

Being a fan of all things Harley B, I am outraged at this sacrilegious defilement of a sacred relic. But seriously folks.... a great resurrection of an others defunct instrument. As others have said don't play down your achievements here, the work is well beyond what most of us would even attempt. And I know for a fact that these are very good basses, so you ought to get years of pleasure from it.

I failed last year as I bought a Rick 4003s and an Eppy Vintage Pro in February. Not buying anything this year. I lost a Fender Precision though for 3 months. Found it tonight in my Rick case. This comment might have to be transferred to the You know when you are old thread.

D5's look nice.

I think the antidote is to listen to many isolated bass tracks. Many of them are not great on their own.

Also, I love this idea of Jolene the eldritch horror

Hi Everyone! I've only recently become aware of this part of the page, so apologies....'This is me! Greetings!' Here's the quick low-down....I hope it doesn't read too much like a CV! Some performance bits: I've been caught burning the midnight oil with the likes of Grammy award winning musicians; Van Morrison, Albert Lee and Leo Sayer, Rock and Roll HoF inductees 'The Drifters' (Rollin Stone Magazine Top #100 bands of all time!). Rock and Roll HoF inductees; 'The Platers', Deep Purple's Steve Morse, Billy Bragg, Nashville singer singer/songwriter Hunter Hayes, Boogie Woogie Pianist Dona Oxford, and Comedian/BBC historian Rich Hall. Recently, I've been touring and recording with The Voice's artist; Peter Donegan (son of the legendary skiffle artist, Lonnie), 'LIVE At Decca' was released back in Aug '19 (now available on iTunes) - last year Pete won best international artist and international song at the ‘Texas Country Music Awards’. There's also a cool live recording on iTunes of an album I cut with Albert Lee, that's well worth check out as well (entitled: Live '18'). Other acts and artists I’ve worked with include; Rick Parfitt Jnr, Moni Tivony (The Voice), Andy Abraham (X Factor), Alison Limerick, Lois Winston (daughter to British film icon, Ray) and MK One’s jazz guitarist, Tolis Zavaliaris. Link: https://www.withbassinmind.com/the-mann In 2017, I was incredibly humbled at the release of the Philip Mann Signature Series from Overwater bass guitars. Link: https://www.withbassinmind.com/the-bass Previously, I've performed in London’s west end, appearing on 'Dancing In The Streets' (The Aldwich, Playhouse and Cambridge Theatres). I've also appeared internationally on musicals such as, 'A Vision of Elvis' and 'If I Can Dream' (a rendition of Elvis Presley's 2015 platinum selling album at the O2 arena, accompanied by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra). Other productions include; 'Jesus Christ Super Star' (Covent Garden), 'Jersey Boys', ‘Fame’, ‘Hairspray’, 'Grease', ‘9-5’, ‘Anything Goes’, ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ ’Bugsy Malone’, 'Bye, Bye Baby', ‘Jack The Ripper’, ‘One Night In Vegas’, 'Sunshine on Leigh', 'Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?', and 'Whitney Houston's - Queen of the Night'. As part of the British Philharmonic Orchestra I performed with Martyn Lucas of Britain’s Got Talent and have supplied low-end for 'Beyond Phantom’ (UK Tour), ‘The Pirates of Penzance' (The Court Theatre, Herts), 'Canterbury Tales' (Minder, Germany), 'Livin La Vida Loca' (UK Tour), ‘Return To The Forbidden Planet’, 'One Step Closer', ‘Wondrous Stories’, 'Lady and The Vamp' (with Alison Limerick), and have featured on the BBC's touring production of 'The National Lottery Live' (in association with Camelot). There's loads of other stuff, which includes an array of acts and shows ranging from 'Imagine - The Ultimate Tribute to John Lennon' (Scandinavia), to ‘Elevation' - a U2 tribute (Finland), Big Band Metheny (The Pat Metheny Big Band) and also Monsters On a Leash (a Tower of Power Big Band)....but let's be honest, I'm already bored writing this stuff down, so you must be feeling brain dead by now. As a soloist, in 2011 I opened for Marcus Miller at Manchester’s ‘BassDay UK’. Then on the following year featured on the main stage at ‘The International Bass Guitar Show’, London (opening for Yolanda Charles and Living Colour’s, Doug Wimbish). In the same year, I was also fortunate enough to perform conventional bass for TM Stevens during his UK masterclass dates. I've performed at every UK bass guitar show and LA Namm conference since; promoting everything from Elixir Bass Guitar Strings, to Overwater Bass Guitars and Ashdown Engineering products. Academically speaking: I'm a graduate of the Players School Of Music in Clearwater Florida - having studied under Jeff Berlin. Prior to that i've received two Masters Degrees (one in Jazz, the other in academic practice) and a Bachelor Degree in popular music. I’ve also studied at Basstech (Powerhouse Music Schools) and the Musicians Institute in London - currently I hold a senior fellowship to the higher education academy (FHEA). As part of the visiting faculty I visit Florida to lecture at The Players School Of Music. I write for Bass Player Magazine (UK and USA) on a monthly basis (intermediate techniques column) and have contributed with an array of other articles ranging from equipment reviews to artist interviews (Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin, Mo Foster et. al). I'm the author of the 'Chord Tone Concepts' series, a four volume chord tone manual for bassists, published via 'With Bass In Mind Publications' (Link: https://www.withbassinmind.com/the-books), and am recognised amongst UK bassists for my years as part of the bass faculty at 'The Institute' (7 years service between 2009 and 2016), before going on to join the team at Scott's Bass Lessons (.com) I've been hired for engagements across the world at venues such as The Jazz Cafe - London, The Hilton Hotel and Hard Rock Cafe - Egypt, The Royal Orchid - Bangkok, The Grand Mezzo Hotel - Lake Como Italy, The Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, The Palace Hotel - Switzerland and The Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai (for the British Chamber of Commerce) and have appeared at The Cannes Film Festival as well as at such events as The Formula 1 Power Boats - Dubai, The FIA Formula One Championship (Monaco GP), Bingley Open Air Festival in Bradford, The Lewisham ‘Peoples Day’ Festival, The Dyrham Park Open Air Festival and London's world famous Country 2 Country festival at the O2. Basically....I play bass, and a lot of it! 🙂 'With Bass In Mind' is my online porthole for booking One2One remote bass lessons, purchasing my Chord Tone Concepts texts and also checking out a selection of my Bass Player and Bass Guitar Magazine publications. There's loads of transcriptions, reviews and insights on there...plus loads of video interviews on my YouTube channel...the best thing - it's all completely free to be part of - so if you get a chance, please pop by and check it out!!! Link: https://www.withbassinmind.com Equipment:....ok let's geek out, although in honesty, I've not got a vault of instruments, although some might still say five too many! (i) Overwater - Philip Mann Signature Series Jazz Bass (custom model 5 string). (ii) Overwater - Philip Mann Signature Series Jazz Bass (standard model 4 string). (iii) Musicman - 30th Anniversary Stingray 5 (Roasted maple) (iv) Musicman - Stingray 5 - Fretted (Honey burst, maple board). (v) Musicman - Stingray 5 - Fretless (Sunburst ash) (vi) Musicman - '79 Sabre (PEB). (vii) SLB-100, Yamaha Silent Bass (viii) Moog Bass Synth - Little Phatty. When needed, an array of sounds come from manufactures such as Sushi Box, Tech 21, Fishman, MXR and EBS. It's been so lovely to meet so many of you through SBL, which is one of reason I wanted to reach out to the Basschat community and say hi! Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry if you fell asleep half way through...I know I did. Stay safe, Philip With Bass In Mind https://www.withbassinmind.com

Just beautiful in al respects, the veneer, the depth of shine, the contrasts of the different timbers. the 'stripyness' of the neck through in the back photos (and the little stripe visable at the neck join in the cutaways) Perfection. Matt

Looks amazing... That's sounds like a Judge's sentence...."wait"???? I know I wouldn't be able to.

In those sort of venues you have to trust the sound person. One of the problems we have in here and probably on TB is that we have pros that play to large venues with a good PA and many, the weekend warriors, that play pubs, clubs and bars where PA support is either lacking or insufficient. It is then up to the musician to ensure that his FOH sound is optimum. The worst of all worlds is putting the bass through what is substantially a vocal PA.

I was looking in an old bass case today and came across these. Must have bought this set years ago. Sorted and now in a safe place.

Lovely playing!