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Hi I'm looking at building something similar to the Westone "The Rail" bass. Not 100% certain yet, but exploring the idea. It won't look quite like this but I wanted to see what the smallest bass I could make. I can see how it fits together and nothing strikes me as too difficult at the moment, famous last words, apart from where things actually earth on the above basses. AFAIK there is normally (always?) an earthing strap/wire/connection from the bridge to the electrics to reduce hum. All the guitars I've built have that and all the ones I've taken apart have that. I can't see how that works on the guitars above. I know the black side pieces are steel tubes so I would assume that they are involved but the pickup in the middle slides up and down, so there's no wires that connects the bridge to the pickup. Does the pickup section use a friction connection to make the earth OR has Westone found a way to get around the hum using something else? Searching for Westone "The Rail" wiring diagram doesn't produce anything very interesting. Anybody have any ideas how it works. The only thing I can think of is a piece of metal that clamps against one of the steel rods when you tighten the pickup in position with the screw. That might scratch the rods though. Thanks Rob

Good idea. It adds that extra pleasure you get from defacing a Fender lookalike.

Get a cheap Fender clone and add a large bathtub rout between the neck pocket and bridge. It's much easier than making or modifying a Rail for that purpose.

So there it is... ...and it's never too early to start an attendee/gear list 1. Rich - Trace Elliot TE-1200 amp, Barefaced Super 12T cab, earplugs , Shuker custom 5, other stuff TBC. Also, start digging those raffle prize donations out!

Thanks Stub. I have a couple of my dad's watches and his old Pal 35mm camera, which is all I wanted of his. My parents live in Spain, and we're planning to move back to the UK this year - that plan is still on. But my dad was quite the hoarder, so it's left my mum with the unenviable task of decluttering their substantial-sized villa. My brother and I are going over for a week in April to help the best we can, so I'm sure there'll be plenty of bittersweet moments as we find things.

Unrelated to your efforts, but I would love to have a go on a Westone Rail, just for the experience.

New for this weekend..biggest regret was selling my gk 550 a few years ago finally one turned up on basschat ..it’s got the typical GK sound and my it’s got some noise 🤟

This was tonight’s