Rayman

9 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Just picked this thread up. Splendid project - I just love old basses.

 

Ref the fretboard finish - are you OK with that now?  If it still bugs you then I have a suggested way of making it look like new with minimal risk and cost.  But it looks OK in the photos

It’s satisfactory I guess in terms of the fretboard. It plays fine but looks patchy close up. I’d thought about removing the frets, lightly sanding it back and replacing the frets, but that’s a bridge too far for me.

The error I made was using a stripper that was way too aggressive and lifted the grain. Because the fretboard is bound, I have no clue how thick the rosewood is, so sanding isn’t something I fancy doing at all.

Any suggestions for how to make this thing even better are very much welcomed.

Absolutely. Matt is a fan of all things retro, and if it’s worth bringing back to life, he’ll do it for you.

So the whole assembly has gone in to House of Tone.

After pulling everything apart, one pickup looks great, one needs starting again with a new bobbin and rewind. 
 

New pots etc will also be installed.

Yes, I know…. more money than it’s worth, but I’m all in now.

Matt is fully booked till January, so the next update will be in 2024.

Yeah, it’s a beautiful bass, and one of my dream instruments. I’d hate to see it damaged/uninsured while making its way here. That would be a nervous few days for both buyer and seller, while they waited for it to arrive in one piece.

I personally wouldn’t be taking any chances with the insurance. It’s there for a reason, for some piece of mind during the transaction.

1979, I was 14 and I was the singer in a band of slightly older friends, who did a few short gigs as a covers band. First song I ever played (sang) live was “Purple Haze”…. Which was also the name of the band.

It’d be another year or so before I discovered the bass.

4 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

Prescription Drugs

Ordinarily yes… but my painkiller of choice, for a knackered knee, Codeine, dries my mouth out…. so I can’t have it for singing.

Oooh… yes

The bass that you would love to own from the year of your birth….

1965 Fender Jazz for me. @mamayo  had one, absolutely bloody lovely.

It’s a case of striking a balance I suppose, between the music and the showmanship…. I still struggle with it after all these years.

I have to admit, that live, I really struggle to stay calm and focused with my bass playing. Yes, I’m the singer/frontman, but, in rehearsals I’m calm and enjoy my playing a lot more than during a gig, where the adrenaline kicks in and frankly my technique goes to s***. 

How do the rest of you control your live playing?

2 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

Tell us more about venue, rig and band!

“Redstar”? Was the brand on the head…. literally never heard of it.

*edit “Redsub”  ….. still never heard of it 

46 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

Tell us more about venue, rig and band!

Buxton “Old Clubhouse” , actually a nice little venue, I honestly cannot remember what the amp was, I’ll try and find a photo. It was a head and 4x12 DI’d into the PA, so out front it was ok, but onstage it was really quiet. We were support, so I didn’t want to start changing the settings on it, but I did turn up the master, which made no real difference to me. I really missed my Ashdown, but of course it makes life easier at the end to pack up and leave.

The band, “Crisis’, we’re celebrating our 40th year this year, original heavy rock, 3pce, I’m the singer too. Three old men masquerading as relevant 40 years later.

Good one last night, although it was a shocking on stage bass tone via a house rig, but apparently it sounded fine out front.

8 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

No, it seems he is just here to sell his bass and hasn't visited since he posted this.

Ahh well, we like talking amongst ourselves 

Ok, I’m in contact with House Of Tone, who tell me they can absolutely fix the pickups and wiring.

So, I’ll make the decision after the quote.

I don’t often get excited about microphones….but……..

11 hours ago, Geek99 said:

Ok was going to suggest someone but sounds like it would be too far

I travel all over the country for work, so nowhere is out of the question, unless it’s Cornwall or Aberdeen …. Y’know.

So any suggestions are welcome 

32 minutes ago, Pinball said:

Interesting, I recently picked up a Gibson Studio which I'm not allowed to play until Christmas. I have tested it though and I think it may be broken as it plays and sounds great, the bridge seems solid, it doesn't have neck dive or any flaws other than the usual signs of a used bass.

Note: According to the internet they all have those faults but it seems to me that the "Studio" solved a lot of those. Just as well I don't believe everything I read!

My colour too!

 

Stunning bass

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

Where are you located ?

Macclesfield, Cheshire

This is a Tokai….it cost me £150 (originally). Original pickups but I added a James’ Home Of Tone EQ, Gotoh tuners and bridge. The build diary is on here somewhere. It plays and sounds absolutely amazing. The band love it.
 

I have never found a better example made by anyone else. I couldn’t justify a Gibson at all. 
 

Thanks very much for all that, it gives me hope 👍🏻

21 minutes ago, kodiakblair said:

Maybe go with the Entwistle humbuckers Rapier are using in their Watson/WEM/Wilson Saffires.

 

Yeah, that’s an option, I need to take some measurements, I also might get a quote for the repair of the original ones, but I fear the worst.

29 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

Damn.  Sorry to hear about the pickups.  However, if it plays nicely, it’s worth doing something with it.  Maybe see what off-the-shelf jobbies you can fit in the original covers, or maybe a couple of Artec or Retrovibe mudbuckers?

Mudbuckers…… 🤔 …… I hadn’t thought of that, nice idea, I love the sidewinder in my Epiphone Newport. Shame though, I really like the look of the original pickups. I just think getting those up and running will be way more than the bass is worth.

Ok well, bad news, for me at least.

The pickups are not well. The output on the neck pickup is very low, around 2.2, but the bridge pickup with that stretched wire, is unresponsive.

My guy says the whole lot needs re wiring including opening up the pickups to see what the craic is under there, something he doesn’t want to tackle, but has suggested Matt @ House of Tone in Chester for the work. Also…. is it worth it, spending considerable money to get it fixed….
 

Back to the drawing board.

It’s going in to my tech for exactly that later today. We decided between us that for one thing those electrics look sketchy at best, but also this isn’t a faithful restoration, I just want it to work by any means necessary. So new electrics are going in, crossing fingers that there’s no issues with the pickups.