alyctes

The truss rod is stuck. I've stuck some 3-in-1 oil on it, and we'll see in the morning. So I'm not doing any more to it tonight, and possibly ever. Thank you all for your time and effort; it's been educational.

I've connected the neck pickup straight across the output jack. The pup plays. Remembering to connect the bridge earthing lead to the output jack earth-side really helps There's still an earthing problem, but not bad and completely eliminated if I touch the bridge (not as good - fainter, but still there - if I touch the strings). Same on the bridge pickup. Earthing is not good but the pickup works.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1466406079' post='3075498'] You don't describe the noise so it is hard to make any diagnosis. There aren't many components there to replace, and they are all inexpensive, so economically it might be quicker and cheaper to replace the lot and have confidence in the bass from then on rather than to replace things piecemeal. If one pot has corrosion in it because of the storage conditions then the others are likely to be not much better. If you wanted to check the pup's before you do this then use the method Rich suggested first. [/quote] Thanks for that advice; I've asked KiOgon for the cost of a new loom (not buying until I know the pups are sound). At this point I'm taking the chance to learn my way around the existing electrics a bit and get some confidence in my soldering, so I'll try both options. The noise is as if there's an open circuit somewhere, a rapid "beating".

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1466414040' post='3075558'] The reason I don't listen to Kiss is I don't like their music. I find the showyness of the whole "Kiss" thing quite wonderfully tasteless. If only the bland music they made was 5% as interesting as the costumes & shows - which at the very least were different. EDIT: Almost forgot . . . It's not cool. It's a demon from hell - presumably it's hot? [/quote] I can't get as far as listening to them.

Now up to £77.55 with eight bids on the table.

[quote name='adamg67' timestamp='1466372913' post='3075414'] I'm still trying to get over the codpiece, check out the 3rd pic. [/quote] This kind of thing is exactly why I won't even listen to Kiss...

Thanks. It occurs to me it may be the capacitor, as there is a rapid click (every 1/3 second or so) in the buzz. I'm a bit surprised that it does happen on both pups; I didn't think it did, but it does. I've just managed to break the connection from earth to jack; I'll resolder that, connect one pup directly, and get back to you. Thanks again.

[quote name='Burrito' timestamp='1466340158' post='3075044'] I too think P-bass with flats, perhaps a bit of foam under the bridge... but forums always forget to acknowledge that you can pretty much play any genre on any bass. [/quote] Fretless Tbird with flats - I'd like to try that.

I hate it, but at least you can see the design from the fifth row...

Didn't like the stripy one. The plain one is OK, though I'd need side dots, and the neck is huge... 48mm nut!

I've an old, cheap fretless which has been u/s for a while. It's passive; the controls are V/V/T. The problem is, it's noisy. It doesn't seem to be earth noise (it gets louder when I touch the strings... !). It gets very much worse when I turn one of the volume pots, and the same with the tone pot. Turning both the volume up and the tone forward... what a racket. What might the problem(-s) be? How might I diagnose it? Thanks

Cheap pups, and parts to sell on. Might be a good buy if you're local to it and prepared/able to do the work. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-RBX-460-Fully-Working-Seymour-Duncan-Lightnin-Rods-Active-Pickups-AJB-2-/152124937408?hash=item236b5a54c0:g:pA8AAOSwnFZXXA-X

Enigma fiver: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Enigma-5-string-Bass-Guitar-/282065067073?hash=item41ac635c41:g:yLUAAOSwqBJXW9bG

Occasionally I used to leave a bass, in a black hard case, after dark, across the back seats of my car (which are black), in a supermarket car park. After practice, never after a gig. Still a risk, but quite small. The problem with leaving anything evidently nickable in your car is that even if you're not out any cash, you still have to get the car repaired. And I wouldn't want to explain why it was broken into to the insurance company.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1465918093' post='3072093'] I had to google it, but sure enough it's an actual saying. My shame is eggscruciating. [/quote] Eggsistential angst?

I have a Sinsonido. Sounds good, looks radical, weighs so little I occasionally have difficulty remembering it's there. Second hard, under £200.