Billy Apple

[quote name='quimbymeat' timestamp='1325168583' post='1480454'] That looks amazing, i did the same with my bass D.I but i still need to have a look of the guts of my GT200 but yeah looks great mate. [/quote] Cheers. I was thinking that the individual components, electronics, valves and chassis, even the sleeve, don't weigh that much. Makes you realise the poundage in those transformers.

Just Googled cabinet scraper. It looks very similar to a spoke shave, hard to tell the difference by the pictures.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1325167251' post='1480432'] I found sanding with the grain somewhat challenging with mine. Have you considered cabinet scrapers? Ideal for purpose and style. [/quote] I started off with the power sander, but it was too big and powerful. So just got on with it by hand. I started with 60 grit paper, and that ran out quickly leaving me with 80 grit which was slow going on the maple. I was outside, and now it's dark. A trip to B&Q is in order for some monster grit paper. I'm not sure what you mean by cabinet scrapers, but I was looking at spoke shaves at Screwfix for about £17, but I think they would be a little OTT as not much wood needs removing. I like using the paper as you can feel the wood as you go. Remind me, what oil did you use on yours in the end?

Hi All, Welcome to my Ambrosia Maple Wishbass Lobe re-vamp. She arrived from Mr Wishnevski a couple of weeks ago, and was perfectly playable, with a wonderful tone. Very light-weight, superbly balanced and comfortable. The stock strings were awful, but apart from that the hardware is pretty good. Yes, no truss rod, but the neck is very solid and I can't put a flex in it at all, so can't see it moving much. [u][b]As she arrived from the States..[/b][/u] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/GnuxEl.jpg[/IMG] Anyway, I've pulled everything off, and I'm about to unleash the sander.

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1325111657' post='1480021'] Yeah, but I'm not from England... But I have a buddy or two there, so maybe I'll ask them for a favor. You thing Metamp would do a european plug amp? You have 230V in your sockets, right? [/quote] They would spec the supply voltage to your needs. They retail all over the world, so are probably very up on this issue. I'm sure you could email them from Poland

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1325104834' post='1479958'] Damn, how neatly done! Pure valve porn. Congrats on the amp, really nice one. How much is it? Maybe one day... [/quote] Hi Immo, I prices have changed since I got mine, and I wouldn't want to post spurious info, but drop Matamp an email, I'm sure they'd be only too happy to give you the current retail [url="http://www.matamp.co.uk/"]http://www.matamp.co.uk/[/url]

Hi All, I found myself at a bit of a loose end today, so thought I'd do a bit of housework and dust the inside of my Matamp GT200. Took a few snaps for the followers of this fine head, and for others to see just how good Matamp craftsmanship is. Here we go.... [u][b]The Amp in all her glory[/b][/u] Starting from left... High and low input, not for increased gain, but for passive (low) and active (high) basses. 3 position depth control. Tone by-pass filter (I think) bassiest at left position, trebliest at the right. 4 position drive. A pre-amp gain, increasing from left to right. Bass Treble Presence. A mid boost Volume. Makes it louder! Power and Stand-by.. Switching the power warms the valves, switching the stand-by puts her on proper. By the way, she weighs in at 26.5kg/58.4lbs, so plenty heavy. [u][b]Pedigree[/b][/u] Not many can truthfully lay claim to this title [b][u]Detailed user manual[/u][/b] Very Matamp! [b][u]Pulling amp free[/u][/b] Four pretty sturdy screws secure the chassis in the sleeve She slides out easily, there is plenty of space within the sleeve. The sleeve itself is very well made. very solid, fully painted on the inside and all tolex neat and tidy. [u][b]The Amp undressed[/b][/u] The sides and back make her very rigid and easy to handle. Still very weighty though, as all the beef is at the front due to the transformers. [b][u]Valve detail[/u][/b] A quartet of very handsome JJ KT88's... And the undressed JJ EC81/82/83 pre-amp stage.. I love the handwriting on the chassis. [b][u]The spaghetti underneath[/u][/b] I was knocked out at the quality of the lead dress, soldering, positioning and order.... This put a big smile on my face. It's what you pay your money for. Not many people will take the time to have a look at this stuff. I suppose that's why other manufacturers would be able to hide a few sins under here. Craftsmanship like this must be the reason I can turn this amp up full and she still sits silent, and the great tone of course. And the other side..... The work here is IMHO a work of art, and it's a real shame it gets hidden away. For example, there are 4 resistors on the 4 position drive pot, and each one of them is soldered perfectly, and next to each other they are all identical, and in itself makes a pattern. I don't know much about electronics outside of of wiring a plug, but I remember my old physics teacher saying that electricity flows much like water, and it would seem to me that if it can flow easily, chances are it will sound great, and the GT200 does indeed do that. Anyway, that's the housework done, I'm off for a cup of tea Edit: Grammar and tidying up

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1324989180' post='1478896'] What`s the weight on these? [/quote] At 60 Deg F, under standard atmospheric pressure and a density of 2.373 [i](slugs/ft[sup]3[/sup]) x 10[sup]-3[/sup][/i], Its specific weight should be 7.636 [i](lb/ft[sup]3[/sup]) x 10[sup]-2.[/sup][/i]

[quote name='Sambrook' timestamp='1324893376' post='1478250'] .....[b] It says an additional £60 should do it[/b],...... [/quote] That's what I was charged. Plus I went to the Parcel-force depot in Acton, and stood in a queue with a whole load of people, all angry about the 'handling fee'. They must get this all the time, but still they persist!

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1324893719' post='1478252'] It seems the days of people posting about expensive basses over the festive period are long gone. Personally I was delighted with my fitted hard case for my Jazz and a little Vox practice amp. Good stuff [/quote] Cool case, very Rock n' Roll

I got an Orange.... and some nuts

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1324548339' post='1475380'] I didn't know that about Halfords paint, thanks billyapple Actually even Fender have switched from nitro to poly. In fact since 1963 they have polyester coated all their bodies. Laquer is put on top of the poly to satisfy customers belief that Nitro finishes let the wood breathe.The trick is in the sealer, since the early 60s they used something called Fullerplast. Fullerplast is a spray on plastic sealer which is impervious to solvents once it has set. Essentially they plastic coat the bare wood body before applying the colour and then laquer. Years ago I stripped my '60s Mustang bass with (old) Nitromors, the paint came off really easily but the Fullerplast underneath was rock solid! Made it really easy to respray, but the paint alone will come off pretty easily so you have to put a clearcoat on top which sets rock hard! Theres some more info about it here: [url="http://www.caraguitars.com/fullerplast.asp"]http://www.caraguita...fullerplast.asp[/url] [/quote] Interesting link.. I bow to your superior knowledge of Fender paintwork! How about Gibson tho? Both my TBird and Les Paul give off a wonderful aroma when pulled from the cases, I've always thought this is the Nitro finish, which is absent from Fenders. Do Gibbo cheat on the sealer (another topic maybe?)?

The active ingredient in (old) Nitromors, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloromethane"]dichloromethane[/url], has been banned by the EU, making the new stuff next to useless. Best just to use sandpaper and elbow grease. Beware Halfords car paint, with respect to the earlier post, the paint that Leo F put on his guitars in the 50's and 60's was Nitrocellulose based, henceforth that is why it is still used on guitars now. Modern car paint is mixed with a hardener (2Pack) and heat cured. The Halfords stuff is acrylic and has a tendency to stay soft on wood (Bought it, did it, stripped it back off!)... and you don't want soft wood! . Get a few spray cans of pre-cat nitrocellulose from [url="http://www.tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/"]http://www.tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/[/url] . It's a little pricey, due to delivery, but is easy to use, dries fast, and if you take the time can polish up a treat. Have a look what a complete amateur did with a cheap P body from eBay..[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/158550-p-bass-refin-body-off-ebay-neck-from-mike-dirnt/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/158550-p-bass-refin-body-off-ebay-neck-from-mike-dirnt/[/url] Good luck!

OK. I'm starting re-finning the Ambrosia Lobe, so will start that on a new topic.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1324210241' post='1471769'] I hope you're joking. If you are then say so, laugh it off and move on because a silly face at the end of such a statement doesn't really negate it for me. If not - have you any evidence of this actually happening? I'm only asking because I DO have evidence of this NOT happening and in the interests of fairness and not wishing to see someone's livelihood jeopardised by malicious libel I am quite willing to cite it in rebuttal to your ridiculous statement. [/quote] Yes, it was clearly meant to be a joke, but I'm sorry you are so upset about it. No offence intended.

Back in '86 I bought a plain wood (P style) finish bass from a plumber that my Dad knew. It was a bit beat-up, and the head-stock had been painted black. After playing her for a while, I took her to a guitar shop on High-bridge Street in Newcastle, called Chris and Andy's. They were very interested, dismantling the bass completely. It was their opinion that she was a 1962 Fender Precision in Fiesta Red. The original colour could still be seen in the Pup routing, and although the date stamp had been removed from the neck-heel, they could date from the alloy gasket under the scratch plate and the pots and wiring. The serial number concurred on the neck plate, but I was told these could be spurious, as they often laid around the Fender workshops for a while after stamping. But, she sounded great, very bright and punchy, but a hand-full to play due to the width of the slab neck. I kept her, as is, right up until '98, when I had her re-finned in Fiesta Red by Overwater, by the very same Chris May who had inspected her back in '86. And after the work, guess what? She didn't sound a damn bit different. still brilliant. I think much has to do with how the bass is stripped down, and the care taken in the re-build, making sure everything is put back and re-wired as was.

Lord William of Apple, enjoying a beer on the shores of the Indian Ocean. If only life could always be like this.....

Ambrosia Lobe arrived today.... Huge tone, but huge work to do too..... [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/GnuxEl.jpg[/IMG]