Grangur

Looking at the picture, there doesn't seem to be an earth connection from the tone to the volume pot. I know, in theory at least, there is the connection of the metal of the screening, I also know that if the connection wasn't working the circuit wouldn't work at all as without that path there's no earth connection from the jack to the pup, but I wouldn't rely on that myself. I also agree with Gary Mac about the screening. Another point is the leg of the capacitor on the "hot" end is very close to the body of the tone pot. This can cause interference. It wouldn't do any harm to put a short length of shrink-sleeve on the leg of the capacitor for the same reason. Also, being picky, you could re-do the solder connections and make the bare, stripped wires shorter, so there's less chance of unwanted contact and interference. Sorry if this all seems picky, but it does all make it better.

I could be interested in buying or trading. I would also enjoy doing any work needed. So, the perceived value to me for the work already been done would be fairly low. Also, I already have a Warwick Corvette with some honest scars of its own past. I wasn't there when it got them but it brings character. I don't normally like a bass that's been reliced but I can like honest scars of its experience.

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1476128375' post='3151627'] Where do people source their bits from? I'm after another P bass but I can't find an off the shelf to fit my spec wants, and custom just seems too expensive! [/quote] A good start is to scour evilbay and Scumtree for a budget bass as a start. Then use the body and neck and be prepared to change everything else. If the neck/body joint is loose, get veneer to stick to the side(s) to tighten the joint. other than that it's all down to you what you do.

Send it to me. I'll level the frets for you. PM'ed

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1476122947' post='3151557'] Where do you draw the line though? Even classical soloists use piezos or microphones then go through the PA. [/quote] NO!!!! That's disgusting!!! You're right, of course. I guess the pros align the amplification of the bass along with the fact that there are mics on everything else. So why not amp up the bass? But, where DO you draw the line?

Hey, welcome to BC. As the others have said, "you're in the right place". In this place you won't get shouted down for silly questions. So feel free to ask anything. You're learning at a good time. There are loads of resources online. Good ones are studybass.com and scottsbasslessons.com. Also there are many more on youtube. The main thing to remember about learning any instrument is this, it's not a train ride. It's a journey: There is no arrival, there is only the journey. So learn to enjoy all the twists and turns and enjoy the highs. When in the lows, simply know you're not the first and won't be the last. Enjoy it all and have fun. (Hmm.. this is all a bit profound for me on a Monday evening.) Again, welcome.

[quote name='LZD56' timestamp='1476121095' post='3151536'] Wow, just looked at those Backlund basses & they start at $3750 before any added options! Blimey!! Think I'll go for a Jow bass [/quote] Yes, but do Jow come in pink?

That is true. Acoustic they might be, but without an amp you won't hear it across a bar. Nice gig though. Worth a watch. My personal opinion is if you're going to have to plug in, then why fool yourself that it's playing acoustic?

Funny I should see this, this morning. I watched a vid last night of Quo doing and accoustic gig. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wNaiC3s-a8 Rhino used a few accoustic basses. He managed ok.

Work normally has me driving up to 200+ miles a day on average to go and visit customers as a lighting engineer. When I get back I have reports and stuff to do. I can find I end up working until 10pm and have no control over when the late nights will be. So I can't really commit to band rehearsals in the week. I dream of gigging, Always wanted to, but alas 'tis probably not to be until I retire. I'm 57 now and never have gigged. My Dad was into golf. He owned clubs and had lessons but only ever played a few half rounds. When he died, my Mum said sadly, "It was all just a pie-dream". I SO hope nobody says that of me and my basses when I'm gone. Bass, for me, is a solo instrument. I play music for cello as well as other pieces I've transcribed from treble clef to bass clef. I could change to guitar, I guess, but i love the sound of the bass. Last night I strung a 5-string bass as a piccolo. It was ok, bu I took them off and fitted the usual 130-45s.. That's "home" ground for me. I love it.

Can I help him?

The shape of the PG at the end near the bridge is interesting. It lends itself to a rout for a 2nd pup

I've got 7 basses and never gigged in my life. So I'm probably best to sit out on this too.

I'd happily do all that for you for cost. Shame you're so far away.

Did a fret level job for Paul on an Aria bass. He's a good guy to deal with and was treated to a pizza for lunch too!

How low can prices go? Even if you changed the pups an tuners for some Wilkinsons this bass could be sub £100! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ammoon-Solid-Wood-4String-JB-Basswood-Electric-Bass-Guitar-24-Fret-Sunburst-U7S1/162188831644?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D39060%26meid%3D9eb93731afa94e54bd9120e7b23bf467%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D252409182367

OK, so you, could also check the distance from the string to the pup. Otherwise it would be down to changing the pups. Assuming you'd like to keep the bass looking as it is as much as possible, the choice of pups will be ruled a lot by the size of the rout for them. Do you know the size of the pups? I see the Artisan is now sold with Bartolini pups. Have you looked into if you can get Barts that would fit? Edit - got beaten to it while I was on the phone.

If the tone of a bass is dead I'd look at the strings first before the pups. Have you tried any different strings? If you're on a budget, then [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/bass-guitar-strings-sets-c34/legacy-4-string-nickel-roundwound-45-105-long-scale-bass-guitar-strings-p972/s1014?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=legacy-4-string-nickel-roundwound-45-105-long-scale-bass-guitar-string-legacybass45&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CjwKEAjwj92_BRDQ-NuC98SZkWYSJACWmjhlu4D5kIjwOaYrjFWBJT_mHPOfTlS3oboUkjdfFcSMZRoCOv7w_wcB"]Legacy strings from Rotosound[/url] are a good, low-cost string to try out.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1475740068' post='3148288'] Yes, like many folk, I can read and I'm fully aware of that. He's getting them MADE to his spec in China as nothing similar was available in the UK without going custom or self build. No different to Whitley, Chowney, Konig and others. Or countless others with Japanese basses in the 70's. And at £300 it seems to me, you are getting a lot of niche market bass/hard case for the money. Lets say I wanted to build a Precision. £100 for a reasonable body. £200 for a good, professional spray. There's your £300 gone. Limited appeal bass, limited options BUT SOME may well be interested. [/quote] Yes, I appreciate that. You're right. It's good value for money. It's also I great breath of fresh air that its not yet another regurgitation of the P-bass look. Thanks for posting it. Sorry for posting the first post. I should have kept out. I apologise.

The Paint went really bad an reacted? Do you polish your bass by any chance? If you do, do you use spray polish?

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1475696966' post='3148115'] Nice to have all these ideas chaps, all the options are available from custom luthiers, usually starting at around £2k, rather than £300 [/quote] If you read the wording, the basses are "designed in the UK" He's not a UK Luthier, he's buying them in from China or somwehere like that. Not that it's the end of the world, but you're getting what you pay for.

Yes, the current ones are small 500k ohm pots. I'm getting a nice little collection of 500k pots, as I never use them. I was reading in another place; someone saying that VVTT doesn't work out in a bass. But guitars do it. I know they have a selector switch, but that has no electric effect over anything other than changing the way it connects. I guess it's easy yo overlook the fact that there's a lot of duff information on the Net. Thanks for the info, guys.