Grangur

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1472389976' post='3120728'] Black = Cold Both pickups are always on with that setup, is that what you want? [/quote] A 3 position selector switch would be nice IMHO. Like the one on the Tony Franklin fretless. [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1472390304' post='3120731'] Those all look like parallel setups to me? [/quote] Me too

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1472395186' post='3120771'] there would be nothing wrong with that... [/quote] It only comes out of careful buying and an eye for something I can improve or re-market better. (+ Luck)

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1472390319' post='3120732'] Where are you getting new battery boxes from, please? I wanted one for the SR500 I sold in the spring, and was told that an Ibby battery box would be £20+ and about three months wait... (Last time I checked, the buyer hadn't been able to find one either, so I'm still looking.) Edit: I should read the thread title. Sorry. [/quote] CD Guitars sell them for £7.99 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281709355301?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=580719061514&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1472236121' post='3119755'] Hmmmm are so many peeps here in the habit of buying/selling basses regularly enough to get excited about? How many peeps here look upon trading basses as a source of income ? I am curious, and suspect it's more than I first thought....... LD [/quote] I wouldn't call what I make as "income". But over all, if I ignore the couple that I've lost money on, I've built a modest bass fund. To do this I've bought and sold a lot of budget basses. I normally make a modest profit. I've sometimes made over £100 on a bass (not on those bought/sold on BC).

Mrs G and I both really enjoyed that. Thanks for posting You've also confirmed it... I do want a 5 string Maruszczyk Fretless bass. I won't be as good in my hands, but I can try.

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1471521338' post='3113624'] I had a similar problem and the replacement ferrules were a tad too wide, so I gently ground the holes to enlarge them. Of course, my hand slipped once or twice and now the ferrules are sitting loose enough to be pressed out by the string tension that pulls the tuner pegs towards the bridge. I will try to use a two part epoxy putty (and/or two part epoxy glue) to fill the holes again and fix this as I'm really not in the mood for filling and re-drilling the holes. Anyone tried this method? [/quote] I'd try wrapping some tape round the ferrule to increase the size a bit and see if that holds it.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1472318995' post='3120358'] It can work nicely.. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/44673-ibanez-roadster-megacustom/page__hl__megacustom but I'd be more inclined just to put fresh tuners on it. [/quote] Thanks to Thunderbird I've actually got some tuners on the way to me. So I hope to fit them in a week or two as I'm away from home.

Thanks for the interest. The rest of the bass is also in dire need of some attention too. So it could be interesting. I've not yet really got started, but I know the volume pot and the switches need replacing. The body wood grain is a bit rough in places and there's no output. Right now I'm off away for a few days, but when I get back I'll be getting started.

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1472274167' post='3119949'] Steinberger bridge and decapitation? (Okay okay... it's my "thing", I know). 40:1 direct pull tuners with a nut clamp for both DBE and standard strings. [/quote] It's a thought. I've only ever had one headless, but the strange shaped body felt odd to me and not "captured" under my arm. I guess its all a matter of what you get used to? I know Westones are "2 a penny", but cutting the head off an 80s bass feels wrong to me.

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1472225925' post='3119653'] Found out only that the problem is made worse if they are both plugged into to the same extension cable or if I'm wearing headphones plugged into my phone when it happens. I don't really want to try any more [/quote] You're a real advert for iPhones aren't you? Is is an Apple charger?

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1472219929' post='3119579'] Or being really cheeky with a low-ball offer, which there are a few basschatters who are maybe guilty of and I'm not just talking the odd £20 here. It's frustrating enough when the market is so slow that you offer up an item at a vastly reduced price to sell. You think you are passing on the good community spirit, something I've always tried to do. Do unto others and all that kinda thing... hmmm! [/quote] On selling a bass at a £100 loss to me, I recently got one of, "Please can I have it for £25 less than the asking price, and INCLUDING shipping to Poland?" Shipping to Poland will be another £45 off as well. (£25 shipping, £20 insurance). Naturally I bit his arm off! Why miss out on a chance to make a loss like that! You don't get those chances every day!

[quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1472205121' post='3119386'] Exactly this ^ happened to a mate of mine, and 40 years later he still plays the same amazing guitar (it isn't a bass). A lifetime of playing excellence versus turning a (albeit hefty) swift buck............ there's more to life than profit !? LD [/quote] And I'm sure, when his playing days are over, it will be sold for only$100 won't it? Besides anything else would be immoral wouldn't it? [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1472210971' post='3119455'] It depends on whether you traded it in at a shop, or sold it privately. Shops also have to take into account what they paid out, VAT, and hopefully for them a small margin of profit. Private sellers have to consider what they paid out. Only ever made a profit on a handful of gear I've purchased through the many years I've been playing. Given the amount of gear I've gone through, the profit is an insignificant amount compared to the losses. Though the biggest loss to date was 50% on an L2000 Tribute. Best profit was on my old 4003. [/quote] I do hope you don't lose too much sleep over it; the profit of course. We're proud to make a loss aren't we? Hey, that's a point! I must phone my stockbroker with this change in strategy I'm taking up.

[quote name='Manton Customs' timestamp='1472197210' post='3119258'] It's not particularly difficult as long as you make sure you've removed it all before progressing. Oil finishes are amongst the easiest to remove and the idea that they penetrate deep into the wood is a myth. [/quote] True. When I say "wash" the body, I don't mean fill the bath... All you need to do is pour it on the wood and swab it over. Keep doing this until you get rid of the oil. It's do-able. I used to work in selling oiled finish and lacquer finish oak furniture. Sometimes, we'd need to remove the oil and lacquer a piece of furniture to fulfil an order. The harder job was to remove lacquer finish to make it oiled finish. That too Nitromores - less "fun" than white spirit by a long chalk.

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1472178650' post='3119191'] Won't the previously oiled finish prevent the dye from being drawn into the wood? I would have thought that it would be very difficult to remove all traces of the old oiled finish? [/quote] You're right. Before you can do anything you'd need to wash off all the oil with white spirit. I guess the question I would like to ask the OP is, "Putting aside your description of the finish being black oil, what do you actually want the finish to be like? What attracted you to an oil finish?" There are good benefits of the oil finish: If it's damaged, it'd far easier to repair the oil finish than to re-paint or re-lacquer. But adding colour isn't a popular choice and there are good reasons why most don't do it. It would be a shame if it all goes very badly.

To do what you're looking to achieve you will first need to wash the body in white spirit. When you think you have got rid of the oil check the oil is all gone using drops of water to see how it reacts on the surface. Rub the wood down with sandpaper. Then for a semi gloss or semi-matt finish you could use black paint and finish in semi-mattlacquer. If you want a black oiled finish you could try staining it with black ink, let it dry, then oil it. It may be worth saying here that I have a Warwick in "blue oil finish". Truth is, it's not oil at all. It's blue lacquer. I know this because of the way it's scratched. Before you start doing this finish on your bass, I strongly recommend that you do a test on some spare piece of wood.

I can't help suspect that some parts, such as tuners, are like training shoes; they all come from the same factory, but with different stickers.

Hi there, I've picked up an old Westone Thunder (are there any new ones?) The tuners are a bit crook, really and I'm thinking of replacing them all. I've seen the Gotoh and Wilkinson ones and other flashy brands. I've also seen the cheap Chinese ones on ebay. The price difference is significant. What would you go for? Do cheap ones stay in tune, or do they all fall apart? Any thoughts. BTW, I'm a compulsive doer-upper of basses. So there's no assurance that I'll keep it, so I guess that's a significant point of me, but I'm interested in folks experiences.

Alec bought my p-bass body. It was nice and easy. Nothing exciting - just as it should be. Thanks Alec

Andy bought my pickguard. It was nice and easy. Nothing exciting - just as it should be. Thanks Andy

Jim bought my Hipshot bridge. It was a nice easy transaction. All very un-eventful, as things should be. Many thanks Jim.