Grangur

[quote name='SolomonHelsing' timestamp='1379424762' post='2212506'] Yup they're the ones, Hoping it'd be a good neck for £75. Or good enough till I can get an unfinished canary/canary blocked and binded one from warmoth, but that requires extra funds I don't have yet [/quote] This looks cool, but (at the risk of being boring) why spend £75 on a neck you don't want? Save your cash and put it towards the one you do want. Rich

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1380093638' post='2220587'] Good choice, a nice bass by the look of it. I hope you get into it - which I'm sure you will. When Mrs ead kindly pointed out the inadequacies of my playing I was forced to remind her that both Cb and Fb are recognised notes in some cultures [/quote] Of course they are. And they both appear in some tunes in the CMajor key too. I like Ezbass' re-model of the bass too. I'll bear that in mind. It may also change colour as well. Watch this space... Right now I'm experimenting with strings though. I've changed to flats and they all now seem really high tension and the output is low too. What I'm using is RotoSound 45-105 (G-E only so far) and the existing round-wound B gives so much more volume than the flats. What have others found?

Here's [url="https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=88014765C749B87!237&authkey=!AHaaiPsjKjilpW8"]Moonlight Serenade[/url] Regrettably there's no bass part in there, but maybe with the other info you can write one. I've downloaded it in Musescore format too, so if you use MuseScore you can write it and try it in the software. I maybe wrong but the lines could be easy to write and play.

Just to be clear, do you mean "Big Band" as in Glen Miller? That could be interesting. Nice gig. Rich

I've got packing and I live near Gary too. Bid with confidence. Cheers Richard

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1380041162' post='2219991'] Yeah, get a face madk. The first finish I did using nitro, I didn't us one and I ended up in hospital every coupke of days for around 3 weeks as my breathing stopped. Turns out that it was a combination of the fine overspray congealing in my lungs, and a reaction to the fumes. No fun!!!! [/quote] + 1 Even a cheap Harris one from Homebase will do anything that filters the air. It works for me.

I was told by a guy I spoke to on Ebay "when it comes to Fender it's only the decal that counts". Not in my book, but it takes all sorts.

Hey! I lost my cherry to [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216596-ibanez-gwb35-gary-willis-fretless-5-l400/page__p__2213943__hl__willis__fromsearch__1#entry2213943"]Gary WIllis![/url] Or was it Mike? I dunno. It's good fun. I'm now getting the strings changed to flats and getting into the joys of intonation. I've got the good Mrs G telling me, "Are you sure it's tuned. I think I heard a note there that was off"... grrrrr!! Thanks guys for the tips

One other small point. FWIW. I recon it would be worth more with a full set of frets. My guess is those bidding would pay more. Besides, could Mark King play slap-bass on it with no frets at the bottom?

FWIW I'd pay more at auction for a bass that Mark King and John McVie have signed than having it in the knowledge that Gary Mac played it in Hoddesdon. Maybe I'm wrong, but maybe the fundraising at gigs would be better too if you can show the sigs and say the stars who've signed? Sorry Gary, but he knows where I'm coming from. I recon sigs first, gigs later. You're all doing a great job.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1380028400' post='2219725'] Hmmm. There's talk here of burning furniture, damaging existing components, lead poisoning and wrecking marriages. Could I simply use wire glue, like this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/141050534572?showlimghlp=true&lpid=92&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=92&ff19=0"]http://www.ebay.co.u...&ff14=92&ff19=0[/url] Alternatively, could I buy a jack socket with the wires already attached so I can then use those little plastic junction-box thingies to connect it to the existing wires? Or shall I take it round to the Tech? [/quote] LOL!! I learned soldering as a kid when I first started work. It's a skill that's be useful at many times in my life. My soldering iron I have now is the first one I bought. My divorce (1 only) had sod all to do with my soldering iron. Instructions: 1 - Buy this: [quote name='johnny_frog' timestamp='1380032029' post='2219820'] I've been using one of these [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28020-Analog-Soldering-Station-150-480-C-60-W-with-Silicon-Wire-/280757198381"]http://www.ebay.co.u...e-/280757198381[/url] for repairs... nice wee unit and cheap too. [/quote] It may not be a Rolls-Royce, but it'll serve you for many years if all you do is 10-12 times a year. 2 - get some old wires from an old mains lead or something and practice soldering stuff together. 3 - Tell us how you got on. You wont regret it.... Next please!!

It's also worth getting a stand - one of the black plastic things with a big spring - it'll save you burning yourself, table-cloth, table etc, etc, etc. It may even save your marriage in some cases. Also, if you get a choice, go for a silicone cable. These are more pliable, especially when you bring it in from a cold garage in the winter and the PVC one wont bend. [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1380020529' post='2219537'] But how does one solder using only two hands? I used to be able to do it as a young lad, but after a long absence I found making up some leads surprisingly tricky - I wanted a hand each for the iron, the solder, and the two components [/quote] Mole grips or pliers can also be good just to hold the jack still. You then have to poke the cable through the hole in the terminal you're soldering the cable to, and you still have a hand to hold the solder. You can also get good at holding the cable and solder in one hand. This skill can be practised with chop-sticks and a good take-away

If I practised as much as I BC I'd probably be a good player by now. OR would I? Possibly I'd not have got so far on the road to playing if I'd stayed learning alone. Coming to BC I don't feel I'm in it alone. I've also learnt stuff and passed on other info to others too - saving time. Also Mrs G and I have made real friends too.

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1379916994' post='2218090'] Glad to see it's not just me [/quote] +1 At least if you buy secondhand there's a good chance you can sell on at the same price as you bought. In fairness, if music shops had more basses for us to try out we'd be able to "try before you buy". As it is we're often buying purely on looks. Then when you get to the guy's house and sit and play for 10 mins it's not a real try-out is it? After all, you're going to the house telling yourself "I'm going to buy..." and very aware of not wanting to be "tyre-kicker". I've bought and sold a few, but strangely I'd actually say I've "owned" few. If that makes sense.

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1379711746' post='2216178'] Steves lacquers are great as they drybto a hard shine, unlike some other manufacturers profucts. Ive got a load of cans from Steve for my own next project. [/quote] Thanks for that. I've used the lacquer from Halfords in the past. I probably didn't use enough coats, but I'm not over impressed. I'm thinking of re-finishing a bass, so I'll give Steve a try.

The bridge also doesn't look Fender either. So you're probably right

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1379869744' post='2217586'] I wasn't knocking my own ability - I think I'm a f***ing brilliant bass player, just a very lazy one. [/quote] I wasn't being persona; - Your post was a typical and just happened to be the last. Like us all you have real-life to deal with. I think I heard Flea practices 12 hours every day. When did you have that kind of time to comit - even if you wanted to? When you're doing the shopping or washing up Flea would be practising. He probably has staff who do that cr@p for him. Again - not being personal.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1379867841' post='2217563'] I realised decades ago I'd never be able to play like my bass idols so, largely because I'm a lazy indisciplined bastard, I just didn't bother trying. I still get asked to play with people & do sessions fairly regularly so I guess I must be doing something right, even if it's not how "proper" bass players do it. [/quote] It's very easy to knock your own ability like this, but have you noticed how the "idol" players, when playing solos often stick to their "party piece" licks. Victor Wootten plays Amazing Grace, Billy Sheehan goes for some manic raking etc... When did Billy Sheehan last do a dep and have to learn 12 new tracks in a week while keeping down a day job?

[quote name='thebigyin' timestamp='1379838558' post='2217127'] Lol......maybe I should of worded it 'Help Needed' a lesson learnt....apologies if I misled anyone. [/quote] Or even "Pedal help needed"

The "road wear" looks odd. Certain its not Fender.