Grangur

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1499187667' post='3329825'] I was on the Warwick forum for quite a while. The wisdom, as I remember it, was that you just can't get replacement Warwick necks, unless you can prove to them that your current neck has been comprehensively trashed. It was a few years ago. You may have to consider custom made, but hopefully someone else will have some more up to date info, or maybe a company that does cheaper necks. [/quote] I enquired about a new neck for a Warwick body someone was selling and was told the same by Warwick themselves. There's not a lot of difference in the depth of the Warwick neck to a Fender P MIM. There might be a millimeter or 2. But don't forget there may be a significant difference in the tone after you've done it. Folk talk about the tonewood in the body and how that resonates (or doesn't). But the resonation in the neck is bound to be far more significant. I'm a fan of Warwick basses, but if you want that tone, but don't like the neck, I think you might be disappointed when you change the neck wood mass. It would be a shame to make a major change and find the tone, after the work is no longer "Warwick" and you've rendered it unsaleable. I recon the luthier-built replacement neck is safer. You could do well to find a luthier who's experienced in making necks and talk about it more with them.

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1498847933' post='3327586'] How about a Babicz? [/quote] This would be my choice. They're more expensive, but much lighter in weight and can be strung without feeding the strings through holes. I've got one on mine and it's got the best tone I've ever had from a Fender. (Accepting that this could be coincidence and nothing to do with the bridge)

Welcome to BC Clunkie. I too was about 50 when i started. So you're not alone. It's all good fun. Just keep out of the marketplace threads and you'll be fine.

There was me blaming Photobucket.com

My guess is they've had their share of staff who couldn't put the bottle down. So they've had to do what they believe is the right thing. It wouldn't bother me.

I once had a customer called William Shakespeare. I also worked in an office with a lady called Hyacinth. Thought nothing of it until I found out her real name is actually Hope. Why change it? I asked. "My surname is "Less", she told me. Man, some parents are cruel. Regards Richard Bowtie

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1499023275' post='3328681'] Not to hijack the thread, but I would like to broaden the question. I have a bass with dual J pickups. In 35 years of playing I have not used either pickup individually so it makes sense for me to go for one volume and be done with it. However in the back of my mind I recall that jazz pickups like to be loaded individually by individual pots. If they are loaded differently they still work but sound different. Am I talking garbage here? It would not be the first time. [/quote] Why not wire them together to one pot - series or parallel;whichever you like?

Don't think you'd go far wrong doing as you suggest, but I'd use a 1500 grit paper, or finer. 600 is quite coarse.

Hey! Congratulations to you both. From both of us here. You're well suited, we're sure you'll continue to be happy for many years.

I don't know if you can get down to Cambridge, but Jonathan Woolston is a really good friend. http://woolstonviolins.com/ Jonathan is more a violin and cello man, but he may be able to help.

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1498492496' post='3324995'] A lot of fair points being raised especially about what seems to be a thriving 'like new ' market on EBay etc. I've sold three there myself. I used to think part of the decline was because of younger punters turning away from rock but I was surprised at the number of teens and 20 somethings at Download and am seeing more in the streets wearing rock band t shirts. But I don't think anyone can argue that the electric guitar and the lead guitarist aren't as iconic now as they once were [/quote] Isn't this situation promoted in the media and recording industry? Thinking of talent shows; they're all about promoting a singer in front of a staff band. Aren't most contemporary recording artists, seen in videos as simply singers with scant exposure of any kind of band of musicians on show? Even if you see a band on TV, the cameras are centred on the singer and lead guitarist.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1498478234' post='3324834']... And as for the problems of the big guitar manufacturers, I think a lot of it is down to the over-stuaration of the market. Why buy new when you can get pretty much anything you want second hand for about half the price? And there's just so much more choice on eBay then your local musical instrument retailer could ever hope to compete with. The only way I could see myself buying new these days would be if I was wording a specific custom instrument from a small-scale luthier. If I want something mainstream, I'm happy to wait for it to turn up second hand. [/quote] Good points. Something to also consider is if some of these "big name" builders rely very heavily on CNC manufacturing. Surely a CNC machine in China, if set up well, is every bit as good as one sitting in the USA? So, why pay for an American made instrument? Ok, the hardware used may not be as good, but you can address that. So, as most instruments probably never go on stage; so branding won't matter, why not buy a cheap copy? If it's a second-hand bargain, so much the better.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1498345483' post='3324032'] What are the ends made from? [/quote] They certainly don't look leather.

Just a thought: if Gibson and Fender are seeing a drip off in sales, does this really mean the market is declining? Is it because Americans are buying well made foreign instruments at lower prices? Are users bored with the year-old look of the Fender P and Jazz?

I too find I have to keep up the reading practice to avoid losing the skill by degrees.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1498324961' post='3323888'] Video games and tech are really mass market. I think some people are thinking that playing an instrument is way more mainstream than it actually is, or ever was. [/quote] Agreed, playing music was never mass market. But I think fewer kids today dream of being a rock star.

Another thing that might influence the situation is, if you have an instrument, it's now easier to give up and sell it on to a nationwide market. The difference this brings is the easy sell means the guitar won't hang around for long. In the past it would have been sitting there in your bedroom nagging you to pick it up again.

I raised this point sometime back and I was firmly told I was talking complete trash. Youngsters are as excited about music now as they ever were. Privately I think video games and other tech has been the replacement activity that now provides the distraction and entertainment. The exception to this is where the young have musical role-models who help keep live music on the agenda.

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1497881342' post='3321074'] If they don't chuck in a few pleccys and a lead I'm not buying it [/quote] OK, I give in, I'll chuck in 12 pleccies, 2 leads and a gig-bag. How's that? Now, can you please send me payment?

Just a couple of days ago I picked up a really nice Warwick FNA Jazzman 5er. Its really nice and I enjoyed it until I took it apart to re-finish the body. Before I tool it apart, the bass was really dirty and the MEC Pre-amp has a couple of problems. [url="https://flic.kr/p/UFFoGD"][/url] The small selector switch that switches between the coils on the HB pup, seems to only switch between the bridge coil, on it's own, and both coils. It's not possible to have the bridge coil on it's own. I think this is probably down to a faulty switch. The more significant problem is the Treble-boost/cut pot doesn't seem to do anything. The Mids and Bass pots are fine, but the Treble pot does nothing. Is there anyone here in the collective who's worked on these? Does anyone have any light to shine on what might be the problem< or even better, the answer to the problem? My initial thought was to spray the pot, but I think this is a little unlikely that you'd have nothing at all. I've looked at the wiring connections and those appear to be ok. There's also no obvious damage to the circuit board either. Any ideas?