The Burpster

ead, Been there and done it. It was my first venture into pimping. (I have moved on quite a bit since then!) I replaced everything except the knobs ( I'm not sure why!) the body neck and neckplate. Everything else was ditched. Mine was Wilkinson bridge and tuners, which were not expensive (and IIRC I got them off gleebay) but a huge improvement on the nasty pressed tin OEM ones. A complete rewire V/V/T (although you could get away with a small Bart pre amp if you really needed to - without re routing) and doesnt need a harness it is very easy to do, if you have any skill with wire cutters and a soldering iron. And then SD pups and left passive. It turned it into a monster, and was well worth the effort.... ! Below are some pics (prior to the SD's going into it) just before its final incarnation. Its a shame you are a fair way away, if you got the bits you wanted to do it with I could put it together for you in an afternoon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='866366' date='Jun 13 2010, 08:20 PM']If you want people to think you suck when you screw up play guitar. If you want people to think your whole band sucks when you screw up, play bass.........[/quote] ......... or drums! Actually very point, a band with a shonky g'tard or singer would attract a comment like 'Oh dear that ....... is pretty lame!" A band with a shonky rythm section better have protective eyewear and helmets to avoid the flying bottles !

I like this discussion and I find it intriguing. Let me share my experience. I started playing about 5 yrs ago. My best mate who has been playing (6 string) for about 30 yrs was really excited, and has been/was really supportive (maybe in that one I am lucky!) To start with he was giving me tips and helping me find my way 'round the fretboard etc. I have always been dumbstruck by his playing he can play some really impressive stuff. Recently he has bought one of my basses from me as he fell for it as soon as I acquired it. Interestingly now when we jam, he will ask, "jeez how do you stretch to those notes? I've tried that and I cant do it without making my hands hurt!" Also try as he will he can't play finger style like we do, the other major point that he really apprecites is that he states in his own words...... "most guitarists can't keep time for toffee, and I kinda rely on your sense of rythym. Not many guitarists would admit that!" The tables have turned to mutual respect. That is a really nice feeling.

Thanks guys...... I love the idea of recycling or renovating/upgrading...... This area is a darn sight easier to make a huge difference than basses. There must be loads of blown heads/ combos out there, and really this was quite easy to do. Granted it took quite a bit of thought and planning but execution? Not that much.

Finally took pics and put a thread together. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91496&st=0#entry865897"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...t=0#entry865897[/url]

My first attempt at building or pimping an amp. Those that have been around a while will know I have no problem with ripping instruments to bits and putting them back together after adding my particular flavour to them, but I had had no reason to be so brutal to an amp after finding the Mesa (walkabout scout 1x12) as it's pretty close to perfect. That being said it is a big old heavy lump, as am I, and those 2 dont add up to moving around with grace. I therefore thought it was time I had a light little combo to scoot over to my mates with when we want a light hearted noodle. My first combo was a Roland cube so I knew these were very versatile and light but they are a bit Asthmatic and sound very hi-fi, also 30w just wont compete with N’s 50w valve amp so I needed a bit more oomph. A kind BCer let me have a knacked Cube 30 (amp blown) which was to become the donor for the new combo. Initially I wanted a MarkBass LM250 but settled on the smaller PJB D-200. I also knew which 10” speaker I wanted, a Celestion Green Neo 200w jobbie. So now all I had to do was make it all fit together. I stripped the Roland covering off the cube and took all the giblets out. The box is only held together with heat glue so a hotair gun softens it and the baffle and other bits that don’t work can be removed. A new baffle was fitted as far back as poss, and then the supports to hold the amp and new back were made out of 15mm MDF. I apologise for the plagerism of Mesa’s cab design here but in fairness it does work so what the hell..... I made a leap of faith and bought some Tolex and spray glue and after spraying the back parts matt black applied the Tolex the outside. (my first effort is OK but the next will be better. I fitted the new Celestion after soldering a heavy gauge speaker wire to the tabs and a Neutrik to the other end. The rest just falls into place. In use it is still a bit hi-fi as a pure digi amp is going to be, but running a DHA VT-1 Bass Eq through the effects loop brings back the valvey loviness that I now take for granted. It also makes this little combo very loud....... Weight wise it comes in at exactly 10kg, which is bliss after the Mesa.

[quote name='eude' post='863897' date='Jun 11 2010, 12:20 AM']Would love one those, but they ain't too light and they're certainly well out of my price range...[/quote] .......and thats why I built my practice amp combo. I didnt want to keep lugging my Walkabout scout about and dinking it and wrenching my shoulder! I WILL get you some pics ofmine done today....!

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='864859' date='Jun 12 2010, 12:58 AM']they never really established a good name for themselves on basses. I have 2 PRS lead guitars that get gigged regularly, they are great instruments that for me far outstrip a les paul or a strat in terms of build quality, sound quality, playability and versatility, but I hate to see all this expensive fancy stuff destined for a collectors wallhanging, they should be things made to be played.[/quote] Al you have a valid point and actually one that isn't lost on Paul, where you aware fore example that the first 4 instruments that he made to sell were in fact basses? It is my opinion that Paul thought that if he put the same amount of care and attention into a bass that he did for his top end guitars that they would attract as much attention and that us the bass playing punters would want them in the same numbers as the geetards did his 6 strings...... Clearly he miss-aligned his thoughts and miss read the 'thrifty' market that is bass players....... I am UTTERLY convinced that had more people seen passed the price tag and picked one up they would have been hooked instantly. I know I was and I actually owned a couple of nice basses when I did 1st get my hands one. They just didnt compare. And I'll tell you why, not in my words but those of my best mate and geetarist..... 'each one feels like it was lovingly made just for you.....' I cannot sum it up better than that. As soon as I'd had one, played it, and it got undr my skin every other bass has had to live up to that as a benchmark. The only others that have come anywhere near (to me), are Clover, and Vigier. Although I'm sure if I spent enough money with Mr Shuker or Mr Green I could get an instrument made for me that would be close to emulating that feeling. I'll give a thought about your 'fancy wallhanger' comment tho', I have already discussed with Stevensville if the combination of woods and hardware would be achievable for the GG5 that I will be commisioning, (which thankfully it is!) and even tho' the price I was hinted at was expensive, it was nowehere near the price that Thomann are wanting for that GG5........ Me thinks they are on a fishing trip because of the rarity factor (I would suggest that that one is the only one in Europe, or if it isnt it will be less that a handfull).

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='864736' date='Jun 11 2010, 09:51 PM']And then you did it twice I agree, I tried to make the same point but with less articulation.[/quote] Sorry Wayne I have no idea how I did that but I did rectify it pretty quick! As to the reply, well it would have to well measured wouldnt it...? as would a reply from Beedster to a thread slagging of Fenders or Warwickhunt to a thread slagging off Warwicks, Outtoplayjazz to a thread slagging off Statii...... You get the idea....

Sorry but just way too much bling for me. Looks like the Mr.T of the bass world.

It wasnt going to be long before I had to post was it. I do honestly truly understand the 'but I can make the same sound for £500' argument. I can also understand the 'I wouldnt use that in a pub 4 nights a week argument' (I wouldnt use mine for pub gigs, I'd probably use an Ibanez). However I have to say a few comments on this thread have somwhat vexed me Why is it a waste of money? Someone could afford to buy it and probably will. If you use that argument Ferrari, Maybach, Rolls-Royce and Bentley would never sell any cars. If you want the very best of everything it costs money. Because almost everyone cannot afford £7k on an instrument doesnt make it wrong, itjust makes it very very expensive. A PRS EB IV when on sale in the UK was £2.4k. I would most certainly have not been ableto buy all the lovelies I have if I'd had to pay that amount, but some were sold for that price in the UK. I'm afraid most of you are missing the point. You have to order PRS Private Stock instruments. They are hand made for you in the custom shop at Stevensville. The customer specifies all aspects of the order. PRS has obtained some of the most exotic woods and finishes available to make Private Stock instruments from, and some of those have been stored and conditioned for years to produce massively stable structures. The GG 5 string for sale at Thomanns will have been orderd by someone maybe even Thomann to sell. They are not mass produced machine made 'fighting guitars'. Thomanns can reflect that price in what they are asking for it. I also resent the midlife crisis bass label that some of you have added to it - would you say the same of a Shuker, a Custom shop (POS IMHO) Fender or a custom shop Warwick......? There is less than 5 GG basses made a year, that makes it a very exclusive club. A club I will be joining in a couple of years time, not because I want ANY OLD 5 STRING bass, I want a handmade PRS and I am prepared to pay for it. I will be flying over to pick it up too. It will never get played in a pub but will be played and cherished as my others are. Someone will buy that one and you know what.... You will never see it for sale on here because whoever does buy it will want to keep it.

Dave, it did take a while to come but the VT-1 is very very good. Its a lot more clever and versatile than I gave it credit for or expected. I have now with about an hour of fiddling got exactly the tone I was looking for.... So thank you for a great piece of kit. One thing, while I appreciate why it was designed the way it is, it would be really cool if you could use the line in to play MP3 (or in my case drum machine) whilst in an effects loop as opposed to 'just' through the headphone side of the system. Just my thoughts.

[quote name='eude' post='862485' date='Jun 9 2010, 06:49 PM']I'd be really interested to see how that came out dude? Sounds real interesting, plus I'd still get my "MarkBass Sound"... Eude[/quote] I'll do some pics tomoro eve. I've been out for dinner tonite as its my birthday........

Eude I had the same dilemma as you but I made my practice box of doom myself as what I wanted just wasnt't available... Used a @@@ked Rolland cube 30x as the donor cab. Stripped it and made a (mesa cribbed design) mount in the back for a PJB D-200. Re kitted it with a new Celestion green Ceramic mag 10" 200w speaker and recovered it in tolex. sound wise it was a bit too clean and hi fi for me so now I have a DHA VT-1 through the effects loop to give it that 'valve pre-amp' tone...... Whilst its not a Mesa, it is remarkably light, compact and loud enough........ My g'tarist who is very critical is very impressed with it. If you can find a @@@ked Roland cube to act as donor I have have no probs doing the mods to it so you can put the same bits (or a LMK 250 which was my other choice) in it..... Just a thought...... I must get some pics of it and put it in the build diaries section.....

Silddx, Oddly I just bought a load of kit from HD and they were spot on! Included in that were 3 D-tuners that are all now fitted. I had to strip mine and put the correct design key in as I wanted to keep the PRS ears in them (dead easy to do) and I did rebuild mine with Lithium greas but onlybecause I have it. Vaseline will work just as well but only use tiny amounts and it will befine.... Enjoy, these are great bits of kit!

Isnt the Pino sig model pink......? I'd have one of those....

Chris, Zoom MRT-3. Works for us. Should be able to get one cheapish off t'bay, e.g. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zoom-MRT3-drum-machine-mint-condition-/190400925967?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Drum_Machines_Grooveboxes&hash=item2c54c7910f"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zoom-MRT3-drum-machi...=item2c54c7910f[/url] If I wasnt using mine next weekend you could've borrowed it.

HI there and welcome aboard. I havent heard of a blk/white split so rare definately. Original? not so sure, you would have to checkwith Hohner to ask if it wsas supplied like that or its a re-fin. Price-wise thats an OK price, not an absolute 'yippee bargain' moment tho...... £100 or less would've been. If its mint or v.good+ then you have a very lite, very playable little bass. I had a passive B2b for while and enjoyed owning it but not playing it..... I couldnt get on with the neck, but I do have large hands. Quite a few on here have/have had them and whilst they are a substitute for the original (carbon fibre and very expensive) Steinberger XL, they make a good go of it but sadly are not in the same league as teh original. If you accept it for what it is, a cheap and cheerful copy of an ogininal design and it plays well and fits your criteria for buying it then, then it will serve you well.

As long as you are sure of what it is you want then buying on-line is a great idea. It does help ifyou have a wee bit of an idea about set ups as it may need tweeking when it arrives but if these two issues are sorted then go for it. A lot (if not all ) of basses in you local shop will have had sweaty 'erberts playing with it unless you insist on a brand new one from the stock room if indeed they have one. GAK, Dolphin, Thomann, absolute music, and bass direct all sell absolute brand newbies as they sell direct from stock, I would recommend all of them.

Predictably..... 1. PRS EB IV. 2. as above 3. as above 4. as above 5. as above

we use one of these. [url="http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/mrt3"]http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/mrt3[/url] Its a bit of a pain programming it, but it produces pretty good tones and is spot on time wise.

PRS EBIV. D'add. Chromes Neck pup on full Bridge pup on 3/4 Slightly + Bass - treble. Mesa Wlkbt Scout. Graphic flat gain as high without clipping or o/d ing. = creamy lovelyness. Nothin' else has got anywhere near.

The RBX 374 is a good bass. In fairness that VMJ is a pretty good buy too. You are correct there is a huge amount of choice.

I agree Wayne, a bit unneccassary I feel. Keep the rants to yourself please or take it into offtopic - but not on here where there is clearly someone young wanting to start up and who doesnt have the benefit of lots of folks around that can help clearly its a big decision too. Also remember that £250 is a lot of money to some people and making sure they do the right thing is a big issue.