stewblack

Do it! It's surprisingly medetitive

Human nature. But I think it's been civilised, it's ok to say you prefer x over y

It's been suggested. I'm going to wait for the Elders Of The Builders of The Bass to pronounce. Meanwhile I need to get digging , that wood won't remove itself.

I think you are in error if you think I or anyone else thinks you care about such things. You see the point is we, as a species, are social animals and sharing and bonding are vital to the survival of that species. Even though we no longer need anything to survive (we are effectively an out of control cell multiplying on the body of the earth) these instincts are still within us. Saying hey I love Led Zeppelin's second album, or I love Hull City or I love precision basses will provoke a visceral response. Those who feel similarly will warm to us and share their love for such things, we will bond with these members of our tribe and protect them if they are under threat, confident that we also have their protection. The people who think Houses Of The Holy was far superior and Hull City are Ok but far from the best team and I don't mind a p-bass but I'm a jazz kind of guy really will be happy to enter into a friendly discourse with us but neither of us will feel we particularly have each other's backs if a neighbouring tribe raid the cave. Now if you say why the hell would you even like anything by that pile of carp band and I fecking hate Hull City fans especially those who can't see the p-bass for the waste of wood that it is, well, now we know where we stand and you will have to be incredibly sensitive to subjects close to my heart in future if you want any of the meat I've scavanged before the hyenas arrived. In fact I suspect you to be in league with the enemy tribe and as such are persona non grata as far as me and the rest of our tribe are concerned, so you can bog off. We don't think these things but our emotional and intellectual responses are firmly rooted in them. So, was New Boots And Panties one of the greatest albums of the seventies? Think carefully before you answer Jack.

Not this one mate, the fretboard is chunky the neck like a wafer

You think maybe fill it under the new rod to give a little more strength to the delicate neck?

This has been a great read, thanks everyone.

This is full of information I didn't know. Thank you.

Yep, no disasters today. A good day.

Yeah I nearly scored below the binding as I assumed the fretboard would be slimmer. But I could see where it joined. Amazed at how delicate and slender the neck is.

Evening all. I wangled use of a garage and an iron, seemed silly trying to heat the thing outside in today's subzero temps. First of all the bad news. Even with extreme care and a brand new scalpel the finish cracked. It's old and brittle, but I'm content that can be sorted later. Not going to think about it right now. Now the good news. My tendency towards 'bull at a gate' repairs did not rear it's ugly head. I spent 3 1/4 very painstaking, careful hours on this. I warmed the neck... I made a surgical incision... Then tapped in my blade.. Heated some more then followed with my kitchen pallette knife... Continued in this vein chasing the blade down with tiny taps on the knife, as @Andyjr1515 said - mm by mm and slowly slowly this started to happen... I did not do this... As I surely would have done without Basschat. I really forced myself to slow down at this stage... B Big smile when this happened So on to the next stage, which i have just walked away from as I suffer from Chronic Fatigue and I'm tiring, and well, you know. I need to clean out the rout the rod sits in before I can get at it. Made a start, scoring the wood with my blades then gently tapping out little bits. The chisel was too big, I actually made more progress with one of those cheap tiny screwdrivers you fix spectacles with! Going to need advice on the next bit. I know what I should do. I should fill the hole, plane it flat then rout a new hole. I have not the tools nor the skill so I will need to pop the new trussrod into the existing hole and then.....what? Anyway that's for another day just packed up my temporary work station. Bass in a hard case, fretboard gently clamped (and padded) in the jaws of a workmate to keep it straight. The main thing is, on day 2, I can see this...

Fabulous! Absolutely brilliant.

Aretha Franklin's version of The Stones Satisfaction from her 1967 album Aretha Arrives. I'm assuming it's Tommy Cogbill. Wiki credits him for the album. Satisfaction.pdf

First of all, let me beg this doesn't turn into an argument about who loves/hates roadworn instruments. I'm into spreading love and vegan butter not hate and hot collars. All I wonder, as I watch a bass being roadworn on Youtube, is if someone could point me to what they consider the most realistic relic job they've found or seen. My interest piqued when the guy on YT said I want it to look like a forty year old instrument not a new one. I look at my 38 year old Aria, which has been worn by the passage of time and, none of the ones I've seen either in the flesh or online look anything like it. I just wondered whether maybe relicing an instrument is actually an art form with its own rules and aims. The look isn't actually supposed to mimic reality as such, it's more a take on it which has developed it's own reality. Look at Leland Sklar's old basses. they are subtly worn in places I would never have imagined. More like a well worn bannister in an ancient building. I know Rory Gallagher's strat had it's own extreme mojo and I suspect that and others like it may be the template here, but no one in their right mind would taske a new bass and hack chunks out of it to match my Aria that's for sure!

Thanks mate , I'll look for the rest of them. Ever since I started gassing for a particular Sandberg I've been spending rather too much time with their name in my search bar

Andy I'm not talking about removing the board. The finish goes right around the neck. I need to slice it, hence the scalpel. @Reggaebass is quite right I'm talking about that work at the side where fretboard meets the neck. It's been suggested I warm it to soften it then cut with a scalpel that way the finish shouldn't crack and split off everywhere.

I do have shorter ones but I had envisaged needing something longer maybe? You think it'll be ok going at it in small runs?

My tests are never scientific but having used my main gigging rig in the same surroundings as I've now been using the Elf, I'll be amazed if I can't gig it through 2 twelves. I remember turning up at a gig in Bath once. Zero parking anywhere at the venue and I'd been told it was really small so I took my little TC Electronic combo with me. I figured if I end up walking with all my gear I need to travel light. It's 250 watts at four ohm but I'm only running it on it's own so not even that much. I get there and it is indeed a tiny space. The space we're playing in that is, not the actual venue which disappears off into the distance like something you'd expect to find in Wookey Hole. PA is small vocal thing and anyway with five vocals and various acoustic instruments there's no room at the inn for my bass. I ran that little 2X8 combo flat out, and you know what? It coped just fine. I think I often over estimate how much ooomf I need for any given gig. My first gigging rig was a Carlsboro Cobra 90 through a Laney 4X10 cab and I don't ever remember feeling I was under powered.

I have first to make my surgical incision along the side to separate the finish. I want to do as little damage as possible as refinishing is without doubt not in my skillset. The only straight edge I own I converted to a notched straight edge for fretwork so I may have to order one in. Slight delay at the start of this project to gather necessary bits.

For those, like me, who hadn't seen this