BassBus

I take it that's good then

Now then boys and girls. This is where things become even more interesting. The first coats of lacquer have been applied and as you would expect the flame starts to leap out at you. Can't wait to see it for real. Fraid I'm just lost for words now.

Monkeyed around

Yes, very fine top. The walnut body should give a nice warm tone.

I wouldn't expect it to be too bad. ESPs are very good for the price. It won't be a £1500 bass but it may well be OK. I have an ESP LTD 204 and it plays like a dream.

This is going to be the best pedal board.........in the world.

Comedy joinery? Looks like seriously good jointing to me. Impressive stuff.

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1396858715' post='2417904'] I don't practice scales nor do I know where the modes are. What I do know is what the main ones sound like (major, minor, pentatonic,etc) so it's not overly difficult to find them in whatever position I find myself in. [/quote] And there my point is made. All replies to my post are relevant and valid. However we all have to accept that there are players out there who neither want to or need to spend time learning scales and modes. There are no shoulds or shouldn'ts in life. If you do something there are consequences. If you don't do something there are consequences. If you spend time learning scales and modes, as has been said, you will be a much more flexible and adaptable player. If you don't you won't be. Neither is right or wrong. I spend time learning scales and modes and enjoy my playing more for it. I also don't feel stuck in a rut. But I do defend the right of those who do not wish or need to spend the time learning such things.

Pictures would be useful. However, I think the fact you are thinking about this shows some awareness of what is going on in your body and that is never a bad thing. I would say, try to keep your body, as a whole, as balanced as possible. That way you will avoid straining any one part of it. Prolonged strain is what causes problems in the future. You could also look at how you use your fretting arm/hand. That is part of the balance. Awareness is the key though and you seem to have that.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1396714101' post='2416704'] How does he know what he'll never need ? [/quote] When a player only wants to play in a covers band which means learning someone else's lines parrot fashion, why spend hours learning endless modes and diminished scales when he/she will never use them. If that player then chooses to move into a genre such as jazz then those skills will be useful but not before. So why waist time.

Even Jeff Berlin doesn't recommend learning things you will never need.

Oh look. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pp3-t-shape-battery-clip-l85ab

I'd recommend you don't buy from Stewmac. They can be quite expensive and on bigger orders you might incur customs charges. There are quite a few suppliers on ebay whomsupply from Europe and are much cheaper. CHGuitars for one. There's another in Portugal I have used too which is very good. Can't remember the name off hand though.

I would take your bass to a luthier and watch him/her set it up. Then take the measurements when you are happy with the setup. Ebay is your friend for tools. You will need some sort of measuring implement, feeler gauges, allen keys and radius gauges. Loads of videos on youtube to help you as well.

I have a Cort Action V DLX which is 16.5mm. Same with my ACG Finn fiver and Ibanez GWB. Overwater and Status use the individual bridge pieces so can set string spacing where you want it.

"Jesus saves from Hell"? Then, where the hell was Jesus while I was watching that. [size=4] [/size]

Sounds like the mids have been scooped and treble boosted. Why not PM James (durandasi), he might be able to shed some light on it.

I'm another fan. Saw him at the London Bass Show. Not necessarily a fan of all his music, bit too groove based for me, but he has been a big influence on my approach to my playing the instrument.

Pictures sorted. The combination of woods looks good but they will look even better when the finish is applied. I've chosen black hardware. The bridge will be individual pieces to get the 16.5mm spacing. Strings are rounds which is why I went with the ebony board. I will experiment with strings as time goes on. I like Thomastik Jazz Flats which I have on my ACG at the moment. They produce exactly the tone I want on that bass but they didn't sound so good on my Cort, both fretted basses. That's probably down to the different woods in the two basses. You can't really beat rounds for tone on fretless though and I really don't like flats on a wooden board.

Black nylon coated strings usually are lower tension. Sometimes they are rounds with the nylon coat over them. Others are flats with the same. I have wanted to like these strings but I just can't settle with them. Thomastik Jazz Flats are lower tension and lovely, IMHO. I come back to these strings again and again. I find they don't suit every bass I have. I have them on my ACG at the moment and they sound great on that, probably due to the heavy woods involved. Lovely big fat tone. Didn't sound so good to my ear on my Cort which is Agathis and much lighter.

Another update. Few more holes drilled for neck screws and looks like sanding has started. I was given the choice of a blond or black veneer between face and body. I chose black and I think it looks much better than blond would have. And all the woodwork assembled. First sight of the finger board which looks great, in my humble opinion of course. I guess this is where things will slow down a bit as sanding is done and layers of finish applied. I have just been playing a fretless today for the first time in a while and I am now really looking forward to this, not that I wasn't before.

This really is coming along at a fair rate of knots. Fingerboard glued. Next are the lines to be worked into the fingerboard.

Looks like they've had a refit since I was last in.

I think the cost of TI jazz flats is relative. Just think how long they last. I have an very old set on one bass that still have a good sound to them. Other than that, as others have suggested Status Hotwires halfwounds and D'Addario halfs but they have higher tension

[quote name='rk7' timestamp='1395784055' post='2406373'] I probably need some therapy. RK [/quote] Ah, well, I can help you there. I'm a counsellor.