neepheid

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1375912633' post='2167480'] If there was a 5-string of either of these I could be persuaded to actually buy a Fender bass! [/quote] If I had a quid for every time you start a sentence with a variant of "if it had 5 strings"...

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1375904519' post='2167296'] Thanks for that [/quote] Sorry, it completely slipped my mind. The switch I linked has 4 terminals, 3 in a row and one on the edge of the case. I've labelled them like so: 1 = neck pickup hot 2 = output from switch (goes to volume pot) 3 = bridge pickup ground 4 = neck pickup ground AND bridge pickup hot Hope that helps, and sorry for not doing this when I said I would.

Pics found so far: Starcaster bass: Coronado bass:

Me at Belladrum festival: Picture courtesy Derek Mair

Also, I hope they don't ruin it with a skinny, spindly Jazz neck. Keep it beefy!

I'm sorry. Let's just all go "yay", because as far as I'm concerned this is the most interesting news ever to come forth from Fenderland in quite some time (possibly ever).

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1375885755' post='2166943'] Isn't the Pawn Shop strapline "guitars that never were but should have been"? Sounds like the Starcaster bass is a perfect fit for that slogan. Looks pretty cool, and in line with the slightly more creative things that Fender are doing these days. Good news. [/quote] But the Starcaster bass was intended to be, and did exist in prototype form, so it's not that it never was, just that it never got out Ach, this is pedantry. It doesn't really matter about the semantics, just excited to see something that I never thought I would see.

I haven't sold anything on eBay since 2008. I think I gave up when they removed the ability for sellers to leave negative feedback.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1375825743' post='2166299'] Makes sense with all the pawn shop series that these would get an airing. To damn them with faint praise, I'm interested but wouldn't buy one [/quote] I don't think the Starcaster bass qualifies as part of the Pawn Shop strategy - it technically never existed (beyond something like 4 prototypes) and so in practice is a brand new model as far as Joe Public is concerned.

Dunno if this is a windup or not, but if it's real... very interesting. Apologies if this has been covered already, had a quick search first. [url="http://www.harmonycentral.com/t5/Effects-Pedals-Multi-Effects-and/Fender-teases-a-new-Starcaster-reissue/m-p/35763765"]http://www.harmonyce...ue/m-p/35763765[/url] A model that never made it past prototype, and a long lost one. And two Fenders that most certainly would give me GAS, especially the Starcaster.

[quote name='Samashton12' timestamp='1375800337' post='2165808'] Tiny turn in which direction, neepheid? [/quote] Left (anti-clockwise) to loosen - adds relief (effectively - it actually allows the string tension to pull more relief into the neck) Right (clockwise) to tighten - reduces relief Try a quarter turn at a time, although your situation sounds like it'll need more than that. Make the turn, tune up and then check the relief by fretting the E string at the first fret and pressing it down at the last fret. You should observe a tiny gap between the top of the frets and the string in the middle of the neck around fret 9 or so. If there's no gap, there's more loosening to do. Gap doesn't need to be big, as long as there is one because strings need room to vibrate. Loosening is the less dangerous way to go. You go too far then all that will happen is you'll end up with too much relief. Tighten too much and well, you can guess what's going to happen. Once you adjust this you may find you will be able to (or indeed have to) lower your bridge to achieve the same action as before.

Choke has arrived.

[quote name='Samashton12' timestamp='1375703391' post='2164409'] Hey Guys, Ever since i got my Thunderbird in December its buzzed from the 1st to 5th fret, the action is perfect, but the bridge and bridge pickup are pretty high It never really used to bother me but after playing my friends Tokai i envy the non-buzz on his lower frets Any details on how to rectify this? I'm new to the whole set up thing, Thanks, Sam [/quote] Sounds like you need more relief in the neck. This means you need to slacken off the truss rod. Carefully.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1375705564' post='2164464'] Did it affect the flavour of the cola though? [/quote] Made it better

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1375706114' post='2164475'] With the cola soak, do you just rinse it off with water afterwards? I've got a Marlin Strat copy I'm supposed to be cleaning up for a mate, most of the hardware could do with cleaning up. [/quote] Yes, rinse and dry thoroughly. I used diet cola as I didn't think sticky sugar was a good idea.

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1375705401' post='2164461'] That looks good. How long did you bathe it for? [/quote] A few hours. I guess if it hasn't cleaned up enough you could keep going for longer, maybe change the coke every hour or so. I have no idea if that makes a difference.

I haven't used them, seen similar setup on individual headless bridges that's all. Can't comment on their effectiveness, sorry.

A bath of diet cola. Cheap supermarket stuff is fine. I did a bridge - went from this: to this: Not perfect, but a hell of a lot better.

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1375698145' post='2164325'] Dont suppose you have the wiring diagram for this do you? [/quote] Let me get back to you about the switch specifics. It's not hard though. The only thing that might go wrong is the phase of the pickups. If you wire them wrong they'll sound fine individually but together it'll be weak with a marked reduction in bass. If that happens then swap the ground/hot wires of one of the pickups going to the switch. But I'll have a look tonight and let you know exactly what I did.

See this pic from the other side on Thomann's website: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/hipshot_h5a100g_triple_lock_down_b_g.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/hipshot_h5a100g_triple_lock_down_b_g.htm[/url] Basically there's a grub screw in the saddle. The saddle floats, with the grub screw loosened you just move it manually back and forth where you like, then tighten the screw. String bears down on the saddle, keeping it down on the deck, and the grub screw stops any movement back and forth.

When I rewired my BB450 I used one of these: http://www.axesrus.co.uk/Silver-Bodied-Short-3-way-Toggle-Pickup-Selector-p/silverbodytoggle.htm

Yes, the three point bridge is horrible, but if it wasn't in the right place then the bass wouldn't intonate. If you don't like it, there are alternatives. Like the Hipshot Supertone or having a bitch about it on an internet forum. Or shutting the hell up about it, that works for me too. I've yet to encounter a Gibson (bass) neck which does not function properly. Maybe I've just been lucky. Yada yada, Gibsons are crap and trading on their name, heard it all before and it isn't getting any less boring.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1375168372' post='2157367'] I'm merely thinking this would be a good way to justify a new bass purchase to MrsCamdenRob... Its an investment dear... [/quote] I bought a bass a few weeks back and told my wife I bought it because I liked it and I was in a good mood because the sun was shining. Which was the truth. No drama ensued, until people that know me found out I had bought a Fender.

Oops I'm at it too: exacerbated a "must have slept on it funny" left shoulder by playing badminton last night. Festival gig in 3 days, tent to put up tomorrow. Feeling a bit better today thanks to ibuprofen and some massage so hopefully it'll all calm down in time.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1375215304' post='2158415'] You had to go and complicate matters, didn't you? [/quote] [i]Moi? [/i]