neepheid

I've done it twice - it looks better and feels sturdier: Squier Affinity P Squier Bronco The E tuner on the Bronco was a bit tricky and has resulted in a bit of an angle between the nut and the tuner, but I couldn't have gone much higher with it. Lots of room on the P.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1167152' date='Mar 18 2011, 02:05 PM']I can't find any pics, so I drew an awesome diagram! (apologies, I'm no artist at the best of time and this was a 2 minute sketch in paint). If you're looking at the lower horn from the back, the centre line is the countour. To the left of it, you thin the horn, it means your hand doesn't hit a solid block of wood and some of your fingers can go behind the body instead of wedging next to it. How thin you'd need to make it would depend on the body thickness. From the front it doesn't look any different as all the carving's done at the back.[/quote] I think I see what you mean now. I'll keep that in mind. Until the neck arrives and is fitted I won't be entirely sure what I should do.

[quote name='Macklaud' post='1167118' date='Mar 18 2011, 01:54 PM']I just whant to know what do you guys think that are the most important things to inspect whem we are buying a second handed bass?[/quote] The neck. Everything else can be reasonably easily fixed. Any neck issues - walk away.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='1167080' date='Mar 18 2011, 01:39 PM']I had a Korean Epi Tbird and the neck was good, although I prefer precision necks to jazz anyway, so not everyone will agree. So you have a jazz body with a funky chunky neck. Probably lose the neck dive because of the jazz body shape. Sort of like a poor man's Gibson Victory?[/quote] A destitute pauper's Gibson Victory, perhaps

I played recorder for a laugh at primary school. I laughed until I was the last boy in recorder group. I got a guitar for a laugh about 15 years ago. I laughed for about a week. Then I got a bass for a laugh 8 years ago. I took about 5 years to get the joke but I'm still laughing

Although I've got no burning desire to own one, 1975 would really have to be a Gibson Ripper:

Well, we're probably several years behind the rest of the country, but that's nothing new. Shops do what they do and stock what they stock because it's financially viable. Judging by the (display) stock levels in the two guitary music shops here where electric guitars outnumber electric basses by anything between 8 and 10 to 1 I'd say that the bass coolness factor just isn't there yet in Aberdeen. It does put me on a bit of a downer to be honest, but at least it stops me just walking in and buying stuff. FWIW bass has always been cool as far as I'm concerned. The only instruments I have spent any time gaining some level of competence with are the recorder (at primary school) and the bass.

Welcome to the forum

Easy things first - the Grabber slider: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260750391208"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260750391208[/url] The original Grabber pickup mounts with four screws and is a humbucker. Also used in the 80s on the Gibson Q-80, and the Explorer bass. Some useful info here: [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/grabber_techinfo.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/grabber_techinfo.php[/url] and here: [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/#18"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/#18[/url]

+1 for the MP-BT1, had mine for a few years and find it very useful and sturdy.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1164137' date='Mar 16 2011, 10:00 AM']Better not let Neepheid hear you say that. [/quote] Meh, each to their own. On the strength of their current bass output, I'd be inclined to agree. In fact I'd go so far as to say that I find their current output a load of uninspiring, insipid tosh made up of diluted past glories and strange, bastardised reissues which capture little of the flavour or spirit of the models they are meant to be descended from. I also curse them for the creation (and continued use) of the abomination which is the three point bridge. Having said that - if you're having a pop at Gibson's most fertile and creative period in the bass world (70s and 80s) then [url="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=square%20go"]square go[/url]

Oh Gibson, what are you doing these days? I don't think I've liked anything you've done since the late 80s.

Also have a care as to where the truss rod adjusts on the neck you wish to use. If it has heel truss rod access, get a pickguard with the notch cut out at the heel, if it's head access then get one with a plain heel otherwise you have a pointless notch in your pickguard. Up to you, but it would irritate me

[quote name='shemeckfrac' post='1162799' date='Mar 15 2011, 09:58 AM']This option explores pickups capability. Anyone can tell me if parallel/series switching is worth doing? Never played around with parallel/series configurations so don't know if that option adds any practical value.[/quote] The Bass Whisperer outlines it all with a G&L Tribute L-2000: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT4AP58jC5o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT4AP58jC5o[/url]

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1161844' date='Mar 14 2011, 03:00 PM']Have you thought about carving the back of the lower horn to make it thinner? Also the back of the neck pocket so there's not a huge chunk of wood there. I can't remember where I saw it a while ago, I thik it was on a 36 fret bass (and a tasteful one, not a wishbass ), it looked like it improved the upper fret access a lot without compromising (or even changing) the looks from the front.[/quote] Interesting, but I can't quite visualise how that's going to help. Can you find any pics of what you mean? Had a bit of a setback last night - my Mouse sander went pop. Bah!

[quote name='gary mac' post='1162651' date='Mar 15 2011, 07:03 AM']Thanks chaps. Sorry if I'm being dense but do you mean the existing holes to the body would show after fitting the replacement pickguard or just that they wouldn't line up?[/quote] It's possible that you could be really unlucky at the thin end, but mostly the screw holes won't line up. I've put a MIM hole pattern one on a Squier before. All of the holes bar one didn't line up. Had to drill them out, glue in dowel then drill new holes.

Unlikely to fit. Fill the existing holes and redrill.

Ach, maybe so but I started to go through it anyway as I was sanding off black stuff so I'm going to take the lot off. To be honest I prefer not to have unknown substances present, you never know if there could be an unfavourable reaction when finishing. EDIT: besides, I'll be carving recesses in the body for the bridge, modifying the neck pocket and reshaping the bottom horn, so those parts won't have that sealer coat on anyway so I'd rather just take the lot off.

This'll be light, and it's a bargain price! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=127026"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=127026[/url]

The top black stuff isn't too bad but there's a layer of brown stuff underneath and that is taking an age to shift!

Only one of my current basses is still currently being produced, so replacement would be a bit of a pest. That hasn't stopped me gigging any of them. I do keep an eye on my bass at a gig. I don't mind sharing my amp if it makes the gig go smooth but no-one but me gets to play my bass. I always take a stand to the gig and the bass is either in the case/bag or on the stand. I don't see what else I can practically do to ensure its safety. Happy that I have done all I can, I take whatever bass I fancy playing that night.

This matt black goth stuff is bloody tough. I was hoping it would recoil simply by being exposed to sunlight Seriously though, I am in the middle of sanding, and it is hard going.

[quote name='Cygnus x-1' post='1159931' date='Mar 12 2011, 10:16 PM']If I were to buy a neck from the USA for around $100, does anyone know if it would cost anthing in tax at my end (UK) and if yes roughly how much? any advice much appreciated, thanks.[/quote] Yes it would. VAT is 20%. It probably is below the value needed for Customs Duty to kick in. The courier might levy a charge for presenting the goods to HMRC, paying the duty on your behalf then invoicing you. So the answer is 20% plus anything between £5 and £15. Or it might sneak under their noses...

Hollow/semi-hollow?

[quote name='BassKS' post='1158329' date='Mar 11 2011, 05:23 PM'][url="http://www.bassmerchant.com/manufacturers/G-and-L/98.html"]http://www.bassmerchant.com/manufacturers/G-and-L/98.html[/url] Surely Tribute series.[/quote] At that price, absolutely.