neepheid

You have three fine Gibsons there, so I would say (as a fellow Gibson owner/player) that I would be disappointed by the Epiphone EB-3. That is not to say that all Epis are bad - I love my Epi Les Paul Standard and see no need whatsoever to get a Gibson of that kind. But having owned an Epiphone EB-3 in the past and long since sold it, I wouldn't want one back again, no matter how much I wanted some EB action in my life. Also, I'd find an old Gibson EB-3 and not the SG reissue. Gibson's current output is so uninspiring to me - half baked reissues which fall well short of the mark in terms of the spirit of the original basses they are supposed to be paying tribute to.

[quote name='icastle' post='1148314' date='Mar 3 2011, 01:15 PM']Yes, I was in two minds as to whether I should include the BT and BQ systems in there. It just seemed easier to include them to avoid 'early onset confusion'. [/quote] Yes, but the point is you CAN plonk any old thing into the "control"s, just not to the "system"s, and even if you end up with a system, just make your own arrangements for volume/blend/switching and feed the results of that into the control, I'm pretty sure that the EQ bit is identical. I have a BQC control in my Epi Les Paul - EMG pickups but going through 2 volumes and a 3 way switch then onto the BQC.

[quote name='icastle' post='1148291' date='Mar 3 2011, 12:50 PM']EMG active circuits are pretty standard and most of them even support the use of passive pups. The one's that you probably can't just plonk any old thing in are: EMG-EXG EMG-EXB EMG-BTC EMG-BTS EMG-BQC EMG-BQS[/quote] This is not entirely correct - you can use the BTC/BTS/BQC/BQS [i][b]control [/b][/i]with any pickup. It's the BTC/BTS/BQC/BQS [i][b]system [/b][/i]which mandates the use of EMG pickups - probably because of the blend control.

Boo to you all, this is reminding me how much I miss my old band

Cheers for all the input so far people, that's where these build threads really help, especially when you're attempting something a little mad Mahogany dowelling has arrived so I'll be able to get to work patching up the mess at the bridge end. Pickguard has arrived too - black with white T-bird logo. Just got to make its head disappear

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1145998' date='Mar 1 2011, 04:28 PM']Don't fancy picking it up and driving it down here do you? I'll give you that P neck for free [/quote] Wish I could man. If I was one of these mad, rich, eccentric types then I'd go for it. Road trip!

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1145954' date='Mar 1 2011, 04:03 PM']Apparently it's still in Aberdeen [/quote] <laugh="evil"> Mu-hahahaha! No basses enter or leave Aberdeen without my approval! </laugh> Only kidding.

[quote name='cliffyspliff' post='1145617' date='Mar 1 2011, 12:26 PM']Hi all, I have an I banez BTB450 guitar(4 string) that I want to use as a back up guitar to an Ibanez srx7000 that I currently use in my band......The problem is the volume output on the BTB is so low, you would never be able to hear it in the band mix.....we play loud usually covering heavy rock or metal......couple of questions.....If I were to only change the pre amp would this bring the sound level of the guitar up??......If I change the pickups would I need to change the Pre amp as well??....pickups in the guitar are Bartolini mk-1 and a standard 18v preamp(not sure of the model no.).......I like this guitar plays nice, sounds nice, its just too quiet....... Thanks in advance for any replys. Sean.[/quote] Obvious stuff first, have you tried fresh battery/ies?

The T-bird arrived today. A quick check to see that all is well with the pickups before complete dismantling. There will be some repair work to be done - the holes left by the posts for the three way bridge will need filling with mahogany dowel. That'll be the first job. Plus I'll get to work raising some project funds by selling the bits I don't need. I took a wee photo of the body with the bridge resting on it: Chunky

[quote name='fryer' post='1144716' date='Feb 28 2011, 05:57 PM']Without driving to Aberdeen and buying you two pints, do you know where I could get some from ?[/quote] The only stuff I can see on eBay is this stuff in the States: [url="http://musical-instruments.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=headless+bridge&_sacat=3858&_ssn=fastsale123&_odkw=headless&_osacat=3858&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313"]http://musical-instruments.shop.ebay.co.uk...6.c0.m270.l1313[/url] That's the same unit that I've got. There's also eyewateringly expensive ABM stuff (around £380 from Allparts!) which you can get for about £200 before tax from the States.

7.5" or 19cm if you prefer. I like chunky, wide necks. I dislike skinny necks (Jazz etc).

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1143644' date='Feb 27 2011, 06:28 PM']There was also the OLP which was the low end versions made by a different company but licensed by MM like Squier.[/quote] Slight bone of contention - Squier is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fender, so the designs are not licensed by Fender and Squier are "allowed" to make budget copies - Squier IS Fender making budget versions of their own designs, wherever in the far East it is most economically advantageous to do so. OLP is a completely separate entity from EBMM, that's why OLP needed EBMM's permission through licensing to copy the designs.

[quote name='fryer' post='1143630' date='Feb 27 2011, 06:17 PM']Where did you get the headless hardwear ?[/quote] A kind forumite gave the hardware to me for the price of a beer

Yes, I do have a note of these things, along with (some) photos.

I guess if there's one place my '81 Victory Artist deserves to be, it's here: I think enough has been said elsewhere, it's heavy, it's beautiful, it sounds assured and authoritative, it's a winner for me (until my back gives way ) Also I recently acquired Hutton's 1987 IV. I haven't taken any pics of my own yet, so I hope he doesn't mind if I pinch one he took: This is a great bass - a wonderful counterpoint to the Victory - much lighter, passive, simple, yet much more varied in tone than I expected from a passive twin humbucker bass.

I have been through approaching 20 basses in 3 years. In that time I have found that I absolutely must have the following: Wide/chunky neck Front markers (I think fretted basses without markers look unfinished, lazy) And of course having developed a rather strange taste for Gibson basses although it was always there - my first bass was an Epiphone EB-3. I've found myself working towards a nice collection of "keepers" - ones which I like playing, like being seen playing (there surely has to be an accepted amount of vanity in this business), all with their own story or reason to justify their stay. There isn't much more that I would like to achieve. I would love to get my hands on a later Gibson RD Artist (post '79 with 2 preamp mode switches), but I can't see that happening for a few years due to the prices they fetch and the majority of the ones in the wild being 1978 models with the single 3 way preamp switch. I can't see myself habitually spending thousands on individual instruments even if I could afford it because frankly speaking I will never reach the standards of playing where I can justify such expenditure on what will likely always be a hobby.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1137331' date='Feb 22 2011, 05:12 PM']Not the white one per chance??[/quote] Nah, an Epi Goth with bridge issues: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180627722045"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180627722045[/url]

That's giving me gas, but not the wallet-destroying kind

[quote name='lettsguitars' post='1136126' date='Feb 21 2011, 08:07 PM']good ideas. a lot of these old basses had major fret access problems. especially the fenders with the huge body/uncarved heel thing. kudos to you. wouldn't it be cheaper to make the body from scratch tho?[/quote] Possibly, but not at the price I have won a donor T-bird today

[quote name='Wil' post='1135675' date='Feb 21 2011, 04:00 PM']Why not get the bridge and headless nut anodised black?[/quote] I could probably find the exact same hardware in black, eventually. I've seen those bridges around on quite a few things. However, I've got a satin/not black one in my hand right now to mess about with so I'll go with it for now and worry about aesthetics later.

More GIMPery: Yes, I know the brushed/satin/not black hardware doesn't really go with white, but hey ho, what can you do? Make it black?