neepheid

I survived!

If you didn't get charged then it slipped through the net. Count yourself lucky, but don't count on it.

[quote name='Skybone' post='453318' date='Apr 3 2009, 01:10 PM']If the sale is from a private individual, and not a shop, like you said, you can get them to send it as a gift. If the item is sent as a gift, you should get around the customs charges. There's always getting them to send it as a lower value package (but insure it for what it's worth).[/quote] Wrong. As explained above.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='453183' date='Apr 3 2009, 11:51 AM']You don't always pay import duty as there's a threshold below which HMR&C don't bother, but if you allow for it then there's no nasty surprises.[/quote] +1 Correct - as explained in the wiki article - "Customs duty will be waived if the amount (of Customs Duty) is less than £7."

I used my job interview mindset - it's not an interview, I'm just going for a yap with someone about a job. I've got almost every job I've interviewed for and I've auditioned for one band and they said yes. Relaxation is the key.

[quote name='solo4652' post='453003' date='Apr 3 2009, 09:42 AM']If I buy a used bass off ebay from the USA from a private individual (not a shop), will I need to pay VAT and/or import duties, please? If so, aproximately how much is this likely to be? Steve[/quote] Yes, you will need to pay VAT and/or Customs Duty depending on the value of the item. See [url="http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/info:buying:importing_gear"]http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/info:buying:importing_gear[/url]

I'm looking for strings to put on the Hagstrom. It's a short scale bass, but normal short scale strings don't fit - the wraps kick in far too soon. The scale length appears to be around 31", and there's just over 2" between the bridge and the end of the tailpiece. Therefore I need strings that need to be at least 33" before the silks kick in or the wraps taper off. Does anyone use any of the following: Rotosound RS66M Standard - Medium Scale 40 50 75 90 D'addario EXL220M Medium scale - Super Light 40 60 75 95 Can someone check if they are at least 33" from ball end to the beginning of silks/end of wraps? Cheers

Welcome to the forum

It depends how "period correct" you want to be. The Musicmaster was factory fitted with a 6 pole piece Strat pickup under a plastic cover. If you're not bothered about that then the usual upgrade is to put in any alternative Strat sized pickup, like a dual rail humbucker, or a lipstick one. The pics are a little small but it looks like you have some kind of dual rail thing in there already? Anything else and you'll likely have to do some routing and/or pickguard cutting. If you want it back to before, I have a white cover for a Strat pickup from my Bronco if you want it. For the rewiring, probably get some nice CTS pots and a Sprague (sp?) Orange Drop capacitor. To give you some ideas, here is my pimped Squier Bronco - Full size tuners (I wouldn't mess with the ones in your '71 unless they're not working very well) BWB pickguard Lipstick pickup 4 saddle bridge with through body stringing

[quote name='BigRedX' post='452692' date='Apr 2 2009, 07:49 PM']Looks stunning! Brilliant job! What colour is the actual body going to be? However make sure that you get some proper medium-scale (32") strings next time...[/quote] It's going to be white - like the guitar counterpart earlier in the thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5233&view=findpost&p=283240"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...st&p=283240[/url] Yeah, I know, the one length of strings most people don't have just lying around. I will get hold of a set before the bassbash.

Now, the story: Yesterday I took the Haggy (as it is becoming affectionately known) across to my mate Rich (Ou7shined on here) to knock our heads together to rewire this badboy. To be fair, Rich did most of it - he's a lot better at electronics than me Still took us two goes to get it right though - first time only the bridge pickup was working. I put everything into the spare body that I had lying around, strung her up (what a weird length - short scale strings are too short by about an inch - the wraps start too soon and I had to use long ones, hence the mess of the E string. What a sound! I knew that these pickups were surprisingly hot for their age - 13K resistance noted on multimeter and it was like they were angry at being dormant for so long! That neck is so fast it's unbelievable. This is going to be so hard to give back once I'm done The wiring is very peculiar, the switch near the neck is a kill switch (on/off for everything) and then the switches left to right from the player's point of view are - neck pickup on/off bridge pickup on/off tone (switches in a treble bleed capacitor) mute (switches in a resistor which has a nominal muting quality on the sound) and obviously master volume for the pot. All that's left to do is refinish the body, and the weather finally seems to be taking a turn for the better. For those of you going to the Scotland/North England bassbash in Moffat, I will be taking this venerable beast with me.

Oh, ye of little faith:

Breaking news: it lives! More soon.

[quote name='beerdragon' post='450394' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:32 AM']I'm having problems finding a black one for a Pbass project.i have just phoned one place and a guy told me that they cant get hold of any and all other s/plates wont fit. i guess its not just the screw holes but the holes for the pots and jack dont line up. the only other thing i can think of is spring the white one black. any idea what kind of paint i would gave to use, or even if it would work. ta,[/quote] If you absolutely must have a pickguard the same as the old one (I've just got Mex ones and filled/redrilled where appropriate) - WD Music do a custom service where you give them an accurate tracing of the guard and they make you one from that. You say this is a project though - it's not that much work to fill and redrill some holes. On one the positioning was so off that a few of the screws were near edges or floating in mid air - I solved that by glueing strips of wood or half dowels onto the body in the appropriate places like so -

[quote name='rockpig' post='450057' date='Mar 30 2009, 10:34 PM']number 4 all the way.[/quote] Do you have a wife?

Welcome to the forum Musical instrument making course, eh? Sounds interesting.

Welcome to the forum

[url="http://www.axesrus.com"]http://www.axesrus.com[/url] Free postage and excellent service.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='447306' date='Mar 27 2009, 02:35 PM']Oh - don't ever pinch the PP3 out of the smoke alarm as this can prove highly dangerous in the event of your wife finding out !!![/quote] I've got no excuse with a Maplin across the road, and a 24 hour Tesco a 2 minute drive away

I'm gearing up for my first gig with a new band next Friday. My second gig ever in my life. Basically just practising my butt off. Learning to hold notes better, have fingers more ready with the next note to move faster. Had a good practice session on Wednesday with the band which has put me in a good frame of mind for the gig. Got next week off work too, so should be able to get lots of practice in.

Jamie bought a Hipshot Supertone bridge from me. Paid promptly and all went well.

Welcome to the forum

Road trip!

[quote name='Sean.Robinson' post='445701' date='Mar 26 2009, 09:20 AM']I never fully understand the last minute bid thing, unless its a phone as your bound to be bid up, the main thing what puts me off though is i always forget [/quote] If you put your max bid down early, it gives your rivals thinking time. Time to make annoying little incremental bids which if they really want it (or are stupid and don't get the concept of maximum bid/budgeting in general) will end up with them getting it, for more than anyone ought to pay for it. Last minute bidding with your max bid eliminates this risk. They don't have time to think, one shot at it. If I'm outgunned at this point then I wasn't going to win anyway.