neepheid

Welcome to the forum

Just (hopefully) about to take delivery of a Squier Bronco to see what all this short scale nonsense is about. Scored it at a price that I could easily get back if it's not a keeper. Will let you know how I get on!

Welcome to the forum

[quote name='tauzero' post='236330' date='Jul 10 2008, 10:04 AM']Might be caused if a DC-blocking capacitor goes close-circuit - then moving the control would change the DC level to the following circuitry, which would be audible but would stop when the change in voltage stops. Exactly how likely that is I don't know but I remember reading about it (um, about 35 years ago...)[/quote] Cheers for the thought. If it is what you say it is then I don't suppose there's much I can do about it seeing as it's all little surface mount stuff on a PCB. The SE-2As are in storage now - I might hook them up to a junker P/J some time and see if they do the same in that. As for the OLP, I'm now thinking about putting in a series/parallel/single switch then feeding that into an Aguilar OBP-2.

If you're using normal bass strings I don't think you'll get away without using a truss rod. I'm (hopefully) getting away without using one on my Doodle-bass because I'm using plastic strings.

[quote name='Pkomor' post='235573' date='Jul 9 2008, 11:16 AM']Just a quick question, How did you go about tapering the neck, and then shaping it?[/quote] The hard way - took a metre stick and drew lines where I wanted the shape to be, started off with a fret saw so that I could get in there then used the Japanese saw once the fret saw had done enough that I could get the blade in. There are easier ways of doing this, like a jigsaw or a bandsaw, but I just took my time and did it gradually over a few nights in the comfort of my own home rather than upping sticks and heading to the workshop. Haven't started the shaping yet, but I'll get myself a spokeshave and/or a surform and use that to remove the bulk of the wood, then sand it.

Heh, tried everything we could think of, could not eliminate the nasty noises. Result: one OLP MM3 with the pickup directly wired to the jack socket. Oh well, at least it works. I now have a distrust of concentric pots.

[quote name='Galilee' post='235069' date='Jul 8 2008, 04:32 PM']Oh mate cheer up, you're usually a paragon of patience with this stuff. It just sounds like niggly stuff to me. If a pot's crackly when you turn it, don't turn it. How's your sister getting on painting that Squier?[/quote] Ahh well, I can't be expected to keep up the serenity all the time, despite occasional accusations to the contrary I am human Tonight I'm going to sort out one or two of these problems with one of my mates who's handy with a soldering iron so that'll cheer me up - two heads better and all that. I haven't heard anything about the painting yet but I suspect that she's busy with my other sister's wedding which takes place this month. Maybe after all the wedding madness is over she'll get some stuff down on the wooden canvas.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='234923' date='Jul 8 2008, 01:09 PM']On the OLP you may have to change the pot. I've just had the same problem on my Traben Phoenix 5. Started off with a slight crackle on one half and gradually got worse with cut outs etc. Dropped in a new pot last weekend and everything sounds great again. The balance pot definitely doesn't look as robust as the others in the circuit.[/quote] Do you mean replace the balance pot? I've tried 2 concentric pots, I'd consider myself to be highly unlucky to have 2 defective ones.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='234852' date='Jul 8 2008, 11:37 AM']Have you got a dodgy lead?!![/quote] Nah, lead(s) work fine with the basses which are behaving themselves/I haven't messed about with.

I don't know why I bother sometimes. 3 of my "family" are having problems just now - and it's been my tinkering which has caused it or made it more noticeable. 1) Cherry red EB-3 - there's hiss and slight distortion of the sound on anything other than full volume/full treble. Pots are crackly too. Sounds like the caps are poorly and the pots need replaced. Basically it needs a complete electrical replacement between the jack and the pickups. 2) Fecker Imprecision - I broke the wire between the two parts of the pickup as I was transplanting its innards to a temporary body (the original is to be refinished). I soldered it back, but it doesn't seem right - getting more crackles than I'd like when I touch strings/bridge. I'm vague because basically I got all downhearted and put it down and haven't looked at it since. Basically it's an electrics dismantle and rebuild, and I might have screwed the pickup. 3) OLP MM3 - the Artec SE-2A is making horrible crackling/popping/rustling noises whenever the concentric pot is turned. I am tearing my hair out at this one - I've even tried a replacement SE-2A board/concentric pot in there to no avail. I cannot figure out where the noise is coming from - I can't get the noise to map to any wire that I wiggle, and if I hold the pot and turn it there's no noise, so I don't think it's the pot. Earlier today I considered breaking up the MM3 for parts and flogging it, that's how annoyed I was. I've calmed down a bit now, but sometimes it all stacks up against you and you really do wish you'd just left things alone.

[quote name='mathewsanchez' post='234559' date='Jul 7 2008, 10:24 PM']Here's a similar one on ebay: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1964-Hagstrom-Futurama-Bass_W0QQitemZ120278538838QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1964-Hagstrom-Futura...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] Yeah, I did spy that one - it's even older than the one I'm sorting out.

Allparts are also licensed by Fender, like this large headstock Strat neck:

Thought I'd forgotten about this? The owner must do Therefore I'm pleased to report that the neck is complete! Now I need to get to work on the body.

What does it matter - you won't send the guitar out without getting paid first, will you? If the user offering you a figure really wants it, they'll bid. Plus you've got over 6 days left. Chill - lots can and will change, especially near the end. If no-one triggers your reserve, you're not obliged to complete the sale.

[quote name='mathewsanchez' post='231994' date='Jul 3 2008, 01:45 PM']I want one. [/quote] I don't even know if it'll work satisfactorily yet

[quote name='Dave Dubya' post='232385' date='Jul 4 2008, 12:35 AM']I wasn't quite expecting the price to raise to that extent.[/quote] I was. They're rare. It hasn't even hit 3 figures yet!

[quote name='BigRedX' post='232351' date='Jul 3 2008, 11:33 PM']That looks good. However those off-set truss-rods would worry me a bit...[/quote] The rods themselves aren't offset, only the bits carved out of the headstock to access them.

What do you think of a truss rod cover which mimics the outline of the headstock?

Soapbar pickups hide a multitude of options. Take EMGs for instance. In the same soapbar package (let's say the 40) you could have a single blade, dual blade, split blade (like a P), dual blade with ceramic and steel magnets, switchable single/dual blade ceramic and steel. All of which will have an effect on the sound produced.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='231022' date='Jul 2 2008, 12:09 AM']Unfortunately, our seller has set his auction to [b]private[/b] to "protect the bidders identity" or more truthfully, to stop anyone from warning them what they are really bidding on....curses! Foiled again![/quote] No, it isn't specifically private - eBay are doing that as a matter of course now, but only while the auction is running. Once it is finished the winner will be revealed. Private auctions say so on the main auction page.

And it's away...

[quote name='JAMiUs' post='230734' date='Jul 1 2008, 05:54 PM']Hey y'all, I'm new here as you can tell and i'm in a bit of a pickle. I recently bought a Squire Vintage Modified TB Bass and unfortunetly the pick up has buggered up. Does anyone know where I might be able to find a replacement? Or any pickups that could replace it? I believe its a TEB 101B Humbucking Pickup. Thanks for any replys =) x[/quote] If you didn't muck it up yourself, and you bought it new in the last year, can you not get it fixed under guarantee?

Ha, I couldn't help thinking that there was something familiar about those cable ends. Then it hit me: Oh yeah! So after I found four old skool plugs (I always keep plugs!) a combination of nippers and pliers got rid of the copper bit that goes to the fuse. Fed the string through, tightened the screw and bingo - home made ball end, at no cost to me other than half an hour of swapping some plugs around the house because two of my spare plugs didn't have suitable terminals. So all I need to do is attach that block of wood to the end of the bass then drill 4 holes through for the strings. Poke 'em through the hole, attach these on the ends [i]et voila[/i].