Andyjr1515

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1501248217' post='3343611'] Sounds good - it's a rotery 5 way switch - mainly cos I couldn't work out a way to cut the slot for a strat style switch accuracy [/quote] OK - makes sense. Do remember to chisel or drill a slot for the little tab on the five way put there to prevent the switch body turning in use. I don't generally bother with the standard pots, but the twisting resistance on a 5 way is high, so you will need that extra stability. It's a bit scary getting the chamber bottom (which of course is actually the guitar top) thin enough - if you have a choice, aim for reasonable thread length on the threaded portion of the pots. Certainly don't go for the short thread ones, which are designed for fitting to an aluminium or steel amp chassis

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1500936828' post='3341244'] How deep to folk do their control cavities? [/quote] It's looking good, Luke. There's some very accurate and neat cutting and routing going on here... Ref the depth of the control chamber, it's a bit the other way round...more ' what thickness of your top do folk leave over their contol chambers.' Basically, you need, at the thinnest area, to be able to get your pot threads pushing through enough to get the washer and nut on. I drill my pot holes first so I can see how close I'm getting. Five way switches are also a bit of a challenge - it's got to be deep enough for the switch to fit under the cover (and they can be very deep) and the top has got to be thin enough for the blade to be able to go to the two end extremes. Once you've roughed it out, go very carefully with the router, little bit at a time and checking and rechecking the thickness.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1501190349' post='3343290'] Apologies for the bum notes folks... [/quote]Sounded pretty darned good to me...especially as this was the first time you'd touched it!

You'll have to forgive the dreadful sound quality of my phone - live this sounded stupendous - here is Mick with the Psilos on the strap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84asdOSV34g ..and here with it over his knee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_U9VkTxXos

Forgive the poor sound quality from my phone - it sounded fantastic live - here is Mick with the Psilos on the strap: https://youtu.be/84asdOSV34g ...and here is Mick with it on his knee: https://youtu.be/J_U9VkTxXos

[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1501182451' post='3343212'] NO PICTURES. NO BASS [/quote] I think I can oblige.... On the strap: And on the knee - with Mick's dog, Shalla, realising she may not be the only apple of his eye now :

Passed across the Psilos Bass this afternoon to Mick. Always a HUGE pleasure dealing with Mick. Thanks again for giving me the opportunity once more

Thanks, Mick And thanks for giving me the opportunity for working on such an inspirational design

Hi, Mick Not long got back (don't you just love the M1 ) As I said as we parted company, I'm absolutely delighted you are delighted . It looked good on you, it sounded GREAT through your rig - and your playing...well, let's just say that my latest baby has gone to a VERY good home indeed Andy

I'll have a proper look at this when I'm back on a proper PC this eve, but from my phone it looks excellent. I built one for our very own gelfin last year and now have a bit of a soft spot for them

I like that very much Beautiful!

[quote name='garry warrington' timestamp='1500920608' post='3341118'] Bought a cheap SX p bass as a backup, decided to upgrade a few parts. Upgraded machine heads, then bought a mullard tropical fish cap swapped out the the green cap. The pots are cheap and the mini size, when i installed the new cap it actually made the bass sound worse, seemed to to lack a certain p bass vibe that it had. Could it be that the new cap didnt work well with the existing pots? I put an old green cap back on that i had hanging around and it was back to normal, not sure its going to be worth spending anymore on it. [/quote] Although I confess I often mod things for the sake of modding them, I am also, at times, quite pragmatic. If the existing post and cap give you the tone you want and the pots don't crackle, then I would leave well alone....anything different is going to sound, well, different

Saw him in Leeds last night (missed you, jazzyvee! ) Excellent gig and I really have never seen either electric or double bass played like that. Fantastically talented support too and best drummer I've seen live, although one or two fewer drum solos would have made it even more perfect

Now we're talking Excellent - can't wait

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1500909824' post='3341007'] Looks great! Have you sorted out a suitable case for it yet? [/quote] Mick has one he thinks will fit - we'll find out on Thursday

Well, according to Wikipedia, which we all know is absolutely spot on accurate :[font=sans-serif] In [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_warfare"]Ancient Greek warfare[/url], [b]psiloi[/b] ([url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek"]Ancient Greek[/url] ψιλοί, plural of ψιλός, [i]psilos[/i], literally “bare, stripped”),[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-1"][1][/url][/sup] were extremely light infantry who acted as skirmishers and missile troops.[/font][font=sans-serif] Psiloi, often used as a broad term to describe types of unarmored or lightly armored infantry, have often been more explicitly referred to by other names, such as [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnetes"]gymnetes[/url][/i] (lit. [i]naked[/i])[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-2"][2][/url][/sup] or [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Euzonoi&action=edit&redlink=1"]euzonoi[/url][/i] (light armored; after whom the modern [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evzones"]Evzones[/url] are named),[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-3"][3][/url][/sup] [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grosphomachoi&action=edit&redlink=1"]grosphomachoi[/url][/i] and [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akontistai&action=edit&redlink=1"]akontistai[/url][/i] (javelineers),[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-4"][4][/url][/sup][sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-5"][5][/url][/sup] [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sphendonetai&action=edit&redlink=1"]sphendonetai[/url][/i] (slingers),[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-6"][6][/url][/sup] [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxotai"]toxotai[/url][/i] (bowmen or archers) or [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lithoboloi&action=edit&redlink=1"]lithoboloi[/url][/i] (stone throwers).[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-7"][7][/url][/sup] The [i][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peltast"]peltastai[/url][/i] (bearers of light shields, targeteers)[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psiloi#cite_note-8"][8][/url][/sup] are often categorized as an intermediary infantry type, later grouped either with the psiloi or the heavy infantry, according to their main tactical role.[/font] [font=sans-serif] Whatever, it's too late. Ink's dry on the label, web site updated. And to quote President Trump - everything I don't agree with is False News! [/font][font=sans-serif] I just love this post-truth world. So liberating. Anyway, just off to build my 16 string glass-composite uke. It's going to be my best build yet....[/font]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1500818555' post='3340342'] No sign of the Silk Bass or the neck on the Alembic-uesque Bass [/quote] [url="http://www.ajrguitarmods.co.uk/alembic%20style%20refurb.htm"]The Silk Bass is here[/url], Mick As I suspected, it was the Gallery link photo that was missing...

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1500844589' post='3340605'] Any chance you could post the skinny string builds on here? I know it's a bass forum, but I think it might stop a few of us going through cold turkey, you could call them short scale six string piccolo bass builds.... [/quote] Yes, of course I will - with the trickery of photographic scale and perspective, who would know...

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1500818555' post='3340342'] No sign of the Silk Bass or the neck on the Alembic-uesque Bass [/quote] That's odd. I wouldn't generally put a neck on, but the Silk Bass should be on there.... Might be I've just forgotten to post the link photo on the gallery (as I realise I had also done with Nic's Mouradian....) I'll fix next time I'm on the desktop

[url="http://www.ajrguitarmods.co.uk/psilos%20bass.htm"]Website updated[/url]

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1500813416' post='3340305'] Afternoon All, Sorry for not being about recently, but as a quick follow up to this; Andy, it was a pleasure to assit on the fine tuning of this fine instrument. I am sure Mick will be ecstatic when he gets it. I can certainly confirm the tonal range available with the combination of external and internal controls gives a massive amount of room to play with adn I am sure he will be able to find a sound of his own personal tastes in short order. The finish on it is sublime, Matt was very taken with simply stroking it and saying "sooo smoooooth...soo smoooth..." over and over again that it did get quite worrying. Also, Jo has been to the bank and got your cash but since you published that video anyway I am going to go and spend it at the pub instead! @Mick - you have a truly fine instrument on it's way. I would love to see some video of a proper bassist playing it rather than just me. [/quote]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1500811339' post='3340291'] Right then, now that's done and dusted, what's next? [/quote] Well - the first job is to finish off a Wal neck replacement for one of our basschat colleagues (a new 5-string fretted neck as a fully reversible mod to a wonderful fretless 80's instrument). Shouldn't take long. Then...and here I have to whisper it very quietly so no one hears....a couple of six string electrics. One commissioned and one for me. But ezbass...don't you go telling any of the others!

There you go....Mick and I demonstrating the extra-sensory link between owner and builder once more

There have been so many great name suggestions. Happily, the funniest ones won't fit on the label [size=5]So - [i]cue drumroll - [/i]the winner is :[/size] [size=5][/size] Well done [b]BassApprentice [/b] I looked up Psilos and not only is BassApprentice right that it is Ancient Greek for 'uncovered' but there is an interesting second meaning that clinched it. In Ancient Greek armies, they had a squad of specialist fighters called Psilia. A Psilos was a highly trained fighter who was sent in, with the rest of his squad, to specific target areas in the enemies lines, uncovered - no armour or protection at all. [b] This made the Psilos sleek, light and very, very effective at packing a devastating punch.[/b] Well, folks, if that doesn't deserve the prize..... Well done, BassApprentice - Mick no doubt will PM you. And thanks to all for your name contributions and.... well..... (wiping the beginning of a tear away from his chiselled good looks) just for being there! P.S. Beware using chisels. Particularly in terms of what they can do to your good looks

Many thanks for the great name suggestions and for your feedback and encouragement along the long journey Following a 21 page thread is no mean feat - I think you should all give yourselves a pat on the back Declaration of the name winner will be announced early afternoon Andy