Andyjr1515

OK - first bit of wood is cut I tell you what - working on this size is SOOOO much easier than a full-size bass. It feels like a toy!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1486596551' post='3233222'] I don't know what the pickups were. Manne make their own rails picks, but the ones on my bass didn't look like any of the current models. Hopefully the SD Cool Rails will have a lower output and a less "rock guitar" tone that the ones on my bass had. I would suggest getting something that can be wired in series and parallel - I think mine would have benefitted from a parallel setting. [/quote] Yes - the Cool Rails are relatively low output with a mids bias.

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1486592254' post='3233172'] Bugger [url="http://vid1122.photobucket.com/albums/l527/Mkuk0/P1020990_zpsj87dnqa7.mp4"]http://vid1122.photo...zpsj87dnqa7.mp4[/url] [url="http://vid1122.photobucket.com/albums/l527/Mkuk0/P1020989_zpsptusatob.mp4"]http://vid1122.photo...zpsptusatob.mp4[/url] No..wait! try this [/quote] Yes - that works . Wonderful! I got to have a high speed taxi run in the tail gunner seat of a Lancaster a couple of years ago. Up there with the best experiences ever! I've got a YouTube clip somewhere - I'll post it if I can find it.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1486590344' post='3233147'] Regarding the pickup, IME what you choose to fit will very much depend on how the owner of the bass is intending to play it and what sort of amp he is going to be putting it through. My Manne piccolo bass had guitar hum buckers with rails rather than pole-pieces and IMO they were somewhat on the "hot" side for playing through my bass rig and getting a bass-type tone out of. As a 4-string guitar through my H&K Tube 50 guitar amp it sounded lovely, but I originally bought it so that I could do faux 8-string bass parts on recordings which would have weird things happening in them like the octave part not always exactly tracking the bass strings, so I was constantly fighting against the "guitar" tone of the pickups and the fact that they really wanted to be driving some pre-amp valves hard. [/quote] Now that is very interesting . I have been looking at the SD cool rails neck pickup. A number of jazz players seem to rate them and it would fit with the fact that my string spacing at the pickup is likely to be non-standard. What rails did you try? I'm also looking to extend the bass strings to 26" and also fit flat wounds, again heading down the Jazz tone rout. It's an interesting project already

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1486579522' post='3233009'] Hope this works <embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid1122.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl527%2FMkuk0%2FP1020989_zpsptusatob.mp4&title="> <embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid1122.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl527%2FMkuk0%2FP1020990_zpsj87dnqa7.mp4&title="> [/quote] No it didn't When I've got videos, I just download them onto Youtube and send people the link.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1486573975' post='3232937'] The proof of the pudding...Harry has hardly been here since the bass arrived... [/quote] ...actually, that's more to do with the fact that his internet is completely down and has been since the weekend

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1486575266' post='3232954'] Yup, well spotted, its on a Dolley so you can run it up and test it without it being mounted in a plane, I was lucky enough to fire it up and give it some wellie as part of a birthday treat visit to Sywell Aerodrome last year...a great day out and I got to sit in a working Mark VIII Spitfire and chat with the pilot, a red arrow display chappie. I have some video of same if I can work out how to post it! [/quote] Fantastic

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1486572694' post='3232919'] Ye gods, it didn't take you long did it! .......luckily for us! Can't wait to see where this goes [/quote] Well, Pete's been pushing me throughout the Mouradian build so I thought I'd better relent By the way - what's the engine on your avatar? A Merlin?

Thanks, folks

Hi again I alluded to this one before Christmas. I generally tackle full builds one at a time and this one has been gathering dust while I've been finishing off Nic's Mouradian-style 4-string. It's for Pete again...yes - our old-git's-band's bassist. I can only think it's some kind of Ponzi pyramid selling scam! Surely he can't need or want that many of my builds??? Anyway, within weeks of me finishing his EB-3ish build last year, he was pressing me for a piccolo bass build. We spent a long time exploring exactly what he meant by a piccolo bass (there are, as we discussed in the previous thread, a number of opinions of what constitutes one ) In the end, I crystallised what he actually wants. It's basically a 4 string electric guitar If you remember, this is the shape I've come up with: Going to have:[list] [*]a tear-drop 'f' hole with a routed chamber in the rear upper bout. [*]24 to 25" (or something in that general range) scale fanned fretted [*]The above bookmatched walnut top, left natural [*]Mahogany back [*]Through neck, possibly maple, with central dark centre splice (I do like how Nic's Mouradian and Tom's African basses look in that respect) [*]Not sure yet about the top carve. Maybe just a smooth, shallow curve [*]Individual bridge anchors (pretty essential with the fan fretting) [*]4 string - EADG at electric guitar pitch (ie 1 octave higher than a bass) [*]Probably a conventional pickup of some sort (still to be determined) but set well forward, jazz-style. [/list] The fretboard - which I'm sure is going to be a pig to do - is going to use this piece of snakewood I've been saving for the right project:

Like the OP, violin. I physically can't hold the beggar. I put it under my chin, pointing the right direction and at the correct angle...and my arm is usually at least 30degrees in the other direction. Pity really...

Many thanks for the great comments, folks. Always very much appreciated. Everything's ready now for the handover to Nic. It sits nicely on the strap as well as the lap, the action should be pretty much the same as Nic's present basses, the SmoothHound now sits nice and squarely in the housing, the pickups are balanced and SOUND GREAT!, the neck is silky smooth and - to my uncouth touch - feels great, it's just under 9lb and - although not perfect - I'm really, really pleased with it and think Nic is going to be too Here - I promise - are the very last shots :

It looks great, T-Bay More importantly is that you've got a bass that is comfortable to play. Things that don't feel right just niggle and niggle and take away the pleasure however good or 'original' the instrument looks. It's why I started modding stuff in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, the manufacturer-supplied instrument is just a starting point. Job done, mate

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1486240801' post='3230337'] I am utterly speechless. I can't belive how well this has progressed. Needless to say I am very keen to get my mits on it. Andy has done a fantastic job. He is great to communicate with and although we haven't met yet I feel we are friends. Full review to follow soon. [/quote] Blimey - 6 Snoopys makes us blood brothers at the very least

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1486228472' post='3230200'] If you bring it to Mids bass bash I'll let you play mine if you let me play yours... [/quote] By then, it will be it in beautiful Wales. ...but you'll be able to play my Bubinga fretless: and, if I can lever it out of Pete's grasp, his EB3ish: Fair swop?

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1486228774' post='3230206'] So its here and its fantastic. What a great day. Thank you Andy!!! [/quote] Great! (and phew! ) Let us all know what you think to it - good or bad. And any issues at all - and I mean at all - just let me know and it will be sorted

[quote name='aDx' timestamp='1486228377' post='3230199'] good... really good! As is the other build [/quote] Thanks Yup - that one's almost ready to pass across

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1486225213' post='3230171'] That looks absolutely awesome, beautiful work Andy.....Did I miss something re strap buttons though, cos I don't see any. [/quote] One of the 'bits and pieces' still to do

And - apart from some polishing, tidying up and set up tasks, it's done Lots of sonic variation from single coil to deep thump. And, marmite or not, it looks absolutely beautiful. I'll do the arty-farty shots once it's been polished, but here are some to be going on with - a sunny day so you can actually see the colour for a change!!! Forgive the self-indulgence Got to tweak the angle of the jack holder to get the Smoothhound to fit square, but this is basically how it will fit:

Gosh, Jez - that's flipping beautiful! Lovely, lovely job

Electrics 3/4 done: Just got to wire up the pots to the micro-switches - best to do that after a night's sleep!

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1486154956' post='3229755'] Top top job. [/quote] Thanks, owen

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1486140502' post='3229609'] Picking her up tomorrow. Cannae wait [/quote] It's all ready

[quote name='samhay' timestamp='1486067661' post='3229043'] >I then remembered the copper I use for shielding. With a small offcut, I soldered a tab to the earth wire: That's how I've always done it, but I also fold the tape over the wire to make a little pocket. I wasn't convinced when I started reading this thread, but like others, I have come around. You have done good work sir. [/quote] Thanks, samhay

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1486052058' post='3228851'] Amazing .....just amazing! [/quote] Thanks, White Cloud. And thanks for the frequent words of encouragement- means a lot. That goes for all the rest of you too