Andyjr1515

bluejay has posted the video of Nick Smith's impressive demo of the Super Quads given to us all at the Herts Bash. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/277704-herts-bass-bash-2016-sunday-5th-june/page__st__210"]The thread (in Events) is here.[/url] The great thing is that on the video he plays Mick's mystery bass too (and oh, so well)

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1465390268' post='3067759'] I have now uploaded Nick (Doctor of the Bass) Smith's talk about SimS pickups. Still working on the photos from the bash. [media]http://youtu.be/OvwumLSkXzU[/media] [/quote] Perfect timing, bluejay Thanks

If Nick Smith's demo at the Herts bash was video'd, it would be good to see and listen again. Great demo, Nick! The tonal difference between the humbucker setting and either of the other two are like chalk and cheese. Also, to my ears, there is pretty much NO volume drop (still well impressed and not at all sure how they've achieved that...remember, these are passive pickups. The battery is only there to power the LEDs The tonal difference between the P and single coil settings is much more subtle. I couldn't hear a huge difference on my non-bass home set up. I could hear a clear difference in Nicks demo but it is subtle. Also, a P gets its sound partly because of where the pickup is placed, so I suspect that placement could optimise the sound from the SimS if this setting is particularly important? There are a number of good quality videos on YouTube that are worth a look. ...and those LEDs are pretty damn cool....

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1465231335' post='3066353'] Thanks for that! I'd forgotten about all those existing extra bridge holes. And I didn't realise that decent wood for building musical instruments was so expensive these days. It's a long time since I made my first electric guitar but I don't think the wood I used cost anything like that much. [/quote] Of course, you could always go the Jabba_the_gut route. Much cheaper wood source but I presume Jez doesn't have many doors left in his house!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1465222971' post='3066256'] Wow! That's a fantastic looking bass, and a brilliant bit of restoration/construction. A couple of questions: 1. The extra large route and the block of new wood at the bridge was that to give the bridge something a bit more stable to be fitted to rather than the neck laminations? [/quote] No - much simpler than that. As you can see, I had to infill at the neck to get the neck pickup in the correct place and hide the original rout, but also there were a myriad of drilled holes from the original bridge. The stop-tail routs sorted some of them out but a coordinating piece of walnut to the bridge infill meant I could get rid of the remaining ones [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1465222971' post='3066256'] 2. A while there's no denying that it's a brilliant piece of work and great to see a discarded instrument brought to life, I can't quite help but wonder if it would have been cheaper and easier to have started from scratch with some new wood? ;-) [/quote] Maybe getting on for as easy to build from scratch, but with the horrifying cost of decent wood, it would have added approaching £400 to the cost. Besides - and again you see this more in real life than in the photos - it really does now look like a well cared for [u]original [/u]1970s bass. You would struggle to get that same mojo with all new wood... Good questions, though, BigRedX

Delighted you are pleased with it, Mick. By the way, it's 8lb 12oz according to Mrs Andyjr1515's kitchen scales that I NEVER use to weigh basses on....

Thanks, Mick. It was all worth it just to see the look on your face when you opened the case Thanks for letting me have a go at such an interesting project...and we both knew that, underneath the cracks, splits, crud and bruises, there was a really nice bass lurking underneath.

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1465203476' post='3065979'] Soundclip soon pleeeeeeease! [/quote] That will, of course need to be Mick. You wouldn't want to completely wreck this gossamer thin illusion of competence by hearing me play! Mind you, we heard Nick Smith at the Herts Bash give it a REALLY impressive demo yesterday. Might have been video'd?

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1465199352' post='3065939'] Another fantastic and successful bash! Thanks to Mick and all involved in organising it. Also, if you had photos taken by my dad, please can you drop me a quick pm so I know who has what coming. See you all next year! Si [/quote] Hi, Si PM duly sent. Can you thank your dad again for his sterling work! Andy

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1465158697' post='3065758'] Andy, you truly are gifted. Well done! [/quote] Thanks Not too much flattery, though, because it's a fact that these kinds of projects are much more of a collaboration. Many of the key features that stand out on this restoration were inspired by Mick. Often, all I did was just interpret what Mick was trying to achieve and find a way to do it. The push for orange was entirely Mick's - I don't think I would have thought of that colour. It's difficult to photograph reds and oranges, but the colour of this in real life is just absolutely right. I'd love to say that was Andyjr1515 inspiration but there was much more of TheGreek involved in that

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283510-thegreeks-mystery-bass-rebuild/page__st__120"]Mick's Mystery Bass build thread has been updated here[/url] if anyone is interested in the 'before and after' Andy

OK - here's where we began: ....and this is where we ended up:

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1465147844' post='3065603'] Andy delivered the Bass to me today at the Herts Bass Bash - Words fail me - Andy, you are a genius and a true craftsman - only you and I really know how much difference you've made to this bass - Hopefully somebody will post some photos to let others see what you achieved. I can not thank you enough - have a think about our discussion about the next build. [/quote] It was worth it just to see that grin on your face when you opened the case I'm hoping to see some of the Herts bash photos soon (and of some of the other superb basses and equipment on show) but, for those not able to have seen it, I'll post some of the final build fancy shots shortly. Anyone have any shots of Mick's crazy fixed grin???

Yup - a great time had by all. Clearly a huge amount of work by the organisers (Mick, Chris, Louise plus, plus, plus). Many highlights - Bottle's home-made amp; Jabba's faultless builds; the pedal shoot out; Nick Smith's demo of the Sims Super Quads; a lovely, lovely, lovely Shuker; Valentin's superb forteVio UEB (and the immaculate electric violin).... ...but none so good as the look on Mick's face when he opened the case of the restored 'Mystery Bass'... ...and really none so good as the surprise gift Mick gave me - a superb tcslaser.co.uk acrylic copy of my bubinga fretless build's headstock: Just how cool is that! Thanks Mick for the org and gift and thanks to all for making it such a great day Andy

[quote name='Ashweb' timestamp='1465037856' post='3064834'] Somehow, I think this may be TheGreek's Saturday outside the venue of the Herts Bass Bash... [attachment=220727:Tents.jpg] [/quote] That made me chuckle

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1464900358' post='3063713'] I hope you really mean "[i]suspense[/i]"..unless you're considering a mercy killing... Hurry up Sunday!! [/quote]

All finished, in its case and ready for the Bash. I'll post the fancy pics when I get back and Mick has been put out of his misery

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1464886940' post='3063579'] "Rotten, so I burned it. " ... ... [/quote] You peeped again!!!! Now that's Mick's surprise gone!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1464043442' post='3056132'] (Ref the control chamber) Bigger? I await the next development with interest! [/quote] Hi, BigRedX This is why the control chamber needed to be bigger.... ...it's like spaghetti junction!

There are a few hard cases in Brighton if I remember correctly

[quote name='wwcringe' timestamp='1464731140' post='3062055'] Only just had chance to check in with this since almost the beginning of the project - looking amazing! What was a "save a bass/novelty repair" project has turned into a really classy instrument, by the looks of it very playable and "very AJR" as well!! Fantastic work Andy! [/quote] Thanks, Tom You should see it now! By the way, are the spare set of acoustic strings I got hold of any use to you? They are the same as fitted to your custom job and they are yours for free if they are of any use to you

[quote name='Jabba_the_gut' timestamp='1464635584' post='3061044'] I'll be free next Sunday so count me in. I'll bring a couple of home builds, a couple of TC RS112 cabs or an Eden EX110 cab and either a GKMB200 or a Markbass Blackline head. I've got a Musicman SUB USA for sale which I might bring along. I've also got a 10" speaker in the recycled section I could bring down if anyone wants it. Looking forward to it. Cheers [/quote] Great - that means I get to see your wicked builds again, Jez

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1464448915' post='3059558'] I thought we were going to keep the relic'ed 3T sunburst a secret...ooops, did I let that slip out?? [/quote] It's OK, Mick. Just so long as we don't mention the purple static-electricity-applied velvet scratchplate, nobody will suspect just what this is going to look like Bugger!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1464447298' post='3059540'] A hot-rod flame effect vinyl wrap, maybe..? [/quote] Blast! You peeped!!!! Mind you, I bet you didn't see the engraved pewter inset into it....oh, ooops!!!!!!!

Remember the control chamber that looked like it had been attacked with a masonry chisel? Well, call me all heart, but I thought I ought to tidy it up a bit before I passed this across to Mick. The Sims Super Quads have some fancy switches and fairly hefty wiring looms, plus a 9v battery for the LEDs. I did some mock-ups over the paper impression I did at the start of the process to see if everything was going to fit in an expanded and smoothed out chamber: You can see the outline of the original chamber on the piece with the rough sketch at the top. By the way, this is a top tip learned from my veneering jobs - ALWAYS take a paper impression of the screw holes and chambers before you cover any of them over! It all looked like it was going to fit so I forstner'd the chamber, then made an MDF template and finally finished off with a router with a bearing flush trimmer. Finally, I whistled round with a larger cutter with a small bearing to create the shelf for the cover to flush fit into. Finally, placed all the major bits (except the wiring looms) in to see if I'd got the dimensions right: I was able to use three of the four original holes Next was rounding of the fret ends, using this opportunity to also check that all the frets were fully seated and secure in what were old and slightly wide slots: Thankfully, there was only one fret with a loose end. Wicked some cyano in and clamped it down before the final levelling and polishing. Unless there is major, major crowning required, I use various grades of wonderful 'micro-mesh' abrasive cloths wrapped round my crowning file to both do minor levelling and polishing: There is still a lot to do before next Sunday, but I think I'm past anything that could now go disastrously wrong....so it's now looking pretty good for the 5th! Andy