Andyjr1515

Well guesswork - and trial and error - are, after all, the staples of our trade Adding guesswork, trial and error to the physics of it all, I reckon for balance and sit, especially with the extra neck length of a bass, headless is pretty hard to beat.

Interesting thread. And the weight distribution, strap positioning, etc, interaction is a complicated topic! No - it's a VERY complicated topic... I found with my series of lightweight guitar and bass builds a few years back another factor I hadn't really considered before - the effect of the horn strap pin and weight distribution on not only whether the neck dives or not, but also the left/right position that the instrument hangs on your body - which can make a long scale feel like a short scale, a short scale feel like a long scale and every combination in between! I'll draw a few diagrams to illustrate when I get a free moment. One thing is for certain, though: cutting off the headstock removes a major leverage factor. Putting the tuners at the back adds a smaller but useful bit of leverage the other way. Both will change the position of the fretboard relative to the player.

Splendid!

Very kind for the mention @Maude - and gosh - that is a super, super job you've done there!!!

That is top-drawer. Beautiful build.

Great! There's a distinctive rasp on one or two of the notes that simply stood out. Great stuff - and great circuit work

My guess is that the 3rd one is the Wal circuit

Splendid! Well done

Splendid concert!

Yup - there's a number of Youtube videos around...

Never tried it but I think that I remember a few years back seeing someone online who did. But I agree - I can't quite remember or see how that can work with the shape of a guitar or bass...

Yes - me too. I've used both the Warwick injection moulded and brass versions and happy to use both types. They are also fitted to the most expensive guitar I've ever bought (a Gillett 6-string) so, if it's good enough for them...

Well, you can get some good results and, if it doesn't work right first time you can always sand off and try again... Remember to either do it outside or to have PLENTY of ventilation and use of a proper spec'd face mask

A strip and stain: Most of the refinishing threads seem to be in Build Diaries rather than the Repair and Technical. There's 83 pages of history so you may need a few more cups of coffee

Here's a strip and refinish:

Here's a fairly recent example of a spray-over-finish:

There are a number of ways to refinish - and there are many examples on these pages (Repairs & Technical and Build Diaries) if you scroll back through the history. The good thing is that many folks cover in the threads quite a bit of detail for their methods and the results so its well worth your while to pour yourself a beer/make yourself a flask of cocoa and spend an evening perusing through. In very broad terms, you can: Strip and varnish Strip and oil Strip, stain and varnish Strip, stain and oil Strip and paint Sand and over-paint Strip/semi strip and veneer And in terms of methods you can: Spray Airbrush Wipe Brush It's well worth having a look through the past threads, choose the look or method that appeals and, between us, I'm sure we can give you the 'tips / techniques / pros / cons / successes / disasters' stuff towards something you are going to be ultimately happy with

Well, all done, set up, sounds great, still weighs a ton I'm meeting Jack and Silvia tomorrow to pass it over. To protect the car the bass for the journey, I've popped it in one of my bass gig bags. Clearly it wants to have a peep to see where I'm taking it:

Very kind of the both of you. As the saying goes, you can never have too many swifts

One of the remaining tidying up jobs was this - the router cut from narrowing the neck heel: And I had an idea. And yes, @Happy Jack - there was always going to be at least one swift A trick I stumbled on a number of years ago was, with a 3-layer pickguard, you can rout through the top layer and expose the middle layer. Like this: And it's just the right thickness: Tidied up, it adds maybe a little je ne sais quoi?

And we have sound! And it sounds great!! Here's the chamber, complete with the CTS push/pull: The second set of strings that Jack had sent also sound and feel great Looks pretty cool as well as sounding pretty cool: Just a few finishing tweaks and final set up and it will be ready to pass back

Top notch.

Yup - and genuine

Nor me. That said, someone posted a while ago with something similar and the general view was that he'd bought the wrong length. Maybe, but maybe the same issue. I'll see if I can find it

OK - this is a new one... Starting the set up, the bottom E had a dreadful buzz on both 1st and 2nd frets. 3rd onwards, all good. It didn't take long to realise why: I reckon the bottom E in the sealed pack is a 32"short/medium scale! Anyone else come across this?? This is the pack - and this and the inner bag (which I still have) were both sealed, so clearly the error is at D'Addario's end: Weird!! Anyway, happily @Happy Jack sent me a choice of two sets of strings so I will use the other set and give him these back with the packaging for him to get a refund.