JPJ

So despite my Aguilar AG500 performing flawlessly, and the SM-1500 sitting quietly in reserve, I find myself gassing for either an OB1 or 4-Stroke 500's. Looks like the 4-Stroke might be more my thing but any users of both care to share some real world experience?

My KK Baby Bass is a five string, and I believe cost less than the Thoman when new? Granted its really an EUB but it does a very passible DB tone.

I play five string active basses and a KK Baby Bass. I added a Micro Thumpinator a few months back and it has been a revelation for both the BG's and the upright. In fact, I was paid a huge compliment by the professional sound crew at a large bike rally we played just last week. The FOH loved the sound of my bass DI so much he came up to the stage to see what I was using

So as a few of you will probably know, I have a five string KK Baby Bass and despite the issues I had due to Parcelforce, I'm now over the moon and loving playing her. One thing with these basses is that the stock magnetic pickup works best with two 'washers' inserted into the feet of the bridge. Positioning the bridge accurately on the two 'circles' of the pickup is also vital to getting a good tone. The 'washers' are about 8mm diameter, about 4mm thick and have one flat side and one countersunk side ready to take a screw head. I recently had the strings off to replace a broken tuner barrel (self-inflicted) and the washers dropped out, so I put them back with the flat side in contact with the pickup, thinking that the larger contact area would make for a better connection. Anyway, move forward to last week. The bass has a small metal frame over the bridge that is part of the pickup system. I've become used to using this like a handle when moving the bass in the confines of the man-cave (I know, I must stop) and yes, last week I picked the bass up with my fingers resting on the bridge which tipped the bridge over So I refitted the bridge, but this time I put the washers in the other way up (i.e. with the countersunk side in contact with the pickup) and wow, what an improvement in tone! The KK is naturally quite dark sounding with just the magnetic pickup, and I also use a piezo in the bridge to blend in a bit more high end and 'transparency'. However, with the washers inverted, I am getting a much better all round sound from just the built in magnetic pickup. So basically there is a happy ending to my misjudged handling of the bass. Silver linings and all that

My favourite Fendebird 😉 https://imgur.com/a/aRnSo

You sir have a patience of the proverbial saint. Looks a lovely result though, how does she play and sound?

I'm a huge fan of my custom ACS moulds. I started with 17db filters but found them too isolating, so I changed to 10db filters that work great, even with a loud rock band. They have the effect of cleaning the sound up with the result that I hear every note I play and really help when playing fretless or upright.

I'd start with wire wool, and only to sand paper if the roughness is really deep.

Personally, I'd go for the pickups and other cavities whilst the body blank is still flat and able to support the router. For rounding over the edges its more router work, but for forearm contour and belly cut, I use a belt sander to do all the heavy work.

A useful tip for neck pockets is take a lot of the material out with a forstner drill bit preferable in a pillar drill first. That way you have less chance of the router 'digging in' or 'kicking' messing up the neck pocket. For future reference, I normally cut the neck pocket first before the body profile as it gives you a bigger surface to support the template and router, and its easier to line everything up with nice square edges.

My KK Baby Bass has conventional bass guitar elephant ear tuners, but because they've been mounted without ferrules, I was able to snap one of mine when the string bound up on the side of the peg box.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1497616583' post='3319524'] I'll see how it goes, but I might be able to start fretting very soon [/quote] With all the complicated shapes and unusual features I'd have been fretting from day #1

I'm building a hoard of unobtainables. I contemplate selling my SWR SM1500 from time to time but quickly talk myself out of it even though it's a PITA to gig with due to the weight. Equally you'll have to prise my collection of Overwaters out of my cold dead hands.

If the glue is good enough, and you removed all the tiny torn fibres before gluing and clamping then the glue alone should be good enough as you have the same sort of surface area as most necks with a scarf jointed head have.

I recommend the Snark clip on tuner. Works brilliantly in 'vibration' mode for this sort of adjustment. Covers both my five string electrics and my 3/4 double bass with ease. £17 from Guitar Guitar but probably available cheaper online.