hamfist

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1382466357' post='2252562'] I offer up my see-through wine-red fretless SB320 with an ebony fretboard and tapewound strings: [media]http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulnattress/sets/72157635759238653/[/media] [/quote] Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Nice.

Ouch. Pricey !! If you ever had a chance to do soundclips or a video that would be much appreciated. Do you tend to use it as a preamp in it's own right over a clean tone, or as something to push your CL's preamp with ?

the "doc" certainly seems to be able to make pretty much anything you want in terms of a scratchplate, so long as there is commercially available material to make it from.

[quote name='Green Alsatian' timestamp='1381960622' post='2246234'] I've dealt with both Richtone and GAK and would recommend both of them. [/quote] +1

In praise of Howards superb skills, lets have a place to show all the cool scratchplates that he makes for us. I'll start with a cracker I just got from him for my Thunder 1A [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/thunder-green-b.html][/url] He also once did this nice blue perloid one for a G&L SB-2 I had (the bass is currently owned by Thunderbird) [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/sb2-main.html][/url] As you can see I'm not one for the understated look. Lets see what other beauties Howard has done for us. Come one lads, sort through your old pics.

An update on my Westones. So, initially, I was really pleased with the green re-finish I did on it. However, I was not as pleased with the pickup and electronics. So, I have installed an EMG 40CSX pickup with a 3-band EMG BQC control preamp. And only today have installed the final piece in the jigsaw, which is a wonderful Union Jack stingray-influenced pickguard, courtesy of our wonderful Bassdoc. THis bass is an absolute tone-monster and now looks awesome to match (to me anyway !). Here's the pics [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/thunder-green-b.html][/url] [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/thunder-green-full.html][/url] And it's brother, a new (to me) 1981 Thunder 1A (v1), just purchased from Davy of this forum (I think this bass may have been around the forum a bit). I'm going to keep this one natural. It already has an extra J pickup added (I believe by Bassdoc). Since it's arrival, I have changed the P pickup to a later 80's Westone Thunder P pickup (which is rather lower output and gives more "standard" vintage type tones). Also I have filed the nut slots a bit, and given it a good fret job . Oh, and also given it a full 500K pots circuit, as it had a mix of 250 and 500 in there. It now plays a treat and gives me the sounds I wanted. These old Thunders really do have a chunk and bite to them. The necks are perfect for me. Built to last. I love 'em. [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/thunder-nat.html][/url] [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/thunder-nat-full.html][/url]

So, Reverend, I assume that you are running the SM at all times with the tweeter switched off, as the cab still clearly has a tweeter ?? Or just a little bit of tweeter to add some top end ??

I bought a bass from Dave. An easy transaction. He did exactly what he said he would. Bass was in fine condition. Thoroughly recommended chap to deal with. Thanks mate !!

I'd certainly recommend a separate compressor pedal and amp head, purely because you will limit yourself so much if you stick to and amp with an onboard compressor (most of which are pretty so-so anyway). if you want clean, crisp and punchy, also look at the GK MB line of amps. Specifically the MB500 and MB800. Very small and light too. Similar to the Markbass little marks, but with more bite and treble if you want it. I always find the Markbass amps a little lacking in that area for me. For compressors check out ovnilab.com for an unbeatable review of virtually all available pedal compressors out there.

Cool. Great info chaps !

[quote name='marcus bell' timestamp='1381561227' post='2240601'] I asked for people's opinion on a bass not to be slagged off. [/quote] it's just affectionate leg-pulling Marcus. we're all friends here hopefully. I'm just as guilty as anyone for moving through gear.

[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1381510432' post='2240137'] I think you'll keep it for a week and then sell it...... [/quote] No way Marcus would keep it that long !

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1381512886' post='2240185'] This is going on for too long. Flat/coloured, no one really cares that much. I'd rather concentrate on having a mint gig and enjoying it...isn't that what its all about? [/quote] For many yes, and for others the tone of their bass is just as important to them as how well the gig goes.

So, what I'm getting here is that no-one actually knows the answer to the question ? It's not actually something I really worry about. Gear goes through my hands quicker than water so I can't imagine ever having a pedal long enough to actually wear it out. However, I am still interested in an academic way in the major factor(s) in component (ie. resistors and capacitors etc) wearing. I know switches and pots do tend to go first, being the moving parts, but for those that don't move. Anyone know the answer ?

Mike bought a P bass from me. An utterly pleasant and easy transaction. His online comms were outstanding and he has been a thoroughly decent chap to deal with !

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1381419305' post='2238857'] If you can suggest a better position for the cap I'm sure the OP would like to know. (Me too) [/quote] I certainly would still be interested. I have currently paused in my quest for silence for this switch, but it would be nice to perfect it at some point.

Why not take it as an opportunity to learn how to re-finish yourself ? It's a skill I've learned myself, to save a load of money recently. I wouldn't advise going for something complex to start with, but you could certainly have a go at a cool (surf green/blue) solid colour or something like that. I'll bet it would tart up the bass no end, and would probably only cost you £30-£40 in parts (paint and abrasives).

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1381413006' post='2238704'] Heh, the Super Twin weighs about as much as a bag of chips, its very very light indeed. [/quote] 18kg That's one hell of a bag of chips ! I want to go to your chippy.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1381418485' post='2238843'] Good evening, Hamfist... I would suggest that the mean time between failure (MTBF...) of components in pedals is measured more in centuries than months or years. 'Wearing' won't really apply, whether on, off or cycled in normal domestic or professional situations. There will be some small economy of electricity on turning them off, but some extra wear on the switches. I wouldn't worry about component failure due to being turned on and off, or left on permanently. Consider rather the electricity bill against the convenience to you. Hope this helps; subject to correction, completion and/or contradiction from others... [/quote] THanks "Dad". I did admit it was rather an obsessive query.

Will low voltage components in something like an effects pedal be mainly "worn out" over time by the hot/cold cycling of being turned on and off, or by simply the total number of hours being on that they accumulate ? I ask this question as I do most of my playing at home through my pedalboard into my computer. Often in lots of short segments throughout the day. Is it more wearing on the pedal's electrics to turn my pedalboard on/off each time or to leave the board on all day (thus only hot/cold cycling the components once in the day) ??

I had one for a while with a BEF Pro. What I can say straight off is that there's no way an expression pedal can mimic the sort of stuff you can do with the Hot hand, and it really is like learning a whole new instrument. Depending what pedal you're controlling with it, as Woody says,it can add a whole new dimension to playing and, yes, it is as good as it looks in the demos. As for reliability. I would say my experience was medium. It was the RF-controlled Hot Hand 3 I used, and it was occasionally a bit glitchy in the communication between the ring and the base unit. I had to re-boot it a couple of times, and I never did understand why I had those issues. I guess it's like any computerised stuff these days, some days it just gets it's knickers in a twist and needs a re-boot.