Jean-Luc Pickguard

Anyone recognise this bass? I'm pretty sure its not a Fender but looks like something cheap with a dodgy decal. I don't recognise the weird control plates. The tuners appear to be the same as those used on some Harley Bentons. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185379483099

Gear Acquisition Syndrome

At least

I have one of those (actually an '81 with an S9 serial). The only problem is that cherry burst was used on Ash bodies, and the ash bodies Fender was making at that time would have been lighter had they been made of cast iron.

I never used to enjoy soldering as I could never get the solder to flow well. I eventually came to the conclusion that the soldering iron I bought from Maplin wasn't suitable for working with the only solder Maplin sold - ie lead-free. Once I managed to source some decent lead/tin solder my soldering skills improved as if by magic and it was fun again.

Making a loom for a bass a couple of days ago reminded me of something I should confess: The first few times I used cloth covered wire I was cursing how fiddly it was to trim the insulation from the ends as wire strippers didn't work well on it. It was only relatively recently that I realised you just push the insulation up to expose the core.

It a new knob day for the Harley Benton PB50 I bought from shoulderpet a few days ago. I made a new loom with CTS/switchcraft components yesterday, and as I prefer to use solid shaft CTS pots, the original knobs had to go as they wouldn't fit the pots. I ordered some extra knurly ones from axecaster.co.uk and chose nickel plating rather than chrome for a more vintage appearance. They arrived in the post this morning, and I think they look the business.

Have you tried clicking the 'X' on the right-hand side of the bar?

I’d not seen this documentary before. I’m sure a few people here will enjoy it.

I usually like quirky basses, especially short scales; but I don't like anything about this fugly monstrosity

That's definitely an aftermarket defret. I wonder whether the weirdly large pickguard it is hiding any additional routing? It looks like it has a couple of extra strap buttons on the back of the body also.

I would even know where to start if I had to defret a bathtub

good job! I have also had success using white milliput to build up the nut slots on a guitar and then file down after leaving it to set overnight.

The secret to playing a walking jazz bassline is to play a note on every beat. Any note. But never play the same note twice in succession. You don’t need a chord chart or even need to know what key everyone’s playing in. Try it and make a youtube video of the results.

Wow! It looks great with the matching cab. It hurts my back just to look at it though. How does it sound?

The six pole single coil thing has been common knowledge since the bronco's ancestor, the musicmaster bass was first available in 1971, so I doubt many people would be surprised.

Which ethnic group would that be?

Why not agree to their offer to send a courier and direct them to the address of the local constabulary?

Even though the name is only a letter away from music ground, There doesn't appear to be any connection: http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/company/11980856/MUSIC-BOUND-LIMITED

I remember the time I found out that Guild's biSonic pickups, or more accurately the Dark star copies Fred Hammon was building at the time, were single coils. I had previously assumed they were humbuckers and was convinced that they were humbuckers as they are the size & shape of humbuckers and look very much like humbuckers. I dont think I've ever seen them advertised as humbuckers though.

Apart from the pots and output socket its very well put together. I have never tried the MiM version, so I can't compare the two versions, but Fender Mexico makes some great instruments these days - My favourite bass for recording is my JMJ mustang which is MiM. I don't know how closely the CiJ or the MiM thinlines replicate the tone of a vintage '72 as the 'wide range' humbuckers don't use the CuNiFe magnets of the originals. Mine seems to have more top end available than I'd usually expect from a bridge humbucker though.

I've never had any issues with the mini pots that come with EMG pickups, so I should have directed my rant specifically at cheap & nasty mini pots rather than mini pots in general. I've just remembered that I was originally planning to shield the cavities with copper slug tape at the same time as replacing the pots, but totally forgot to do this today , so thats a job for another day.

My 1997 CIJ Fender telecaster thinline ('72 humbucker style) has had crackly pots for as long as I can remember. After putting it off for many years, I've just got around to replacing both pots with new full size 500k log mojotone CTS pots and while I was in there swapped out the socket for a switchcraft. I did consider making a complete new loom, but in the end the switch was okay and it was easier to just swap out the pots and socket. I did have to ream out the pickguard a little to fit the new pots. As I went for solid shaft pots I was able to use proper Fender US knurled barrel knobs in place of the original cheap looking knobs. The original mini pots are tiny - the smallest I've seen. The diameter is smaller than a 5p piece. The difference to the guitar since replacing them is much better than I had anticipated. Now when I turn the vol or tone knob I don't get a load of snap crackle and pop, and even though I resused the original capacitor the guitar sounds brighter with the tone pot open. I just don't get why crappy mini pots were used instead of quality ones when it was built. It wouldn't have saved Fendder a lot of money and I'm sure japanese Fenders were not considered a budget range even back in the 90s.