PlungerModerno

[quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1432420175' post='2781382'] I suspect I need to do some work to the nut on my Hoppus bass. The A string has started to buzz something rotten when played open. There appears to be some travel in the string between the nut and the tuning post where the other strings are held firm. If anyone has any ideas as to how to fix it they would be extremely welcome! [/quote] Could be a few things, but given that it's on the A string of a fender style bass headstock - It's likely the result of, or made worse by, the break angle over the nut. Here's an extreme example of this (due to the A being wound up the tuning peg rather than down): Similar problem on the E here (I think). The A is wound farther down the peg on this one though - giving the A a more pronounced break angle over the nut:

I'm sorry this has happened. As in the title, this is hard to look at . [url="http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Tribute-Telecaster-Precision-Relic-Bass-In-Blue-Right-Handed-/131519133983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9f26b91f"]http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Tribute-Telecaster-Precision-Relic-Bass-In-Blue-Right-Handed-/131519133983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9f26b91f[/url]

I like em - beaten to the Blues Brothers reference by JapanAxe!

Doesn't tell what scale length it is on the website from what I can see. . . that's pretty important. Upon reflection it's not the headstock I'm having trouble with - the fretboard extends at least two frets farther into the body than it should IMO. If there is going to be that many frets, the lower cutaway needs to be deeper to make it look less goofy. Could be a decent bass - but as it's a set neck, I'll not be trusting it!

All I know to do is to confirm those readings and pickup selection suspicions by taking a coin, and tapping it on the pickup to confirm which pickup's signal are being sent to the jack. Then you'll know which switch settings correspond to which pickup selections - and the jack resistance value of each. P.S. don't have the amp / headphones up on full when you tap the pickup - it tends to be quite loud.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1432233969' post='2779597'] I think his method was wrong in that the strings were submerged in their entirety, including the uncoated ends, which makes it easy for water to travel up underneath the coating itself, and cause corrosion that we wouldn't see normally. Also, I think he should have taken 1 string from each set, had them suspended in some kind of rig and partially submerged into a large tank of water, to make sure they're all exposed to exactly the same amount of water and salt. I think a sound test wouldn't be required, as it's a test to see how well they resist corrosion. Corrosion at any level will negatively affect a string's sound. What we're interested in is how well they resist corrosion Now I'm thinking I should build my own string testing rig [/quote] Interesting - I agree only the treated / coated portions of the strings should have been in contact with the brine. I'd have dipped both ends in wax - that could be an easy way to seal out possible moisture creep (capillary action inside the wraps?). For a corrosion test I can see possible concerns - while the coatings may interact in the solution (one may soften the other if they're in close contact) - having the exact same solution for each string is probably more important. I'd also suggest the ideal test would include several samples of each companies production, ideally from different batches. I'd also look at including a timed test - a 5 minute dip, an hour dip, up to just left to "brew". then follow up after a week to see which of the samples have survived with no apparent damage - could be very telling. It's a strange problem. I'd want a clear and measurable way to determine the amount of, and severity of, the corrosion on each sample. Short of constructing a bass playing machine that sweats and wears the strings down in a consistent way - followed by a blind tone test to assess the strings "deadness" - I'm not sure how perfect the test could be!

[quote name='deksawyer' timestamp='1432076547' post='2778012'] Let us know how this goes - the SD QP is just far too bright for me, and I'm almost using it with the tone backed all the way off! D. [/quote] Have you set it up to be fairly low? High output pickups like a QP usually sound less "hifi" or bottom & top heavy when set up with a larger than normal gap between pickup poles and strings. P.S. keeping an eye on that website - may just have to try a "P bass classic" and a loom from the now famously good KiOgon.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1432165225' post='2778866'] Interesting video. I think his method is wrong, however it is still interesting to see the effects of a massively accelerated corrosion process. [/quote] +1 - it's just a rough comparison, an experiment to test the strings apparent resistance to high salinity at room temperature. without hearing the strings before & after - or measuring something like their mass when dried - it's hard to say what happened beyond the colour changes.

+1 to the online thing - really hurts the ability to make a decent mark up on small quantities of bass equipment. Depends what the business model is of course. It's good that things are more competitive for us bassists (better gear at competitive prices) - but we have squeezed a lot of retailers out in the process!.

That was groovy. Lots of energy and kept nice and tight. The video is also highly entertaining. Gotta love the accordion player's hat!

[quote name='blablas' timestamp='1432150694' post='2778722'] Nothing sounds like a single coil! It's a sound I really like, that's why I use all kinds of switching possibilities with most of the humbuckers I use - for dual coils series/single/parallel and for split coils series/parallel. On this bass I was not especially after the single coil sound, the bridge pickup was placed there to add bite and growl to the P pickup. [/quote] What? Not even single coils? Only messin' - I get what you're getting at. If the pickup allows it - having wiring options makes sense, for variety of tone and just for a change!

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1432058433' post='2777708'] This was all pretty inspirational stuff! I was watching a video from Crimson Guitars yesterday which is the start of a series where they take a kit guitar (cheapo £80 kit) and start turning into an instrument a custom builder would be proud of. I think they only have the intro up so far but I'll be following it closely to see if it's something I could try: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJzvQFWwO9w[/media] [/quote] Thanks for the heads up! Part 2 is up: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udme2rX-a8U"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udme2rX-a8U[/url] I may use one of those kits myself as a prototyping rig for some of my idears! [quote name='blablas' timestamp='1432139426' post='2778552'] Another update: The old J humbucker was seriously microphonic which made me decide to replace it. I replaced it with a DiMarzio DP148. Experienced some problems with the wiring while replacing the old pickup, it also took a while to adjust the two pickups to get an even sound from both together. In the end I'm glad I did replace this pickup, the new one sounds better and is dead quiet, no microphonic noise and no hum. [/quote] Looks excellent - the hum cancelling design of the DiMarzio has some obvious advantages, but will never be 100% faithful to the single coil sound (asuming that's something you're striving for!). The DP 148 is also known as the model J? let me check... nope, it's the [url="http://dimarzio.com/pickups/bass/standard-bass/ultra-jazz-bridge"]Ultra Jazz bridge[/url]. I should have known it wasn't the model J. Wrong type & colour of pole pieces!

Congrats! - Play it well!

Depending on the band - sparkly finish, LED's, and a sequined strap may all be very appropriate. Probably not. Play it by ear - I'd be looking for all the classic country sounds - deep, tic tack, and and a more open, balanced tone for everything else. You may want to use an active bass / preamp and roundwound strings for some songs. I'd definitely want to look at muting (as you've already mentioned with the foam) and finger and pick styles. Here's a vid about muting I found very useful: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP76f4XtlWk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP76f4XtlWk[/url]

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1432137971' post='2778529'] He often used to stand in when a band's regular player wasn't available.... #coat [/quote] Took me a few secs!

Just spotted this vid - not exactly fresh off the press, but interesting: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX6WKIKGSkg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX6WKIKGSkg[/url]

I'm with Lozz & Paul S - It depends on what you want. A jazz can sound like a vast range of things, depending on setup, strings, pickups, and technique - If you have a clear "voice" in your head you associate with the Jazz - you might be able to get the P closer to that with the correct mix of things, pickups being a big part of it. If the gig in question calls for a P bass - why not a PJ? I've found PJ's - especially those with regular pickups (not overwound) and a P pickup that's not set too close to the strings (so It has roughly the volume balance of a JJ pickup setup, like in a Jazz).

Less materials? I'm guessing the smaller amount of metal and other parts (graphite?) is why they're cheaper when bought in bulk. I don't know for sure.

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1432071487' post='2777963'] With Flats finding a set that the E can ring a bit is the issue, in the old days the E string was always as dead as a lump of rope. Would re-visit them if I knew a good set with some sustain in them. Any recommendation ? [/quote] Chromes - They're fairly high tension, but they do have a good even response and high QC. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS4-tiHkQ2A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS4-tiHkQ2A[/url]

Not all rounds are equal - and neither are the flats. IME many flats have a very usable character - but while rounds can sound quite a bit like flats - the reverse is almost never true. Chromes or TI's can sound fairly bright - even after quite a lot of use, but they'll never sound like roundwound strings with plenty of life left in them. Twincam - Glad to hear you're enjoying the tapes. When I've switched from tapes to any other kind of string I always find I need to be patient with how I'm fretting and plucking. Tapes allow you to get away with things you'll be bothered by on other strings - especially fresh rounds. For the record, IME you'll never get a clean sound out of rounds like you can out of tapes or flats.

After some searching I came up with this: Is this like the bass you are intending on modding? It's important to know the dimensions of the pickup route before ordering replacement parts!

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1431980942' post='2777002'] I've never found a P pup with more than 2 wires. They normally have one half wired into the other. [/quote] Quite right - just goes to show how many split coil pickups I've soldered! Well not any from a box, only swapped between instruments. Makes sense that the wires connected to the pickups directly would be done from the factory / workshop - saves someone overheating the pretty sensitive coil wires.

The pickup is probably OK, but you never know for sure till you hear it picking up a string. When you mention the P pickup - the PBXN . . . it's a split coil pickup like this: Each half should have it's own pair of wires. If you look up wiring diagrams for a PJ guitar with the same control layout as yours you should be able to compare your wiring to the diagram. Should help identify any mistakes if there are any.

Elixirs have an odd feel - but after you get used to it it's not so bad. And the tone is great, and lasting IME.

[quote name='handman' timestamp='1431972746' post='2776820'] Looking for some advice I recently fitted p bass pick up to my jazz bass(entwistle pbxn and jbxn). After wiring it all up and giving it a test run the could only be best described as disappointing muddy no treble and vol and tone controls only at the extreme of there travel, what have I done wrong ? , should have sounded great but it's just rubbish, HELP!!! [/quote] Pics? I think it might help if you had pictures of the wiring & pots. If I was having this issue I'd first try to eliminate variables. Have you tested the pickups impedance/resistance? putting an ohm-meter across the pickup (a multimeter in reality) should tell you if it's giving sensible values (like 5 - 12 K ohms, depending on the pickup).