PlungerModerno

OK. I am a happy bunny. Thanks to your suggestions of looking at pickup options (Jus Luckin, hubrad, and howiebass) I came across this: [url="http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/classic-60-jazz-j-bass-pickup.html"]http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/classic-60-jazz-j-bass-pickup.html[/url] Made contact, thought I'd give it a try. Well I got the custom J set. Huge difference. The alnico V pickups are near silent compared to the stock pups. They also have a deeper, richer tonal characteristics. I've just restrung my jazz with my broken in TI flats. It's really sweet!

[quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1410079389' post='2545831'] Any sign of the wayward strap yet? Karl [/quote] Sorry, none. I'm expecting it tomorrow (Monday) morning. I'll turn it over to xzodar ASAP to keep this delay to a minimum. EDIT: Come on........ Bingo! [attachment=171198:P1000446_ii.JPG]

[quote name='Marillionred' timestamp='1409811165' post='2543504'] Perhaps I've got the best of both worlds: Rotosound Trubass tape wounds on my Letts fretless - nice growly fretless sound with no finger noise, also on My Lakland 5501 for that vintage thump, but EMP round wounds on my Warwick Streamer $$ for a punchy sound that cuts through the live mix. [/quote] I've got D'Addario Tapewounds on a Cort that I've converted to fretless. Tapes and fretless have a sweet sound. real smoooooooooth.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1409834942' post='2543773'] On it's way to Ireland (posted yesterday) so hopefully landing imminently... [/quote] I'll keep an eye out! EDIT/UPDATE: Sorry about the delay. I'll try to post it to xzodar the evening I get it to cut delays to a minimum. Thanks for your patience.

Pros: They sound and feel different. Cons: They sound and feel different. Flats have a distinctive pick sound, less finger noise when played and sound very `woody' on a fretless - to my ears anyway. Can't cover the same brilliant sounds fresh rounds can do!

Welcome. A budget bass needn't suck. As long as it's playable you'll get a great deal out of it.

Hello and welcome to the chatbassen!

Hiya, the Wal is a strange and mythical creature. Cool as anything though. Welcome.

Hello and welcome!

[quote name='jockmcplop' timestamp='1408108817' post='2527217'] Thanks guys. My username, of course, comes from this: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5W5PtmNPKg"]https://www.youtube....h?v=w5W5PtmNPKg[/url] [/quote] Hello, Welcome, and thanks for the giggle at the old blackadder skit.

Hiya, Hope you get that 'guard!

[quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1409605769' post='2541536'] Thanks very much for the addiitonal input. The required tweaks are becoming clearer with each player's comments. Yes, there's a lot of real estate to decorate, should you wish to I won't offer any kind of embellishment as standard, as I think the leather itself looks very nice. Karl [/quote] The leather is pretty... [quote name='ead' timestamp='1409607072' post='2541561'] I'd like to have another 24 hours with it for some further testing & experimentation and then I'll get it in the post over to Ireland on Wednesday. [/quote] Yay! I am excited. I'll Have to find a cameraman, make-up, wardrobe, lights, choreographer, balloon animal trainer, stunt double, etc. Well I guess I'll see what I can do. I'm gonna try and do some pics at least. They help add context to the feedback, and this has been a pleasant way to get a bunch of feedback on what is a promising design. Hopefully I can have this trialed, get my thoughts up here, and posted on to Xzodar shortly (before the weekend Ideally). With crossing the Irish sea & back there may be a day or more of delays unfortunately.

They're selling 5 string ATK's again!!! Lemme at em! EDIT: Some places seem to have them: [url="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATK205NT"]http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATK205NT[/url] [url="http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-IBA-ATK205TP-LIST"]http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-IBA-ATK205TP-LIST[/url] And some have only the 4's: [url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_atk200nt.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_atk200nt.htm[/url] I guess what's telling is the ibanez website: Ibanez.co.jp: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eb_sig_series14.php?series_id=56&year=2014&cat_id=2"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eb_sig_series14.php?series_id=56&year=2014&cat_id=2[/url] vs. the link from ibanez.com: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eb_series14.php?area_id=3&cat_id=2&year=2014&series_id=56&pre=0"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eb_series14.php?area_id=3&cat_id=2&year=2014&series_id=56&pre=0[/url]

[quote name='Thanet Newbie' timestamp='1409574871' post='2541008'] Just a quick update from me.... 1) The reason for the over loud first string became clear when I took the old strings off and replaced them with a cheap and cheerful 40 to 100 set: the old set first string was (probably) and ordinary electric guitar string, not a proper bass string..... Now that the bass has a proper set of matching strings, it sounds SO much better! 2) I dug my 30 watt Laney acoustic guitar amp out of the loft, and hooked the bass up to it, instead of the little 10 watt Peavey bass amp that came with the bass. What a difference! It's got a lovely deep clear tone and will do the job on the upcoming ukulele gigs, assuming I get my head around bass playing enough to go public..... Thanks once again to everyone for their input. I have now spent lots of hours reading back through the forum - what an awesome resource you have all created! [/quote] Wonderbar!

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1409511967' post='2540382'] Yep, can't go wrong with a bit of CCR. Theirs is my favourite version of 'heard it through the grapevine' [/quote] Yes. This! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93S_l0qZrXA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93S_l0qZrXA[/url]

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1409407938' post='2539429'] Looking forward to receiving this now [/quote] +1

[quote name='Thanet Newbie' timestamp='1409249680' post='2538008'] PlungerModerno you are a star! Thank you so much for your post, which has clarified a lot for me. Coming from an acoustic guitar background, I would say that round wound strings sound like an acoustic guitar with nice new strings - very clear ringing tone to every note. Whereas flat wound strings are more like an acoustic guitar on old, old strings. The notes are duller, don't ring out, but have a "thump" to them - as you might use for playing acoustic blues. I'll have a think about what sort of sound I want, and then crack on and order some new strings. Many thanks again for your help. [/quote] No probs!

IME all stringsets vary slightly across the strings. I've found most have significantly stiffer G & D strings which lead me to strike them more differently (as opposed to just compensating for the extra mass in the heavier strings) - As of now I've these: [url="http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=382&productname=EXL220BT_Nickel_Wound__Balanced_Tension_Super_Light__40_95"]http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=382&productname=EXL220BT_Nickel_Wound__Balanced_Tension_Super_Light__40_95[/url] On a MIM Jazz and they work pretty well. They play fairly evenly and have sounded nice for quite a while.

This was my first intro to Mr. Vega's repertoire: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpnIl2WpR1U"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpnIl2WpR1U[/url] He's one groovy chap.

[quote name='malcolm.mcintyre' timestamp='1409217649' post='2537528'] Does anyone know which size Allen key is needed for Celinder bridge saddle screws? I'm guessing 0.05 inch, like a lot of American bridges, but could it be 1.25 mm as Christian is building in Denmark? [/quote] Sorry but I don't have an answer - just one brief comment: It depends where the parts are from. I know my MIM Jazz has an imperial truss rod nut, but metric saddle height screws. I'd imagine close examination with either an imperial or metric set will get you very close. use a magnifying glass when you check the fit. If it goes in too easy it's probably just the right size to ruin the hex screw. Good luck with your search, hopefully you'll get a more useful reply soon.

I'd recommend a noise gate - that way the single coil noise can be clipped when the bass isn't producing sound - if the buzzing is a problem. Like HowieBass said, checking shielding and considering noiseless pickups (vs. traditional single coils) are good to look at.

Muchos Gracias! I guess you've thought this (and similar things) though a bunch more times than I have. Best of luck with this project!

[quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1409242842' post='2537920'] The leather is the very best there is. I make a point of using the best quality material, produced by small family run businesses. The black is the very same leather, identical but for the colour, yes. I'm always available for custom work, and to talk about custom work Karl [/quote] Great! I'll just wait till I have a decision to make - I'll probably have a good few questions then - like can I get white thread on the black leather? or can I get chrome or black snap fasteners of a similar strength (or do you need to buy them in boxes of 50,000)? etc. etc. I guess I'll just keep an eye on this thread in the meantime.

You're right Karl Derrick - the T&E prototype is a rare thing outside of shopping for big draw endorsers with music gear. I'm no big draw endorser so I guess I don't really know. Quick question - judging by the pics (and the description of all who've wore it) the brown stained leather is top quality, will the black leather be similar in all but colour? eg. thickness etc. - and will this be a custom option? I wouldn't mind paying a little extra if the width or fixings are one off, but I would be keen to keep it economic (as few custom options as I need - making it easier for you to make, thus able to keep cost below £200!) I guess I make a choice as to what I want different (if anything bar length) when I receive the testing and evaluation model. The rich brown is growing on me . Even if I hate the curved strap (nothing's impossible) I might not be able to resist a custom straight one!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1409083232' post='2536224'] If it was a bolt on maybe but I cant see the parts being 200 quids worth of use? [/quote] Ahhhh! Run! It's the set neck and neck through alliance of doom!!!!! Ok maybe not - but if a neck goes south and it doesn't come off it's asking for trouble. Hopefully it can be repaired - from the picture it appears the unwanted twist is only near the headstock. That bodes well for a repair - you might only need to work with frets 1 - 7 or something.