Maude

Well, it's a tale of two halves. Externally, it's all good really, it'll get a full make over but no real issues. Internally, holy guacamole Batman! We'll get to that in a bit. The wood is very dry feeling and slightly rough, so I'll probably take off any finish and give a fresh oil and wax finish, or possibly clear lacquer, not decided yet. Maybe even dye the outer body wings red. It's had a thumb rest added at some point, but that's the worst part externally, it's not even got any real chips or dings. Pickup covers are starting to crack, but from what's been said about the tone I want to keep them. I'll probably try and stabilise the covers with superglue and polish them up. The cavity cover is a home made one that's not the best so will be making a new one. Maybe a nice brass one to match the TRC. Does anyone know if these are the original strap buttons? Internally 🙈 Apparently it works but the pots are crackly and only work in certain positions. As it looks like someone has been storing salt in the control cavity I'm not surprised. Look at the state of these pots. The pickups have been glued in, which coupled with already very fragile, cracked casings made removal more like a surgical procedure. But they're out in one piece, and the cavities are a mess. It's nothing that can't be fixed though, and it should be a great little bass once done.

He was, we spent a while chatting about gigs and stuff. He was only young, early twenties. Nice to see someone not brainwashed into believing money is everything in life.

I'll have a proper look over it tomorrow. 👍 When I picked it up the chap said he'd just noticed a little crack in the pickup casing. Mate, you're giving it to me. Have a word with yourself! 😁

I have thought about that. The neck looks to be quite chunky and I prefer a slimmer neck. If I defretted it I could shave the neck down to my preference at the same time with minimal fuss. I'll see when I have a proper look at it tomorrow it.

I picked up the Kay last night, I'll have a proper look tomorrow and report back (with pictures of course 😉). I was a proper freebie in the end, the owner wouldn't take any money, I even tried saying, "Look, at least take twenty quid and go and get a takeaway or a couple of bottles of wine and have a night in on me." Nope, wouldn't take it. Said he just wants it out the way and it sounds like you'll do something with it, even said he'd considered just chopping it up and sticking out with the rubbish 🥺. I'll report back tomorrow with the full health check results.

Oh man, where can I get one of those Hello Kitty guitars? It sounds epic!! 😉

More Songs About Chocolate And Girls - The Undertones

Although I'm sure he had his moments, he always appeared to be content to let the others play up to the audience/cameras/press, whilst being the well attired, dapper gent at the back holding things together. In that alone he was always the coolest stone of all. Rest easy Charlie, and thanks for sharing sixty years of your life with us.

Has someone been digging up a beach with that one? 😁

Call The Fire Brigade - The Move

Down With The Trumpets - Rizzle Kicks (Hangs head in shame 😔)

Kick Out The Jams - MC5

Hmm that looks lightweight 😁

I'll give him something for it as it's only right.

What haven't I got on the go!? 😆 I do have far too many nearly finished projects, and a couple barely started. I bought the Cruiser because it was on my route to work and £20. I don't really know what I'm going to do with it, but something will happen in the future. I like the look of the Warman quad rail pickups and may put one or two of them in it for a laugh.

I'm looking at the pictures and wondering what sort cavalier, off the wall, eccentric decided the darker strip of wood shouldn't go in the middle 🤔🤣. Maybe it's aged that way.

I really like the look of those Embassy basses. They look like fantastic value for money. 👍

The J pickup looks very close to the bridge, there should be plenty of nasal bark. How playable are they? Reasonable, or the standard Kay terribleness?

Yeah looking at it more it's not ply. I looked at all the lines on the front and thought ply, but the grain on the back is obvious it's not. D'oh! 🙄 Bridge looks a bit new and generic, and I agree the knobs are replacement.

This is a thread I started a few months ago as a NBD, but as usual it's turned into something more suited to the Build Diaries section. So here it is 😁. I bought an Epiphone acoustic guitar today for a workmates daughter, and while I was chatting to the seller he said he had an old 80s bass that needed some sorting. We'd spoke about fixing up cheap old gear and he thought it would be right up my street, and I was welcome to it if I wanted it, as it was just in the way. We met at his workplace (a really cool place that makes vintage pressed number plates, full of really old machinery BTW 😎) so he didn't have it with him but he said he send some pictures. Well he just has and it's an old Kay version of the 80s Aria SB/Westone Thunder type of bass. Natural wood, neck through PJ, active electrics by the look of the switching. I've been after a bass in this style for a while and am over the moon with his offer. I'll pick it up in the week hopefully, and give him something for it anyway. Bored yet? Yes? OK, pictures then. Any info about these basses gratefully received. Plywood wings and presumably heavy as hell. I'll update when I've got it. 🙂👍

I picked up the Epiphone acoustic today and have just finished setting it up for my mate's daughter. Tidied the fret ends and rounded the binding edge slightly, polished all the frets and burnished the binding so it's all silky smooth. Took the saddle and nut down a touch and took some relief out of the neck so it's a bit easier on little fingers. It now plays so easily and feels really comfy. Sin of all sins I oiled the fretboard 😉, polished the body and fitted the new strings that came with it. For £80 it's a magnificent guitar and really looks like new, well it was only 12 months old anyway. Hopefully she'll be over the moon with it. And just to prove karma is out there, after chatting with the seller and saying I was a bassist (after displaying my embarrassing guitar playing) he said he had an old 80s bass that needs some fixing, but I was welcome to it if I wanted it. He's just sent me some pictures of it and it's an old Kay (here we go again 😆). It's a natural wood, neck through PJ in the Aria SB, Westone Thunder style. Another fun project awaits.

I'm picking up a Epiphone AJ 210ce for a work mate today. His daughter started playing guitar about a year ago but only has a £10 charity shop spanish guitar. She's stuck at it and wants something she won't be embarrassed taking to school, but with a young family etc, my mate hasn't got a lot of spare cash. He asked me to keep my eyes open for anything suitable. The guitar looks great and comes with an Epiphone hard case, appears to be like new just not getting played, you know the score, only £80. I reckon it'll be a great guitar to progress on.

Skin O' My Teeth - Megadeth

Lovely looking bass 😎👍

Always sad when a kindred spirit passes, and too young. Condolences to his family. Rest in peace MB1 😎