Maude

I may have just put the wheels in motion to something really cool, or I'm an idiot. Time will tell. 😁 I've had a longtime love affair with the Takamine TB-10 but they are too expensive for something to noodle on. One of the main attractions is that it has a radiused board like a doublebass so forces your right hand to play it like a doublebass. I had thoughts of converting a cello or something into a 34" bass but then noticed a damaged Aria FEB on ebay. It's one of Gear4Musics casualties so is brand new but damaged. The damaged listed is cosmetic damage to the headstock, and the board lifted slightly from the body. My first thought was that the head has been whacked and bent the neck back, breaking it away from the body causing the board to lift slightly. The listing does not mention the neck having moved and the headstock damage is very minimal so it might just be the board coming unglued and the little nick in the head, as per listing. I've taken a gamble as the listing says it's returnable but not for the damage listed, a broken neck is not listed. Anyway I'll find out on Tuesday when it arrives 🙈. My plan is to remove the board and somehow fit a doublebass one from a 1/4 size or something, I'll know more when I can take some measurements and do some research. I'll probably want a longer board so I can play over the end of it like a doublebass. I'll need to add a tailpiece and a wider, higher bridge to accommodate the increased angle a tighter radiused board will give. Will it work? Who knows. Is it worth trying? Probably not. Am I going to? Hell yeah! 😃

I've just had to do a similar thing with my old Hohner Arbor fretless. The board had shrunk slightly leaving a tiny lip that could be felt. I drowned it in lemon oil to try and get it to swell back to its original size, but while messing with it noticed that the board had very slightly come away from the neck in the middle. Over the next few days of the board being soaked in oil it separated even more, and it actually popped it off completely using a thin steel rule slid in a the centre and worked either way. The shrinkage and expansion basically broke the glue bond. I glued the board back on after a clean up but I have a fraction of neck protruding either side like you've shown above. Likewise I've scrapped it back flush with a razor but couldn't help take a smudge of the neck lacquer off with it, which is really annoying as it's aged beautifully. I've feathered the lacquer edge with wet'n'dry so you can't feel it, but now I have two tiny stripes of lighter wood between the aged lacquer and the rosewood board. Do you think oil would colour the wood but not take to the lacquer if wiped on carefully and then the lacquered part wiped clean? It's really not too bad but I'd like to disguise it if possible. Sorry for a slight derail. 🙂

A Thousand Hours - The Cure Give it time and will have posted their entire back catalogue. 😁

Swords of a Thousand Men - Tenpole Tudor

It didn't sell. No bids. So he's relisted it as Buy It Now priced a tenner higher than no one offered the first time. 🤔

Vicky's Box - Throwing Muses

To me it's two hobbies linked by a common theme. One hobby is playing bass in a band and when gigging I tend to settle on one bass and stick with it. The second hobby is tinkering with basses. Buying quirky or old instruments and reviving them. Setting them up to play their best, restoring or refinishing and modifying them. I have quite a few basses (and guitars, shhh) and while they are not an investment as such, they have a monetary value, if I need that money one day I can sell some or all. It's much more fun owning basses than it is owning money. A money collection is the dullest thing I can think of. Money is just an IOU, much like my instrument collection. Both can be traded for other stuff when the need arises. If I had to own only one of mine though it would be my modified Variax. They don't get much love but it has everything, playability, looks and versatility.

No, Cake. I won't put a link up and disrupt the Dolly covers though.

Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes Sean Connery playing a postie. 😉

Planet Earth - Duran Duran

Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield I had to stop anyone suggesting 'Mustang *****'.

I've just missed out on a Squier Mini P. It popped up on Facebook next to where my daughter works, but my daughter can't use her phone at work. By the time I'd got hold of her to ask her to grab it it had sold. It was only £60 and looked like new. Nevermind.

Looking For Linda - Hue & Cry

More skillful though. 😁

Living After Midnight - Judas Priest

Yeah but it's scuppered mine. 😁

Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield

Burning Down The House - Talking Heads

Here Comes The Summer - The Undertones

I saw Michael Monroe's band a couple of years ago when he supported Alice Cooper. Absolutely fantastic gig! He needed a radio mic though. He spent the entire gig running all over the place with a roadie chasing around after him untangling the mic lead from amps, stands, and the drum kit, hilarious. Fantastic energy.

I really like the demarcation between the wings and the neck and top. A small detail but massively lifts it visually. The whole bass is just stunning. 🙂👍

Smash It Up - The Damned

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

I'm actually thinking it's more metal than glam now as it is very pointy. Perfect for glam metal then. Is there any call for a Hanoi Rocks tribute?

Electricity - OMG 😉