Huge Hands

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='516170' date='Jun 17 2009, 10:02 AM']The strap button appeared in 1960. As for the heel... rumour has it there was a spell of a few months in 1959 where the neck heel wasn't marked. Before and after that, it was pencilled.[/quote] Learn with WoT! Excellent mate, thanks, I figured you'd be able to put me right. The last thing I wanted to do was sound scoffy and say "That can't be right" as I knew someone would correct me! I will probably never be able to afford somethng like that (certainly not to justify that outlay anyway) but I am fascinated by all the history of it!

Just an interested question, rather than trying to prove anything, for you Fender experts: I note there doesn't appear to be a date stamp on the base of the neck, or a strap button/hole where one was on the back of the headstock. Is this because Fender started doing this after '59, or because this one is not original? Just interested to know....

Just to back up my original post: In the Victoria station WHSmith, I have found the following two issues: 1. I don't know if it's because they buy limited stock and run out, or whether it's because they remove non-selling stock too quickly, but there does appear to be regular times in the month where there are no bass mags, or only BGM, or only BP. I don't buy them that often (hence not wanting a subscription), but the last one I bought was the recent one with Flea and his beginner bass. 2. Getting past the crowds of "readers" in that section, i.e. people who want to read the mags but have no intention of buying - can be a nightmare. I had to literally push two guys out of the way when I bought the last one because they refused to acknowledge my various polite requests to move so I could get to the shelves.

The optimist in me says he is waiting so he ca double check with the band one more time. The pessimist in me says he wants to get into a relaxed place (i.e. home) so he can let you down easier. (I have had this happen to me, hence the suggestion). I hope for your sake it's the former. Good luck.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='515436' date='Jun 16 2009, 04:21 PM']Maccas Ric, Mystery Tour era.[/quote] Come to your own conclusions about me after this statement, but it was after watching Macca with that bass in the "I am the Walrus" part of the film that got me to take up bass as a wide eyed 14 year old. I thought he looked so cool, even though I've never really fancied Rickys myself, and much cooler than Ringo (I played drums at the time).... Thank you Sir Paul. I have never managed to look that cool, but enjoy playing the bass. (P.S. As I have said before, my starting to play bass was equally to do with watching an old video of Russell Jackson playing with BB King). EDIT: As for classic basses, Jamerson's Funk Machine for me too.

I often pop into the WHSmith at Victoria station. Once you've dug past all the copies of Rhythmn and various g****r magazines, they're usually in there somewhere.

I love the name/control plate on these, always reminds me of my Dad's old reel to reel player.....

I have Ashdown cabs and I use one of [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=97489"]these[/url]. It was on special when I bought it, suggested by someone on Basschat. Folds away nicely next to the cab in the boot of the car.

I have a Squier P5 which I love and is now my main workhorse. It's definitely a "marmite" thing, but I love the cricket bat sized neck. I wanted a five with 4 string spacing after I kept tripping up over the tight spacing on my Cort C5. The only mods are a set of custom Wizard J pups and a set of Labella flats. I know there are much more expensive basses out there that will feel tighter and better put together, but I prefer the fact that this is something I have worked on myself and feels good to me. I can't justify the outlay on a more expensive bass all at once. I have bought a second one which I've stripped ready for painting and bought a "proper" precision pickup for (thanks Old Horse Murphy), but I haven't got round to carving up the body to fit it yet. My theory is I'll always have this one to go back to if it doesn't work out.. I think the recent birth of mini HH has put all this on hold for a while.....

Worth noting that Andy at Wizard is a top bloke and usually replies to e-mails within a day or so. If you are really uncertain, give him a call or mail - all details on the website.

Mine did. That's all I have to say really.....

Have finally managed to get my a**e to the sorting office and retrieve the parcel Nick sent very promptly to me containing a set of 5-string EMG P/J pups. Pleasure doing business with you Nick, and thanks for putting up with my slow responsiveness due to the birth of our son. (That's "ours" as in me and Mrs HH's, not me and Nick). I just hope I end up with some spare time to actually do something with the pups! All the best, Stew (Huge Hands).

[quote name='Brother Jones' post='507007' date='Jun 6 2009, 02:52 PM']Last week I tried a second hand five string (a [i]five[/i] string people!) that had been strung with flats.[/quote] All my 5 stringers are strung with Labella flats. I didn't realise I was being stupid..... I love them. I originally tried them to see what the fuss was all about (the plus side of being on "Groupthink Central" ). I almost gave up as I found they would make my fingers sore and blister, but once I got used to them I have had no problems since. I love the feel and sound, it has nothing to do with following a crowd or bandwagon. I have no desire to go back to rounds, unless I find some that convince me otherwise.

[quote name='Hamster' post='500980' date='May 29 2009, 02:55 PM']You did - OP asked for deletion as it was a double post - you replied to the deleted one, I've just merged your post into the current one so we don't loose your reply [/quote] Ta. I got a bit confused there!

Weird, I could have sworn I replied to this - now it's telling me I haven't.... EDIT: Whoop, no, there we go. Crazy. :wacko:

I'm not claiming to be an expert by any means, but it sounds to me like you have a bad signal ground somewhere, and your body is providing a better signal ground reference when you touch anything to do with it. It almost sounds to me you're grounding the whole guitar - i.e. it could be an issue with the cabling or equipment you're connecting to. If not, then I would check all the ground connections to the pots and the tab you have shown a photo of. Perhaps a hot iron to resolder them might help? Just my guess formed on what you've said, not gospel....

Hmmm.... Plenty to think about there..... I'll let you know if I ever get round to doing it!

[quote name='BOD2' post='498538' date='May 27 2009, 10:06 AM']Good question Huge Hands.[/quote] Ha ha, thanks - a star for me! I had another think about this on the way to work - I figure that as the nut is fixed, then angling the neck is in effect doing the same thing? I guess to drop the action across the board you'd have to grind out the nut? Anyway, it's a bit confusing, but I think I may have my head around it. Great thread, thanks for the extra tips before I attempt this myself. A Mini-Hands is due any day soon though, so this may be put on the back burner for a while!

BOD2 - this is a genuine question, not trying to trip you up or anything as I don't know the answer. I will need to do this for the first time soon and something in your thread has been niggling at my murky brain. If the neck needs to be raised to lower the action, would it not be better to shim the whole length of the neck pocket? Surely just shimming one end would cause a tilt in the neck, effectively lowering the action at one end and raising at the other? I have just refitted the neck to my stripped Squier and noted it will probably need a shim. The action is really high, but it looks uniformly high - i.e. the neck just needs lifting, rather than tilting? Does my question make sense? I'm happy to be scoffed at if I'm missing something and have just asked a total "noob" question!

[quote name='dlloyd' post='497891' date='May 26 2009, 11:59 AM']Although I might be tempted by this: [url="http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/product_details.php?c=1&prod_id=450&cat=112&scat=217&x=0&y=265"]http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/product_de...p;x=0&y=265[/url][/quote] I note the site you got this from also lists the Jaco bass, has a more simplistic description, and mentions accompanying paperwork from Kevin Kaufmann.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='495491' date='May 22 2009, 07:18 PM']....good luck with the refin on the other one.[/quote] That's what's worrying me, I've been watching your exploits with interest! Next step is to take a router to it - I want some battery boxes and a P pickup in it. Sounds easy, eh? If you've seen the DIY in my house, you'll know why I'm apprehensive.....

Here's my two - both originally in the green. Note they're both fives, before Wayne accuses me! One has Wizard custom J pups in it, the other is stripped of paint, waiting for me to do something with it. I haven't done a build thread as I'm scared I'll make a s**t job of it and embarrass myself - at least I'll have the other one to go back to! I will do a thread if it works out well!

I'm not sure if mine are the "Special" ones,but I have two Precision V's. I bought both second hand for about £100 each. I have upgraded the Pups in one (note they are J pups) to Wizard customs and the other one is in bits whilst I decide what to do with it as a project. With a bit of a setup, I reckon they're great! I love the cricket bat sized neck (suits my big hands) and the look. I don't think a lot of people get on with the necks though - hence why they can be found cheap. With my project one, I'm intending to carve the body out to fit a proper P pup. That's why I bought two - I'll always have the first one to go back to if I mess it up! They get my vote!

[quote name='The Funk' post='487881' date='May 14 2009, 01:41 PM']So, in my eagerness to get playing I tuned up the A and D strings too quickly on my new Chinese bass and they promptly snapped.[/quote] Ha, ha, sorry to laugh in your misery, but I managed to go through 2 G strings and a D on mine before I got it right. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I do have to say though, the way the strings had been left slackened on the bass in their normal position but with the bridge removed meant the D and G had some nasty kinks in them where the case had closed on them and bent them. I spotted this and complained. I was able to claim a second D and G from Gear-4-Music (especially as was chasing the bridge they'd forgotten to pack). They did snap as I predicted, but still managed to snap the G again when I tried to string the second one up!

[quote name='chris_b' post='487468' date='May 14 2009, 12:05 AM']Jerry Henderson is a new name on me but what a great sound and groove.[/quote] Chris, I get the feeling we have very similar tastes in music! Thanks again for another classic. Loving it!