Clarky

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='910715' date='Jul 30 2010, 09:29 PM']If you have to take the neck off, stick a capo on to hold the strings in place. That way, you just have to pop the neck back on when you're done, drop the strings in the saddles and tune it up. No faffing about restringing it.[/quote] Smart thinking WoT. I often have the strings 'pinging' off the tuners when I adjust the truss rod

[quote name='Beedster' post='910688' date='Jul 30 2010, 09:02 PM']make sure you leave it at least 24 hours to settle before re-adjusting[/quote] Agreed, the half an hour comment is just to see whether the neck's still totally out of whack

Hi Tom, I have a couple of Fender basses with truss rod adjustment at that end - a 70 reissue P bass and my 1972 P bass. Its actually very much trial and error and depends whether there is any form of slot at the edge of the pickguard. If there is (like on my 72), I am slightly lazy and loosen the rear plate screws (all of this being done sat on the bed, so no hard surfaces), having loosened the strings a few full tuner turns first. This usually exposes enough of the truss rod screw, I adjust this while supporting the neck with my other hand. Unless the neck is really out of whack a 1/4 turn is usually plenty. Then screw back and leave it half an hour and test. I think clamping everything is just making life difficult for yourself as these are hardy instruments. Unscientific but it has always worked with me. If there is no pickguard slot (like on my 70 RI) its harder as the entire neck needs removing. I once screwed up here on an earlier bass by taking the neck on and off so much that I stripped the neck plate screws and ended up with the usual stuff-screwholes-with-toothpick solution! Unless the truss rod screw is especially tight and needs tightening further (not necessarily a good sign) you should have enough strength in your arm to support the neck again while turning the truss rod adjuster screw with screwdriver. The bed is your friend here in my humble opinion!

[quote name='Beedster' post='910598' date='Jul 30 2010, 07:57 PM']Great news Clarky, lable your cables mate [/quote] Thanks Chris, I will be buying some thick, lurid coloured amp cables before I even try this out as I don't trust what I have!

How about this for customer service? I spoke to Mark at BassDirect on Tuesday, who arranged shipping labels etc. By Wednesday I had posted the faulty head back to TC in Denmark and today the replacement arrived direct from TC. Three days to sort the whole matter! Thanks Mark and amazingly speedy service from TC Electronic

Thats pretty - presume thats the one listed as sold on BassGear's website?

[quote name='Clarky' post='909245' date='Jul 29 2010, 01:58 PM']Waterfront - Simple Minds[/quote] Actually it was 'Crocodiles' by Echo & The Bunnymen

Waterfront - Simple Minds One note, repeated

Not sure that I have ever owned a genuinely bad bass. The most disappointing relative to my expectations is a tie between a Gibson SG Reissue bass (the short scale and I did not get on and the hardware was more than a bit rubbish) and a vintage 70s Jazz (awful heavily lacquered but ultra-skinny neck was so uncomfortable)

That is great news. Nice one! Big label mates ...

[quote name='jazzyvee' post='907751' date='Jul 28 2010, 12:03 AM']I've heard of people who have asked the seller to down value items in the customs declaration in order to get a lower import tax bill on delivery, but it's a risk as if it is insured shipping and there is a breakage or loss you could find yourself under insured and out of pocket.[/quote] The California-based seller of my stealth black Alembic Spoiler quoted the shipping value as the maximum insured price under the USPS service ($650). My tax bill was not very big as a consequence. As the internet is open to all readers, I will leave it to you to judge whether $650 is the actual price I paid! Had it been broken or seriously damaged in transit I would have been seriously upset, mind ....

Macca's OK but he's not a patch on Tony Goggle

[quote name='Musicman20' post='907115' date='Jul 27 2010, 02:12 PM']Thought it would get sorted Are you enjoying the tone of it? (Before it went wrong!)[/quote] Yes, the one time I used it before last night (through my BFD cab for 30 minutes) Managed to get a very Mesa-like tubey tone from it

The wonderful Mark at BD is sorting everything for me. Huge relief and yet again kudos to BD for great, customer-friendly service

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='906628' date='Jul 27 2010, 06:56 AM']Fingers crossed for ya.. I'm sure Bassdirect and TC will sort it quickly.[/quote] Thanks WoT. Just dropped Mark at BassDirect an email so fingers crossd here, big-time.

Looks like a cap-in-hand phone call to Mark at BassDirect tomorrow to see what he suggests

[quote name='molan' post='906532' date='Jul 27 2010, 12:06 AM']I think that crackle is very common - mine often does it & so did the only other one I've tried. Have you checked boring stuff like the fuse in the mains plug & the plug itself to make sure there isn't a loose wire somewhere?[/quote] Just changed the mains plus fuse, no change unfortunately