The Charvel Charvette is also a budget guitar - I have one. I've never found another Tokai branded locking trem unit like the one that mine is sporting - and I've searched a lot
Leave feedback on their feedback thread. Don't be afraid to leave negative feedback (avoiding libel/slander obviously). Always check feedback threads before buying and selling.
Luckily most BC members are "diamond geezers" but you do get the odd turd
The only thing I can think of is the relative strength of the magnets. You could try a "pull" test to compare them by sandwiching a piece of ferrous metal between them and seeing which magnets "win" when you pull them apart. I'm blindly guessing here
If you need a really thin dowel try some wooden bbq skewers. I'd slacken the strings to make sure there's no tension first though and give it a good 24 hours for the glue to set
Edit: Superglue would probably be enough on its own though if you can get it right down in your crack (fnarr!)
[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1443428480' post='2874492']
It appears to be the same piece of wood.
[/quote]
Shame. It might have broken cleanly if it was a join. In that case I'd maybe try using a spreader (old credit card?) to force some glue into the crack to stabilise it.
I assume you've changed the fuse in the back of the amp rather than the mains plug? It's the amp fuse that's likely to have blown (unless the board is fried!)
If you're anywhere near Leicester you're quite welcome to borrow my Rumble 500 combo. I'll be going out in 2 hours time though (social, not gigging)
As Twigman says, your options are to move the strap button towards the head if possible, make the head lighter (lighter tuners), or make the bottom end heavier (undesirable)
A good one to start with is "Build Your Own Electric Guitar" by Melvyn Hiscock. Although it's mainly about guitars rather than basses, the principles are the same (and one of his example builds is an 8 string bass).
Ignore the ridiculous prices on Amazon and get it direct from Melvyn's web site. His phone number is on the site too if you want to chat to him - he's a really nice bloke
And early Rickenbackers work in a completely different way - loosten bolts, bend neck as required and then tighten the bolts again. Good luck if you ever need to do that!
Or a Dremmel to polish them up a bit. I think I'd avoid WD40 as it might get into the windings. Maybe a light dab of wax based furniture polish might help stop it coming back. I'd try to avoid anything containing solvents
Cracking job Andy
Could the same veneering technique be used when there is a bit more curvature up to the nut e.g. on a telecaster guitar? Or would you not spray water on the back where you want it curved? There again it would curve with the grain rather than across it?