Norris

It might be an idea to video yourself opening the package, just in case there is damage

[quote name='Prostheta' timestamp='1431358999' post='2770442'] Part of me wants to kick you in the shins for letting her get this way, however you seem to have figured out what the proper way to treat this lady is. :-) [/quote] I don't blame you The bass has a lot of sentimental value to me, which is why a lot of time, effort and a fair chunk of money has gone into the restoration.

I wish I'd taken photos with the old strings on. You can probably tell how bad they were from the state of the case lid. They were twice the normal gauge from all the rust. What you probably can't see on the photos are the cracks that had to be glued. Mainly around the knobs, switch and socket, but also quite a nasty one on the top half of the body where it had started splitting along the grain of the wood.

I don't seem to be getting any notifications on this thread at the moment, so apologies if I've not replied to any queries. I'll try to post pictures of the hardware clean up and the respray this evening (although attendees of the Midlands Bass Bash have already seen it on Saturday)

Btw, I've now started a thread in the Build Diaries forum of the restoration of my SB-1000.

(It was my bass - tauzero had the lovely Warwick Buzzard )

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1431262054' post='2769326'] 11 [/quote] +1

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1431263657' post='2769357'] I used my rumble at a gig for the first time at the weekend, after a bit of fiddling with the tone controls it sounded good, one thing confused me though, I've been using Marshall MB4210 before with a Carlsbro Bass Beasty used as a 1 x 15 extension cab ( the amp section doesn't work anymore) to good effect, it increased volume and bottom end, but with the Rumble it had hardly any effect at all, maybe a touch more bottom end but no perceivable increase in volume, any ideas why this should be? I was thinking of getting a matching 2 x10 rumble cab for it, but now I'm not so sure. I did change the 15 inch speaker in the Beasty for an 8ohm one I had btw [/quote] The combo by itself is plenty for my needs so I can't help on extension cabs, but I'm glad you're enjoying your rumble

Lights, stands and leads in the garage. Combo in the corner of the dining room (no complaints yet). Basses under the bed, in the spare room and one currently in the hall because I haven't found a home for it yet (again no complaints... yet!)

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1431245886' post='2769059'] [attachment=191702:Hercules.jpg] Hercules. I've used them for years. You lower your bass into the spring-loaded clip and it closes around the neck. [/quote] +1 This is the one I use. Very sturdy and secure

And tauzero - you've got a lovely buzzard. That was my favourite bass of the bash

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1431202759' post='2768825'] Did he sand the lacquer off? [/quote] I'm not sure - I'll ask him. I think a lot of it was scraped off, but there was obviously a lot of steaming out the dents and a lot of sanding too

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1431204478' post='2768839'] Ah, oh well. I have a feeling they had more members anyway, I seem to remember there being a keyboard player, too (we were actually a Roland service centre repairing mostly keyboards, but I do remember installing crossovers in a bunch of said band's pa cabs). the name of that band is going to have to go on bugging me! [/quote] We never had a keyboard player or indeed a PA as sophisticated as to need crossovers

The drummer Rob Peasant was pretty bald. The guitarist was Danny Willson. We played all round Leicestershire and beyond from 1985 to 1995 Edit: No Mercedes van. We had a white Transit for a long time and then a trailer

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1431201674' post='2768811'] That's not as bad as I expected.... [/quote] That's 'cos the Internet doesn't smell

Oh, and before I go... [b]* Advert *[/b] The bass was restored by: Andy Holland mail: [email protected] He's based in South Leicestershire

[b]Strip Down & Re-Fret[/b] We decided the lacquer was in too bad a state to try to save it and it didn't look particularly good in its 'reliced' state, so the lacquer had to come off, the dents steamed out and the wood sanded back down to a nice smooth surface. Andy had taken some decent photos of the water slide transfers before stripping, so that he could get new ones made up And then re-fretted it That's enough for now. I'll post some more photos shortly

[b]A Bass Barely Alive...[/b] (We can rebuild it!) OK, here are some 'before' shots. Remember - I did warn you! The coffin opens... OK, that's enough of that. As I said, I'm not proud of the state it was in. Luckily Andy is a good mate, a rather good guitar technician/restorer & all round good bloke and he took it away to work his magic...

[b]History[/b] The bass was built in April 1980 (serial number 004097). I bought it second hand from Humbucker Music in Leicester in mid-1985. It was then my only bass for around 10 years, in a busy Leicester-based covers trio band called The Chase. We played several nights a week, pretty much every week for many years. This bass has certainly seen some use - and in some way I'm preparing you for some pretty horrible 'before' shots to come. I was young, and foolish and the bass was not particularly looked after. It has been hit against cymbals, battered by drum sticks and literally thrown into the back of vans for many years. In around about 1995 I bought myself a brand new Fender US Jazz Standard, and the Aria was put in the loft where it remained for several years, unloved, almost forgotten. <Cut to scenes of the passing seasons, the falling of leaves, new growth in spring, with stirring string accompaniment, forward to .., 2010 and my mate Andy asks me how the old Aria is, as he's always had a liking for what are now classic Japanese guitars. Curious, I fetched it out of the loft and was dismayed at the state of the poor old workhorse. The loft is obviously not completely damp-free and the years have taken their toll. Those of a nervous disposition may want to look away now. The scenes you are about to see are not pretty, and I'm not proud of myself. If you decide to proceed and end up traumatised, please bear in mind there are happier pictures to come - this is a rebuild thread after all! ...

I had a great afternoon. Thanks to everyone, especially the cake bakers and organisers

I'm a bit gutted because it looks like the Aria SB-1000 needs a new pickup so won't be playable. I'll still bring it as a bit of eye candy because local chap Andy Holland has done a fantastic job on the refinish, nay resurrection of the bass. And I promise a restore thread soon when I can get the photos sorted

Lol

Well I took the pickup out. It's definitely filled with epoxy and I can't get a DC resistance reading at all. So it looks like a replacement pickup - which one? I'm still confused as to how it could make any sound at all with an open circuit pickup. Oh and if you're interested the serial number is 004087

[quote name='Prostheta' timestamp='1431015858' post='2766952'] I've been GASing to build a ZZB 5-string Black n' Gold for far too long. Certainly won't happen with Veijo's pickups however a 4-string version wouldn't be out of the question. That said, the question could be, "batwing?". [/quote] It's got to be pointy imho. A batwing on a ZZB just wouldn't look right. Make it even pointier

It does seem a bit strange if both coils have died I was looking at the Aria UK site earlier and I'm sure I saw some 5ers in the current crop of SB re-issues