Marc S

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1444058389' post='2879920'] What in the blazes is going on with your line breaks. S.P. [/quote] I'm typing it so it's not just one massive block of text (which is often difficult to read, of course) It's fairly standard practice ... unless of course, there's something awry with your computer, or your screen resolution set-up? EDIT: I'm trying to upload pics, using Imgur as I'd successfully done this previously However, today it doesn't seem to be working atm I played an open mic with the bass last night, and you know what I quite liked it. I had thought I'd just move this bass on, after completion But I'm now liking the bass quite a lot I thought about a neck shim Rumple But I don't really like seeing a shim, for some reason It would be quite visible, methinks Were it invisible, I'd have no problem I'll try uploading those pics again tomorrow

As the title suggests, this isn't really a "build diary" as such I had a few bits & pieces knocking around, as I'd thought about repairing / re-building an old bass (or two!) Since getting my Roadworn Fender Jazz a while back, I have discovered the merits of playing gigs with a bass that you aren't too precious about! I've gigged mint, expensive basses in the past, and almost had a heart attack everytime someone knocks a cymbal stand over, or snags their foot on a lead while setting up - resulting in something almost getting knocked over Or even those situations where, you're gigging in a rough & ready pub..... and you never know Anyhow, I'd picked up an old Japan built P bass I think it's a Matsumoko factory bass - it had the typical neck plate of such a bass, The guy I bought it from also had had it for years He's a guitarist, and bought it years back, as a bass for open mic nights he runs, and some recordings He's a very trustworthy bloke, in general and his history of the bass suggested it was either from the late 70's or early 80's It had taken a bad knock & fall, and a split opened up in the neck, along the junction between neck & fretboard He continued to play it for a while, until it felt like someone might get a splinter from playing it! Anyhow, I really liked the colour, grain & general look of the body - so I bought it - As I said it was cheap... I later came across a neck, which was also going cheap The local guy had bought it to do a build / repair job but he couldn't get the bass set up right, and really struggled with it He'd put a not very good Fender transfer logo on and he'd also slightly split the varnish finish, and taken a small piece out near one of the tuners I suspect he'd tried to rush the fitting of the tuning keys He'd certainly rushed the varnish job, over the decals Having removed the old neck, I discovered no useful date stamps or info in the neck pocket and the new neck was very slightly too wide to fit the body I thought a while about how I could neatly trim the pocket, to fit the neck In a moment of inspiration (and this may horrify some people!) I opted to try widening the pocket with my Dremmel drill - remember, it had all been acquired fairly cheaply so far so no great loss, if I messed it up... The dremmelling proved quite successful - but I would caution anyone doing this, to protect the body of the bass with some gaffer tape, to protect paintwork... Working gradually, I checked the neck until it fitted the pocket neatly. Length of the pocket had to be altered too and I'd spotted that the original neck hadn't quite fitted perfectly here There was a small gap at the back of the neck, but the scratchplate had hidden this Anyhow, after a little tweaking - I got the neck to fit pretty well Although, it's not as "thick" or "deep" as the original - so it sits lower down in the body and the bridge has had to be set very low, to get the action down All in all though, with a bit of tweaking and fiddling, and just a few hours work I have a bass that looks nice, sounds great and am fairly satisfied with It needed a new jack socket (about 3 quid) and I was amazed at how good it sounds amplified The pickup is really quite good, and it sounds a lot like a P bass should Pics later

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1443129025' post='2872575'] .....Also, that G string position away from the edge would bug me also. The older Fenders used to have multiple grooved string saddles. I wonder if you managed to get one as a spare part (or even all four) you could space the strings as you pleased. [url="https://www.allparts.com/BB-0355-001-Vintage-Bass-Bridge_p_590.html"]https://www.allparts...idge_p_590.html[/url] for example [/quote] Doesn't bug me, I must say - and I thought I was a bit OCD lol Yes, those multi-grooved bridge saddles are good I have one on my RW Jazz, and it does allow you to shift the position of the strings a bit You can get them - I've seen them on ebay - bit pricey mind and from the States. So maybe you can find a supplier in the UK? One came up for sale in the UK on ebay recently and I almost bought it to fit to another bass - wish I had now

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1443556080' post='2875810'] +1 very thin superglue. The brute force repair additional method would also involve inserting a screw from the G side, pulling the two parts together. Not elegant but effective. Body looks nice grain from front. [/quote] Another neat idea! This may be considered a bit more "brute force" but could work well A neat method would be to drill a pilot hole for the screw, then a slightly wider, shallower hole to countersink the screw.... Once everything was in place, and glue has had time to set you could then fill the countersunk space with some sawdust and PVA, or suitably coloured wood filler

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1443505644' post='2875251'] Good points here guys. Maybe I can wangle a scalpel blade or pin into the cracks enough to get some superglue down there. I'd certainly like to stabilise it. [/quote] Yes, this was my thought too A very thin superglue would run into that split But obviously, be careful where thin superglue can run / spill onto EDIT: I'm thinking, your hands, clothes, the dining room carpet etc, as much as somewhere else on the guitar... I think it'd be worthwhile getting some glue in there, and once it has dried, putting some sort of pin in there As you say, from the bottom (G string side) A wooden dowel may give you the best bond, with a strong PVA type glue But it might also mean you have to drill a wider hole, which may also weaken the "broken" piece So maybe try a narrow dowel, or even a metal rod of some sort... perhaps even 2 pins / dowels for added strength I'd say this is worth a bash at repairing At least it gives you chance to try some repair techniques, and there's no huge loss if it doesn't quite work out You could always pick up another 2nd hand neck from somewhere Good luck with it, and let us know how you get on

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1443104395' post='2872250'] This looks gorgeous, especially the neck. Ive gone back and forth between P bass for the past 12 years. Sometimes i find them boring but i also love the simplicity of them. If they came with jazz size necks as standard (i mean all, know a few do) id have a lot more basses than i need. [/quote] I went off Fender P's for years And around a year or so I came back to them Far from being boring, I think it's a plain & simple classic style, and classic sound and the controls are simple too. I've had many basses over the years and I like the fact that the controls on the bass are simple Do the EQ tweaking on the amp When you're playing live, it's so easy to tweak the wrong switch or control when you're mid-set (or even mid song!) For me, the slimmer P necks of recent years has brought me back to re-discover the P bass My Squier CV 60's P is fab, my US P is fab I'm so glad I came back to the P bass I've come full circle too - but I think I've learned a bit from my experimenting.... When you find a P you like - you know you've got a good bass Welcome back

I thought was cured of GAS. I have every bass I could ever want / need - too many really I GASsed after a Squier CV 70's P as a workaday bass for pubs (saving my near mint US P) .... and then I stumbled across wateroftyne's Maruszczyk bass It's just stunning, lovely colour/ pickguard colour, lovely neck - binding & blocks great pickup arrangement in P/J fashion, and it's very lightweight.... And I now have more GAS than ever lol

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1443006732' post='2871327'] This is why I went down the Maruszczyk route. Fender CS / US Lakland quality, and bespoke, for MIM money. [/quote] I thought I was nearly cured of GAS But this has given me added GAS This is one of the finest basses I have ever seen Simply stunning.... It's got everything, and looks perfect in every way..... want....

Thanks for the link to this thread wateroftyne I can't believe just how stunning that bass of yours is It has everything, it's a P with PJ pickups a stunning block inlaid neck, great colour, great colour pickguard sounds fab too I wish I could give one of these a try... Anyone in / near South Wales got one of these? pretty please? lol Cheers Marc

[quote name='DanEly' timestamp='1443008953' post='2871358'] I use these "demon" buttons. Not the Ashdown sub one but the Ampeg Ultra Low (on occasions) and the Aguilar Low switch. I really like the depth it can give sometimes. [/quote] Yes, I used an Ashdown in a rehearsal room a few years back Didn't like the Sub button on that But I had an Ampeg head with low button - and that sounded pretty good On several occasions, it even sounded great But again, depending on the room / venue, sometimes it just added rumbling noise...

Not a real "cheapo" but second-hand, they're not too pricey I had a Squier Classic Vibe 60's P bass, in Fiesta Red Loved it, but GAS got the better of me, and I sold it, to get a USA P bass The US bass is lovely - but not that much better than the Squier I really missed the Squier, and when one came up 2nd hand locally I just had to get one again. It's a great backup and I'm not so precious about taking it to pubs, whereas, my near mint US P, I'm over protective of..... Although Squier CV's aren't truly "cheapo's" they're cheap compared to the US basses they're copies of

Another +1 for Bartolini pickups here For inexpensive, passive pickups, try Entwistles Not sure if they do any 5 string types - but their P bass passive pups are superb, punchy, and really reasonably priced.....

Nice colour combo - definitely And don't worry - you don't have to justify your tastes It's your bass, and if you like it, that's all that's needed ... but looks like I'll like it too - of course, I also have my own favourite actresses with red hair & pale skin Now for the waiting bit..... Patience, patience Cheers, and post some pics on NBD - if you can put it down long enough to take some pics, that is....

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1442928476' post='2870615'] Didn't Sid Viscious have a 70s Olympic White P ? [/quote] I think it must have been a 70's Olympic White P, along with Paul Simonen of the Clash, and DeeDee Ramone ... unless they were bought 2nd hand, and were very late 60's P basses? But DeeDee is rumoured to have had several basses over the years So some of them must have been 70's models Cracking shot of Norman Watt-Roy above Great looking creamy colour on that P bass too

Depends on the venue really Sometimes it can help add greater depth to the sound But I agree, yes, it is often over-used and can cause a lot of boom, making distinction between low notes difficult Part of the problem, is that the button is there, so some will just use it regardless - thinking it boosts volume and partly, the problem with bass is that you can't really hear it too clearly when you're right in front of, or next to it So it the audience near the back who get the full blast / effect Mostly, audiences can't distinguish why something sounds boomy or where the problem emanates from.....

I agree, it's easier to talk in terms of clockwise / anti-clockwise But the old saying "Lefty loosie, righty-tighty" is just to aid the memory As well as youtube videos, there's some rather good advice in the Haynes style Fender Bass manual This is written by Fender & other bass / guitar techs, and it's well illustrated too .... even if you're adjusting basses other than fender.... Anyhow, make adjustments slowly. Some recommend no more than a quarter of a turn an hour and allow plenty of time for the neck to "settle" Good luck

I was very much "off" fenders for years, but then I tried a RW Jazz which another BC'er was selling .... .and I had to have it - I was instantly smitten! For me, it's the best bass I've ever played But of course, this is just my opinion, based on my requirements, and what I find comfortable to play, and like the sound and feel of Back to the OP's "hankering" for a Fender, perhaps this is just because they were the first bass guitars and so many players have used them over the years - maybe they're just etched into our psyche? They are certainly a standard, a benchmark in fact If I had a pound for every advert for a bass for sale, which says "better than any Fender" I'd be able to afford......... well, another Fender