basexperience

I started out with a carlsbro cobra 90: it wasn't that powerful, but I rewired it to give me a speaker out and then created a cabling system to let me hook more cabs up to it. Surprisingly good trouser flap ensured until I eventually scraped enough together for a secondhand peavey TNT from sound control in Dundee!

Just discovered I'm going to have to evict a spider which is living underneath the line out PCB. The designer never spec'd it out for this I'd wager haha

Oh dear god, the band appear to have spilled sugary DRINKS into it at some point!!! It did spend a lot of time onstage in Andorra at the Aspen Bar in Soldeu (where I used it) and we did have this thing about Sambuca... THIS AMP HAS GIVEN IT SOME! ;-) (valve socket is untouched, thankfully - it was all surface and is now cleaned!)

First - massive thanks to all you guys for leaving those helpful comments. I finally got my hands on the amp! I know - it's taken a long time - but the build is going to happen. I'm posting "before" pictures at the moment: the whole thing is up on Facebook as a page - [url="https://www.facebook.com/TraceV4Reborn"]https://www.facebook.com/TraceV4Reborn[/url] I'm documenting everything I can, I'm getting more info on the amp's history and contacting Trace for any details. I've got the service manual and found part numbers, so I should be able to source bits that are in need of replacement with any luck. The head has survived really well: the tubes are probably shot (one KT88 is busted but 3 Ruby's remain...) It's the opening, but things should move on from here. Hoping to do an authentic rebuild. Have to cost it out first - the band want to know what it might cost before anything happens!

One is rare, the other less so, but they both growl beautifully. Just replaced the nut on the 4 string with a brass just-a-nut III and the results are great! Love Warwicks, they've got real character and are great for funk with drive. The fretless sounds amazing!

I'll be there on Sunday, BC lanyard proudly displayed! I'll be the one wandering around trying out amps with a Rikkers! <drools> Never forget to take earplugs! The old foam type will do, it's more about keeping you sane. They do have some for distribution at the show, I remember that from last year.

I'm tempted to give it a couple of sessions just to see if there's anything good on it. Who knows, weirder things have happened...

[sup]I'll be there on Sunday, I have something to pick up! Feels great to have seen something at the 2014 show and then come back to the Rikkers guys to pick up my own in 2015.[/sup] [sup]I'll be wearing my BC lanyard!![/sup] [sup]Did we decide to meet somewhere? Would like to shake a few more hands this year. Bassists are such lovely folk.[/sup]

Myspace: the silent social network. An irony, given its music focus. Anyone upload their stuff on there anymore? Even the foo fighters appear to have gone silent on there! Was wondering if it was worth a rummage through, or if it's completely dead - and is it worth uploading tracks to there? All opinions gratefully accepted.

Hmm. Useful? https://www.eventide.com/AudioDivision/Products/StompBoxes/PitchFactorUpdate.aspx

Yeah, that's the Rikkers "SwitchBuckers" in ebony pickup covers. The diary should have run from last November through to now: it's my bad it's been compressed, but I'm glad I managed to get it all on here. NBD will be a happy one.

Another +1 here for giving the guy a break - "on hold" means "give the guy's usual daily cycle a chance to let him check back" - I have email notifications and a mobile which tells me when someone replies, but many don't use that facility. If BassChat had an app with notifications, it might be a different story, depending on how responsive you are to the needy little computer in your pocket. But even then, as a seller, I'd wait at least a day before asking if they were still interested and to get back to me.

The final word should go to the bass, really

So - here's the final instalment. I got a parcel of complete build shots which included all the shots they've just uploaded to Facebook: The bass is beautiful and now she's coming over here... and I'll pick her up on Sunday. [url="http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-5-final-stretch.html"]http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-5-final-stretch.html[/url] I love that video of the wiring god, cracks me up!

The guys at Rikkers have a wicked sense of humour: Here's Jacco, God Of Wiring, really pulling out the stops to meet the weekend's deadline! [url="http://youtu.be/bKjFxx80K-M"]http://youtu.be/bKjFxx80K-M[/url]

... And again, with the attachment :-) You can see the little switches on the SwitchBuckers: they're ebony pickups to keep with the fretboard.

Woohoo! Pickups!

I have another update on the fabulous Rikkers bass to share - this brings us up to date! In this post I discuss the inlay - and how we had a sudden change of approach, and how technology saved the day, with a little help from Ferdinand Rikkers and his engraving skills. http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-4-bass-emerges-and.html

The youtube link I linked in the blog post about hand tools shows Ferdinand carving a guitar heel the same way: beautiful work.

Thanks! I've really enjoyed the process: it's engaging, and you learn a lot (I've learned a lot about tonewoods).

I thought it might be cool to stick a teaser picture on here too - this is the first glimpse I got of the woods which would be the face of the bass :-)

- http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/rikkers-build-part-1-choosing-components.html - how we discussed what the bass would be made of, the options etc - http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-2-hearing-about.html - some great shots of the early build: the first glimpse of the olive wood top, covers the neck being glued, and the early gluing of the wings and top. - http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-3-hand-carving-back.html - Mr Rikkers has fun with hand tools! I'm really looking forward to next Sunday now: Rikkers were kind enough to get me a guest pass to LBGS 2015, so in addition to saving money (and worry) on having the bass shipped, I saved on admission to the show!

I'm definitely coming, because the perfectly lovely Ferdinand Rikkers says he'll pay for my ticket so I can pick up the 5 string Olive top Bodyline he's building for me! (I am literally spending time looking at pictures of the one from last year). What nice guys, eh? I like the lineup this year, actually - a lot of bassists I cut technique teeth on (Sheehan, Hamm, King). Is there any more news on that daft "pay for a seat" thing in the shows?

Well, I did it - I commissioned a bass! Slightly giddy. Scuse me while I grab something. I'm documenting over on my blog with the first chapter - engaging with the process - at [url="http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/commissioning-bass-engaging-with-builder.html"]http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/commissioning-bass-engaging-with-builder.html[/url] Next chapter coming soon: "how we chose the top using technology and a little innovation"! I'll keep the updates and Q&As on this thread so this will be the place I have the whole story, so to speak. I have pics of the process so far, including some really nice ones of the build. BTW the Rikkers guys are great: Ferdinand really knows his stuff. And that bass, though... this is the LBGS one - mine will have [i][b]some [/b][/i]differences... and the top is an absolute stunner.