Hamster

[quote name='bigash' post='128526' date='Jan 27 2008, 02:21 AM']Can anyone help. I think i may have blown a valve, i now have to turn the gain to almost max before clipping occurs. I cannot visually see valves when switched on. Can i remove valves and visually see any damage which may have happened. Any dangers in doing this. Cheers.[/quote] When the valves are on you should see a faint red glow caused by the heater. You might have to darken the room a bit to see this. No problem taking the valves out (when isolated from the main) As for checking for damage - I suppose cracks are obvious, also discolouration of the glass or red spot like stains on any of the internals. Hamster

Hola! and Welcome I visited your myspace, liked the music. Enjoy our website Hamster

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='128191' date='Jan 26 2008, 12:04 PM']Had work done by him. Neck profile, set up and he managed to fix the finish on one my instruments that some tike had decided to put a deep scratch in. His own basses that he makes are pretty tasty also. I used to use him as my main tech when he was in Bearwood, Birmingham.[/quote] Thanks - now added Hamster

[quote name='OldGit' post='128030' date='Jan 25 2008, 09:08 PM']can you recommend one and a supplier? Can I do that with the push pull switch, IE pull it out and it takes the controls out of the circuit? The Maplins DPDT switch is a foot switch Where did you fit it and how did you wire it up? Thanks.[/quote] Here's one somebody made earlier - just a simple replacement with no extra switches or wiring to do [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-Fender-No-Load-250k-Tone-Control_W0QQitemZ350016460370QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-Fender-No-Lo...0QQcmdZViewItem[/url] To fine tune what tone you want, just try swapping out a few different value caps - 0.1uf, 0.047uf, 0.022uf. 0.0047uf. Only cost 10p each. Hamster

[quote name='stevebasshead' post='127776' date='Jan 25 2008, 02:46 PM']I can't speak for Fender circuits but on Ric's the .0047 cap certainly has the opposite effect of what you're saying above, it definitely removes the lower frequencies.[/quote] Yes, brain hurting whilst eating dinner and typing In the Rickys, they put a cap in series with the signal and run the resistor parallel to it to make a simple first order high pass tone control to reduce the lower frequencies. Hamster

[quote name='slapathy' post='127900' date='Jan 25 2008, 05:42 PM']I agree, there MUST be someone in W Yorks/Bratford/Leeds/Wakey/Cleckhudderfax/Pontefract/Cas area who can help me with my embarrasing problem??? I bought a semi acoustic bass which has an action like the Humber Bridge, needs fixin before it goes back on evilbay. I had heard there was a bass luthier in Dean Clough, Halifax, anyone know any more?[/quote] There may well be luthiers in that area, but until they get a personal recommendation from an established basschatter whose had work done by them then they don't get on the list Hamster

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='126942' date='Jan 24 2008, 02:44 PM']Rob Williams 01686 689120 www.robwilliamsguitars.co.uk[/quote] Have you personally had work done by this guy - or just heard he was good? Thanks Hamster

[quote name='Pedro1020' post='127944' date='Jan 25 2008, 06:41 PM']That price is just taking the piss [/quote] But it seems someone wants it - £7600 ATM. Hamster

[quote name='OldGit' post='127399' date='Jan 24 2008, 10:52 PM']OK Well its P bass so there's only one pickup I don't mean I would take the cap out completely but I am wondering if having a different capacitor will give me a different starting point. So, when the tone control is on full treble/no treble cut does the different capacitor make a difference there or is the difference only effective once some treble cut is applied (ie by turning the tone knob back a bit towards the bass end) ?[/quote] Basically, the cap is used to short out a pickup to ground. The cap will let the trebles pass through it to ground, but lower frequencies will not pass through the cap, and so they carry onto the output jack. The tone pot is the resistor which controls how much of the treble frequencies are bled off to ground. When the tone pot is on 'full treble' the resistance between the cap and ground is high - so only a little of the treble frequencies bleed off. When you turn the pot to 'no treble' then the resistance to ground is much less, so more treble frequencies are bled off, and the bass frequencies gets through to the output jack. A .047 cap will produce a bassier tone because it will let more treble signal pass though it to ground. A .022 cap will produce a brighter tone because it will let less of the treble signal pass through to ground. Very small value caps - 0.0010, will only take out very high frequencies. Larger value caps - 0.10, will start to take out the mids. Sorry I'm not good at explaining things properly Hamster

[quote name='stevebasshead' post='127144' date='Jan 24 2008, 06:09 PM']Fender experts will no doubt answer better but it sounds similar to what Rickenbacker used to do on the bridge pickup. They put a .0047 (that's one more nought than the one you're talking about) capacitor in the bridge pup's tone circuit to remove a shedload of bass and lower mids. A .047 cap like you mention (I would imagine) do the same but to a lesser extent. So it doesn't so much add brightness as lose some bottom end giving a more clear tone. Ric have recently added the cap back but on a push/pull tone pot so you can switch it in and out of circuit - if the Fender cap is the same sort of idea maybe you'd want to do something similar so you can get the best of both worlds. Of course, I could be talking complete b*ll*cks, I'm not up to speed on Fender tweaks [/quote] If you take the cap out of the circuit, you just hear the true output of the pickups - which may be a good or bad thing. You can't remove any of the lower frequencies by just fitting a cap. The much lower value .0047 cap just lets through more highs which may sound better on the bridge pickup. Hamster

[quote name='OldGit' post='127146' date='Jan 24 2008, 06:10 PM']So I know the tone knob on a P is a simple treble cut but does it start at zero cut or does the capacitor make a difference when the tone is on "full up"? Cheers[/quote] Without the cap in place the tone knob will have no effect on your tone. The cap will take away the higher frequencies regardless of the position of the knob. Hamster

[quote name='OldGit' post='127122' date='Jan 24 2008, 05:43 PM']My SXy P bass has a big loud tone but it's a tad lacking in the bright department. I've got some of my normal Elixir lights on the way to replace the Fenders it came with but I have read about the wonders of the "SPRAGUE .047mfd ORANGE DROP CAP" tone capacitor What's so great about them and what does using one do to the sound? Cheers, OG[/quote] Don't know about that particular cap, but the cap in the circuit is to roll off the highs. If you want a brighter tone, try swapping it out for a .022 cap. Hamster

[quote name='queenofthedepths' post='126945' date='Jan 24 2008, 02:50 PM']As it should be! Any thoughts on how to attach it to this (anywhere, really) without too much difficulty? I was thinking of taking off the bridge cover and screwing it on just there, but I'd rather not remove anything coz it all adds to the garish factor! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5086"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach...ost&id=5086[/url][/quote] Ummmmmm - plenty of room on the strap. It would make you look more manly and perhaps attract horse-loving groupies Hamster

[quote name='andytickell' post='126801' date='Jan 24 2008, 12:07 PM']Thanks for the help guys. Don't suppose you have heard of Greg at [post="0"]guitar aid[/post] he's based in fulham which is easier to get to than where steve is based. Cheers.[/quote] Linky no worky! Hamster You mean this guy?: [url="http://www.guitaraid.co.uk/"]Guitar Aid[/url]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='126893' date='Jan 24 2008, 01:39 PM']I've got some horseshoes. You can put it on any bass and make it look suitably tasteless. Perfect for your Status, Fender, GB, Shuker, Lakland, Yammy or whatever you happen to currently be playing. OK, it's not quite a horse, but the horse snuffed it and I thought that it would be a shame to let the horse shoes go to waste... Any takers? Chris. Ever smiley. [/quote] Are they slip-ons or lace-ups? Hamster

[quote name='gilmour' post='125882' date='Jan 23 2008, 03:07 AM']I should spare a mention for the glue, it is really lethal stuff, latex gloves are a must, fortunatley I do a lot of street art so I have them in abundance, unfortunatley I didn't realise that I had ripped the fingers on them, the glue melted the dried spray paint, and then stuck it to my fingers, which are now a funny sort of gray colour that I can;t scrub off - they are in fact sore from trying. I shall buy more Latex gloves, and be more careful with them lol.[/quote] [quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='126618' date='Jan 24 2008, 03:24 AM']The bulk of the excess adhesive can be easily removed with a sharp chisel, using a planing action. Much faster than sanding.[/quote] DIY alert!!!! - Bill means from the CABS!! (I'm always grateful when people explain DIY stuff to me, so I'm just passing on the help ) Hamster

[quote name='andytickell' post='126470' date='Jan 23 2008, 09:41 PM']Ok I will be playing it through a peavey 4x10 cab as that is the only cab I have. AFAICR? I am not up on my abbreviations! I actually live in Kingston-upon-Thames and was considering taking it to Charile Chandler but if you know of anyone else who is reasonably priced I am all ears.[/quote] As Far As I Can Recall/Remember From Kingston you are a very short drive from Steve - [url="http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/"]http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/[/url]. He's excellent and much cheaper then Chandler's. Tell him guys from Basschat sent you Hamster

I think that's gonna be in the shop window for quite a long time at that price Hamster

Hi Broomer - You'll get plenty of info and opinion here on whatever bass you're thinking of buying. Welcome! Hamster

Good luck with the gig - I'd love to be there! Hamster

[quote name='andytickell' post='126460' date='Jan 23 2008, 09:21 PM']I am thinking of upgrading my bass rig from SS to all valve I currently have a Sound City 120 bass head which needs a good service as it's as old as my grandad. This could cost a bit so I was just wondering what people's opinions were on the Sound City 120 as a bass amp? Otherwise I have about £350ish to spend on a valve head. Thanks.[/quote] Loud and with a good blues tone AFAICR. If that's what you're looking for then you have a decent amp. If you live near Surrey I can put you onto a cracking valve amp tech Hamster

Hi and Welcome! Also, a decent hat is essential. Hamster

With the amount of heads up about things worth watching being posted, I'm going to stop buying the Radio Times Hamster

It depends on a couple of things like how light/heavy your touch is, the neck radius and your personal preference. A 2.5mm relief on the E string, going down to 2mm on the G string is a reasonable place to start. Hamster

Ummmmmmm a pimped paint job too far. Hamster