Number6

Hi All, I am thinking of doing a first time Frankenstein build and wondered if a J&D P or Jazz is a good foundation to start with? I like the Surf Green Jazz they do and it's a very cheap way to get started. My plan would be to source a neck, trick out the hardware and electrics etc and maybe a custom pickguard. Thoughts please?

The reason i don't buy a relic bass is i would want to polish it all up.....

I'm off to give the basses a bit of a tidy up.....

Very subjective..... For all the big names you mention there'll be a one man band Craftsman / Luthier that can better them. The best luthier is the one cares about their customers wishes and can put your wishes into physical being using Artisan skills.

[quote name='bumnote' timestamp='1439639336' post='2844578'] Why dont yoiu ask him? [/quote] Too lazy to be honest.....i'm just curious and don't want to get into the whole email ping pong thing 😉

What is the average cost?

I'm really drawn to an Ovation Magnum I or II never played one but i love the shape and pickup set up.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1439451632' post='2842886'] It's all over the place, but IIRC the main riff is in 7/8, then it moves to 5/4 for the F#-E section and then 4/4 for the guitar solo. [/quote] I can play it.....if i knew all the above it would just confuse me

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1439419378' post='2842819'] I [i]think[/i] it's B dorian in 5/4 time. [/quote] I bow to your superior knowledge.....

Money Pink Floyd, Roger Waters.....if i tried to tell you the mode i'd just expose my lack of music theory knowledge 😨

Looking good.....whats the timescale on completion now?

I'm thinking something with a P-J pickup configuration.

I have to confess that i really am drawn to a Rick.....luckily the funds don't cover it at the mo.

Also worth doing a bit of research on Electro Magnetic Compatability (emc) as there are lots of sources of noise making radio interference out there.

[quote name='Leonard Smalls' timestamp='1438501574' post='2834874'] There's nowt that says you can't have an earth rod and a PME. However, the house earth would still be at 0V effectively with respect to neutral becausae of the PME system. There's also the added possibility that if there's a supply neutral fault all your neighbour's ground paths would be through your earth rod... If the fault is caused by RFI, the old earth may have been of high enough resistance to actually be at a higher voltage with respect to neutral, and so mask any lower rfi voltages. However, a lower earth loop impedance means higher prospective fault cuurents - a good thing as it means RCDs, MCBs and fuses operate faster. If RFI is the problem, a decent filter such as the F3 Micro (http://www.evoaudio.uk/wychwood.htm) would sort it. But as RFI is quite a large problem on mains I don't understand why manufacturers don't put effective filtration in the power supplies of amplifiers... [/quote] Exactly.....you don't want to introduce earth fault paths onto a stand alone earth spike. And ferrite beads / filters can work well on suppressing interference but you may have to experiment where to install them.

[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1438474494' post='2834823'] Not wanting to get into a pissing contest, in my 45 years experience as an electronics engineer. and having hands on experience of actually solving hum and RFi problems in the field, in various envoronments - although not specifically made a study of EMC. Quite often in practice, the cure makes no sense in theory, Question is, is it really an improved earth ? Always better to find the source if possible, I'm not convinced that its something in the house, But after eliminating the things I already mentioned, I'd try putting the earth rod backin place. I'm not a sparks, and I dont know about 17th edition regs, but a quick google suggests an additional earth rod connected via 10mm cable conforms. And would possibly be the most cost effective cure. [/quote] A TT system where the consumer provides their own main earth rod or the old system didn't appear to pick up any noise. The new system (this is an assumption) is TN-C-S or PME from a connection to the earthed neutral at the electrical intake. From what i've read above when the main earth is disconnected (be careful doing that by the way as there may be some earth leakage / fault currents) the noise disappears. So the old system was a stand alone earth that was fairly quiet the new system is a combined earth (from the supplier) and it is noisy but the noise disappears when the main earth is removed. So therefore i suggest the noise is being picked up by parallel paths somewhere on the PME supply system. Also installing another earth rod may not be advisable as spacing of rods can affect the earth loop impedance and also fault surface voltages can be introduced if the earthing isn't correct. Anyway those are my thoughts on the subject. For earthing definitely consult an electrician.

[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1438444019' post='2834578'] Errm - No ! [/quote] In my experience as an electrical engineer and having studied Electro Magnetic Compatability (EMC) i would say yes. 😉

Have you tried any ferrite rings / filters on the power cord? Do a search on the Maplin site. The new earth is probably causing more noise because its picking up electrical (emc) interference. Ferrites are cheap and worth trying first. You may have to wrap the power lead around a large ferrite ring a few times. You can also buy clip on ferrites to maybe try on your bass lead. Hope this helps

Hurry on Sundown by Hawkwind

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1437407174' post='2825723'] To the OP; do you have a Facebook band page yet? I'd be inclined to get that sorted first so you have an online presence and you've chance to establish the name of your band (which might even involve staking a claim to the name before anyone else decides to use it). With a Facebook page you could then hopefully gather a few followers and ask for feedback from your 'fans' as to which of the logos looks good and best represents you? [/quote] Agreed +1 👍

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1437403107' post='2825681'] The 2nd one is particularly cool. Like it. [/quote] Thank you 👍👍

Our guitarist created these band logos for our fb page and twitter feed. I was very pleased with them and they cost nowt

Had a good gig with three other Psych Proto Punk type bands last night over in East London.....pretty decent turnout around 50+ people in a very warm pub. I lost about a stone during our set.

I bought another unneeded instrument last week which arrives tomorrow. The wife is going to flip if i don't swap all these basses around in their gig bags and pretend i've owned it years.....pretty much what she does with shoes and handbags

Unfair to generalise about the whole band who i'm sure will play whatever the leader calls them too.