Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

kodiakblair

Member
  • Posts

    3,277
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Everything posted by kodiakblair

  1. When I convert a T40 to 5 strings I put La Bella Jamerson flats on it. 38 year old neck subjected to extra strain of 5 quite high tension strings. Handled it no problem and it stayed like that for over a year. Only changed over to La Bella low tension flats because I got a used set for £28. IMO a good B string depends more on the brand, if it works on a bass tuned BEAD no reason it wont work on BEADG.
  2. I'll remember that. Shipping doesn't look too bad, quotes I see are $200 to $250. One TNT quote did say $150 but with the 2 other TNT quotes giving prices then saying "service not available between these addresses", it'll need further investigation.
  3. Could've swore I had more than 1 spare 5 string bridge kicking about. Chrome 6 screw 88mm wide and 57mm deep. it's either 16.3mm or 16.5mm spacing. I'll see about getting a photo in a bit.
  4. I'm sure Peavey bridges were 16mm spacing. When I get in from work I'll double check. Should have a few going spare if they're any good lads.
  5. I wish I could answer. Hoping you post a DIY regarding the paisely paper, had 2 attempts at it last month and both ended in disaster. It'll be nice to see somebody succeed where I failed miserably 🙂
  6. Never mind Mark I could be talked into selling one 😀
  7. Other way around. Bass Collections look like Tunes 😃 Maniacs appeared about 84/85
  8. Bloody hell,it went for £175 !!! If someone stuck a new preamp in that they'd have a killer bass. @MoJo I know what I said about the electrics but the build quality is great. My first bout of GAS was for the Tune Maniac,back in the mid 80's, so I've a long term interest in them 🙂 Here's my take on TuneBasses. The Korean/Japanese thing is kind of muddled and not helped by folk on the various clubs/FB pages. Tune Guitar Technology started the ball rolling in Japan. Kawai,SGC Nanyo,Washburn and Ibanez quickly started with their takes on the Maniac. Late 80's Tune Guitar Tech got the contract for the Levinson Blades so started importing necks and bodies from Korea. This gave them more time for Levinson. At the end complete basses were imported from Korea. Then Tune goes tits up. The Koreans keep building under the Tune Guitar Technology name. Some luthiers in Japan started using Tune templates and called themselves Tune Guitar Maniac,they claim they own the Tune brand but the Koreans dispute this saying they had a "gentleman's agreement" to produce Tune basses. Said Gentleman being dead nobody knows the truth 😃 Upshot is there's a factory in Korea building Tunes and a luthier custom shop in Japan building Tunes,up until recently the Japanese shop still bought it's hardware from the Koreans. The so-called "bad blood" between the two is mostly the product of owners with Japanese built Tunes. Not surprising, I think Fender Master Built owners would get upset with MIM Fender owners claiming there's no difference between their basses. A basic Tune Maniac from Japan will be built by a small team and maybe fired in their PLEK machine, photos of it featured a lot on their FB page along with fancy inlay work on folk's Strats and LPs. It'll cost you about £1200 before shipping and VAT/import duty. £1500 shouldn't be far of the mark. A basic Korean Tune Maniac can be had from Ned at VSN in Canada for £404. With Shipping/tax etc £650 easy. A few years back Sam Ash over in the USA wanted to buy the brand name for another budget line of theirs. The Koreans said no and SA had a fire sale on Tune products,can't say if that was a deliberate attempt to damage the Tune brand name but that was the effect it had in the US.Both are recovering with the Japanese holding the upper hand,given the fantastic value they are for a hand built bass 👍 Fine basses no matter the flavour. My 30something Japanese fretless is a joy,the Korean parts but Japan assembly 90's Maniac is a cracking bass and if quality of the later Korean TWB-4Z is anything to go by the Japanese version will be outstanding. Best leave a photo after all this waffle.
  9. And we have a winner 😂 You just can't stop yourself can you.
  10. Joined the fakers last week. Bought an Ali Ex 5'er from a fella on the FB page Saturday night. Right of the bat I spotted a few wee issues. Nut was off to one side. B&G barely registered on the neck pickup. String/pickup poles were off over the bridge pickup. The RIC logo had been sanded of the TR cover. First job,get that logo sorted. Had some adhesive labels so just printed out the RIC logo. I know this offends some folk but tough stinky poo. My old man knows better than to try telling me what to do so a stranger's outrage means nothing 🙂 Moving the nut took a dab of glue and no time. Turned the G saddle 180,that and the nut improved things at the bridge pickup. The neck toaster just wasn't wide enough for 5 strings nor was the Retrovibe one I'd had in the spares box. I've been impressed with the Warman jazzbar and used it a few times. This was a good excuse to order another. It arrived yesterday but this afternoon was the first chance to fit it. Bars span the string spacing no problem though tomorrow I plan on the parallel wiring option. It's a high output pickup and the change should balance better against the bridge one. £100 for bass,£18 for pickup,less than couple of hour work 😎
  11. Been a fan of tapewound nearly all my playing years. Stumbled across them purely by chance, music shop in Edinburgh was closing and sold me a set of Roto Tru Bass for £5 !! Was on a government scheme back then,it paid £16 a week so I doubt I ate much for a few days after that 😁 Keep a set on my single coil P-bass and on a T40 I fitted a preamp to. Tapes on an active bass work well.
  12. You'll be the first I'll contact when the clear out starts :-)
  13. Couldn't comment on either. I use the Caline CP-24 10 band EQ. £30 and it works a treat 😎 I think the Artec and Caline may be same product just re-badged. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=caline+eq&_sacat=0
  14. Nice to see the sex whizzed doll getting a mention. Gallus Cooper are another great tribute act (gallus means great in Scots).
  15. It was a Plasti-kote clear satin poly. The colour is Rust-oleum Painter's touch. The Halfords that went crackle was acrylic,says it works with all car paints so I'm stumped at the reaction. Bloody tough stuff to rub off again 😀
  16. Thanks @Maude Gave it a scuff earlier. Had choice of Dulux clear (4 hr between coats) or Halfords clear (15 minutes). Went for Halfords. Instant "Crackle effect" finish 🤬
  17. Made an derrière of things last night. Did 2 light coast of poly before I spotted the can was satin not gloss. Can I just spray over with gloss or do I need to sand back again. Cheers KB
  18. "As I  shook the aerosol for the 3rd coat, the words CLEAR SATIN were spotted" . Tears before bedtime 😭

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. SpondonBassed

      SpondonBassed

      Is there a Build Diaries thread?

    3. kodiakblair

      kodiakblair

      Not likely but maybe I should, as a cautionary tale :-) 

    4. discreet

      discreet

      Oh, man... surely wrapping it in vinyl is still an option? :)

  19. There's also. The different shape body (long skinny horns Vs stubby slightly offset horns),made from basswood instead of alder. 12" radius fretboard instead of 8". BBOT bridge instead of the heavier one on the Zodiac. Oh and mucking about with 4mm allen keys to adjust the TR opposed to the Zodiac adjustment wheel.
  20. Was out and about again 😊 Is that the 2 part adjustable on ebay for £3.61 ? Keep meaning to try one of those. I bought quite a few different nuts but in the end just went for a 45mm brass and filed a bit off each end. Got one of these in the drawer for the rainy day. https://www.thomann.de/gb/abm_6250_webster_nut_bass.htm
  21. Sorry Jim was out and about. 64mm overall. Heel is just under 61mm,been a wee bit shrinkage over the years, so I couldn't go much wider. Nut on this fella was 43.5 so only a little filing was required. Main concern was strings still ran on fretboard and within pickup magnets. They do so happy Scotsman.
  22. Same neck Jim, swapped the nut for brass instead of the original steel. Changed the saddles for mono saddles,took a file to the sides for more room. Had to forego through body stringing but monos are through body or top loading. Had it strung with La Bella Jamerson flats for 18 month, neck handled it no problem.
  23. I converted one of my T40s to 5 strings. It wasn't difficult but did mean 16mm string spacing. I kept the original bridge plate,inside size is 83mm. Not being a super fast or too technical a player the spacing was fine. Worked out well I think.
  24. If the companies know they can make money from a signature bass of another signature bass then you can bet your backside they'll release one.
×
×
  • Create New...