Hellzero

Or she was so good that she's been hired for a world tour that started immediately. 🤔

Elder twin, indeed : Vélémoteur was released in 1987 and Crash in 1988... For once, the French didn't copy a British tune. 😉

So, how was it ?

Thanks, @Chienmortbb, but don't start this sterile written debate about wood, especially here as it was not the point. If you believe that wood makes no difference, it's fine, but no need to yell it everywhere. As I wrote, lutherie was my job in the past century and I can tell you that any part, and especially on a bass as it's the most acoustic instrument of the electric range, has an influence on the final sound. I've owned and played over 300 different basses and set up thousands, assembled a lot and built some too with attention to every detail, including the choice of wood taking into account the thickness, shape and sound by tapping it, to get a precisely decided final tone. Pickups and preamps can't turn an unplugged bad sounding instrument into a terrific sounding one when plugged. If the base is dull, the end result will be dull. Maybe you can't hear any difference, but it's not because you don't that there is none. I can hear the difference between two woods of the same species because of their obvious inherent differences as I can also hear the difference between two different CD players. But I'm no extraterrestrial, I simply have very well trained ears, that's all and still today as my ears are still excellent (yearly test by a specialist). That's what made me hear the bad original nut by simply tapping with my nail on it, but to prove I was right the first time, I let it on the neck and only changed it afterwards : the difference in tone was just amazing as said the friend who was there when I made the new nut and put it on. Maybe you don't know it, but when building or assembling an instrument, you have to make the right choices to get the final tone you want : not that complicated when you know the interaction between the different elements. On this assembly, I chose every component with a specific tone in mind, that's why it took me some time to finalise it. So please, as it's only your opinion, don't present it as the only true one. Remember that for a long time the earth was flat, and for some still is, even if it's been proven that it's not.

Here is my fully non original non Fender non 60's non Jazz Bass non Flea non Custom Shop, but real Bitsa, the only real Fender part being the strings retainer ! Long story short : I bought a "Flea kit" from Chris aka @Beedster, except the fake Fender decals, strings, pickups, pots, knobs, capacitor, stereo output jack (for secure grounding), pickguard screws, tuners screws, serialised neck plate (and screws). I decided to go for an all maple neck (Chris was selling the "Flea kit" with a maple Squier rosewood fingerboard neck) that I bought brand new. The body was already reliced in this Shell Pink as you can see it, but had absolutely no holes drilled, so had never been used. I did all the work, including the full copper shielding and decided to go for a copper to the bridge grounding like the original Jazz Basses. The neck is really very very tightly fitted in its pocket and doesn't move at all. I sharpied the neck and neck pocket with the imaginary serial number and my initial to avoid any fakery (who knows). The decals are not period correct at all and as fake as can be (thick home printed by an eBay guy in the U.K.). I eventually opted for ToneRider pickups which, to me, are as good as any boutique ones. I put a TAD Mustard 22 nF PIO capacitor and used cloth wire, with fully copper shielding. The knobs are Sadowsky-like from Sivcak. The strings are the Ernie Ball Super Slinky 45~105 and are a real good match. The action is a bit lower than my usual 1.5 to 2 mm at the 12th fret. The neck is dead straight with no default. I only had to put a bone nut as the original plasticised cardboard one was real dire. Add the massive Schaller bridge to the equation and you get a longer sustain than the usual all maple neck Jazz Bass. The Sadowsky knobs add the final touch to this really good sounding and resonant Jazz Bass (the light alder body is also part of the sound here). I put a brand new set of Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky Bass (45 - 65 -85 -105) that really serves this Bitsa. I then fully set it up professionally (used to be my job in the past century). As I said to a friend of mine, it's 4.080 kilos of amazing sounding bass. And before anyone asks, the decals are just there for the fun as they are absolutely fake and it's more than obvious !!! Here are the specifications : Body : 3 pieces light alder Neck : bolt-on maple Fingerboard : maple Frets : 21 small (with fretboard extension) Headstock : 4 in-line Pickups : 2 x ToneRider Jazz Bass in 60's position Controls : volume, volume, tone (TAD Mustard PIO) Tuners : Schaller BMF Bridge : Schaller 3D-4 Strings spacing at bridge : 21 mm Nut : real bone Strings spacing at nut : 9 mm Knobs : Sadowsky-like Scale : 34 inches Hardware colour : chrome Truss rod : one double action Finish : shell pink reliced satin finish on the body and high gloss vintage on the neck Land of craftsmanship : worldwide Serial number : 62188 Year : assembled in May 2021 Weight : 4.080 kilos Action : a bit under 1.5 mm under the G string to a bit under 2 mm under the E string at 12th position (can go way lower, but is perfect for me) Now, here is some work in progress and my usual photos on the more than 400 years old oak floor.

It's also very nice sounding, especially since yesterday as I've fitted some (expensive) Alembic CX-3 strings. Strangely, this is my fourth Alembic (two Series One, a Spoiler and this Elan), and every time I've put these Alembic strings on them, they sounded way better... Odd, I know.

And puppets too.

I can see that you take it very seriously. I like your professionalism. Don't forget a spare strings set too. 😉

Break a leg !

“Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery.” – Miles Davis No comments.

Miles Davis was very good at it. This has always inspired me : “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.”

Funny because the Ernie Ball Super Slinky are always my favourite strings in your "demos" and I hated them on my Le Fay Remington Steele 6 RHT CC CAP Big Block (what a name, I know) as these were the strings fitted when I bought it. This is what Reiner and Meik fit at the factory. But strangely, I quite like them on fretted basses. Go figure. Great tests you're doing : simple and effective ! Straight to it. 👌

Here is the custom strings configurator : https://newtonestrings.com/shop/custom-bass-string-configurator/

Yes, they are a bit slow indeed. The strings are really good. That said you can order a custom set by Newtone in the U.K. who makes really good strings too. https://newtonestrings.com/

This set would be perfect : https://kaliummusic.com/product/string-pack-2m323a3i/

Try Kalium strings, but be patient...

And 88 millimetres to a shortarse.

It could have been worst, I could have been a Mancunian liking gravy pea.

Am I doomed ? My bass has 6 strings and no frets, I like to play loads of notes, double stops and chords, I like to solo, I play very often on the dusty end and I am 182 cm tall. So I'm a bad bass player with the good height. 😎

Stop making such beautiful instruments, please. 😎 Or I'll end up ordering one...

Here is my 32 inches scale translucent blue Alembic Elan IV, but I won't keep it. I'm definitely a 34 inches scale (6 strings fretless) bass player. And it looks like a banjo on me. 🤣

Pitza, then !

Here, you have almost all available Ibanez catalogues from way back to the ... 1960's ! https://www.ibanez.com/usa/support/catalogs/