T-Bay

Can’t find a thread dedicated to gig pics so thought it was worth starting one. Anything goes from phone pics to full on art shots. A couple to start, one by a mate and one grabbed by myself as we were getting ready.

I am getting quite excited now, I know there will be lots of fettling to do but it’s close so I can’t wait to fire it up the first time. Still waiting on some small screws for the rear cover and pickguard (on way from China) and replacement decal. Then it’s a matter of putting it all together.

All coats on and it’s looking nice. I will cut it back after the weekend then polish it up and see how it looks. The grain is very obvious but I am happy with that. I copper lined the control cavity and spayed a couple of small bits I wanted to match but forgot to take pics. Depending on a couple of small bits arriving it could be finished by the end of next week.

I have only been playing 18months, did my first gig 2 months later. I was lucky to have people at work who played. The advice above is good and I would add that it’s well worth going to all the local Jam nights, you find an odd mix of people there but it’s always worth chatting to anyone there.

Very true, but the kit they used now very regularly turns up on eBay for pennies. Might not be worth it to test a single valve but an interesting thing for an enthusiast to have anyway.

Interesting conversation with the rest of the band today. I really struggled with the on stage sound and technical issues and felt a bit deflated last night. The feeling from the rest of the band was that we were a bit flat energy wise (mid week to about twenty people so not surprising I guess) but also that my playing was incredibly tight (up to the technical issue on the last song). Just shows that we aren’t always the best judge of our own performance! I think the issue at the end clouded the rest of the set for me a little. Feeling much better about the whole thing today and feel that I learnt a hell of a lot from it.

Very naughty ad.

Came back to it this morning and it seems much better. Not sure whether I was just in a rush yesterday or whether the lacquer hadnt fully gone off so gave a different look but either way it’s looking much better. More coats of lacquer today, up to six good coats. Will try and get three or four more tomorrow.

Did a short set at a local pub tonight, great venue but I really struggled with my monitors which came to head in the last song where I could either play or hear what the others were playing. Not my own backline. FoH was ok apparently which is good. Landlord is a lovely guy and was happy but I was a bit frustrated as didn’t feel it was close to my best.

It has had three coats of ink, and three of lacquer so far. I will leave it over night then use a 6000 grit pad to just take any dust specs ir hairs out then do some more coats. Not sure how the end grain will turn out but we will see.

More work done, the colour is on as are the first coats of lacquer. The main body looks nice but the edges not so good at the moment. They were very smooth but seem to have roughed up. It’s going off as we speak so I will leave it until tomorrow then flat it off. Hmmmm, we will see. Might me a ‘ten footer’. Tuners are also in. Had a disaster with the decal for the front, I have been waiting for a phone call from the hospital for days, when did it come? Yup, just as the decal went into the water. I couldn’t not take the call and by the time I had finished it must have been half an hour later and it was beyond saving. Not a massive problem but a pain.

It’s part of the fun. When working on my classic car projects, I use 1000 for initial cut back (not usually final coat) or surface issues e.g. a minor run. For final finish/ pre Polish I use the abranet 4000 pads, then 6000 with a small amount of polish and finally wax. The pads are foam backed and don’t feel like abrasives at all really. Some people just using cutting compounds and don’t bother with abrasive pads at all. I suppose you just find what works for you and work with that. I want a slightly ‘grainy’ finish on mine but not sure how it will end up, could be a dogs dinner!

Were there surface issues? (Just wondering why the 1000 grit) I use 4000 and 6000 for final finishing. 1000 will cut through surprisingly quickly, especially when used wet.

Which Rotos did you use? I use 66s but they just don’t last so have been looking for alternatives, worried the EXLs will be too bright.

+1 but a word of warning, it can get addictive. My first is nearing completion and I am already thinking about doing another.

Sweet little machine, just great pop punk. Destined for bigger things I hope.

I just hammer the bassline and then begin to drop the vocals in, sometimes it’s dead easy others it’s a pain. What I have found is that it isn’t down to the complexity of the bassline but the rhythm. If the vocals sit nicely over the top, I don’t have a problem but where there slightly strange things going on rhythm wise it can throw me. There are a couple where I have admitted defeat and had to say, nope can’t do that one. I also set the microphone slightly lower than I would naturally place it so my head is slightly angled down and I grab a quick look down if needed.

Depends what it is, a 60s Fender then keep everything original. A random bass worth a couple of hundred quid then do what you think suits it best.

And a third happy smooth hound user here.

I use abranet pads, 4000 and 6000 grit. They aren’t cheap but they are brilliant. I then use Autoglym super resin polish and Poorboys wax.

Absolutely spot on mate.

Looks really nice. Chibson? Chinese Gibson copy?

Pics needed :-)

Looks more red in real life.