prowla

I have an unlined fretless P-bass I made from parts; it's got a Mighty Mite neck, which is rather good.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1495440619' post='3303645'] The electronic theory behind this is with Passive pickups, the lower the resistive load of the pots, the more the resonant peaks of the pickups are attenuated, which translates to less treble. As a basic rule most modern humbuckers are tuned for 500K pots and most traditional singles for 250K. You can use a lower value pot to tune a pickup thats too bright (ala les paul bridge pup), and conversely you can use higher value pots or remove pots entirely to give a warm humbucker more punch (ala charvel 80s single pup single volume). With passives the cable and the amp/pedal input stage all have a factor too as they all form part of the passive circuit, which is where a lot of the mojo between cetain amps and certain guitars traditionally happens. This rule does not apply to active pups, as there is a preamp in between the pup and the pot that takes resistive load out of the equation, so usually you see 25K-100K pots used there. In the case of a brand-new bass from a respected manufacturer, I would assume they know the impedance (and the inductance) of their pickups and they have selected the value of the pots for a reason, other than simply economy. In their situation of buying large quantities there will be no difference in cost. Some years back I bought a Fender Jazz with the "500K upgrade". The sound was quite metallic. I changed them to 250K and the bass did come through a lot more. I guess, another option is to have the treble there, and simply use the tone pot to tune out as much of the treble as you want. [/quote] Seems like I need to do some experimenting!

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1495273844' post='3302608'] Al K. Please can you stop thinking of 500K as an "upgrade". This is simply a different value of pot. Neither is more expensive than the other. Neither is "better" than the other as there is zero difference in quality. Look at it like "upgrading" from a blue pen to a black pen - same thing, different end result. The pot you need in the circuit is one of the correct value to get the sound you want. 500K Ohm pots are usually put in guitars with humbuckers as they enhance the treble frequencies. This might me a desirable feature in a guitar. I've had a few basses with 500K pots put in them. IMHO they sounded crap and I took them out. [/quote] Yes, I'm not getting this idea that a bigger pot means better, or even that it enhances the treble or anything. As a general rule, the pot (on a passive) should be at least 10x the resistance of the pickup, so it the pickup is 10k then the pot should be >100k; by that token 250k or 500k (or 330k if you've got a Ric) shouldn't make much difference to the sound when turned fully on. People also express the pickup resistance as "output", which is back-to-front. However, it may be an indicator of the length of wire used in winding the pickup, and thus the number of turns; it's the number of turns which (along with the strength of the magnet) defines the output. (And, of course, the resistance is only a static measure; the impedance varies across different frequencies, so it is not a constant when you are playing the guitar.)

I've had my white Ric since '77.

Wickenbacker?

I have a 'faker, at least 'til the weekend, when someone is due to come and take it off my hands. I've enjoyed the fun of buying it in bits and building it up to a full bass, which included replacing the tailpiece, replacing a pickup, wiring it up, acquiring a twin jack plate, and finally playing it!

The S2 Classic is a nice bass. Here's a trio of Statii

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1495044012' post='3300852'] Hey - make sure to do a timelapse video of you refurbishing it, with how it looks and sounds now and how it turns out?! [/quote] That's a thought... However, at the moment it doesn't sound like anything as the wiring is borked. I have, however, fitted the 2nd pickup and cleaned it; it looks a heck of a lot more presentable now! (I was so impressed, I went and cleaned another guitar which has been sitting in my bedroom for many years - a Yamaha FG-180 acoustic.)

Right - I've ordered the backplate (electronics cover) from Warwick, along with a pre-wired set of pots. They don't do the correct length pickup screws, so I've ordered a pack of them from ebay. I've now spent half as much again as the bass cost me. Next thing is to apply a bit of elbow grease (zero cost!).

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1495010911' post='3300338'] It's not neck through, so I'll pass on that one... But seriously, really looking forward to seeing that restored. Will you be doing the work yourself? [/quote] Yes - I put a new set of strings on it and it plays really well; I don't think it needs any adjustment! I can get the pickup screws and backplate from Warwick. Then I'll do the wiring and give it a clean and job's a good 'un.

My latest acquisition is a lovely '02 Streamer 5-string: (OK, it maybe needs a bit of work on it.)

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1494832147' post='3298731'] To state the obvious, please do not advertise any bass you may have for sale in this thread. Please contact via pm or link to a instrument you have listed in the Basschat marketplace Seems to be a few fret less basses for sale here, have you had a check through them?? [/quote] Apologies for that; your site, my bad! :-)

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1494747501' post='3298199'] I just wedge a dish washing sponge under the strings of my p bass near the bridge. With flatwounds it gets the tone right and you can choose from a variety of colours and use it to clean your bass too. [/quote] (You should look at my ebay link!)

Here y'go - this is the answer to all your problems! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mute-Aid-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Turn-your-Electric-Bass-into-a-Double-Bass-5-Pack/222499529246"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mute-Aid-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Turn-your-Electric-Bass-into-a-Double-Bass-5-Pack/222499529246[/url] (Available in blue, white, green, pink and yellow!)

[quote name='BassAgent' timestamp='1494694726' post='3297949'] It didn't fit through the hole in the bridge... I tried to ram it through but that didn't work. [/quote] I thought it might've been a new prototype drop-D technique.

The alternative is to go active, eg. with a J-Retro replacement control panel. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32j6CI5S0Oo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32j6CI5S0Oo[/url]

[quote name='acidbass' timestamp='1494172650' post='3293769'] Thanks to all for your responses. I guess the answer to my question is no then I don't want to have to drill additional holes in my bass really to add a mute kit. [/quote] Genuinely, pros use a piece of foam sponge!

My first bass was a Columbus Jazz, bought in an electrical retailer (Laskys?) in the Four Seasons shopping centre in Mansfield in '76; it used to be there in the window next to some fridges & suchlike. It was a decent bass and certainly a lot better than the Kay, Top Twenty and other rubbish of the day (which seem to be going for hundreds of pounds at the moment!). I must be having a retro half-hour, as I'm just listening to Force It, by UFO; we used to play Shoot Shoot in the band I was in at the time.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1493891297' post='3291534'] I had an oil can guitar a few years ago, bought on a whim. Mine was made from a can of Unipart brake cleaning fluid. It was kind of entertaining, but it was about the most uncomfortable thing imaginable due to the shape and size of the can. They could be a fun wall-hanger perhaps, but to actually play one seems like a bit of an affectation unless you have a genuine need to cobble together an instrument from scrap materials. [/quote] That should put a lid on it then...

I also have a Peavey Spectrum; whilst noodling around with it, I found that it has a "multi" mode, which means that it'll work on the same channel as another instrument; I had it and my Minitaur doubling up - that was interesting!

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1493768906' post='3290593'] Also, what shape are the bodies on five-strings? [/quote] I think they use oil drums for them.

Anyway, I've sussed it out - it's not a big bass; he's just a very small bloke!