Bridgehouse

Ah, I understand now. I must say, the ability to react means you generally get less "me too" type posts or "Lol!" etc.. keeping threads cleaner. You have to watch for people trolling tho...

What is reputation??

Had a load of really good suggestions for semi hollow or hollow basses to fill a hole (ha!) I've had for a while. Checked them all out, and was left feeling pretty meh. The main issues were: - Short scale (I want 34") - Silly slim nut width (I like 45mm) - Odd pickup combos (not sure I have use for a neck mudbucker) - Availability (as in I'd need to find one used and they are as rare as rocking horse droppin's) So, I dropped my fave secret squirrel parts maker a message on the off chance. And he does do semi-hollow. He sent me this teaser: So an order spec went in double quick, given my second PJ build is currently on hiatus whilst I get some lacquer checking on it! What are we looking at then? - 51 P style body (slab) chambered (as above) - f-hole - No pickguard - going with vol, tone and jack on the front and that's it - Trad 51 P style pickup rout - I will probably get a split coil pickup custom wound for it - vintage output to emphasise the semi-hollow body tone - Traditional bridge - Swamp ash body and cap - Maple neck, Rosewood board - 45mm nut, slim front to back - Tele style headstock - Ultralight tuners Should be with me in time for Christmas, so something to do over the hols Will update as I go, but in the meantime I need to gather parts and decide how to finish it.

Actually, my favourite is "here is my blah blah bass for sale etc.. bought it quite recently but not gelled with it... ...only one owner.." But aren't you the second owner??

Ha, yes I know what you mean.. However, the instances I was referring to is when you see that in an ad from someone who is clearly a bedroom seller..

And then you realise that the ad has "Mint and unplayed" at the top, with "literally plays itself" at the bottom... ..which is lucky..

"Best I've ever played" - so why are you selling it? "I can't believe I'm selling it" - er, so why are you selling it?

Still currently rinsing and repeating the freezer/airing cupboard cycle at the mo. Mrs B is getting annoyed that the big bag of peas don't fit into the chest freezer

So after much musing, and research, and all that sort of thing... I've decided to do one myself. Contacted my fave parts builder and he can do a semi hollow body and neck to my spec. I'll finish it, build it and Part it up so I get pretty much everything I want. Anticipated budget will be around the same £500. Seems like a no brainer tbh.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1510316749' post='3405532'] Although I don't favour the PJ concept, that's a very attractive bass. Can't wait to see the relic! [/quote] Thanks! It was a fun quick build. Here's hoping the relic starts getting some checking soon!!

Knobs arrived. Knobs are on. That's one done. Just got the relic to finish now

Thanks for the comments all - it's in the airing cupboard (which is hot!) for a few days, then back into the freezer for some more. After that process (I will keep passing it between the two) I'll hit it with a freeze spray and heat gun..

The nitro I use is sourced from someone who I know uses formulas that do crack and check - so it's not a "modern" formula as such. Not tried multiple temp shocks tho. That'll be next on the list

Well. Took the body out of the freezer and liberally applied a good dose of hot air from the hair dryer. Nary even a tiny crack, check or anything. Gah.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1510134982' post='3404146'] Hopefully that fingerboard will darken a bit with some treatment. Looks like a lovely build, but in my humble opinion, it's the fingerboard letting it down just a tiny bit by being so pale/dry? Great work on your behalf though, very cool Si [/quote] Not done any ageing to the fingerboard yet - or oiled it, or set it up... Once it's further on and stopped being slapped in and out of the freezer it will get some treatment to darken it

I really like the look of those Fender A/Es - never heard of them before so much research required!

[quote name='philw' timestamp='1510073067' post='3403776'] Everybody's forgotten my favourite - Yamaha BEX4 [/quote] You know, if you could get them new I'd be all over one!

Oh, and the Daphne blue body went into the freezer today - let's see if we can start off some lacquer checking...!

The more astute amongst you may have noticed that the bridge screws were wrong - they were in fact screw fix specials! See, the problem was, it's a 5 hole bridge, and Fender only supplied me with 4. Quick mail to someone I know there and a pack of the right type were winging their way to me.. arrived today, fitted, and now it looks right. Just need the knobs and it's done

[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1509910967' post='3402561'] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/hoefner_hctcbsb_clubbass.htm"]Hofner HCT 500/2 Club £486 [/url] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/eastwood_guitars_classic_4_orange.htm"]Eastwood Guitars Classic £486[/url] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/danelectro_dead_on_58_longhorn_bass_bk.htm"]Danelectro Dead On 58 Longhorn £415[/url] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/epiphone_allen_woody_rumble_kat.htm"]Epiphone Allen Woody Rumble kat £419[/url] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/danelectro_dc_longscale_bass_bk.htm"]Danelectro DC Longscale Bass £444[/url] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/warwick_rb_starbass_4_gold_metallic.htm"]Warwick RB Starbass £461[/url] [url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/hoefner_verythin_bass_hct_500_8_dc.htm"]Hofner Verythin Bass HCT 500/8 £511[/url] Loads of choices in that range [/quote] There goes my weekend internet browsing Thanks for that list! I'll be back...

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1509886118' post='3402291'] How does a split coil J work then? I always thought they were single coil. [/quote] These are just like a P - two separate coils, next to each other with a connecting wire. Same shape as a J, same magnet type etc. But essentially they are a J version of a normal humbucking P

[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1509888985' post='3402322'] Some guidance as to your budget would be nice, @Bridgehouse [/quote] Not sure. I'd prefer the £500 ish sort of budget so I don't get jumpy when gigging rougher places - but more if more means actually a really big step up, if that makes sense. Keep the suggestions coming tho - got loads of research to do!

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1509862911' post='3402105'] I've heard it said in this forum that stacked controls are more susceptible to hum than separate ones. I have no experience to confirm or deny this however. Is the cavity shielded? [/quote] Not at the moment, but it would be an easy fix to do so. Once I've wielded it in anger a bit I will see how the hum situation is. Mind you, the Dimarzio DP 126 set has a rather handy split coil J pickup..

As the first of the two PJ builds I have on the go is coming to an end, I find myself wondering if I'm missing something in the collection for gigging/recording. The sig will give away the fact I'm pretty much firmly in the P camp (2x vintage P's, a MiM Classic Lacquer 50's, a '52 Partscaster, and soon-to-be 2x Partscaster PJ's) At the moment the '52 P gets gigged a lot - it has a SD Quarterpounder in it and it's great live. One of the PJ's is nearly done, and it has D'Addario DP126's in - also punchy. The MiM gets the odd gig out - but in reality the PJ's will take over from it. I record and write with the vintage P's but they don't get gigged. The thing that's starting to itch is maybe I should pass on the MiM Classic Lacquer and pick up a semi-acoustic of some description to give me a different sound. The band is americana/singer songwriter rocky/counting crows sort of sound, and some songs would really benefit from a semi-style thump. The violin body shape doesn't appeal, I tried one in a shop and it all just felt, well, wrong. The old Harmony H22's appeal - love that old 60's thump, but they are quite spendy and might be a bit too fragile for gigging.. perhaps I'm looking for a modern take on it, or something similar? Thoughts from the ensembled?

Bit more progress made. Totally changed my mind on the controls. Went stack knob after a lot of too'ing and fro'ing. Don't really know why either, other than I just think it will be the most adaptable setup for live work. So. Pots in and Pickups in. All wired up. Plate on. It awaits some knobs (being delivered) and I need to finish the setup. Then, it's back to the relic..