Bridgehouse

3 minutes ago, PaulWarning said:

one of the best basses I've ever played, lovely tone,but I've got too many basses so it's got to go........well shouldn't you be selling one of your other basses then?

To be fair, imagine the ribbing if a FS ad started with

"I have too many basses and this one is frankly the worst one of the lot. So I'm selling it.."

What metal are the parts made out of?

Nickel will age reasonably quickly, especially if you rough it up with a scouring pad first.

Chrome however, not so much so. In fact, probably not at all. You need a different approach with Chrome. 

Similarly with x coated brass (depending on what x is)

2 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

Growl, thumps, mwah...  because technique plays no party in those characteristics... in whatever way you choose to interpret what those characteristics are...

Steady.. or you will be straying into "made out of only the finest quality Tonewoods..."

First question/comment:

I'm not going string through - I want to keep it all fairly simple, and I like the sound from the top loaders I have. 

Question is, do I go standard Fender bent-metal bridge, or go a bit experimental and try something like a Hipshot Kickass (https://hipshotproducts.com/collections/bass-bridges/products/kickass-bass-bridge) - I quite like the idea of custom fashioning some saddles for it out of some sort of random hard wood and see how it sounds (?!)

5 minutes ago, Rich said:

Or there's always I Can't Believe It's Not Playing Like Butter..?

If someone put that in their ad I'd definitely not buy. 

On the same subject - can you retrospectively react to posts from pre-new-site-changeover?

If so, thanks a bunch admins. I'm now going to have to go back through all the posts on this site and like the ones I liked at the time but couldn't react to them. There goes my week. Great.

2 minutes ago, Grangur said:

Man I hate this. They have it on SBL. Hopefully it will be ok here (with the higher average age.)  It all gets stupid when quantity of likes gets taken as a member rank.

SBL even posts who got most likes in the past month...  urghhh.

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??

Just now, Rich said:

Sometimes, needs must when the devil drives. A couple of times, I've been so broke I've actually contemplated selling my beloved Wal. The very thought makes me shudder.

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..

1 minute ago, EBS_freak said:

Especially when the word "literally" is inserted before the word play.

Err.. it literally doesn't.

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