Stub Mandrel

Oh dear, so many great basses I forgot to take pictures... Thanks to all but especially @scrumpymike and the Scrumpettes. <BURP> Like @stewblack I wish I could have arrived earlier and it could have gone on longer. Delay the raffle to 9pm I say...

Frustrated! No gigs this month, then seven in the following six weeks!

The approach of improving Squier was taken well ahead of competition. TBX is at least 85, as it's on my performer bass of that year. Lace were the first noiseless IIRC.

I was thinking about it yesterday and there are some post-Leo Fender innovations, even if you don't like them or they fell a bit flat. Examples: Micro-tilt neck. Aerodyne body shape. TBX tone control. Partnership with Lace sensors. Antigua finish... 'Paranormal' series mixing and matching features. The little string hook thst fits on the A tuner. Fender Fatfinger. Grasping that the 'budget series' should offer a quality playing experience to help build loyalty and aspiration to the more expensive instruments. They are the masters of market segmentation. Modelling amps that focus on one classic amp and do it well. Custom shop. Relicing.

Dopey Me brought all my gear over to Ms. S.'s yesterday so I can go straight to the bash... of course I forgot my modest raffle contribution and had to fetch it today 🙄

No but apparently someone traced out the circuit and it's identical. Someone else pointed out that all the investment goes into the design, the parts are cheap.

The Sire preamp or an accurate clone is available on aliexpress for ~$20.

This. I'm tolerant of easily sorted issues, but once corroded battery contacts will always be unreliable, and unreliable ang gigging don't mix.

No wonder your DB is sticky.

Given the announcement is planned for 15 October and the 2/II vesrions are just upgrades I think/hope something more exciting is on the horizon.

I went to A-Strings in Treforest yesterday. They have the same bass, in Charcoal Frost for £219. If they are 'in range' an extra £20 is reasonable amount for the chance to try before you buy in a much nicer, less intimidating environment than the usual chains, they will probably offer you a mug of tea as well.

There's a possibly identical one here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/798552656880700/permalink/8245873918815166/ Quite a coincidence, but the owner may be able to help you!

6 years to 6 weeks, depending on which bass and how often it's gigged.

I'm no double bass expert, but the checking on the heel is definitely nitrocellulose not poly.

The truth is out there: https://www.fenderinnovations.nl/

The Squier Paranormal series of guitars are some amazing designs created by mixing and matching Fender designs, or twisting them a bit. Tried a troublemaker Tele today, my brother will probably buy it.

I think what nakes him stand out, besides tech ability, are his skills as an arranger. He takes pieces and arranges them to be played polyphonically on bass very successfully in that the end results are pleasing to hear.

Indeed.

Good luck. My brother battled with them over a wrongly wired guitar. They wouldn't accept/understand the issue. So he said 'I've changed my mind, I don't like it' and they took it back. He then orderdd another. This may be an option as b-stock of popular models isn't rare.

Sorry to keep on... maybe a flat plate or disc with a hole for allen key. Support plate on a sheet of fairly stiff foam that you can hold flat and press downto steady the insert until it grabs. Or run the insert through a hole in a wooden batten long enough to force it straight. When it starts to emerge, engage it with the final hole. Or tap a hole in a guide piece, even a plain hole would help.

Or fileor mill a hex on the end of a rod, then turn a spigot on the end (metal lathe required).

Ah I thought you had ones with a screwdriver slot. One option could be a rod with a slot filed to take the short end of an allen key with the long end sticking out to the side.

Splitting hairs 😁 Bass VI 1961, Bass V 1965, still almost sixty years ago...

Use a rod in your pillar drill as a guide, if you have one.