Velarian

Any update on how the finished article performs?

The thing is I’ll be using a cut-down p-bass pick guard so the shape is what it is. I’m ok with that. The advantage of this is that the screw holes will allow a full standard pick guard to be fitted later if necessary. The plate will be cut from this:-

Today I got the pickup backing plate trimmed and filed, so the pickups are test-fit mounted. I’ll shield the cavity and refit them later. Also did a dry run with a cereal box control plate.

Things stalled a bit this past week. I chickened out of drilling the bridge holes and thought I’d do something simple instead; mounting the machine heads. Well that turned out to be less straight forward than I expected. First the headstock ferrules were loose and kept falling out so I tried packing them with a bit of tape. That was less than satisfactory but I pressed on. Then I didn’t have a drill bit small enough for the mounting screw holes so I used a bradawl. Also not great. This totally amateurish approach caused me to ruin several screws so I ordered a couple of packets more. When they turned up they were the wrong ones and I ended up with 20 string tree screws can you believe! I decided to leave things and stepped away from it for a few days. Today I remembered that I had another set of no name machine heads and the ferrules from those fit the holes perfectly. The mounting screws from that set were also a shade narrower than the ones I’d ruined and fit the holes nicely. So job done, that’s another step forward.

This is the key thing and certainly the cause of my troubles. I’ve got to say it’s never clear to me if a screwdriver is a Phillips or Posidrive and then there’s the screws, I’m guessing they’re Phillips heads and they’re so damn small.

I’ve achieved the dubious distinction of being labelled a collaborator 😧 Where do I go to receive my punishment?😳

I’m also in the process of installing the tuners on my build. A similar story to you, lost a couple of screws and stripped the cross heads on a few more. Had to order a couple more packets of the blighters! 😟

In around 1981/82 me and my band mates hit London visiting the A&R departments of the major record labels pushing our demo tape. We got short shrift from them all which, in retrospect, I can’t say I blame them. However my overriding memory of that trip was staying with our guitarist’s older and much cooler brother in Queen’s Park and he had the most amazing record collection which included this album (gotta love that spring reverb):

Marcin Waselewski Trio, from the album January. The studio version of this on the album is superb.

Thanks, I’ve just found the post you’re referring to. Very useful information.

Have you managed to get the set up finished on this yet?

Nice! I’m not at all jealous you know. 😉 Those Gotoh tunes are excellent; really good quality.

I completely agree. I’ll use a compass to draw a curve using the volume control centre. Minimal screws holes that match a standard p bass plate is definitely an advantage. I’ll use a cereal box to test some template variations.

I’ve ordered a mirrored pickguard which I’ll cut down in a similar fashion to the Reverb example. Let’s see how that goes.

I’ll keep looking. I may use a temporary solution to make do until I find the right thing.

No, the thought of fettling the body fills me with dread 😂 The pots are full size CTS pots courtesy of KiOgon so that does limit the available adjustment. However, the control plate did come with a cheap wiring loom that has mini pots and even though there was more play with the position it still doesn’t look right. I think I need to stick to a more traditional P-Bass pickguard shape and I did wonder about using a ‘Phil Lynott’ style mirrored plate and cutting that down. It would be made from acrylic so not quite the real deal but it might work. I came across this bass on Reverb which gives some idea, although the red tort in this example doesn’t look good IMHO.

The two pot MM control plate hasn’t worked out too good after all ☹️ it’s alright cutting out bits of paper and shuffling them around to make them fit in a reasonable way, but what I’d totally failed to take account of is that when the pots are mounted, given the tight space in control cavity, this dictates the position with very little movement. I just doesn’t look right unfortunately. Back to the drawing board I think.

Beautiful!

Cute, Great name for a cream coloured puppy 😉

Actually, they do (custom ebony fretless job done in the early eighties) 😉

The serial number is within 5k of my 70s precision and it looks nothing like mine, the logo has no border round the letters. The neck/headstock has no age to it at all and the truss rod adjustment should be at the heel of the neck.

I’ve now got the bridge position marked out. I did it by finding the centre of the neck and extended that to find the centre of the body at the bridge position and marked that. The position from the end of the neck was relatively straight forward in that the front edge of the bridge only just covers the ground wire hole whilst still allowing sufficient adjustment of the saddles. I’d have preferred a couple of mils further back but it will be ok as it is. I did the elastic string thing to check alignment with the neck and the pickup pole pieces and it all looks good. If I’m feeling brave I’ll try drilling the bridge holes tomorrow.

Another great idea! I wouldn’t have thought of that. Thanks.

I’ve just discovered this thread and love the approach; simple clear explanations of useful phrases. Just what I need🙂 Thanks

I totally agree. This is sadly the big flaw in modern retail. Business rates are crippling and not driven by market conditions. Even before Covid many small town high streets were awash with empty shop units and post-Covid even cities are now the same. Little niche shops, especially those selling low cost items have to shift a lot of stock before they can cover rent, rates, insurance, taxes etc., just to break even, let alone earn a decent income.