Shaggy

NB; Bassassin had same model a few years ago: http://www.vintaxe.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=6720&sid=d42fb51a320fdd8d0691acc55177d681 (bottom of page) - nicer grain than mine too. Wonder what happened to it?

Strung her up (D’Addario pro-steels), bit of tweaking of the bridge – no need to touch the truss-rod, and fired her up! Result? Very very impressed; feels exactly like what it is – a heavy Precision bass, and therefore like slipping on an old comfortable pair of shoes. Soundwise it certainly has the depth and punch of a Precision, but with that body/neck construction, tonewoods, brass nut and heavy bridge it has that big, open, “ringing” tone I’ve only previously heard on my ’76 Alembic Series 1, almost like a grand piano but with that underlying tiger-like growl. Can’t wait to sort the circuit and get that J p/up hooked up too. Taking for first gig tonight, think this’ll be a keeper for a good while.

After a bit of humming and ha-ing – option 3 seemed to offer best results for not too much effort, and zero additional cost apart from sorting a twin p/up circuit. Been a few years since I’d done any routing; with typical impatience did freehand rather than using a jig, reasonably pleased with results. Filled and stained the screwholes on the front (for thumbrest, p/up and bridge covers), and T-cut the finsh which made a huge improvement – the back of the neck is glass-smooth. Fitted p/ups, the P circuit (so only the P p/up operational at the moment, but J p/up otherwise fully installed), and knobs (again from parts drawer). I’d bought a chunky ‘80’s brass bridge off ebay for authenticity; unfortunately the fingerboard sits quite low over the body so the brass bridge was too high. I already had a “high mass” type chrome one that was an improvement on the existing perfectly serviceable BBOT one; even that had to have the saddles adjusted almost as low as they’d go. Note mish-mash of bridge fixing screws in pics; will get some decent ones in!

Just a quickie “knee trembler” of a project this one; Despite having a silly number of fairly nice vintage basses, I’ve recently been converted to just how good a decent budget bass can be, and what a relief it is not having to worry about it when gigging – especially dodgy venues with all the band gear stuffed into a VW van! Last year or so I’ve been gigging with a Squier MB (P / J) bass, a really nice little bass, especially after upgrading the p/ups with Bartolinis. Anyway – only three weeks ago or so our own Dan 2112 advertised a 1980’s Satellite “Precison” neck-thru bass project on BC – complete bass minus p/ups and electrics, in good nick bar a few odd screw holes here and there. Caught my eye as (1) I can’t resist ogling an out-and-out ‘80’s bass – my era!!! (2) it reminded me very much of the only bass I ever bought new – an Ibanez Musician (like Sting’s) bought from Hessey’s of Liverpool in 1980, and (3) unusually for that type of bass it had a maple fingerboard, which I’ve always had a soft spot for. All for a mere £50! Resolutely decided not to go for it initially, then pulled the trigger almost too late, but in the end had the bass off Dan (an absolute gent by the way) who only lives just up the M4 from me in Ker-diff. Nice one the Blues this week incidentally….! Well, I remember Satellites as being fairly nasty, at the lower end of budget Japcrap at the time (early ‘80’s); but this had to be one of their better efforts – since researched their neck-thru guitars and basses and they were clearly a cut above the rest of the range; not up the standard of my old Ibby Musician, but not at all far short. Very nice maple neck-thru with walnut or rosewood stringers and that instantly familiar neck profile (I also own a ’65 Fender P), brass nut, and stained ash body wings. No lightweight – as I certainly remember the Ibby - which doesn’t bother me too much as most of my basses are heavy old girls. So – potential options: 1. Leave as is is, fit a DiMarzio p/up with crème covers for Full Monty ‘80’s-tastic look. Already got a P-bass circuit and decent bridge in my parts drawer (that’s parts, not pants ok…..) 2. Leave as is, fit the Bart P p/up from out of the Squier – probably my favourite “hi-fi” passive P p/up. (with P circuit and decent bridge as above) 3. Route for an additional “J” p/up, fit both the Bart P & J p/ups. In terms of tonal versatility, definitely preferred to above. Normally I’d baulk at modding a vintage bass so radically, but at the end of the day it’s £50 Japcrap and I’m sorting a bass specifically to gig. 4. As (3) but fully strip the bass to remove the dark lacquer on body wings, refin in clear natural so it would be more similar to an Aria SB. Undoubtedly would look better (I’m not a fan of dark woods), but a major faff and the existing poly finish is in excellent nick.

Sounds like a hell of a good gig whatever it is, personally I'd play a Daisy Rock Bronco if I had to and it meant that much to me.... T'birds demand to be played through a valve amp (as an aside: Gibbo RD Artists even more so); on the rare occasions my '65 IV gets an outing its through an Ampeg SVP-pro / SVT300 rig (effectively an SVT2-pro, with a bit more tonal flexibility) and Eden 410XLT. Untouchable. Much amp advice here, but somebody mentioned the Mike Lull p/ups: http://www.mikelull.com/t%20bass%20parts.htm - probably the single best mod you could do to get that classic sound, albeit an expensive one. Keep us informed......

My favourite look for a Jazz; natural ash with pearl blocks on maple. With a bit of aging patina that'll look even sweeter... I once saw one just like that (actual '70's) with a chrome Gibson humbucker installed at the neck position - sounds wrong, but looked perfect

Didn't expect to start a controversy! Interesting stuff though.... [quote name='mart' timestamp='1325846544' post='1488547'] PS Shaggy, if you want a hand with the wiring, drop me a PM - I'm just across town from you. [/quote] Hey Mart that's a really kind offer! I'm reasonably nifty with the old soldering iron being an inveterate pickup-modder, and even wired up a P bass circuit from scratch last year (from a kit with instructions for noddies....), but will certainly call if I get stuck!

Thanks for the info guys - really helpful! I'll check out the other SD schematics too [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1325782662' post='1487631'] With a blend pot you have a fixed ratio for example 50/50 or 60/40 of each pick up, wherever you are along the resistance range. As you turn the pot one goes up while the other goes down. With individual volumes you have 0 - 100% of each pick up available in any mix you like. Much easier to find the 'sweet spot' of each pick up & use them together or separate as you like. Compare a blend pot to a bass/treble control in one pot, bass one way treble the other, you can't have maximum of each can you? [/quote] I've always found master vol / blend the most convenient layout, especially live - but that does make sense, and I guess explains why independant volume circuits are the norm. Easier to wire too.....Hmmmm

I'm sure this is somewhere on here already, but couldn't find it if so. I want to wire up a passive pair of P / J Bart pickups with a simple master volume, blend (pan) control, and standard mono output jack - no tone control. Could some kind person please tell this electronics noob exactly what pots to get and do me a circuit diagram? Many thanks! Greg

Bought a project neck-thru bass off Dan - not sure how we haven't traded before, both being avid gear-heads and just along the M4 from eachother! Smooth deal, great guy, thanks Dan!!!

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1325406736' post='1482791'] Not sure if there's another thread saying this but just to say a happy new year to all on Basschat! Have a good one.. Nik [/quote] Nice one Nik, but HOW can you be up that early??? 2 gigs today, 4 in 3 days, question if my back or the singer's voice gives up first.... :-( Happy New Year folks, TIM included!!!

Congrats mate, looks absolutely superb and I know how long you've had your heart set on one! Guess now you'll be hanging onto that lovely Les Paul I'm still hankering for though..... :-(

[quote name='TG Flatline' timestamp='1325272287' post='1481658'] It says it's a full 34" scale length, looking where the bridge is the body must be massive! The case for my explorer (link in my sig) is big, and that's with a down-sized explorer body with the bridge right at the back. Don't get me wrong, I do like the Gibson version, but I'd bet gigging with it would be difficult on transport space! [/quote] Going to be gigging my '85 tonight for New Years, but yes; the case is as large as the deck of an aircraft carrier, and takes up half of my small hatchback. She doesn't come out too often these days but I love her - monster tone, very ergonomic to play with an Entwhistle-eque right hand style, and with the complulsory extra long strap so it's hanging at knee-level - instant Rock God. No neck dive whatsoever, by the way. Neepheid; agreed, the '80's models had the best bridge of any Gibson bass (which aint saying much.....) and I'm fairly sure was made by Schaller (the tuners are also Gibson logo-ed Schallers) - very similar indeed to the 3-D, but chunkier.

Should also have said there's quite a lot of EB-0's about - Gibson were much more mainstream for bassists in the '60's than in recent times, especially with the beat / R&B boom. If you played bass then, chances are it was a Fender, Gibson or Hofner, maybe a Ric or Vox. Collectors are holding onto the Fenders & Ric's, not so much the others (probably excluding the '60's reverse & non-reverse Gibson Thunderbirds, which were made in much smaller numbers) check out: http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/gibson/bass/EB0.php

The EB-0 and Melody Maker are probably the least regarded of the vintage Gibson basses - the short scale and single neck mudbucker mean you get plenty of low-end thump, and.....er, that's it. Afficionados love them though. The EB-3 models, which are essentially the same but with a bridge min-humbucker, are far more versatile and desirable (thanks mainly to the Jack Bruce / Andy Fraser connection) - a nice mid '60's EB-3 can easily fetch £2K+. Hence the high numbers of "modded" EB-0's. Tonewoods (solid mahogany) and build quality are usually top notch on most '60's Gibsons, EB-0's included. Seems the whole vintage market is rather depressed at the moment, and it's the least desirable models that take the biggest hit; bargains to be had right now if you've got the dosh.

After being effects-less for the last *coughs* years, I've jumped in the deep end with a Roland V-bass / GK-2 p/up system (original mk.1 model). Some of the pre-set patches are quite usuable, but I'm having trouble accessing the bass modelling options; I'm after the Music-Man one in particular. Selecting COSM-bass only seems to give options of P, J, and Rick, but the manual lists quite a few more. Yes, I HAVE got the manual so I'm clearly being quite incredibly thick....can anyone give me an idiots guide of how to access the bass models, and more general tips on setting up some nifty patches??? cheers, Greg

My one attempt at a custom build was a "Thingray" built around an '80 MM Sabre neck with a 1-piece bubinga body and thuja top. Nice bass, but significantly heavier than my Gibson RD Artist which as far as I know is the heaviest standard production bass ever! Made a tad too thick, with hindsight. Last seen with Chris2112 on this forum, possibly now being used as an anchor for the QE2....

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1323854843' post='1467708'] Shaggy, that is a lovely bass ... right up my street, wot wiv being a Hofner [i]aficianado [/i]an' all. Shame you're in Swansea, or I might have to come round and blag a play on that. [/quote] Always a welcome in wettest Wales.... Never had a Hofner but come close, though did have a Framus ....quirky but quality!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1323853657' post='1467687'] Now that's cool. I likey. Always wanted a hollowbody but choice is lacking on 5 strings... [/quote] I could only think of the Warwick Infiniti offhand, but there's a few on here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/55522-5-string-semi-acoustic-bass/page__hl__5%20string%20semi

[quote name='E sharp' timestamp='1269467705' post='785215'] A guy called Steve Smith from Southend fretted a Modulus neck for me around '91/92 , and he had shedloads of Goodfellow parts . Turns out that he worked with Bernie well before the Lowden time . His massive shed/workshop was rammed with bodies and necks , and I now wish that I'd have taken him up on his offer , and bought a cheap Goodfellow - made up of my chosen parts . I don't know if he's still around (has 'disappeared/moved a few times ) , or even still with us at all (not the healthiest looking guy) . Maybe his collection got sold off job lot , who knows ? [/quote] As a little sub-thread to this thread, I bought a Steve Smith semi-acoustic a couple of years back, and the neck / headstock is unquestionably esrly Goodfellow - probably from that pile in the shed! He was a very talented luthier who'd worked with Heart / Heartwood guitars before working for Bernie. No longer with us sadly. Very fond of the semi as it's based on one of my favourite basses - the Gibson EB-2, but long scale, decent p/ups (Barts) and Jazz-proportioned neck. Build quality and finish are fabulous. Some real UK luthier talent around in the '80's