Shambo

They're selling [s]make up brushes[/s] guitar dusters, and somebody bought one. Weird.

Sell the yellow body to offset the cost of a new unfinished body. That will save you one job. I picked up an unfinished alder P bass body for £100 on ebay and the same company are selling ochebe bodies starting around £60.

Done. Good luck with your dissy.

*picks up jumbo popcorn & sits back in beanbag*

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1492611811' post='3281627'] I hope the people that are upset about people selling basses previously owned by them for more than they sold them for are forwarding cheques on to other sellers to make up the short fall to any sellers selling them on for less? No? thought not, back in your box [/quote] I don't think that's the issue. Nobody has said they expect mates rates just because it's basschat, it's more of a problem when somebody wants to buy and sell basses on here like a tout sells tickets.

People seems to be asking a bit more for the more recent Mexican Fenders but I personally, for a used [i]standard [/i]mex, wouldn't want to pay much more than £350. Less if it was a bit battered or in need of some work.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1492498902' post='3280639'] I've been lucky though and even though it wasn't my intention I have bought things that have tended to be more desirable when they've been sold a few years later than when I bought them - It's meant I've got to play some lovely instruments, I don't think that that is my fault! [/quote] I don't think the scenario you have described is the buying and selling for profit and no fault has been implied. That sounds like a very normal situation. Buy a 2nd hand instrument instrument, enjoy it (or not), then move it on... perhaps its gone up in value, hopefully it hasn't dropped. Speaking personally and for nobody else, I wouldn't want to purchase an instrument here from another member of the 'community', who [b][i]only [/i][/b]bought the instrument to move it on quickly for a profit... and not even with the good manners to try and flog it somewhere else. I think such behaviour is damaging to the forum.

What about a large picnic cooler bag? They come in all shapes and sizes, perhaps it will fit in something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Insulated-Camping-Picnic-Cooler-Travel-x/dp/B01D4UIO96/ref=sr_1_19/258-0255875-6104678?s=camping-hiking&ie=UTF8&qid=1492093890&sr=1-19

If you want a dehumidifier and live in any major conurbation, eBay is the best place to buy second hand and collection only. People buy them for specific tasks, like drying a newly plastered rooms, then barely look at them until they decide to get rid. Like guitars they're awkward to post, so collection only bargains can be found. My last one retailed for £120 but cost me a fiver and had barely been used. I run it once a year in all rooms before winter and it's amazing how much moisture it can pull out of walls, floors and soft furnishings. I've convinced myself this makes my home warmer and saves on heating. All my gear has always stayed in the house though, because I've never owned a garage... *sniff*

... and this is what it turned into. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170218_12_16_35_Pro.jpg.html"][/url] Couldn't find a maple board but this rosewood Mexican neck will suffice until I can exactly what I want. Nitro finish I did myself, Kiogon loom, Fender USA pups and Gotoh bridge. The body was great value, neck and pocket were a snug fit but it did need a full shim to get a good action. About £400 all in.

Another vote for the Roland Bass Cube 30. Basses, amps and cabs come and go, but my Cube 30 stays.

I think the new US Fender Precision in 'Antique Olive' and the Jazz in 'Sonic Grey' will eventually be more desirable than their standard colour siblings, because those specific colours will be synonymous with 2017.

Dunc bought a CV Precision from me. Like a majestic salmon, he lept in defiance of mere gravity, rising above the rushing waters of the marketplace to cry, "I'll take it!"... ... and take it he did, exactly when and how he said he would, and you can't expect for more than that. Thanks Dunc. Hope to deal with you again sometime on the bass marketplace merry-go-round.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1487890307' post='3244030'] Lovely job. Top marks - well done [/quote] Thank you. It's given me the desire to try something more demanding. Its nice to work with your hands and I spend too long tied to a computer screen.

And this morning I was rewarded with the fruits of my labour. Besides a little head scratching over the electrics; when a bare connector on the jack socket was touching the copper shielding resulting in silence, fixed by reorientating the jack socket, it was pretty straightforward stuff. The neck fits extremely snugly, everything lines up perfectly and it's now strung with Labella flats. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170218_12_16_35_Pro.jpg.html"][/url] I always wondered about why people wax lyrical so about nitro finishes but it felt, or I thought it did, like a very resonant piece of wood. More so than most basses I've ever played that have been sealed in poly and can sometimes feel a little lifeless. I've tuned it up and lowered the action, (which seems pretty high), but I'm going to leave it to acclimatise to its new strings for a few days before setting it up better. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170218_12_31_06_Pro.jpg.html"][/url] So in conclusion, a pretty straightforward project. The finish I'm sure I could get better next time around but it's pretty good for a first go. I've paid for furniture with a worse finish. It might be a thin lacquer but I'm looking forward to spending a few years not being too precious about it and giving it a real road worn finish. All in it cost me about £400 quid. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170218_12_30_26_Pro.jpg.html"][/url] I can safely declare myself OK for precision basses at this time.

I'd purchased a whole loom and American pups second hand but disappointingly the cavity in the body was too small for the brass ground plate attached. Also you'll note there's no routing between the pup and control cavities so I had to de solder the pups from the plate and loom for fitting. I used up some leftover copper tape (from an earlier shielding) and lined the cavities. The bridge had to be fitted twice because the first time I forgot to thread the earth wire through... schoolboy stuff. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170215_14_33_43_Pro.jpg.html"][/url]

So, earlier in the week I noticed I was reaching the end of my spray can. The propellant was running out and not giving me the coverage I was getting in the beginning. With about a fifth of the can left I decided to call time on the lacquering. I forget how many coats it had... approximately eight. I left it in a warm dry place for four days. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170215_13_04_19_Pro.jpg.html"][/url] I gave it a gentle rub down with 2000 grit wet and dry, removing the orange peel texture, then hoovered and wiped it over with a cloth. At this point it had an even, smooth but matt finish. My original intention was to take it into my university woodworking studios and avail myself of their buffing machine. When I got there I was informed they had to get rid of it a couple of years ago due to health and safety issues with regards the microfibres it gave off during use. Time for Plan B. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/WP_20170215_13_15_25_Pro.jpg.html"][/url] Then I understood the comments about the fibres from the buffing. Note to self to do any more buffing outside.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1486928617' post='3235660'] Funny how colours go in and out of fashion - natural (at least Fender style) basses are a bit like white cars were 10 years ago. Coming along nicely, and ahead of the crowd!! [/quote] Thanks Mykesbass. I nearly bought your Seafoam Green bitsa, until I decided to DIY. Another coat of lacquer has gone on today but no photo's because it looks exactly the same.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1486221603' post='3230146'] That's looking nice. The nitro is giving the grain a good look. Don't rush it though. Wait for the nitro to dry fully. If there are any "nibby" bits in the nitro finish, don't rush to rub it down. When it's dry, rub it using the back of the glasspaper - the paper side. On rubbing down generally 400 grit is medium grit. That will still leave a woolly feel to the surface. 600 is easy enough to get and that's still quite coarse. When working as a pro-sprayer we used to go down to 3500 grit. You'll struggle to find that, but 1000 or 2500 is available. Good luck though, it's all looking good. [/quote] Thanks Grangur. Just got back from a week out of town and I've put on a fourth coat. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/IMG_2781.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/IMG_2783.jpg.html"][/url] Hanging it on the line for the spraying makes life much simpler. Then it comes inside. Another coat tomorrow and my neck plate turned up while I was away. [url="http://s756.photobucket.com/user/Shambo/media/Natural%20Bitsa%20Precision%20Build/IMG_2784.jpg.html"][/url]