ikay

Shergold Modulator apparently, from around 1977. Had interchangeable electronics modules. Here's a youtube demo but the module on this one only has two controls. Lovely sounding bass. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE6Z4FzwQfg[/media] This thread from a French bass forum has close up pics and more details of the electronics - http://forum.onlybass.com/index.php?/topic/57679-vendue-shergold-modulator-2-modules-550/

I love this bass, and the playing. A quality short scale like this has a lot of appeal. It's got me thinking...

WD Music do SR5 pickguards - [url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/stingray-5-string-bass-150-c.asp."]http://www.wdmusic.c...bass-150-c.asp.[/url] Schaller BM tuners should fit - http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/products/bass-115/schaller-bm-bass-guitar-machine-head-3l2r-834.aspx

The Enfield Super 8 switchable pickup has always intrigued me. Not sure if it's exclusive to their basses or available separately. The Super Quad version is available from SIms. [url="http://www.enfieldguitars.com/super8.html"]http://www.enfieldguitars.com/super8.html[/url] [url="http://www.simscustom.com/pickups/"]http://www.simscustom.com/pickups/[/url]

[quote name='Mxyzptlk' timestamp='1389842167' post='2338619'] The switch cuts something certainly. When it is on the sound is very thin, and the smallest movement on the strings gets amplified. And my original query about Passive or Active, as there seems to be no difference in sound between the two. Is this normal? [/quote] Found this circuit diagram on TB - [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/circuit-help-me-please-385255/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/circuit-help-me-please-385255/[/url]. This shows a low cut switch for the piezo (bottom left). I can't see an active/passive switch in the circuit.

[quote name='Mxyzptlk' timestamp='1389765693' post='2337616'] As far as I can tell you get the Volume Control and a pan pot for the pickups. Below that are two tone controls. Are they Bass and Treble? The last pot is for panning between the Magnetic and Piezo pickups. The switch seems to cut the bass frequencies. I presume this bass was made in Japan? [/quote] From this review - [url="http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=746&type=bass"]http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=746&type=bass[/url] - the controls are master volume, pan pot for P-J pickup blend, bass and treble boost/cut, a preamp on/off switch, and a pan pot for the P-J and piezo blend. [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Yes, made in Japan.[/font][/color]

Another thread on the same subject here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216149-gk-200mb-distortion/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216149-gk-200mb-distortion/[/url]. May be worth messaging bassbod to see if he can advise

Looks like you're already using a Headway cable piezo (Snake?) which should be pretty flexible. Is it similar to this one from Artec (see PC85 at bottom of page) [url="http://artecsound.com/acou/piezo.htm"]http://artecsound.com/acou/piezo.htm[/url]. The installation diagram at the very bottom shows the cable entering via a 90 degree hole which I assume is at 75 degrees on yours. It's important that the entry hole allows for a smooth bend in the piezo cable where it bends to lay flat in the saddle. This 'corner' needs to be chamfered or rounded off (see middle diagram) or the hole needs to be slightly oversized to give the cable more room to flex where it bends. Sounds like the entry hole on yours may be a little too snug and/or the corner needs to be rounded off.

[quote name='deepbass5' timestamp='1389002584' post='2328515'] IKAY - internal jumpers set to series - is that an easy mod [/quote] Hi Paul, yes just involves moving a couple of jumpers on the circuit board. PM me with your email address and I'll send you a pdf extract from the service manual which shows how to do it. Best, Ian

I run a DBX160A rack compressor through the FX loop of my LMIII (with internal jumpers switched to series)

Here you go [attachment=151383:P1030541.jpg]

There's some useful info here on how different strings affect the sound of the Variax - [url="http://line6.com/supportarchive/thread/1198"]http://line6.com/supportarchive/thread/1198[/url]

Nice looking bass. It's a Vester Platin 1 apparently - I have no first hand knowledge of the bass but here's a review from a Russian forum - [url="http://forum.guitarplayer.ru/index.php?topic=252971.0"]http://forum.guitarplayer.ru/index.php?topic=252971.0[/url] How good's your Russian?!

Perfect, many thanks!

Can someone please provide me with the following measurements: - 12th fret to centreline of neck pickup - 12th fret to centreline of bridge pickup - 12th fret to centreline of each coil in bridge pickup Many thanks

Hmm, ingenious! With this fixed locknut arrangement there will presumably always be a tiny degree of play to allow the screw to turn freely for up/down adjustment. With the Zon/Alembic method the pickup is more firmly locked in place. It needs a four screw mounting to work though. This is an interesting variation for a three screw mounting.

I'm stuck on 10 across

Zon and Alembic use a method for mounting pickups designed to eliminate springs and foam. It works for 4 screw pickup mountings and has two screws on one diagonal that push up (from under the pickup) to set height and two screws on the other diagonal that screw down to lock them in place. More details here - [url="http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/online_userguide/adjustments.htm"]http://www.zonguitar...adjustments.htm[/url]. Relevant section is 'adjusting soapbar pickups' along with the two bottom diagrams on the right of the page. Excellent mounting system and locks the pickup firmly in place rather than floating. Bit difficult to visualise but when viewed from the top it looks like two of the mounting screws are missing (these are the two that push up under the pickup). You can just about see that on the pic below. [attachment=150402:IMG_0589-crop.jpg]

He also plays this bass with The Dead Daisies. No name on headstock, looks like some sort of custom build to me. [attachment=150120:Darryl Jones bass.jpg]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1386527149' post='2301092'] I'd have to find one first! [/quote] Here you go ... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Mustang-Bass-Guitar-Natural-Finish-/331078377461?"]http://www.ebay.co.u...-/331078377461?[/url] Often thought about getting one of these, might take a punt myself!