ikay

I think what you're after is a rotary potentiometer switch. Farnell Electronics has a 220k lin version: http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=1637187&CMP=e-2072-00001000&gross_price=true

[quote name='BH12neil' timestamp='1329261199' post='1539898'] What would I use on the neck of the guitar? BH12neil [/quote] FAQ from EBMM below. You can get Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil and Gunstock Wax on ebay. [b]How do I maintain the neck on my new Music Man bass? [/b] For everyday cleaning, use a small dose of high-grade lemon oil. For the fretboard, use Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner. If the neck is very dirty, give us a call or email us at [email protected] An infrequent dose of gunstock oil will help to keep the neck maintained; we recommend and use Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil, but any good quality gunstock oil will work. Clean neck first. Use a small amount of Tru-oil, leave it on for 5 minutes, then wipe it off with a paper towel. Then apply Birchwood-Casey Gunstock Wax. Be sure to douse the paper towel with water before disposing of it! Read the wax and oil manufacturer's instructions regarding disposal of these used paper towels. Rosewood fingerboards should not be treated with gunstock oil; instead they should be treated with a high grade of lemon oil. For cleaning, try using the same high grade of lemon oil to clean the entire neck, both maple and rosewood fretboards. Keep in mind that if the dirt or grease has been worked into the wood, it cannot be removed except by sanding it down, which we do not recommend unless exercised with extremely fine sandpaper (1200-1600 grit), and even then very sparingly. It is better to keep it clean in the first place. Washing your hands first helps! Some discoloration after many hours of playing is normal on unfinished necks. Be sure to follow all of the manufacturers recommended safety precautions when using any of these oils or waxes.

Hmm, that's nice too ... anyone played one of these?

That's good to hear. I see the Rumblekat's also still listed on the Epi site.so I guess that's still available to order. Bit thin on the ground fto try before you buy though!

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1328790676' post='1532637'] There's a [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/166624-jack-casady-epiphone-l400-price-drop"]JC[/url] for sale on here right now! [/quote] Thanks and yes, that's part of what prompted me to post this! I'd like to try one first though (and ideally a Woody as well). This one's in Gloucester, a bit too far away to pop round and check it out.

Thanks Pete, I like the idea of the short scale Woody as well. I'm not sure whether this and the JC have been discontinued but I can't find either of them in stock anywhere. Be a shame if they have been dropped

Hi Gareth, thanks for replying, Sat in Guildford would have been ideal but I'm out gigging as well (Addlestone/Rowtown) so can't do. I'll pm you. Cheers, Ian

I'm interested in either of these for a new band project but would like to have a play before looking in earnest for one to buy. If anyone in the Guilford/Horsham area of Surrey/West Sussex has one that they would be prepared to let me come round and try please drop me a pm. Cheers, Ian

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1328435498' post='1526749'] So, how did you get this sorted? Enquiring minds need to know......... G. [/quote] As mentioned above, the Bass Doc was kind enough to dig some up for me.

A few with similar peg style but sealed gear on ebay below (shaft size not specified). http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chord-Compact-Chrome-Bass-Tuning-Machine-Head-/130583721440?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1e676575e0 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Left-Handed-Chord-Compact-Black-Bass-Tuning-Machine-Head-/130619448831?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1e69869dff http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-4-Bass-Guitar-Tuners-Chrome-Machine-Heads-2-aside-Sealed-Tuning-Pegs-/280818588909?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4162179ced http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gotoh-Style-Black-Bass-Machine-Head-Tuners-Tuning-Pegs-Set-4-2L-2R-London-/260935500211?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3cc0f7c1b3 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Machine-Tuning-Heads-Set-4-Chrome-Plated-All-Fit-One-Side-/360413474832?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item53ea513010

These don't come up very often so thought it worth flagging up: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330680530480?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Very reasonable start price for a bass of this quality. I'd go for it myself if I didn't already have a Ren 5 ...

I got lucky, the Bass Doc very kindly found some in his parts box. The only suppliers I could find for black plastic stack knobs were in the US (Sadowsky and Ibanez parts) but very expensive, in one case postage was over $50! Quite why they're so hard to get over here is a bit mystifying.

I've looked at the usual suppliers in the UK and can find loads of metal stack knobs but none in plastic (except the Fender fluted type which I don't want). I'm after something lighter weight than the metal types - something like the pics below, for solid shaft size 8mm (bottom) + 6mm (top). Does anyone know owhere I can get something similar to these in the UK? Thanks [attachment=98670:Ibanez SRT stack knob.jpg] [attachment=98671:Sadowsky stacked knob.jpg]

My exquisite 1984 BB2000, acquired from the US a couple of years ago. Plays as well as it looks, beautifully resonant and responsive, can bark or sing. Great build quality. These old BBs are just fabulous basses. [attachment=98615:BB2000-1.jpg] [attachment=98616:BB2000-2.jpg] [attachment=98617:BB2000-3.jpg] [attachment=98618:BB2000-4.jpg] [attachment=98619:BB2000-5.jpg] [attachment=98620:BB2000-6.jpg] [attachment=98621:BB2000-7.jpg] [attachment=98622:BB2000-8.jpg] [attachment=98623:BB2000-9.jpg] [attachment=98624:BB2000-10.jpg]

Either works. My piezo goes through a buffer/pre and then into an active eq alongside a mag pup. The eq allows for mixing two inputs.so this works well for a bass with one pickup and piezo. Alternatively the piezo buffer also allows for a mag pup to be connected at the output stage. This might be more practical for a two pickup bass which will use up both inputs on the eq. Just connect the output of the eq to the mixer input on the piezo board.

Haha, yes using parallel instead of series is an even easier way to solve the volume balance problem! Series does sound a bit meatier than parallel though. I guess some of it depends on the bass. Series/SC works really well with my ACG but I rarely stray from the parallel setting on my Stingray!

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1327672356' post='1515145'] Ha this made me chuckle as over the last couple of days I have been pondering exactly the same thing in relation to series/parallel switching. Useful post, cheers! [/quote] Series/parallel is a bit trickier as both coils are being used so it's more difficult to isolate the attenuating preset to the series setting alone. With series/SC you can neatly bypass the preset in the SC setting (in the 'down' position the switch shuts off one of the coils and also bypasses the preset). I went through various other switching possibilities and came to the conclusion that the only way to isolate some of the settings was with a multi-way 4-pole rotary switch. In the end I went for the series/SC setup as this gives you both ends of the tonal spectrum (thick and beefy / clear and punchy). In comparison I found the parallel setting was somewhere in the middle, neither one nor the other, so dropped it to keep things simple.

[quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1327668958' post='1515057'] What Humbucker and has it lost any of it's original punch?? [/quote] ACG/Armstrong humbucker and no discernible change in original power and punch

Just posting this in case it's of interest to anyone. [b]Problem [/b]- there's a big jump in volume when switching a humbucker from series to single-coil - a potentially useful tone option rendered pretty much unusable by the big difference in output. [b]Desired outcome[/b] - to seamlessly switch from the girth and grunt of series to the clarity and punch of single-coil without a jump in volume. [b]Solution[/b] - add a preset resistor to attenuate the output of the series setting down to a comparable level to the single-coil. Sounds pretty straightforward but I googled high and low to try and find advice on how to do something like this and couldn't find anything. Took a bit of experimenting with various switch/preset configurations but I've just done this on one of my basses and it works a treat. The difference in character between series and single-coil adds a whole new dimension which is only fully realised when the outputs are at comparable levels. Switching diagram attached below along with pic of the installed switch. Uses a standard DPDT two-way on-on switch and a 500k miniature preset which piggy backs on top of the switch. Bit of a fiddly soldering job but neat and compact. This is for a single humbucker. I've set the series/single-coil balance to just slightly favour the series setting. The great thing is that it gives you the control to set the balance as you want it. Someone with a better understanding of electronics juju than me (not hard!) may be able to suggest improvements (such as an optimum value for the preset) or an alternative method. But this works so I thought it was worth posting! [attachment=98274:Humbucker series-SC switching with volume preset for series setting.jpg] [attachment=98275:P1040183.jpg]

I'm sure the John East piezo preamp will work in some configuration to achieve what you need. I considered this for my setup (single humbucker + piezo bridge) but in the end opted for a Shadow PMS piezo pre as this has a 3-band eq for the piezo which you can set and forget. I particularly wanted to be able to tweak the eq of the piezo. It also allows for mixing of magnetic pickups. Great liitle preamp. Details from Shadow Electronics can be found here http://www2.shadow-electronics.com/viewpro.html?id=164&search=1. Pic of mine installed attached. If you want any more details drop me a pm [attachment=98248:Shadow PMS piezo preamp.jpg]

Preset resistors generally have three terminals (just like a regular pot). To use as volume control, the signal should go to the wiper, one leg to the destination and the other to ground. This acts as a voltage divider with the signal being tapped off at some intermediate value (determined by position of the wiper) and part of the signal running to ground. Just inserting an inline resistor won't have the same effect. Although what effect it will have I'm not sure!

To simulate a 250k volume control being tapped at various preset points the resitors should add up to 250k. The resistors in the diagram above are all connected and form part of a voltage divider circuit. The resistors add up to 445k which is the same as a 445k pot with one end connected to the signal source, the other end to ground and the switch positions being the wiper. For example in NPU switch position 4, the pickup signal passes through a 250k resistor before being tapped off but part of the signal is also running to ground through the remaining 125k and 75k resistors. For a 250k total you could try resistor values of something like 125/65/60. I'm playing around with something similar at the moment - a humbucker series/single-coil switch with a preset resistor in the series setting to bring the output down to a comparable level to the single-coil. The idea is be able to easily switch between the clarity/punch of single-ooil and the added girth/meat of series without the massive increase in volume.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327327408' post='1509318'] Why not just order it from Stewmac, then? They estimate four days delivery to the UK. [/quote] That's using DHL Express which costs $25, about three times what the switch costs!. Regular USPS delivery is $10 and takes 2-4 weeks.