AndyTravis

I went for a Blow Dry once. Imagine the disappointment.

Yeah, thanks, will certainly look at them again now, mustn't have engaged brain when I looked at their page, thought they were in the US.

Yeah, it will be done using hand tools, not a makita jigsaw...the stuff stinks when it burns/melts, and nasty fumes aren't my thing.

Pickup decision made, going 'Fender Original' reissue one, I know it's not as 'good' as the Duncan antiquity on paper, but I can get one at literally half the price, and after all it's a plastic bass do I'm not sure it'd warrant the added expense.

I will however invest in one of KiOgon's wiring kits as it's a time saver, and I hate soldering.

Neck is due to ship today!

Should be here in the next couple of days.

Very good!

Dads plastic sheet...enough for 3 pickguards.

It's a smidge thicker than the original, but it's free - So i'm not bothered.

Further replies from enquiries i've made.

Sims LEDs got back to me £62 + £4.50 shipping, which was about what I expected.

A second Plastics company replied and asked me to send a tracing of the pickguard, and would then quote on a price.

I'll go to my dads later to get the plastics he has, and go to my mates with it in a day or two...simples.

Also, saving on the pickguard has freed up some budget, so i'll probably get a Badass II now as the bridge, and go for the antiquities I was eyeing up.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1347288868' post='1798857']
We have a laser cutter that we have never configured for cutting plastic where I work. This is our stock answer, so you could be right.
[/quote]

Thought as much; shame really, would have liked to give a local company a chance at doing something different.

But, i suppose it's not worth their while.

Anyhow, worked out for the better, handy having handy mates...

3 different sheet plastic companies contacted, hoping one will just make me a pickguard.

One is local - Denton, and uses laser cutting; fancy.

[b]Edit...[/b]

So 'Fancy' they quoted [u][b]£150 plus Vat...[/b][/u]
Which is the most ridiculous miscalculation surely?

If it was done by hand from actual glass or something, I'd understand.

Unless it's a 'we can't be arsed doing a piddly little job, say £150; he'll soon sod off...' kind of thing.


[b]Edit Part 2[/b]

A friend Of mine builds custom Trumpets.

Asked him if he had anyone he used for display cases/custom stands who used plastics and would help.

"What is it? A Pickguard? Have you got the plastic? If so, i'll do it for you no problem...even if i cock it up, I have a man who I can ring..."

He's also making me a Brass Nut from an offcut. Just because it'd be great to have a bit of his magic brass on my bass.



If anyone also plays brass, here's his blog...

[url="http://pollardtrumpets.wordpress.com/"]http://pollardtrumpets.wordpress.com/[/url]

EEk...

I'm already buying a few things on Friday, but this would be lovely in my Plexi-P...

Humpf.

If it's still here then and i'm not skint, i'll be in touch.

This guy is a genius.

Definately, i've bookmarked it, for future reference.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1347271993' post='1798566']
Just found this for you

[url="http://www.skiffy.com/docs/menufr.cfm?taal=gb&ID=1&order=order&pagina=inhoudfr.cfm&pag=imgindex2.cfm&img_id=13"]http://www.skiffy.co...2.cfm&img_id=13[/url]

They have transparent screws etc
[/quote]

Haha, not sure if these would just shear off on fitting?

like the idea though.

Spotted these on eBay last month...

Picking one up on Friday.

So, this morning I took the original AXL pickguard to my shop to offer it up to a Fender - In the vainest of hopes that it was a carbon copy of a Fender.

I should know after all these years that it's never the case.

I'd hoped to just order one without having to send off templates or the original guard - I've approached the BassDoc, and am hoping he can help, another option was SIMs who i've e-mailed to see if they can do clear guards.

In the meantime, My dad reckons he's got a suitable sheet of Perspex type stuff at work so I can have a go myself - I did a Telecaster plate for my mate a few years ago, which was a pain in the backside without a decent tooling set up (and was a bit scruffy to say the least...)


Other interesting development is that i've secured a MIM Fender P-Bass Neck, allbeit Rosewood fingerboard; not my first choice, but I was eager to get going, and should something crop up in the future, i've got it at a reasonable price so will be able to cover costs.

The Nut needs replacing (split corner), but i've got some Fender blanks somewhere at work which I can make a new one from...

So there we are - Progress.


An interesting idea if anyone has any opinions/views on this i'd like them.

It's a Fender Neck, but I really like the late 60's/70's TV Logo which this doesn't have...I know of a decent source for decals, so at some point (not for a while) I may get the decal replaced...any experience with sanding/removing logos from headstocks?

Andy

Was great seeing this on mainstream tv.

Comes across as a really nice bloke; and as stated earlier I am reassured/comforted by the fact he said he doesn't read music.

Always a request from the other half if I'm doodling on my Fretless.

Holy sh*t!

Literally.

Love how in paragraph one he states he's 'worked metticulously' on the frets, but later states that Encore's fretwork is of a top level standard.

Douche, hope nobody entertains the crap he hawks about.

Quick update.

Neck is looking like its sorted via a series of very helpful PM's.

The pickgauard is a niggle, compared to a fender one it's a little bit off on shape, so will get one made.

Will post pics later.

It sounds daft, but their take on the 4-a-side headstock design has always put me off Sandberg basses - Same as the G&L Headstock design always put me off.

That by my own admission is a pathetic reason not to like a bass...

Still, I thought i'd give them a go while in Frankfurt earlier this year.

Played a California VM which was on the TC stand...

This bass felt nice, but was terribly set up - Just wasnt nice to play on, although the finish on the neck was nice.
I'd love to have a go on one properly set up as i did get some great sounds out of it.

In saying this I also played the USA Lakland on the Ashdown stand and it played like a pig too - I was gutted, as it looked the dogs nadgers.

Riles me when manufacturers of amps put demo basses out on their stands with old strings and crap setups.



On the relic thing, I really don't get what the script is with ESP, Sandberg and now seemingly Sadowsky and G&L offering 'aged' versions of their versions of Fender basses...I understand their need to produce in demand designs, i.e. Jazz Bass types, and 'improved' versions fully...but not 'aged' ones.

See, I to an extent understand why Fender and Gibson do it - "Hey, our ultra desirable and ever so expensive 1960's holy grails too much money? If you answered yes, have your little bit of the grail with these road worn/relic/VOS/Aged recreations..."

I've owned a CS relic, and loved the feel, but always felt a bit of a cheeseball with my 'aged' bass...I don't know...Is it just me who understands the Fender relics and not any other brands?

No worries - thanks mate.

Hiya, would you sell the neck, if there wasn't a swap to hand?

Thanks

Andy

Neck £25.

Tuners £10.

Both £30.

Plus postage, or collection from city centre Manchester...

Had another run at it...

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1346949273' post='1795260']
Watching this with interest! I would love to have one of these but they are too heavy - I'll enjoy someone else messing about.

Have you thought about LEDs to light the whole thing up? That is what I was going to do. Bit ostentacious ... but then we are talking see through guitar here.

There is a Wesley on eBay at the mo.
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wesley-Perspex-Bass-Guitar-with-Case-/300774627708?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item460790997c"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item460790997c[/url]
[/quote]

Hiya,

I looked into it, but i suppose i'm trying to keep it as simple as possible - If i get LEDs involved, it's another thing to muck up the totally clear appearance - Extra wiring and batteries...

And looking at the cost of decent necks, pickups, the Hipshot lollipops and a decent bridge, i'd rather keep my initial spend to factors like that.

But it has crossed my mind; I used to gig a SSD NS-94 with amber LEDs which i bought from the Bass Centre in about 2000, so i'm not adverse to a lightshow.

I reckon I'd keep the idea in mind for the future.


As an aside - the Touchstone Tonewoods guys haven't got back to me on the heel width, machine head hole dimensions, or answers to a few other questions i've asked - Even though their webpage states they usually reply within 24 hours.

So, i'm a bit nonplussed, and a bit miffed by that; May just persue something through the stratosphere - Still hankering for a Roadworn series neck.


Have put a feeler out on items wanted for Fender necks...

I could, but dont really fancy cocking up a £300 neck.