3below

The low tension is a 'strange thing' I play with a heavy touch and have found TIs to be excellent on all of my basses except one. This covers 30", 32" and 34" scale lengths. They are flexible but I do not suffer fret buzz, my basses are typically 3mm at 12th fret. Buy them s/h to try, about £20 to £25 when they appear. They seem to last forever, I have one set running at about 8 years now.

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1454615324' post='2971414'] Great pickups too.. [/quote] +1 on the bass I fitted them to. Plenty of reviews about.

As suggested by RhysP Might be one of these [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_STRAT"]https://en.wikipedia.../wiki/The_STRAT[/url] More info and helpful pics [url="http://www.guitar-list.com/fender/electric-guitars/fender-strat-cbs-models-1980-83"]http://www.guitar-li...-models-1980-83[/url] I have x3 late 80s very early 90s USA standards (Strats / Tele) and they are all very good in terms of fit and finish, one is an outstanding guitar to play, one is good and the other is just ok (somehow it does not inspire me).

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The active tone control Mk IV amps can in some cases be noisy. There are answers to this on the Internet, varying degrees of success are reported. You may get lucky and have a 'quiet' one, I have no issues with mine. Internal build quality is variable, some are very neat (approaching Hiwatt standards) others less so. [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] You will not lack volume with one of these. A cheap enough L120 can be rebuilt with the Hiwatt pre amp at a fraction of current Hiwatt prices.[/font][/color]

Have wondered what the 'lifetime' of forum members is, or perhaps the 1/2 life, time for posting rate to halve? I wonder if is a 'constant' over all forums.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1453666332' post='2961608'] ... I guess my point is that it doesn't make sense to assess instruments in terms of a binary "does this bass have a dead spot, Yes/No?" approach. It would make more sense to ask "Is the dead spot on this bass in a place that bothers me?". ..... [/quote] A very good take on the issue. Just to confuse the matter, my G&L SB1 (somewhat Fender like) suffered the opposite problem, G string 7th fret D massively louder than any other notes. Cured by a setup and not using strings with a single core over the saddles (I forget what they are called, seemed like a good idea at the time). TI flats or Chromes every time for me, YMMV.

What will the 'conversion' cost. There are many seriously good value fretless basses or fretted for conversion (diy) about at the moment. As with others in the thread, if you have a really good fretted bass, keep it that way. Find something else that 'does not matter' or get a fretless neck e.g. mighty mite to try.

Yes please, at some point I need to leave the boonies of Mid Wales, locate one of these and play it. Wallet might even open

In my peak (a long time ago in so many aspects) 70+ gigs per year plus weekly rehearsal. This lasted for about 4 years. One bass, Gibson EB2 (£80, circa 1975, seems unbelievable now ). It even fell off the strap and the headstock stayed on. Built my own flight case as they were not readily available (and I was 16 and broke). Not in my peak - as in now, OMG 9/10? basses of which two are main players. Gigs - hmmmmm not many. Accumulating basses is another worry. As per casapete, I have this strange need / want to get another Warwick Corvette. Why? I have one, it is my first choice bass at the moment, it does what it should and very well IMO. Why do I feel the need for another?

Fender Flats or Pyramids? what is the bass btw?

As above, no visible cracks, splits. They would usually radiate from the screw holes or rarely along a grain like the ones in your first photograph. I go with the HowieBass and AndyTravis on this. Is just marks from a hanger.

[quote name='stevebasshead' timestamp='1451681248' post='2942480'] Could be a torn speaker, or a cone coming away from the surround maybe. Does it do it at all volumes and on all notes/worse on some more than others? [/quote] Check the two 'duff' speakers for signs of this - they can be repaired (if you are lucky). I destroyed a peavey BW speaker with cone detaching from surround - failed to really recognise the issue before damage done, lesson learned. I did get 25 yrs out of it though

Plenty of good advice in the thread, It could be worth contacting Alex to see if the glue used is waterproof and to see what he suggests.

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1450709787' post='2935056'] Result and at a fraction of the Warwick cost. [/quote] Satisfying self plagiarism Am pleased it has worked out well.

This hurts, it hurts very much, it reminds me why Mid Wales is not a good place to live at times. What is a Cash Converters? I am told there is one some 32 miles from where I live. I think you should donate the aforementioned equipment to the rural poor at a significant loss to yourself, thus helping reduce the rural poverty imbalance. They are a bargain with capital B

Hope this brings stability keep us informed on what happens.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1451831219' post='2943756'] For a quality instrument like that, get it resprayed professionally. Stripping to bare wood can be difficult. The tough finishes some makers use resists all chemicals and has to be removed with a blow lamp (I know. I've done it. Takes for ever). [/quote] +1 This. Better and easier to get another colour put on top. This was done by Fender at various times on production basses.

Sansamp VT deluxe and at the other price range Joyo JF-14 American pedal. The Joyo is incredibly good for DI recording, more so for the price. I think it outperforms my Sans Amp Tri-Ac on the equivalent 'Blackface' setting.

[quote name='Pbassred' timestamp='1451768464' post='2943332'] You still don't want 2 X 4ohm cabs in parallel. (buuzzzzert poof!) [/quote] So I do not really want / need the full power my amp is capable of delivering at 2 ohms? (I have my fingers crossed behind my back as I type this)

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1451747309' post='2943042'] Not the same problem, if I read you right. It wasn't the silks that were the problem; the actual round wire which the string is made of was the problem, because of the angle the E string makes where it goes through the bridge. [/quote] You read me right, a different problem (similar to the Gibson 3 point bridge silks/windings over saddle problem). Agree with you on great tone, my bass has great clarity and 'just plays itself'.

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1451682973' post='2942509'] Kramer the Duke... Great tone, but oh dear. - Temperature-sensitive neck. It's aluminium; it changes length with temperature. So it goes out of tune, quickly. - The bridge... it's a BBOT with the strings run through it at an angle. That means that if you put roundwounds on it, the E-string can't be tuned correctly, because the winding of the string catches on the edge of the bridge. [/quote] Kramer DMZ4001 - no issues with tuning on mine, even when faced with dramatic temperature changes when the industrial heater switched on and off. The bridge - I think I had the same problem, the windings went over the saddle on the E string. Fixed by removing bridge and making the string 'hole' deeper in the body. Small spacer nut slid onto string moved the ball end further back and the windings now end behind saddle. Short top horn, aluminium neck, maple body - weight and neck dive.

[quote name='stevebasshead' timestamp='1451681248' post='2942480'] Could be a torn speaker, or a cone coming away from the surround maybe. Does it do it at all volumes and on all notes/worse on some more than others? [/quote] Follow this through, disconnect each speaker in turn, it might be one or more.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1451590973' post='2941774'] Staying home tonight while my band is out gigging because I was given an impromptu flying lesson by a car driver while out on my bike a few weeks ago. Might have managed the gig from my wheelchair but not with my left arm in a cast from knuckles to above the elbow. [/quote] Stuffed my left hand index finger yesterday in minor bike collision, nowhere near on scale of yours and will be good in few days. Best wishes and commiserations from another biker (pedal not motor, not that it matters whatever you ride, they do not see us even with day lights and high vis).

How many holes do you have in the pickguard now? You could go VVTT or VT VT with dual concentric pots. You could keep existing wiring and do a neat job. Kiogon on this very forum could make you a custom wiring loom. Plenty of wiring diagrams about on Google. Enjoy the bass