Rich

Hello and welcome, fellow Berk! (I was born in Reading, brought up in Shinfield back when it was still a small village).

OK, I've done the various little bits that needed doing -- having said everything bar the battery clips was perfect, it wasn't it needed a damned good clean and a fret dress & polish, and the action and intonation needed sorting too (once I'd found an allen key that fitted), but now it's all good. Still need to sort that case but the bass itself is fine. Living with it... well, it's surprisingly heavy, and I thought I'd get on ok with that, but actually it's an issue. Remarkably it's introduced me to something I never thought existed, i.e. body dive that makes it impossible to play on my knee. It does play beautifully however, a nice low-but-not-ridiculously-low action and a fast, comfortable neck. The sound is classic Status, and that is a very, very good thing. It's definitely scratched an itch I've always had, but... and I feel like a traitor saying this... I don't actually like it all that much. Well I like it yes, but nowhere near as much as my Spector or Sire and waaaaaay less than my Shuke. And I definitely preferred my old wood neck Status Series 1 5-string from way back...

Oh good score, these things are amazing. I'm very envious.

The programmable helicopter arrived and I've put it the new version of the Loopy de Loop box (as I'm now calling it ) and can report that it works really well. Strangely, the first switching after it's initially powered up does click, but then the subsequent ones are silent. And because it's a momentary SPDT switch, it's really soft touch. I'm half tempted to try to squeeze one of these into all my true bypass 3PDT switch pedals.

I have a very early 1st gen swamp ash V7 five string, which is a lovely bass. Electrically it is entirely standard, but I have changed some of the hardware. I fitted Hipshot Ultralites in place of the original tuners; they are a whole load more stable and saved a whole half pound in weight over the stock items, doesn't sound a lot but it certainly saved a bit of neck dive. I junked the standard frankly rubbish string retainer in favour of two Hipshot ones, far more convenient than trying to thread the strings under that stupid bar. I've also fitted a different bridge; I had to sacrifice the through-body stringing, but that's not a problem for me as I didn't use it anyway. The new bridge is a top-loader (which I far prefer) and locks the saddles firmly into place so there is absolutely no movement. I fitted a 2mm shim under the neck so I could get the action low enough, but that was pretty simple. Chrome knobs, purely cosmetic but I like them. The ramp is just a piece of 4mm plastic sheet cut to the right shape and carpet-taped to the pickguard. It was a superb bass to start with, and for me it still is. I have to say though that if the V7 and P7 had been released at the same time, I would definitely have had the P7 instead. In an ideal world I'd mod this bass to take a P pickup in the neck, but the woodwork is beyond my capabilities and I can't justify all the expense.

Is That It? - Katrina and The Waves

I fitted an EMG 35P4 (reverse P in a soapbar shell) to my bass earlier in the year, and judging by what I heard last night I am now a definite reverse P convert. What an absolutely awesome sound. A night and day difference from the passive humbucker it replaced.

Train To Skaville gig at Bradford Town FC (Bradford-on-Avon), a good sized crowd all in good voice and had all brought their dancing shoes. Considering we hadn't played a single note together since New Year's Eve, we were on fire... good performances all round and we were offered more future bookings on the spot. Result First time out with the Spector since fitting the new active EMGs in place of the passive EMG-HZs, and my god what a difference. The 35P4 in the neck is a proper beast, and really cuts through in a way that the HZs failed to do.

Marathon - Rush

Fields of Fire (400 Miles) - the wonderful Big Country. Stuart Adamson, a truly distinctive voice both vocally and on guitar, still sorely missed. Tony Butler's tone here is massive. Love that Aria bass.

Yes Sir, That's My Baby - Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn

Me Myself I - Joan Armaplating

Single(ton) Life - Cameo

Likewise. I think the kindest thing that could be said about the bridge is 'rough and ready' I would echo BRX's comment, unless you have the cover and are intent on keeping the bass 100% original I'd replace that bridge straightaway.

Oh my word, this is wonderful. https://www.facebook.com/Gypsyguitaracademy/videos/277701971735917/

I did that, and luckily the ridiculously talented and absolutely thoroughly bloody nice bloke @Jakester answered

And you're just going to leave us in suspense? You evil man. I hope your next barber accidentally gives you an 80s hair-metal poodle perm. Hah.

Absolutely crackers. It's like the London Symphony Orchestra deciding that they don't need violins.

A drummer/producer mate of mine has developed quite a flair for writing trip hop stuff; for his most recent piece he wanted to write about AI and thought it might be interesting to get AI to write lyrics about itself. Imagine his alarm when the lyric it produced had a chorus refrain that went: It's a ticking time bomb Just a ticking time bomb As ever, I remain in awe of you guys, coming up with good original stuff month after month. I'd be ecstatic if I could do it just once.

Cuddly Troy - Roachford

Yes, it's a bit of a monster innit! Ah well.

Eddie, you're obviously a far more patient man than I (and I do mean that as a compliment). All I can say is that I hope it works out for you. Given what you've just said, my instinct would be to close the thread for now and await further developments -- as I said, it can always be reopened if you wish.

Whilst I wait for my programmable helicopter to arrive in the post another vague question has floated into what I laughably refer to as my mind... have any of you folks ever transplanted the guts of an Ashdown stomp box into a smaller more board-friendly enclosure?

Agreed, with the slight amendment added. Personally I'd be looking for closure via cash rather than an instrument that has the quite real potential to be a} shonky and b} unsellable once you get (as hiram said above) tired of being reminded every time you look at it of all the years off ballache you went through to end up with something that isn't what you wanted.

That's good (tentatively) news @EddieG, let us know if/when a resolution is found and we can lock* the thread. * but it can always be unlocked again if it all goes tits up...