KiOgon

[quote name='solo4652' post='835020' date='May 12 2010, 08:51 AM']I wish I could hear something - anything, really! Right now I can't hear a flaming thing. Hearing in my left hear has been poor for the last 20 years, apparently because of some intravenous antibiotics I had aged 30. Currently I have an ear infection in my right ear and can hear nothing that side. Result - serious overall deafness. Doctors say the infection is getting better and that the "gunge" (Doctor's phrase, not mine) should eventually clear in the next 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, I'm walking around in my own cotton-woolly world unable to hear normal conversation and finding it really difficult to play the bass. Seriously fed up too. Sorry - just feeling a bit low today. Steve[/quote] Hey Steve, I hope it clears soon for you, that must be a horrible feeling, can't the doctor 'help' clear the gunge? Best wishes, John

A good lot of results coming in it's time I 'fessed up' I honestly can't hear anything over the 8K so no wonder I'm playing bass. I took a more thorough hearing test 'cos I was a bit worried by my dramatic drop in range & pleased to say I scored 81% - above average for my age (59&1/4) also pleased to say it doesn't seem to stop me enjoying listening to the same music I did 40+ years ago oh yeah - 1 or 2 new tunes as well Cheers

[quote name='Fat Rich' post='834316' date='May 11 2010, 03:38 PM']Don't panic, a lot of soundcards or speakers aren't capable of reproducing some of the higher (or lower) frequencies... [/quote] Yeah that's what I thought can't use that excuse when my 27 year old is sitting next to me & he can hear almost to the top!

[url="http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2009/03/can-you-hear-this-hearing-test/"]Hearing Test[/url] I got a bit of a surprise Let's see how you do! I shall be 60 next birthday & I know when I was a mere lad working at Vox my hearing was good up to 20KHz. Oh boy how things have changed Nothing much you can do about aging though. Cheers, John

100% Great to deal with - bought a Ashdown Mini48 cab from Mark - no problems at all Straightforward from step one on >> good communication & really good photo's but the cab in real life is even better! Fantastic condition, sounds teriffic, not a scratch on it! The cover too in very nice order - bit of a bonus! I can thoroughly recommend Mark, he's a pleasure to deal with, another of basschat's gents & true to his word. Cheers, John

[quote name='cameltoe' post='833301' date='May 10 2010, 05:32 PM']Fender have a set up guide for basses on their website. It's irrelevent that it's a squier, it'll be the same procedure. Don't mess around with the neck too much though if you don't know what you're doing. A good idea is to lower it to where it feels most comfortable, and if it's buzzing like mad then the neck may need adjusting. I'd take it to a specialist for this though.[/quote] + 1 on all that's been said; It all depends how hard you pluck if you're getting a lot of fret buzz & you feel the action should be lower then adjust your style = pluck more gently If you want to smack them strings hard - then you have to put up with a high action = your choice

[quote name='maxbane' post='829994' date='May 6 2010, 08:13 PM']I've almost put an deposit on a Havoc 4 strings at GAK.... but everytime i called then i had an different answer to when one was gonna be available. At the end just retune my corvette and its sounds fat as ever!!!![/quote] I bought the Neo Ltd October last, played it, loved it, changed the strings set it up etc then just didn't use it still for sale - link in my signature below. If you want one that's been sorted & setup - just as new for 1/2 price Cheers, John

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='827424' date='May 4 2010, 01:42 PM']Quite a nice looking bass and im thinking it might be a good, all round back up bass (maybe, maybe not) but i would like to know the nut width. Now, before anyone starts quoting me spec's off Fenders website ive read them, 1.5". But ive also read that this is not the case and its actually a P width. Cheers.[/quote] I tried one & it was definitely a Jazz neck, nothing like a P + the black painted didn't feel good to me Can't measure it for you but I'd say it's 38mm - skinny! Cheers, John

Carnauba Polish, not as violent as T-cut, you can use it on many varied surfaces, ideal for surface scratches + it's safe Cheers, John Edit: Yes it's fine on oiled & waxed surfaces too - I use it on gun stocks.

[quote name='discreet' post='825057' date='May 1 2010, 07:03 PM']It is very nice! Is that your woodshed? I keep my bongo mags in mine.[/quote] More like a fish shed, it houses the filters, pumps & electrics for my Koi pond, it seemed a good idea to get some photo's in daylight - but So - you have a lot of 'bongo' mags eh! say no more

Fitted today -` custom Black Pearl pickguard from Howard - 'that's nice'

Howard is a star - a scholar & a gent. Custom pickguard for my '51 P bass made & delivered in a flash! It doesn't get better than this, thanks Howard, a real pleasure to deal with you. Cheers, John

Good job GW - looks sweet & comfy Cheers, John

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='823643' date='Apr 30 2010, 02:29 AM']You won't believe this, geezer, but I have used some double sided tape and spent the last hour trying lots of different positions [b][font="Century Gothic"][size=1][i](oohh matron!! )[/i][/size][/font][/b] and when I have found the one that is most comfortable for me, I came back here to show the pictures and noticed your post showing that the position you have fitted yours is exactly the same I have found to be the most comfortable!! What a coincidence It doesn't get in the way of slapping and it allows you to pluck the E string without knocking your fingers against the thumb rest. look!! [/quote] Great minds - - - it must be comfortable 'cos I fitted my '51P bass first, then did the same process of 'where's it best' on my Frank Bello & ended up in almost exactly the same place. One word -(several actually)- of advice when drilling the holes, mark the spots on a piece of masking tape on the pickguard & drill a small (1.5mm) pilot hole through just into the wood. Remove the pickguard & open up the hole in the pickguard to a screw clearance size, (probably 3mm). Enlarge the body drilling to a suitable size for the screws to get a grip, (probably 2mm) then open up the start of that hole, like a countersink, with a 3.5 or 4mm just twisted in your fingers, just to take the finish away from the edge of the hole, it stops cracks in the laquer forming when you fit the screws. Before re-fitting the pickguard make sure the holes in that are de-burred so it doesn't scratch anywhere. HTH, John

I fitted mine where it feels right for me & my playing style - it's also from Guy Lewis, Maple single hole, aged my way [attachment=48629:__51_P_bass_008.jpg]

[quote name='oldslapper' post='823280' date='Apr 29 2010, 06:40 PM']Lovely job John! Can you build me a bass for £65?? plz?? gwan! [/quote] Cheers John - I'd be delighted to, do you know where there's some cheap bits going?

Completed:

Most of my time was spent on the neck; filling all the old holes, re-shaping the head, sanding, re drilling for new machine heads & 6 bolt fitting. Then re-varnishing, polishing, tidying the frets & cleaning the finger board with Lemon oil. The new machine heads were supplied with the neck, thanks John - oldslapper, but the screws that came with were rubbish so I used real Fender screws. The lovely P bass knobs were a freebie from Ou7shined thanks Rich & the thumbrest another gimme from Voxpop thanks Marc. I have a gold scratchplate (oldslapper) & gold screws courtesy of Dood - thanks Dan, not fitted yet, thought I'd try the original white for a start. I fitted a set of 'run in' flats of my '51P & set the bridge 'as low as it goes', when it's settled I may need to tweek the truss rod but at the moment it's fine with strings up 2.5mm @ 7th, 3 @ 12th & 3.5 @ 20th frets. I like it a tad lower but I'm happy with for now. The bridge would benefit from some shorter adjusting screws, I will investigate, does anyone know what bridge that is BTW? It's surprisingly good to play, plenty of output from the pup, no nasty noises & a good P tone. I set out to build a 'budget bass' & I reckon I've achieved that, total cost was £65 - thanks to a few freebies & bits I had - yes I could have got something for less off thebay, but where's the fun in that? At least I know this is put together & setup right I've enjoyed the build, ended up with another fretted bass which wasn't my plan but hey, when a fretless neck comes my way Comments welcome Edit: Picture limit exceeded - continued next post.

Nice one Doc I thought I was GAS free - now I've had a bad attack of G&L GAS, bu55er Here's Randy in 2002 maybe?

The *Headline Act* I got the Vintage P bass neck from oldslapper (cheers mate) & weren't too sure about the head shape So after filling the old screw holes, spot the vertical one! A lot of deliberation, a bit of pencil work, a few minutes with my coping saw & a while with sandpaper - we have More to follow, Cheers, John Edit; Pictures 4 & 7 removed.

John AKA oldslapper = great guy to deal with & a true gent I got a bargain P neck with tuners & a pickgaurd from John, both were well packed & posted as promised, exactly as advertised, very pleased with the deal. Shame the PO didn't deliver when they should have - I had to go to the collection office & prise the neck from them! All I have to do now is talk him into selling me his mini 48 cab Cheers John, a pleasure to do business with, John (There's a lot of us about)

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='816831' date='Apr 23 2010, 11:45 PM']Do a deal with the Bass Doc. Leo Fender shook the Doc's hand - the Doc's hand touches [i]your[/i] scratchplate - instant Mojo and £100 on the value of the bass. [/quote] Cheers skank - it's already happening

[quote name='oldslapper' post='815749' date='Apr 23 2010, 08:38 AM']For those that can make it. I've gone ahead and booked a venue/date as it seemed the only way to get a bash "going". If I'm there by myself, I'll win all the raffles prizes..! 11th July 2-5 p.m In Shaftesbury. Map link below. Shaftesbury Christian Centre, Christies Lane, Shaftesbury SP7 8PH Venue is free (Big low ceiling hall), free parking, free tea & coffee in a nice coffee bar area, bogs, Tesco over the road, nice pubs in town and Gold Hill is worth a visit. [url="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=SP7+8PH&hl=en&ei=6kvRS9CNOJeTjAeFwKHBBA&vps=2&jsv=230b&sll=51.008435,-2.189405&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&ie=UTF8&view=map&geocode=FZdSCgMdOpTe_w&split=0&iwloc=A&ved=0CBIQpQY&sa=X"]http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=SP7+8PH&am...BIQpQY&sa=X[/url] Not exclusive to Dorset dwellers, just easier to call it a Dorset bash as there was some debate as to whether Shaftesbury could be called South West Will get a local luthier to come along for some "set up", general guitar care advice and a drummer for a "jam" (ACM graduate). Be nice to give both some dosh for their time, so maybe a small contribution from those that attend? I'll attempt to extract some goodies from music retailers for a raffle in aid of basschat. If anyone is coming that works in shops around and about the dorset/wilts/somerset/hants area please feel free to badger the owners for some freebies. If you could let me know who's able to come, then I can make a list and have an idea of numbers. Bring your gear (the weird and the wonderful) and your plectrums/fingers and we'll have some fun, should be a grin. John[/quote] I'd like to - but google maps makes it 143 miles & 3.5 hours from me - so I'm a frayed knot this time Have a great time all that attend - send us a postcard Cheers, John

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='815450' date='Apr 22 2010, 08:52 PM']I've bought a few on EBay. Does it have to be UK? I've had several imported from the USA & they only take a few days[/quote] I often get strings & odds from the states with no problems, thought I might be able to save a few bucks getting one closer to home! [quote name='Platypus' post='815453' date='Apr 22 2010, 08:56 PM']Sims Custom Shop will do you a custom one: [url="http://www.simscustom.com/html/00pickguards.htm"]http://www.simscustom.com/html/00pickguards.htm[/url][/quote] Thanks for the link - they seem expensive - I'll ask for a quote when I decide exactly what I want. [quote name='The Bass Doc' post='815471' date='Apr 22 2010, 09:06 PM']I have been known to make 'one-offs' - anything in particular you're after?[/quote] That sounds like the best offer I've had I'm fancying the 'Black Abalone' as in the ebay link, maybe a little more black than that particular one if that makes sense? The Sims Black Pearl I suppose is closest & yes it's for my '51 P ri MIJ. Cheers all for the replies, John

Does anyone know where to get custom pick-guards in this country? Something like this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220577921635&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]Nice pick-guard[/url] Cheers, John