Big_Stu

[quote name='Coilte' post='1341241' date='Aug 15 2011, 10:08 PM']I've found a general opinion that too much oil is almost as bad as too little, as too much will loosen the frets.[/quote] ^ this

[quote name='henry norton' post='1337932' date='Aug 12 2011, 05:26 PM']Aren't the Thunderbucker ............. the old, unique, Chrome T.Bird size whereas the newer T.Birds were fitted with relatively standard sized black soapbars? I might be wrong but it would probably be worth checking out before you shell out a massive wedge on pickups that don't fit....[/quote] Correct! There's a great deal of love for them Stateside; including from a mate of mine who has several Tbirds. If I ever do make the JAE Fenderbird apparently it's the only way to go.

Bonehead was selling a sunburst Fender bass (can't remember which model) thru Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester a few months ago; might still be there for anyone wanting to admit being a fan.

I'd only joined the forum shortly before he was lost to you all; but by coincidence I found this thread earlier today while checking something out for Last Bass Outpost. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/lofiversion/index.php/t22751.html"]http://basschat.co.uk/lofiversion/index.php/t22751.html[/url] He surely did know his stuff. Much respect to the guy - from what you've said I feel I'm the poorer for not having known him.

I've been eyeing them for a while, when time permits I can see one of those & an Epi Tbird making up a JAE special.

Since it's your first time take pics of the job before you start just in case something goes wrong you know what it should look like. They don't have to be good enough for publication; your phone will do.

[quote name='janmaat' post='1331662' date='Aug 8 2011, 07:56 AM']fragile stickers - that's like putting a sticker on a car that says "car". take no chances, get a proper case and bob's your uncle.[/quote] Or do both; a home-made stencil, small spray paint & it's marked for life.

Bit of a moot point I know, since I can't think of any reason why you'd deliberately do such a thing, but being nosey and between my reply & yours I did a search & there are mnay forums of folk asking for advice after firing up an unplugged valve amp & the general consensus seems to be that there should be no damage done unless an instrument was played through it. All talk I've found about how deadly to an amp it is are saying that it's the load (ie an input signal from an instrument) that does the damage. Personally I check & double-check all connections & settings before that mains goes on; I never take chances & see no reason to. I'd keep on looking for an SC rather than chance that the one in the auction has been further mis-treated.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1332314' date='Aug 8 2011, 04:17 PM']If you have a valve amp on with no speaker attached, all sorts of bad things can happen, as the equilibrium of the circuit is reliant on the output transformer having a load on it (completing the circuit of its secondary winding). Having a speaker and the impedance selector is wrong but not fatal, having no load at all can really mess things up, like the amp goes into oscillation and totally cooks itself.[/quote] Am I missing something? I've been told my a few techs that it's not damaging until a load is put on the amp, & since there's no instrument lead plugged in then there is no load being applied? I know virtually nothing about these things, just repeating what I was told?

I've got one too; and until the recession they were making around that price. I used to keep watch & saw a few go for £1200-£1300. A mate of mine sold one to a guy in the USA for a bit less than that though he could have got more, but he didn't want to make profit on it as a point of principle. They're excellent heads for bass, they're clean up to almost full tilt so are good for pedal use & output way over the rating. "Thornybank" of this forum knows a fair bit about them, & told me he thought they reached perhaps 300-350 watts. Keep it well maintained & checked over if you haven't done already, those big trannies can kill you & the caps etc deteriorate over time which could virtually kill your amp if they go. Mr Foxen of here is also very knowledgable on old amps - especially Sound City which are teh ancestors if you will of Hiwatt. What cab(s) are you using with it?

[quote name='joe_bass' post='1329165' date='Aug 5 2011, 07:46 PM']I know the point is the pictures are shocking, but I can't actually spot the case? Am I just being a bit dim?? [/quote] Don't think it's a real Rick case, looks more like a Honda copy to me.

+1 for Dennis, with a few more recommendations on the amp tech thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=198&st=60"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=198&st=60[/url] Dennis is registered on BC too; post 65 of the same thread. He's just north of Dunfermline [url="http://www.dennismarshall.co.uk/contact.htm"]http://www.dennismarshall.co.uk/contact.htm[/url]

[quote name='gafbass02' post='1305516' date='Jul 16 2011, 09:48 AM']Douche. It's Twin Ion Engine, everyone knows that! That's a basic level question!... muppet![/quote] Not because it looks like a dickie-bow then? No, I haven't ever watched a Star wars film.

[quote name='ebay.com' post='1326371' date='Aug 4 2011, 12:59 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.com/CUSTOM-SHOP-ONE-OFF-WARRIOR-6-STRING-BASS-/330596262081?pt=Guitar&hash=item4cf912a0c1"]http://cgi.ebay.com/CUSTOM-SHOP-ONE-OFF-WA...=item4cf912a0c1[/url][/quote] Personally I think it's one of the ugliest basses I ever saw; not exactly selling it well to a new owner with his opening gambit either.... "Body shape specially designed for me only"

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1325510' date='Aug 3 2011, 12:19 PM']Interesting. I've not seen this feature on any of the John Birch Guitars and Basses that I've played. Also I don't recall it being mentioned in either the John Birch catalogue that I used to own or the International Musician review of the J1 guitar.[/quote] The clue is in .....[quote name='Big_Stu' post='1325158' date='Aug 3 2011, 05:16 AM']...............the vast majority seem to be without it, so maybe it was an optional extra.[/quote] Not a great pic but you can see the outline of them in this

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1324513' date='Aug 2 2011, 04:52 PM']Why? If it's been done properly It'll not be noticeable, and I'll take playability over originality any day.[/quote] Not for any detrimental opinion on the bass; just my nosiness. John sometimes embedded frets on his guitars in a nylon mount. I read that it was this style of his that attracted Tony Iommi to have his first custom made, the easier slope to the frets rather than a hard metal edge; he was then so impressed that he funded JB first starting up as a builder rather than repairs & pickups. I've only seen one bass & one guitar (Dave Hill's original Superyob) with that feature & wonder how many there were, the vast majority seem to be without it, so maybe it was an optional extra.

What a machine! Pity about the refret..........but that neck goes on forever. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JOHN-BIRCH-GUITAR-/270791371883?pt=UK_Music_SheetMusic_RL&hash=item3f0c6c6c6b"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JOHN-BIRCH-GUITA...=item3f0c6c6c6b[/url] I know what you're thinking; did you want six strings or maybe only four? You know in all that excitement I kinda lost track myself. But seeing how this has Magnum pickups; the most powerful in all the world, you godda ask yourself a question...... edit: no connection whatsoever with the seller.

Bassists get spoken to after gigs????

Another John Birch Rick, let's see how long this lasts as a listing.................... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Birch-/250864874356?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a68b63374"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Birch-/2508...=item3a68b63374[/url]

You'd probably find one - or similar - in one of these [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-Bell-Musical-Instruments-sale-Catalogue-/290589597749?pt=UK_Magazines&hash=item43a87d6035"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-Bell-Musica...=item43a87d6035[/url] I had the Marshall one of those, the L&B version, there was also a Park one available in 50w or 100w. Probably all the same behind the logo. You could get a decent sound out of them, but hardly could be used as a gigging rig by today's standards.

I've respeakered a Laney (combo) many years ago with a Celestion & it was great, sound wise the match was spot on. I've also respeakered a Marshall 800 with 2 Eminence Delta's from Maplins & that shifts a lot of air now; & they're relatively cheap. You'd probably be happy with either of those.

[quote name='lobematt' post='1310562' date='Jul 20 2011, 05:17 PM']And also how far would a 20 x 30cm sheet get me? Baring in mind this is my first attempt so may not be the neatest job in the world![/quote] You can get a 4m x 25mm roll of anti-slug s/a copper tape in a garden centre for a fiver?

Is that the one that says "Valuable instrument inside, please steal me"?

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='1305202' date='Jul 15 2011, 09:25 PM']Nah mate, a dairy milk is a solid state bar. Wispa was more of a modelling jobbie, designed to emulate an aero.[/quote] Whereas if you want vintage tube it would have to be Smarties, nothing else gets close.

In the early 80's one of the driver's of a certain rock band was considerably larger than average, looking a lot like Giant Haystacks long lost twin. As his job was driving, as I said, he had developed a habit of rolling up a strip of loo roll & wedging it down the crack of his gargantuan arse to soak up the sweat. If any newbie was naive enough to share the cab with Dave AND be daft enough to fall asleep; 9 times out of 10 he'd wake up with a Fu Manchu style moustache comprising said rather sweaty used loo roll. Many many stories like those, but that was then & most of them are so far wide of PC that they're untellable.