THE Bass Relay Thread

[Jimryan]

Ok, so I know it's a tad early, but I thought it start it up and update it as we go.

This all started as a crazy idea, and thanks to everyone's ideas and inputs, has started to come to life.

First of all big thank you's to Paul S and 3below for pickups (which will be installed on Saturday morning), Chrismanbass for supplying a hard case for the bass to travel in (which will be collected this weekend), Paulgm1 for escorting said hardcase from London to Portsmouth, to Ped and Kiwi for allowing us a polo to go with the bass, bluejay for keeping the world informed and updated via twitter and to all of those taking part and wishing to take part.

Now, the bass in question is somewhat special to me. It was my first bass. I remember it being plugged in and dumped on my lap in PJ's guitar shop, roughly 9/10 years ago for the first time. All I could manage with it, was a blank expression and a shrug. Throughout school though I taught myself Red Hot Chili Peppers lines, some Metallica and then on to weather report and Jaco.

Seeing RHCP (well, Flea) as m biggest inspiration, I loved the look of his "punk" bass, this getting heavy handed with the stickers. It remained "bastardised" (as my mate Jordan once delicately described it) for years, unused whilst other basses came and went. Eventually the electrics died (around about May last year) and were removed.

Up until this idea came around, it just sat there unloved.

However, at the weekend I went down to my old flat and picked up the bass in question. I knew it needed work, so I thought I'd start the thread with that. As I've previously mentioned, it still had all the stickers on it when I collected it:
[IMG]http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii527/jimryan88/image-10_zpse048f1ec.jpg[/IMG]
On Monday, I got snowed off at work, and spent m afternoon removing the stickers. It took a few hours, but managed to get them off in the end. It's been a long 9 years since I last saw the bass' actual finish.
[IMG]http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii527/jimryan88/image-10_zps90e422ce.jpg[/IMG]
Tomorrow I'll be getting some lighter fluid to remove the sticker glue and to give it a good clean up. The pickups will be added at the weekend, and I'll keep you posted with pics.

There's a strong chance I'll have a gig Saturday night. If that's the case, this'll be used, this starting the relay.

[Silvia Bluejay]

Thank you, Jim - this idea is looking better day by day! I'll tweet this thread some time tomorrow - er, today in fact - and keep BC's followers up to date as and when each next step happens.

[xilddx]

I also took the frets out after the 12th on my first bass. It's a great thing to do!

Well done to you, and the other BC helpers, this should be a gas!

[Jimryan]

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1358420154' post='1938697']
I also took the frets out after the 12th on my first bass. It's a great thing to do!

Well done to you, and the other BC helpers, this should be a gas!
[/quote]

Haha, the reason I did it is different though I imagine.

I wanted to make a "slap fret" for my fretless (when I had it). I needed a fret and the easiest one to get out was the 16th one. It was only then I remembered that it would mess the others up. So then I decided it best to remove the others.

[xilddx]

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1358423094' post='1938776']
Haha, the reason I did it is different though I imagine.

I wanted to make a "slap fret" for my fretless (when I had it). I needed a fret and the easiest one to get out was the 16th one. It was only then I remembered that it would mess the others up. So then I decided it best to remove the others.
[/quote]

Dirty bastard.

[Jimryan]

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1358423331' post='1938786']
Dirty bastard.
[/quote]

Hahaha yep

[Jimryan]

As mentioned/discussed, a PayPal account accepting donations has been set up. The account is simply registered under: [email protected]

I've tested it with a pound donation, and will send a bigger one when my wages go in on Saturday. For this, when taking on the bass, a minimum donation of a pound is recommended, but obviously the higher the better. If you can get punters involved too even better.

James

[Jimryan]

So, in addition to setting up the PayPal, I tinkered a bit today.

Managed to get the sticker glue off, would've installed the pickups, but couldn't find a soldering iron and the pot shafts are far too small, so I'll deal with those at the weekend. Instead, I've strung it up, adjusted the truss (will probably needing doing again in a few days though) and set the action to as close as I like it as possible, but might shim the neck come the weekend.

Thought I'd show you lot another teaser.

Well, only fair you get yourselves as acquainted as possible.

[IMG]http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii527/jimryan88/Bcbassrelay/image_zps3c4284ef.jpg[/IMG]

[lurksalot]

Brilliant Jim , though my daughter will try to prise that from hands , she has a thing for anything purple at the moment

[Jimryan]

Morning all.

As per the poll, the bass shall be named...the BC Baton.

Even more exciting news, my band has been booked on the 16th of Feb. We have a start date of the 16th of February. So if any BCer's are free on the 16th of Feb, myself and the BC Baton will be playing the Jolly Sailor in Portsmouth. We'll be playing a delightful set of funk and soul covers.

See you there

[Jimryan]

Evening all,

The relay now has a justgiving page.

This can be found at: www.justgiving.com/BCrelay

There's also to text code set up as: BASS88 which is to be texted to 70070 followed by an amount (£1,£2,£3,£5,£10).

This is all nearly good to and will be starting very soon.

Cheers to all those involved, those going to get involved and all those that donate.

James

[Silvia Bluejay]

Thanks James - just tweeted the above to BC's followers. Keep up the good work.

[Jimryan]

I'm just sticking all the names into a spreadsheet. If you've signed up, you'll very shortly get a PM regarding contact details to go with this.

Once this has been completed, a copy will travel with the bass and every member involved will receive a copy of the list too.


If you haven't signed up...why not?


P.S we now have QR codes to go along with the bass and for members to push.

[Jimryan]

A brief set of rules has been drafted up. Will take any suggestions/recommendations on board too.

[Jimryan]

Also, should any BCer's already be signed up to Justgiving, a team's now set up: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/Basschat

[Jimryan]

Guiness world records has been contacted as per requested/suggested.

[Jimryan]

Evening all, little update.

The pots that 3below kindly supplied today and have been fitted. Will all be wired up come the weekend and then it's ready to go. Also, cancer research have sent us a little collapsible collection box, which can go around and sit centre stage at the gigs along with a money allocation form (of which I'll make copies).

Here's a little pic for now:
[IMG]http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii527/jimryan88/Bcbassrelay/image_zps74708e74.jpg[/IMG]

[mcnach]

wow, is it really purple???

It must get to Scotland so that I can play it and have lots of pictures taken with it!!!

[Jimryan]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1359589464' post='1957352']
wow, is it really purple???

It must get to Scotland so that I can play it and have lots of pictures taken with it!!!
[/quote]

Yes dude, it really is.

[mcnach]

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1359591236' post='1957376']
Yes dude, it really is.
[/quote]



I must think now what clothes to wear when it finally gets here!!!

[Donnyboy]

Not sure if I should be using this thread or the original one - anyway I've been thinking about this quite a bit and trying to arrange dates mentioning it to get some interest going - early stages as yet tbh.

One of the the things I'm wondering about is if this is quite a success in terms of fund raising , I think Cancer Research , as agreed ( Ithink) on the other thread is fantastic, & that's what I've been telling people, and wonder if a lot of money is raised whether it should be split by a percentage with CR & BC or whether there should be a cut off for the BC contribution - no idea what that would be though or whether that's a bit off? my thinking, I guess ,is that if it's for the most part for charity , there's likely to be more interest.

Oh and the world record attempt would do no harm " I'm a Record Breaker!!!"

Any thoughts?

[mcnach]

I think split between CR and BC would be fair. What propprtion? I don't know. BUt I think BC should definitely receive part of it.

[Jimryan]

Don't worry, I plan to make sure some goes back into BC. A larger portion to CRUK will gain more interest and a larger following. It's harder to set up a donation thing for BC.

Originally I set up a PayPal account which everything could go into and split it from there. A justgiving page got requested so I set one of those up for CRUK, but you can't set up one for BC.

One way to go about it, would be to leave all the text and justgiving donations to CRUK (no question about it, once it's done it's theirs) and any cash donations "on the nights" are split 50/50. Also, when its auctioned at the end, then it'll be split with the larger portion going to BC.

That sound logical?

[mcnach]

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1359737312' post='1959669']
Don't worry, I plan to make sure some goes back into BC. A larger portion to CRUK will gain more interest and a larger following. It's harder to set up a donation thing for BC.

Originally I set up a PayPal account which everything could go into and split it from there. A justgiving page got requested so I set one of those up for CRUK, but you can't set up one for BC.

One way to go about it, would be to leave all the text and justgiving donations to CRUK (no question about it, once it's done it's theirs) and any cash donations "on the nights" are split 50/50. Also, when its auctioned at the end, then it'll be split with the larger portion going to BC.

That sound logical?
[/quote]

That sounds simple and fair to me

[Skol303]

Just wanted to say I think this is a brilliant idea! Looking forward to following the bass as it goes on tour.