Grangur Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Well, for those who may be interested, I've moved forward on the project. I got the machine heads changed.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif] [/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The old head posts were straight up and down. The new ones are small capstans, which is cool.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif] [/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I've also bought a Hipshot bridge and Bartolini pups from Kdubb24[color="#5a5a5a"] through the BC forum. [/color][color=#5A5A5A]Then I got to work on the body with the blow lamp. For anyone who's never done it, it's a strange feeling as you see the paint from a bass curl and burst into flames as you heat it and scrape it off.[/color][/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#5A5A5A] As you can see here it was Cherry red before it was ever black.[/color][/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#5A5A5A] [/color][/font][/size][color=#5A5A5A][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=4] After stripping I then got on with sanding. That was satisfying; rounding the edges more than before. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#5A5A5A][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]Then on to the next stage... Primer[/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Ok, so the above pics have been over the past few days. Well, the primer went on ok. Then got sanded and re-primed, and sanded, and filled and sanded and primed and sanded. The last sanding was with 1200 grade paper. That stuff is just like slightly tacky paper. .... and you can also see here the bass body prepared an ready for spraying in the Grangur clinically pristine, purpose-built spray booth. Smooooothe as a baby's bum and ready for colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Looking good ! You're so cruel though, just leaving us hanging on the edge of our seats ...... What colour is it going to be ?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted June 23, 2013 Author Share Posted June 23, 2013 I found some rough bits, so it's back to Halfords for another can of primer. I' know I'm a perfectionist, but if I don't get it right and leave some lump or dimple it will grate with me. Colour: blue. I'll post pics as soon as I can. Thanks for the interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 OK, guys here's the finished thing. Ok, well all apart from some tweaking on the wiring. I still need to sort a problem on the tone control. As I said, I've changed the bridge and the pups etc. I've also added a push/pull switch on the tone. This switches between 2 capacitors, each rated at 0.47uf a 0.1uf, except it's not quite behaving yet. But for anyone stil linterested, here are the pics: Well, that's all folks!!! Many thanks for looking and for all your comments in this thread. Cheers Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 A very well done, that looks damned fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Lovely colour blue you got there! What sort of paint did you use? Re: the tuners you spoke about earlier in the thread, I got the full size wilkinson tuners. I needed to grind the corner off the G String one to get it to fit but seems to be great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 The colour is For Azure Blue. It's a metallic finish. It was finished off with clear lacquer, then sanded with 1200 grit sandpaper and T-Cut to bring up a gloss finish. The sound is getting there. It's got a bit of a harsh metalic twang to it that I'm not so keen on. I'm looking for more of a low-down growl. So I'm still playing with the elects. I may put all the original elects in again and see what that sounds like with the new bridge. I can't see as the twang comes from the bridge, but its a start point. I'd welcome anyone's thoughts on that. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Richard if you do visit mac towers to see the jazz, I've got a couple of P basses loaded up with quarter pounder pups, you might find the sound to your liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 [quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1370729091' post='2105017'] Not much of my original squier left. Neck swapped out for a mighty mite, wilkinson tuners, CTS pots and new wiring, orange drop cap, Bass Doc pic guard and Wizard Thumper. Was it worth the spend.....absolutely. [/quote] Precisely what I did with the Affinity P J I bought. Is now my #1 bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budda Long Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 (edited) I see this is an old topic, but I assume it's one that will come up over and again and answers will be helpful to those finding this through a search so... If you have a cheap bass that plays well, is comfortable to you, it is worth spending whatever you can afford to spend. I have known several pro bassists who have completely pimped their sub 100 quid basses with the best tuners, bridges, pots, pickups and strings - spending quite a lot, hundreds upon hundreds in some cases, and come out with basses they like more than any boutique bass for far less money. I have done it myself although never with that cheap of a bass, but I'm about to start a project with a cheap p-bass that plays like a dream. I will spend well into the hundreds to fit it with the very finest of everything because it plays well enough to deserve it. It is a one in a thousand happenstance where exactly the right pieces of wood combined all in one super-cheap factory bass - it happens. I was looking around to see what hardware others had used when I came across this thread. You may or may not ever recoup your investment - If someone else plays it and realizes it's value, you will probably do alright, but you will never be able to sell it online. Edited December 25, 2017 by Budda Long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 (edited) On 08/06/2013 at 18:11, Grangur said: Ooops - just seen that it was an old thread. Nothing to see here Edited December 29, 2017 by GregBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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