ped Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 3 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: Is it really as simple as that? Just buy long-scale strings and chop off 18" including the silks? Yes, it is with a headless design anyway... just pass the string through the clamp, activate the clamp and cut off the excess. I used the next heaviest gauge up to my normal set on a 34" (so 45-105 instead of 40-100). After some experimentation I found I preferred to use a 4 string set with a high C (32). To avoid the spiky string ends, once I clamp and chop I remove the string from the clamp again and chop off nearer to the actual part of the string which is held by the grub screw so once put back in and tightened the ends don't come out of the clamp. I don't think I've ever used the word clamp so much but I quite like it. clamp clamp clamp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 OK, so that's the same system on my (full sized) Westone 'The Rail'. Totally agree about the bloody spikes. On my previous Rail I never did the second snip and I drew blood several times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 Just now, Happy Jack said: OK, so that's the same system on my (full sized) Westone 'The Rail'. Totally agree about the bloody spikes. On my previous Rail I never did the second snip and I drew blood several times. I often wonder why someone doesn't make a 'cover' which could snap over the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 I used ... erm ... lots of gaffa tape. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 2 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: I used ... erm ... lots of gaffa tape. Seriously. I was just about to say, I actually spent about 30 mins looking for a roll of electrical tape that I was going to cut into strips and use to cover the spikes... then I sat there and thought 'hold on there's got to be a neater solution' when I realised I could just snip them more!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 21 hours ago, ped said: I’ve got Kala down although they only partly fit the brief... who are KAM? Any links? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Friday-Cyber-Monday-KAM-Mini-Bass-Solid-body-Ukulele-Bass-SUB-Satin-Black/223771878931?hash=item3419d7e613:g:ZFsAAOSw0JpV4eLA https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAM-Mini-Bass-high-output-Solid-body-Ukulele-Bass-SUB-Satin-Black/381379608704?hash=item58cbff0080:g:ZFsAAOSw0JpV4eLA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 8 minutes ago, TheGreek said: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Friday-Cyber-Monday-KAM-Mini-Bass-Solid-body-Ukulele-Bass-SUB-Satin-Black/223771878931?hash=item3419d7e613:g:ZFsAAOSw0JpV4eLA https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAM-Mini-Bass-high-output-Solid-body-Ukulele-Bass-SUB-Satin-Black/381379608704?hash=item58cbff0080:g:ZFsAAOSw0JpV4eLA Ah ok thanks so like the Kala then. I guess I’m thinking more of steel stringed magnetic pickup minis rather than ukulele derived versions although they’re fun in a similar way 👍🏼 I have a fretless Harley Benton uke which is nice for noodling but it doesn’t ‘feel’ like a bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Kala also did make the U-SUB which was a lot cheaper than the eye-wateringly expensive California ones. I've got a 5-string one to go with my Ashbory Mk I and Ashbory Mk II. There's also one from the Bass Centre: http://www.basscentre.com/bass-centre-ashbory-bass.html - there used to be a larger range of these. These, of course, are short scale but pitched at the same tuning as an 865mm scale, so not the same as the Wingbass et al. I'm tempted by the shortie but don't know if I could get it past Mrs Zero - it isn't as if it looks similar to any of the basses I own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 On 15/09/2020 at 10:10, ped said: I don't think I've ever used the word clamp so much but I quite like it. clamp clamp clamp. Did you just have a clampgasm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 22, 2020 Author Share Posted September 22, 2020 Yeah thanks, interesting little basses but I’m looking for steel string half scale ‘mini basses’ rather than ukulele rubber string derivatives - which are also fun but not quite the same as they don’t sound like a normal bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 The MÜB Miezo is coming on, looks like it's just the final coat and assembly. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 4 hours ago, Grantd said: The MÜB Miezo is coming on, looks like it's just the final coat and assembly. Looks great - tell me more about the spec! I guess it’ll ‘sit’ further to your left than the wing? What electronics have you chosen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 No truss rod! Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, ped said: Looks great - tell me more about the spec! I guess it’ll ‘sit’ further to your left than the wing? What electronics have you chosen? Here's the spec. Decided to keep it simple. I have a vox plug headphone, so I'm not adding the headphone amp and I will be playing it at home most the time. Miezo 4 16” scale Ash body Black stain Birdseye maple fingerboard Bartolini single coil pickup Small knobs, passive Black hardware. Brass string anchor. Satin hand rubbed finish Edited September 25, 2020 by Grantd 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Magic Fluke?? https://www.promenademusic.co.uk/magic-fluke-mb2000-fretted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 1 hour ago, TheGreek said: Magic Fluke?? https://www.promenademusic.co.uk/magic-fluke-mb2000-fretted Hm I’d still class that as more of a ukulele than a mini bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 On 26/09/2020 at 15:14, TheGreek said: Magic Fluke?? https://www.promenademusic.co.uk/magic-fluke-mb2000-fretted Slightly reminds me of a balalaika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 I'll let you know about the FingyBass when mine arrives. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 28, 2020 Author Share Posted September 28, 2020 Got any pics? What spec did you go for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 18 minutes ago, ped said: Got any pics? What spec did you go for? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Travel-Bass-5-Strings-with-headphones-preamp-FingyBass/293531089891 in the nitro natural finish shown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 28, 2020 Author Share Posted September 28, 2020 21 minutes ago, tauzero said: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Travel-Bass-5-Strings-with-headphones-preamp-FingyBass/293531089891 in the nitro natural finish shown. I’d be interested to hear how the intonation is with that bridge. I guess it’s because of the half scale but I find my wing needed very fine adjustment. Welcome to the club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 On 28/09/2020 at 19:12, ped said: I’d be interested to hear how the intonation is with that bridge. I guess it’s because of the half scale but I find my wing needed very fine adjustment. Welcome to the club! You seemed pretty contemptuous of them in the Ebay forum. I shall wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 23 minutes ago, tauzero said: You seemed pretty contemptuous of them in the Ebay forum. I shall wait and see. Not really, just think the cutaway along the top of the neck looks a little sharp and like I say the bridge arrangement looks interesting. And I'm not sure about the yellow ones... mind you for the price I'm sure you could probably do worse. I'd be interested to hear your experiences... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 On 25/09/2020 at 16:47, Grantd said: Here's the spec. Decided to keep it simple. I have a vox plug headphone, so I'm not adding the headphone amp and I will be playing it at home most the time. Miezo 4 16” scale Ash body Black stain Birdseye maple fingerboard Bartolini single coil pickup Small knobs, passive Black hardware. Brass string anchor. Satin hand rubbed finish Some progress made. The spec is changing to a dual coil pickup with coil tap switch to be added. (no single coil pickups available for 6 weeks) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Sweet. Did you specify the placement of the pickup? I estimate you could get three more on there if you try hard enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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