Finished! It's a bass, Jim...

[Andyjr1515]

Just as a post-script, it's worth going into a bit more detail of the two things that I think have got folks here particularly interested - the Nova headless system and SimS Super-Quads

First the headless system.  And what a nice, great to use and looks good too is Andre Passini's Nova Guitar Parts headless system!  String fitting (2 minutes for a full string change - I timed myself) and tuning up is effortless.  The tuners are as smooth as silk and very accurate.

The only challenge I had was getting enough height adjustment of the saddles while still being able to clamp then in the normal way - but I have some thoughts how this could be easily and cheaply improved which I will bounce off Andre shortly. 

But for 'best bang for the buck', this system absolutely gets my vote and I will be fitting them on all future headless builds.  And that includes guitars because the guitar versions are just as good
 

The other is the SimS Super-Quad system.  They are fully passive pickups - the 9v battery is simply there to light the LEDs to tell you if you are in 'Split' 'Single' or 'Humbucker' mode.  All the tech happens in that fancy switch, including some very clever work that means that there is NO volume change from the humbucking to single/split coil modes.  And this is fully passive - remarkable.

Here are the options:

The three switches at the bottom are the SimS Tri-logic switches, then the 3 at the top are simply on/off toggles for each.  There is a master volume and master tone and that's it.

They are a synch to fit - for each pickup you attach the loom and then solder an earth, the hot out and the 9v feed for the LED.  Mind you, it does take up quite a bit of real estate...especially with three!!

 

And this, to Martin Sims' and my knowledge, is the first bass in the world with three of these remarkable pickups

Oh...and they sound great

 

 

[TheGreek]

I haven't had to change the battery on mine (but TBH it doesn't get anywhere near enough use) - as a thought, will one 9v battery be enough to power all three pick ups over time?

[Si600]

You distract @Jus Lukin, you hold @Andyjr1515 down and I'll grab the bass  how does that sound? 

 

The Sims, will they do P - Reverse P?

[Andyjr1515]

11 minutes ago, Si600 said:

The Sims, will they do P - Reverse P?

Well, theoretically if you turn them all round with the poles facing the back...

...but that would be very silly...

(that'll  be a No) 

[TheGreek]

Do you think they'll recognise me??

[Si600]

3 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Well, theoretically if you turn them all round with the poles facing the back...

...but that would be very silly...

(that'll  be a No) 

I wonder if they'll do a custom order....

[PlungerModerno]

1 hour ago, Si600 said:

I wonder if they'll do a custom order....

Or just left handed versions - so you could have a typical P in a lefty, or have a neck pickup single right next to the last fret!

EDIT: Depending on how they are made this could be as simple as rewiring the coils in a custom way, might even be a fairly easy mod reusing the existing switch, or it might need to be a custom built pickup and switch, which may not be doable close to the standard pickup cost, unless you order dozens of them.

Edited February 24, 2021 by PlungerModerno

[Jus Lukin]

1 hour ago, Si600 said:

You distract @Jus Lukin, you hold @Andyjr1515 down and I'll grab the bass  how does that sound? 

will they do P - Reverse P?

It's normally straight-forward pee, but if you're really aggressive, reverse pee has been known to occur...

[Andyjr1515]

2 hours ago, Si600 said:

I wonder if they'll do a custom order....

Oh, I'm sure.  Trouble is, SimS - excellent as they are - are already in king's ransom territory, so I think you'd probably be talking king's ransom squared 

To be honest, I think that the - what was it: 125; 130; 126; 138? - number of combinations in sound might keep @Jus Lukin busy enough for long enough.

[HazBeen]

10 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

That's better!  And they are all spot on 18mm spacing as preferred by @Jus Lukin 

 

And forgive the indulgence, but the inevitable arty farty shots      :

 

 

..and, finally, with lights on:

Thanks for looking, folks

 

 

 

Wow

[MoonBassAlpha]

Great work again Andy!  What did the weight end up all in?

[Andyjr1515]

7 minutes ago, MoonBassAlpha said:

Great work again Andy!  What did the weight end up all in?

Thanks

I meant to add that.  It's spot on 7 lbs

[BassTool]

19 hours ago, ezbass said:

I’ve run out of hyperbole when it comes to these builds. Therefore, 👏👏👏👏👏

^This^

Awesome.

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[slojo]

Just realised this is 30” scale - WANT!!!😍

[Hellzero]

5 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Thanks

I meant to add that.  It's spot on 7 lbs

So, for those living in modern days, where precision matters, it's exactly 3.17514659 kilos. 

Very light for such a bass.

Again congratulations to you @Andyjr1515: it's a superb bass !

I think I like combination 124, but 123 is good too with that humbucker on neck pickup. That said position 001 is my favourite, but what does it do exactly, except sparkles @Jus Lukin ?

[stewblack]

Beautiful work @Andyjr1515

[PlungerModerno]

16 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Thanks

I meant to add that.  It's spot on 7 lbs

I imagine without the weight of the wood and tuning machines at the end of the neck, it's a lot more neutral on even a scrawny strap, even with such a short upper horn.

[Cato]

For me, I think this may be @Andyjr1515's best work yet.

If that was in Bass Direct parked next to all the top end basses, it would still be the one I'd be most drawn to.

[Andyjr1515]

1 hour ago, Cato said:

For me, I think this may be @Andyjr1515's best work yet.

If that was in Bass Direct parked next to all the top end basses, it would still be the one I'd be most drawn to.

Wow!  Thanks indeed!

[Andyjr1515]

7 hours ago, PlungerModerno said:

I imagine without the weight of the wood and tuning machines at the end of the neck, it's a lot more neutral on even a scrawny strap, even with such a short upper horn.

The bridge is well back putting the front button almost in the goldilocks zone so it probably wou!d have been OK.

  But what would have been more a challenge with the body shape would have been playing over the knee.  Because the waist is so far forward, you play with the large rear bout resting on your knee and, with the bass held head slightly high, it balances comfortably.  With a headstock, this would have been more of a challenge.

 

[Cato]

Just out of idle curiosity sparked by this thread in General Discussion that features an £8k Fender Custom Shop Precision.

 Would I theoretically be able to get more than one of Andy's latest masterpiece for the same money?

Edited February 26, 2021 by Cato

[TheGreek]

4 hours ago, Cato said:

For me, I think this may be @Andyjr1515's best work yet.

If that was in Bass Direct parked next to all the top end basses, it would still be the one I'd be most drawn to.

Careful....you may find you're upsetting many of his previous clients...😉

[Daz39]

2 hours ago, Cato said:

Just out of idle curiosity sparked by this thread in General Discussion that features an £8k Fender Custom Shop Precision.

 Would I theoretically be able to get more than one of Andy's latest masterpiece for the same money?

For £8k I imagine you'd get more than one of the most specced basses Andy's ever had commissioned, using every clamp in the tri-county area....

[Cato]

14 minutes ago, Daz39 said:

For £8k I imagine you'd get more than one of the most specced basses Andy's ever had commissioned, using every clamp in the tri-county area....

That's what I figured.

And you'd be getting something truly unique built from the blocks up.

[PlungerModerno]

9 minutes ago, Cato said:

That's what I figured.

And you'd be getting something truly unique built from the blocks up.

Or maybe somethings truly unique: A fretless and fretted pair might be had for a wedge that big, might even be able to get matching tops & all sorts of wonders...