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Well, the first cabinet is finished(ish). It just needs covering and tidying up. With a large degree of trepidation I tried it for the first time tonight. I was a little concerned as the amp output is rated for a 4 ohm cabinet and the speaker is 16 ohm. Having spent the whole of my working career in electronics I knew it was safe, as the load was higher which meant the output would be considerably less. But what would it sound like as I'd used a different speaker than the cabinet was designed for. Well it sounds great. With all the EQ controls on the TC Electronic amp set at 12 o/c I had a huge range of tonal control just using the guitars tone control, and as for volume it's all I wanted, enough for my jam sessions and more than enough for an small venue gigs or open mic's. I decided to omit the horn on this one, I am thinking of using the tweeter that cam out of the damaged Ashdown cabinet in the second build. If it doesn't work I've enough ply left over to make several more front baffles. I didn't extend the port, I used it as it came at 120cm, so perhaps some tweaking there at a later date, but to be honest I don't think it needs it. When I turned it up in the dinning room it rattled the light fitting in the ceiling. I've bought some 4 way stretch camper van carpet and spray glue to cover it, in red to match the amp. Thank you so much to Phil, Bill and everyone involved in the original design and in supporting me during the build.

Another vote for EmuBands.

@Owen: The fretboard of the Tribass has "switches". The three "string" thing is doable, although fourth would make fingerings even easier. What, no E, A, and D? As you would need extra "frets" to get sounds from the free strings, they are hidden to your right hand. Right hand can do a couple of things with the touch screen. There are E, A, and D, as well as few different ways of playing those three strings. I suppose that the screen is the most energy consuming component of the unit: lights usually take their part. Pros: very light weight, a handy tool, MIDI out, no latency, rechargeable. I'd say the unit is made well, the feel is very good. Cons: only three strings, E, A, and D on the right hand side, it takes some time to get used to the UI, and of course the availability of the unit.

A bass that looks more like a coffee table surface. In fact, after the first I still wasn’t totally convinced………..so in the best BC tradition, I got another. The basses were a Tune TBC (Exotic) 4 stringer and a Marleaux Constat 5.

Uncle Anaesthesia - The Screaming Trees

Active EQ Basses: I know it's an unpopular opinion, but apart from an old Westone Thunder 1A, I've never managed to get the sound I want out of a bass with an active pre-amp. I've owned a few, including StingRay's (2EQ), an SB1000, a G&L L2000 Tribute, and a few others. The SB, 'Rays & G&L were nice to play, but I couldn't get that sound. Went back to a passive bass, and there it was. Flatwounds: tried them, didn't get it.

Back bow or a high fret are common causes Or poor technique possibly but maybe make a video and upload it so we can help you better ?

No, nothing will break just undo what you did, then re-evaluate And always mark your start point using a sharpie I advise you to talk to @Hellzero or @RonC and work it through slowly, or take their very gracious offer to assist you. this is one task that’s actually quite simple to do when you understand it

An Empress Bass compressor. I had an Orange Kongpressor but it distorted with active basses. I hadn't used a compressor in 30+ years of playing. A second Orange OBC115 cabinet. I'm working on it....I honestly don't think it's a mistake but it is huge. Good price on this one though. I haven't played a gig in over a year. Madness. Why did I buy one in the first place? I should have just bought those MarkBass 151s.

☝️

Does Sousaphone count as an unusual Bass instrument?

If it's a double action truss rod.

what troubles me the most about this advert for a Year 9 DT project guitar is the vintage Orange 4/12 it looks like its been sawn off the front of a cab and nailed to the wall... I wept a little bit.

Heh, yeah, all its pointy bits are still attached. The one and only time I ever tried to gig it, the damn hard case was too long to fit across the back seats of the car and allow the doors to close! With the boot already full of cabs and the back footwells full of everything else, it just wouldn't tessellate in so I had to leave the KB at home and take a different bass. Maybe next time I have to do the dreaded band photo-shoot thing I'll take it as a prop...

I like it! I suspect an "oops" moment when microdosing LSD may have happened. is this an actual multimeter in there, hiding behind the fan cover?

Musicmaster arrived today (amazing service from Rich Tone Music, Sheffield). Plugged it in, and it’s a blast! The weird electronics mean I get both pickups only but at least I know they both work. It has a really rich growly sound and it feels great. Neck is straight, possibly one or two high frets but no major issues. I can get the action very low and even the janky bridge allows near enough intonation. It’s a bit heavier than the Mustang but still light. The finish is really very yellow indeed which is lovely in person, more yellow than I expected but quite faithful to the pictures on the listing. The cream pickups look lovely against the body and I can see why the dimarzios are so well regarded. The finish seems to be a polyester coat although it must be quite thin as it’s worn away in places. It definitely fees and looks more like poly. Being ‘72 I think that checks out. It’s clear that the bass has been loved and thoughtfully modified thus far. It’s definitely been played and loved, and even though I’ll be making a few changes I don’t feel like I’m rescuing a basket case. Looking forward to the next step - fretless neck comes tomorrow, so I’ll put that on and give it a go although without pickup pan it won’t be ideal, but enough to give me an idea of the final sound. I have the new bridge on the way from the USA and still thinking about the wiring. Early Sept I’ll pass it on to my luthier and get cracking. In short, I’m relieved that the bass is ok. Much better than expected and I’m super excited to see how this ends up!! Not sure what sort of strap to get for it, as I have a wide RightOn strap for the mustang which matches perfectly. Maybe the same in black with a yellow stripe. I’ll also need a spare clip for the Backbeat. Then another pedalboard. Yellow stage clothes. The list goes on…

Being a man of a certain age, I can remember a few manufacturers that seemed to be either the go-to source for building your own or something to use as a modding platform. Schecter were one of the first (before they became a defacto maker and just sold parts), SX Guitars, Sue Ryder (obvs). There was a load of guff about 20 years ago about Alex Lifeson investing in a guitar maker who subsequently went bust and all the stock was being sold off cheap - I'm struggling for the headstock name...Signature? Performer?)

Back on topic, here's three of mine - I don't have the black 6-string or the purple fretless any more, but I do still have the CAR one:

I have some flourescent pink gaffa tape. All my leads have a strip wrapped round the cable so I recognise them as mine in the dark. Mainly this stops me 'acquiring' other people's leads as I box anything not nailed down at the end of a gig. It now means I can at least recognise I have someones kettle lead and return it to them. I also have sets of coloured XLR's from my days of running jam sessionswhere leads are swapped all evening.

Yeah, that was another time. The board was pretty well documented on here back then. I gigged with a board that was custom made and was strictly a 2-man lift (1.4m wide, around 50kg). it was all a bit silly really. But life led me to sell up everything (I was bass-less for 3 years), though really my entire collection was on the board to be fair. Pic of that old board for the new crowd that never saw it back in the day! Note this was only has 4 foogers, but the custom Xerograph had just taken the place of the Moog LPF... it didn't stay for long though as it struggled with the CV messages from the MP-201. There are 5-6 pedals not seen under the rear raised tier as well. That board was... fun.

Replaced by Harley Benton.

Anyone remember the Sue Ryder bass frenzy years ago? That was BC hype in full swing 🤣

She's an absolute beauty! Looks extra mean in black. Also probably in better nick than mine - if it's sitting in storage then you can't bang any of the pointy bits on anything 🤣