untune

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110970401186?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110970401186?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649[/url] Found this earlier in the week, 4 or 5 days before it was due to end, thought I'd see how it went then put a bid in if it didn't get to a stupid price. Was in London for the beginning of the week and the internet was down in the hotel. Came home, had forgotten about it then when I remembered - OUR internet was down. My grandad used to play one VERY similar to this and I've been pondering for ages about making a tribute, but the neck would be too tricky to do. This would have been perfect but alas... stupid internet

I'm gutted I didn't get a look back in August - my schedule for the rest of the year puts me in London, Ilkley, Leicester... but not Birmingham unfortunately! Maybe next year!

Now that's interesting - mine is a CIJ PB70 as you know, and I was thinking that it could use a bit of a mid boost - maybe I' should try a Fender original 62. But then again my CIJ is from 2004-5 ish, it's hard to say what spec they were even wound to!

Hi all, I was just curious if anyone knows - was there any specific character to certain pickups as the years went by and things were revised and improved and such? Like a Precision pickup in 1962 - how would that one differ from say, 1970 and onwards? I was just listening to mine and was thinking on the recording, it'd be nice if it had a little bit more output and was maybe a tad thicker in the mids. But it just got me wondering how the spec must have changed over time, and if there's a specific 'character' for each period... magnets, wire gauge, insulation, inductance etc You hear all the buzzwords being thrown around like 'vintage sounding' and such when reading about modern ones, how much truth is there in that?

Cheers, drop me a PM if you have any info! Have you found your A string to be a tad louder than the rest?

Looks great! The good thing about a relic is, if it takes a few knocks and bumps in transit, the worst case scenario is that it'll look more authentic

[quote name='Pow_22' timestamp='1351089510' post='1847193'] Another PB70 in Bolton, who'da thunk it. I had the same revelation with pups, hought i had USA's but looking under the bonnet and think they are japs. Want it to be as 70's-ish as poss hence the upgrades (inc chrome covers, F neckplate, thumbrest etc) [/quote] Maybe they're drawn here, some kind of PB70 magnetism... I was quite surprised when I opened it up considering the pickup is one of the main selling points of this version (along with the ash body of course!) but hence it costs a bit more than the regular ones. I had the same idea as you, and would love to get an authentic 70s in there - but as for tracking one down! You've done well to get that I like the sound of mine, strung with Roto flats atm... but I keep thinking I'd like to take a bit of the zing off the high end and have a little bit more punch in the low mids.. I've stuck an ebony thumbrest on mine, but I'll be leaving the covers off. F neckplate might be interesting though...

I've got the PB70US/ASH and I love it - lovely grain on the body. Recently had a bit of an accident - broke off one of the bridge screws in the body but managed to drill it out with absolutely no damage whatsoever. I rewired everything with vintage cloth wire etc, shielded to solve some buzz issues and put a new PIO cap in there, sounds great. It has a very 'sharp' sound, it apparently has a 'US vintage' pickup in there which isn't ACTUALLY a US vintage as it turns out... but a Japanese version. The bobbins are rounded and the wires are plastic coated as opposed to cloth on the proper US ones. I'm pondering whether it's worth upgrading the pots and the pikcup or if I'm just wasting my time? The neck is lovely though!

Ooooh looking good!

I always liked playing 'Stoopid', I thought it was an 80's Ibanez in the video like a Roadster or Blazer or somesuch, but I've just watched it again and it's not at all. Now I'm curious what it is. Something with single coils and a scratchplate that has the look of an Ibby ATK...

P.S. Is this what the Darkstar is destined for? That'll look amazing if so...

I want it!

So good I watched it twice

Basschat top tip #1248 An old birthday candle found lurking at the bottom of a kitchen drawer makes an ideal lubrication aid to prevent screwing-related bass accidents

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1350276167' post='1836636'] On my P-style fanned fret bass, which I keep the bridge ashtray on just for looks, and after all the string changes over the first few years, the screw holes on the body gave out. So I drilled them out cleanly, installed sleeves, also known as anchors or barrel nuts, with internal machine threads, and replaced the two wood screws with small hex-head machine screws of a similar size to the original screws to fit the sleeves. They're small enough that no one can see them, but they will now last the lifetime of the bass. [/quote] That's an interesting idea - reminds me somewhat of using threaded inserts in your neck to bolt it on more securely. There was always the option of cutting round the original hole, boring it out and fitting a dowel then re-drilling. But I didn't want to harm the original finish or damage/widen the screwhole which has stayed completely as it was before. Plus with the proximity of the holes to the edge of the bridge, there was always the chance that the fix would be visible. [quote name='Pete1967' timestamp='1350320767' post='1837274'] Sounds like a great job getting out of jail there.... It's a bit late now but I have 5m of 3mm basswood dowel. You'd have been welcome to a bit! P [/quote] Not to worry! i think it has done the job, thanks anyway Pete Bridge wire has also been chopped and remade and I'm using a new set of screws from an unopened Fender Vintage bridge. This time - candlewax for lubrication!

If anyone is interested - we ended up sorting this today at last. First tried to cut through just the thread of the screw using a small piece of brass tube (taken from an old aerial) with filed teeth in one end. This just blunted the tube, wasn't enough strength in it. After that we decided to just take the plunge and drilled it out - 3mm bit, same size as the original screw hole, drill press, going very very slowly and carefully. Took a good 20 mins to half an hour but we got it all in the end. We were going to use wood glue and cocktail sticks but then found a slightly bigger piece of wood, ground it down so it made a snug fitting plug, and tapped it in with some glue. That's going to dry overnight and we're going to drill it tomorrow and mount the bridge as though nothing ever happened. Won't even be able to tell!