lettsguitars

The magnets in each coil (humbucker has two) must be oriented the same ie: all the magnets in coil 1 face north up and coil 2 south up. It doesn't matter at all which way round you choose to do it but for a humcancelling pickup the 2 coils must be opposite both magnetically and wiring wise. Basically, stick one magnet in and the rest go in so that they are attracted to the first (if you flip em over they should repell).

I think you're right. Not sure, but a preamp with a dead battery (no battery) is not what you want. You need a bypass switch.

No. Although if the pup is loose and possibly moving around there is a chance that something could have shorted inside the pickup. If a humbucker is wired up paralell you will get all the noise of the fair. You could try swapping the wires round.

Laquer makes a big difference. Maple looks better than rosewood to most people, but doesn't hold frets as well. Rosewood does a better job, but the winner for looks, tone and function has to be ebony.

I would have to say the only reason for not selling it back was that they bought it, swapped some bits out, pickups maybe and sold it on. You would obviously notice the changes. One way to acheive a free upgrade.

[quote name='tim126' timestamp='1354029510' post='1881089'] Ta for the reply - So not essential, but a nice-to-have?... Can replacements be fitted? (Are replacements available?!) - I note that there's a screw holding the turning piece in place... :-) [/quote]Yea. If you undo that screw the whole shabang should come apart. I'm sure you could pick up new washers from a plumbers merchants or b&q etc.

I usually make one mistake per gig. Turning up!

It's just a nylon washer to promote smooth movement and prevent binding.

So many options.

What he said. Just get it to look right.

wd, axetec (that's how they spells it) or axesrus.

I got a replacement bulb for my fender hotrod from a car spares shop. Ther pretty regular bulbs I think.

Ariou? I would also say buy second hand if you want something good enough to record/gig with. However!!!! I would assume your man wouldn't know a good drum sound if it really comes down to it. Besides, you can get a half decent sound from a biscuit tin and going psssshhhhhh with your mouth with experience.On christmas morn I am sure he would appreciate a shiny new drum set as much, if not more than, a wicked kik sound and a crash that really cuts through the mix. You know him best on that score. Mapex are the obvious brand new starter choice but personally, and only if I was serious about playing, I would build a small kit from a better maker. kik, snare, high tom and floor tom is all you need from them. You could pick up some Hi-hats, a single dual purpose crash/ride and stands, second hand in almost new condition for a bargain If you is lucky innit.

Interesting saddle arrangement. Must have been put together by a blind man. It'll certainly need the paint job!

Likely story. Link please.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1353679819' post='1877333'] Really? Anyone else? World renowned luthiers opinions verses the opinions of people who do not make musical instruments? I know which opinions I give more weight to. [/quote]They really are only opinions. You cannot truly determine how an instrument will sound until you plug it in for the first time. There is a basic understanding of the tonal nature of the stuff that doesn't always ring true as every pice of wood is different. Let's not forget, these are electric bass guitars and the word luthier is bandied around willynilly. Stradivari was a luthier. Some guy who makes basses for a living, in my opinion is something very different. They still do not know why a Strad sounds like a Strad and a lot is put down to the type of varnish he used.

The real bottom line is that I doubt many people would hear the difference. One of my suppliers once said to me that if the electric guitar had been invented in the uk the woods that we use would be very different but the guitars would still sound like guitars. The type of finish has a massive impact too. When you smother a piece of wood in plastic (polyurethane) you kill the natural response anyhow. [url="http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/all-about-tonewoods/6502"]This article[/url] is really as good as anyone elses opinion.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1353676191' post='1877266'] dunno, depends on what it's sanding and dust masks... maybe buffing a finish would be more appropiate. "no dinner till you can see your face in it" .... [/quote] Asbestos fingerboards and a wet rag round her face.

If those are the only options I suggest adding a 'kill yourself' button.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1353615000' post='1876678'] Yeah, he makes ACG and i think Overwater's pickups. I thought he made yours too but I must be wrong! Don't you make your own pups now? [/quote]Aah, interesting. Yea, the less people i have to rely on the better and I do enjoy those pickup winding days (today) in a dust free zone with some cool tunes. Bliss. So that's 3 generations of Armstrongs making guitar stuff! Awesome! I hope I can get my kids interested eventually. Is 6 too early for sanding duties?

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1345849029' post='1782519'] Is natural growl a product of nature? Or anger? [/quote]Growl, I think, is the high end punch that you get from certain pickups. That is the key here, pickups. Wal made his own whereas 99% of all basses have machine wound pickups which lose a lot of definition due to capacitance caused by uniformly wound coils. Wal basses also had seperate coils for each pole enabling seperate eq'ing of each string.

Why does everything have to be so darn tidy? Tidy some scissors around her side of the wardrobe

[quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1353627475' post='1876863'] My bass is made of ash and weights nothing. It sounds big and full, acoustically and plugged. I don't think going for a lighter wood will give you a lesser tone. I have seen a video of Brian Beller where he recommends highly his Mike Lull over what he calls "coffee table basses" in reference to these heavy exotic wood basses. [/quote]It isn't so much the choice of timbers which makes for a heavy bass, but the size of the body and headstock. Fender basses are needlessly fat and bulky with very little contouring. The big ungainly square heel alone must weigh more than most modern basses (probably). Guitars in general suffer greatly from traditional ideas which are hard to break. If fender suddenly started making fodera style basses they would fold in a second. Most people want the same bass as such and such plays (flea, geddy lee, marcus miller etc), which doesn't bode well for change. Wood is good! It affects resonance, and does not need to be back breaking or have stupid 4 in line tuners.

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1353614161' post='1876670'] I don't think the choice of body wood contributes much to the tone. [/quote]GRRRRR