clauster

Update - Deep cleaning was finally finished (for now) at 9.30 last night. Total time spent on cleaning was about 8 hours. Matrials - good old Dunlop 65 guitar polish, lemon oil, cheap toothpaste, diluted vinegar, one old pillowcase, microfibre cloth, cheap soft toothbrush, cotton buds, sponge backed nylon scourer, fingernails! The only thing I'm going to come back to in a few weeks is the washers under the tuner bushes. They've got a few rust spots on them, but nothing that can't be polished out. But for now, I just want to et some strings on there, do a setup and PLAY, PLAY, PLAY. I'm really pleased with how well it's come up - there is a tiny dent in the top finish and very fine scratches around the G and D strings between the front pickup and neck I'm guessing it's been owned by a slapper at some point). In total though, the front is in very good condition for a bass that's nearly 27 years old. Round the back, there's a couple of laquer cracks/scrathes and a little bit of buckle rash. The headstock is a similar - some faint scratches on the front and a few chips on the back. I went to town on the fretboard and frets with cleaning materials yesterday evening. That has come up really nicely. I thought it might need a refret, but I think a level and crown will be fine. Hopefully I'll get the chance to get some strings today (just cheapies - as I say, I think it needs a fret dress) and do a setup. The neck is so flat I think it might have a bit of back-bow dialled in. [quote name='merello' post='1171268' date='Mar 21 2011, 08:38 PM']New pics please! That's a real cracker of a bass![/quote] The difference in this bass makes me wish I'd taken better (and more) before pics. But, there will be more pics by the weekend - it's come up so nicely I think it deserves a thread in the bass porn section For now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that with new strings on it sounds half as good as it looks.

Just to add though - looks lovely

To my eyes, it's not the same as the Verithin - the cutaways are "blunter" for want of a better word, controls and scratchplate are different, the body is way smaller and the fret markers are different.

I've just had a quick look at the Hofner website and googled some prices. Are these chinese made models the CT series?

Wow, that schecter is really similar in shape. Update: just a bit more polishing around the pickups and and another go up the fretboard the cleaning is finished. Can't wait to get some strings on it and give it a proper play.

[quote name='martindupras' post='1169493' date='Mar 20 2011, 02:05 PM']I have an RB850; same series but cosmetically quite different (rounded boundy, no binding, black hardware). Mine has the same two humbucker pickups. On mine, the pickups are split to single coil by pulling two of the knobs up. I would imagine that if you have two switches, they are also wired as coil split. - martin[/quote] Push/pull switching is better IMO - you can tell at a glance whether you're in humbucker or single coil mode. These are push/push and the only way to tell is by clicking to hear the difference in tone. Hence the idea of toggle switching.

Wayne, you're welcome anytime mate.

The body is nearly as clean as it's going to be. The bridge has come up okay after a brush out with an old toothbrush (full of dust, fluff and pet hair). Just working my way gradually up the fretboard. Also, I learnt from google that a little bit of toothpaste on a cloth works really well for cleaning metal plate - it does, just done two of the tuner buttons Pots are crackle free, but I might replace the vol and tone and fit seperate sitches for the coil taps. If I do, I'll go for single coil, parallel, series - even more tone options Dieing to get some strings on it, but only after I'd junked the old ones did I find out I haven't got any spares in and there aren't any music shops open locally.

Sounds like a good day (apart from the run lol).

Thanks Geoff, the switches are individual coil taps

FFS, how do plastic pickup covers get ingrained dirt??!!

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='1169242' date='Mar 20 2011, 10:04 AM']I think you've got lucky there.[/quote] Not half - I got it for £75.00! Okay, it needs several hours of cleaning, new strings, a setup, all of which I can do myself, and I want to get a refret done too, which I'll need to get done professionally, but even taking that into account..... BARGAIN!

Update: In the OP I said it has a flame maple top. WRONG! It was hust smears of dirt over the lacquer. After 15 mins of polishing. I'd decided it didn't have much figuring at all. After another 30 mins and having got rid of about 90% of the grime there is a nice birdseye maple top under there. This is the fithiest bass I have ever seen. I've temporarily given up on lemon oil for the fretboard and am just very gently scraping at the grime with my thumbnail. The headstock is worse than the body, but I'm leaving that until last.

[quote name='Jigster' post='1169247' date='Mar 20 2011, 10:08 AM']how's the weight?[/quote] I'd call the weight medium, but then again for the last 15 years I've only had Precisions and a Warwick. Quick edit: According to my kitchen scales: 9lb and a tiny bit.

[quote name='untune' post='1168803' date='Mar 19 2011, 08:47 PM']That's nice!!! I really want one of those pickups The horns and binding remind me of a Ric, a little bit[/quote] That's what I keep thinking... sort of P bass meets Ric

And here's a pic Knobs are definitely Pan/Vol/Tone - still not sure about switches

I've been on an urgent lookout for an inexpensive bass the last couple of days (suddenly found myself bassless with a gig in three weeks time). The second shop I visited today was a tiny second hand guitar shop - maybe 15 guitars top, and half a dozen amps. The basses were at the back of the rack. Nice refinished 70s Jazz, but way over my immediate price range by many hundreds of pounds. Behind that I spotted an 80's Ibanez, had a look at the headstock - Roadstar II. I remember them from guitar mags back in the mid-80s. Checked the price - comfortably within budget. Asked to have a look at it. Grubby as hell, but seems to be all original. Checked the neckplate - made in Japan. At the price it was up for, I wasn't expecting to see that. Long scratch/crack in the lacquer on the back but no signs of it going as deep as the wood. Quick, quiet play through a guitar amp just to check everything works - yep, it makes noise. Neck seems fine, comfortable, one fret (fifth) buzzes a bit, but it's about 25 years old and obviously not been looked after in a while. A fret dress won;t put me over budget. 5 Minutes later and for the first time in my life I own a bass made by Ibanez, even though, beyind the range I haven't a clue what it is. Back to my folks house (where we were for the day) and unamplified it's a joy to play. Still a bit buzzy at the low end, but checking with a straight edge, there's neck is almost perfectly flat. Maybe just a bit of turn on the truss rod will fix that buzz. I'm back home now and have done a bit of googling. I'm pretty certain it's an RB 950. Blue burst top over flame maple (?), cream binding, black back, neck and headstock. Three knobs, the back two of which have push switches. I think (front to back) they are pan, vol, tone. I haven't a clue what the switches do. The pickups are some sort of humbucker (so maybe the switches are coil-taps). Gold hardware which, thankfully, has dulled a lot (I'm playing in a punk band - shiny gold would stand out a mile lol). The googling also turned up that the value is probably about £200, so (without saying what I paid) I'm still happy. Off for a play through the amp to see what needs doing. If any can confirm what the knobs and switches do tough, that would be great. Happy, happy, joy, joy

[quote name='BottomE' post='1167128' date='Mar 18 2011, 01:57 PM']they sound sh*te and feel even worse.[/quote] So you're getting the authentic Jazz Bass experience for a fraction of the cost? Bargian!

The nicest fiver to my ears is the Fender Rosco Beck - Silverfoxnik on here has two I think. Awesome tone.

I'd start by giving the pots a good clean.

I'm happy to do a bit of "while you wait" soldering for anyone who can get to Tunbridge Wells, in return for a beer or two. The while you wait bit is important. WaynePD will testify that if you leave it with me to be done it'll take me about six months

[quote name='Beedster' post='1156899' date='Mar 10 2011, 05:06 PM']Very good Young Jedi. Actually Clarky, there is something Luke Skywalkerish about you....[/quote] I didn't know Clarky's dad was the second most evil man in our Galaxy You learn something new every day

Not found the "keeper" yet. The Precision I'm using at the moment is the closest I've found, but it's only on long-term loan, I don't own it so one day it will be handed back to someone else. it's only a Squier Affinity, but the neck is nice and the string alignment is better than any of the three US Fenders I've owned. I don't know what pickup is in it but it's nice and hot. My mid 90s MIM P was almost a keeper but it was just too heavy.

For a passive bubinga 5, I reckon tha's an excellent deal for both parties.

Best your collection has been, I'd say. Something for almost any occasion. What happened to the DB? And the PJ?