Rayman

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

Where are you located ?

Macclesfield, Cheshire

This is a Tokai….it cost me £150 (originally). Original pickups but I added a James’ Home Of Tone EQ, Gotoh tuners and bridge. The build diary is on here somewhere. It plays and sounds absolutely amazing. The band love it.
 

I have never found a better example made by anyone else. I couldn’t justify a Gibson at all. 
 

Thanks very much for all that, it gives me hope 👍🏻

21 minutes ago, kodiakblair said:

Maybe go with the Entwistle humbuckers Rapier are using in their Watson/WEM/Wilson Saffires.

 

Yeah, that’s an option, I need to take some measurements, I also might get a quote for the repair of the original ones, but I fear the worst.

29 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

Damn.  Sorry to hear about the pickups.  However, if it plays nicely, it’s worth doing something with it.  Maybe see what off-the-shelf jobbies you can fit in the original covers, or maybe a couple of Artec or Retrovibe mudbuckers?

Mudbuckers…… 🤔 …… I hadn’t thought of that, nice idea, I love the sidewinder in my Epiphone Newport. Shame though, I really like the look of the original pickups. I just think getting those up and running will be way more than the bass is worth.

Ok well, bad news, for me at least.

The pickups are not well. The output on the neck pickup is very low, around 2.2, but the bridge pickup with that stretched wire, is unresponsive.

My guy says the whole lot needs re wiring including opening up the pickups to see what the craic is under there, something he doesn’t want to tackle, but has suggested Matt @ House of Tone in Chester for the work. Also…. is it worth it, spending considerable money to get it fixed….
 

Back to the drawing board.

It’s going in to my tech for exactly that later today. We decided between us that for one thing those electrics look sketchy at best, but also this isn’t a faithful restoration, I just want it to work by any means necessary. So new electrics are going in, crossing fingers that there’s no issues with the pickups.

3 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Maybe because the current Gibson versions are massively over-priced and the more affordable Epiphone version is better looking and closer in spec to the original 1960s Thunderbird?

I have to agree. The Gibsons I’ve looked at recently have been poorly finished and very overpriced. Sound wise I prefer my Tokai too. 
 

I would love to own a Gibson TB, it’s been on my list a long time, but so far I haven’t been overly excited about the ones I’ve tried. Maybe the vintage ones are better?

I mean why make (an expensive) Rex Brown signature model, that doesn’t have his preferred pickups in it? 
 

Gibson are a conundrum for sure.

Thanks, yes, getting there, once the electrics are sorted I’ll be looking for some suitable knobs.

I use a blunt round metal object like a screwdriver shaft, and very gently go over the edge of the fretboard, gently rolling it back and forth between each fret, pressing down with a little pressure , just enough to take the sharp edge away and give the wood a radius.

 I wouldn’t attempt this on a massively expensive bass though 

So here’s where we’re up to….

The neck is on, a lovely old set of tapes fitted (just) thanks to @eubassix, and as far as playing it, it’s absolutely ace. The action is decent, with a little more wiggle room to adjust if needs be…. really happy with all of that

However, mixed results from the electrics… 

Both pickups kind of work, but the tone control does nothing, and it’s pretty quiet…. also I’m obviously not the first person under there as you can see.

More investigation to do

https://instagram.com/homeoftonejames?igshid=c2ZsYWhheWdtNG5w

I highly recommend “James’ Home Of Tone” pre wired EQs if you’re staying passive, his Thunderbird pre transformed my Tokai Thunderbird while leaving the original pups in it. 

Nice, I like the look of it as it is

I have one of these with flatwound strings on it.... absolutely love the thing as a shortscale option..... not without it's design flaws, but at the price I rate it...

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/epiphone-newport-bass-pacific-blue?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2203_PMT_BAU_Search_Google+Ads_Performance+Max_Product_Zero+Sales&gclid=Cj0KCQiAr8eqBhD3ARIsAIe-buPEPERF8AKp19VaRXknhKFQhHS_cMauhqL8KpHUYKcP5Q_IO0oENLkaAs3EEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Otherwise the Gretsch in your short list is hard to beat.... I had one for a while, great bass indeed.

At the end of the day, you can take advice, but the most important thing is what feel, looks and sounds good to you. If that's a Hofner, go for it. Don't take what others say as written in stone.

I have many regrets throughout my life....

I, like many of us have many "I could have been a contender" stories, missed opportunities, record company interest, A&R scouts etc, but blew them all through naivety and acting like a d**k. 

I wish I'd taken the bass more seriously in the early days too.

I regret selling many many basses..... beautiful instruments I wish I still had, hundreds of them, but GAS and the misguided idea that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence has plagued me for 40yrs. Let me tell you, the grass on the other side is exactly the same colour as it is on this side. If you have an instrument you love, hang on to it with both hands, and don't be tempted to trade it out for other shiny things.... you'll regret it.

I also regret not telling my dad that I loved him..... more than I did.

2 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

 

Or as they are on the poster "Yes!"

When did they drop the exclamation mark?

I don't know actually...... YES were my elder brothers' band (favourite band, he wasn't actually in the band).... he night know.....

Outstanding bass from a very in demand builder….. lovely 

Yes and King Crimson, two future prog giants way down the order….

1969….. I was in my leopard skin swimming trunks on the beach in Anglesey, playing with the seaweed. I have photographic evidence, but I’m not showing that here.

DM me your PayPal David, I’ll take the chance , should be fine 

So I’ll probably fill the holes left by the previous bridge….. or…… put a cover on it maybe?

Would these work on a short scale David?

So, I’m pressing on.

This bass is a fun project, and if I can get it to play, happy days.

No idea what has gone on previously with the bridge, someone has had a couple of goes at moving it around, for whatever reason, but it came to me without one at all.

So I found this one in the bay, an old 70s Japanese bridge, which, lined up perfectly with the original holes…..

That’s a very attractive thing indeed 

P bass works for everything. If in doubt, it’s the only choice.

 I never really believed that statement, until I saw Brand New Heavies live a few years ago. Andrew Levy was struggling to punch through the mix with various super jazz type basses. He glanced across to his tech mid song and said something. Tech comes out with his MIJ P bass….. BOOM……. there’s the sound. He stuck with it for the rest of the gig, much to the delight of the dancing crowd. Honestly….. a lot of people noticed the difference.

The Precision bass really is an amazing instrument.