Ou7shined

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1324434304' post='1474270'] Nope, its like noticing an improvement in acceleration with the new ally wheels on your car. It may, or may not be there but you'd never actually notice it. [/quote] I think a better analogy would be it is more like replacing a worn timing belt. No doubt the engine will run more efficiently (fuel consumption down a smidge and acceleration tighter than before) but the overall "performance" (pun intended) remains the same. Yet despite it's limited impact, some drivers may swear blind that replacing the timing belt alone makes them feel like they are going faster.

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1324373329' post='1473417'] He made the bass and then simply ceased to exist?? [/quote] It is possible... unless you believe in the chance of an after life.

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1324331031' post='1473197'] The old spiral groove bridge saddles were better in this regard. [b]Out of interest, did you notice a tonal difference on the 70s RI after the change?[/b] [/quote] Perhaps a slight additional tightness to the top end although as with all these things nothing that would be noticed in a band situation. My aim with the BA was to produce an even response over the strings and to fit a unit which would be regarded an asset should I sell.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1324311744' post='1472883'] Depends what the current finish is but I have used both Nitromors and heat gun/scraper methods. Some of the poly finishes are pretty resistant to chemicals but if it looks like Dulux you'd probably be ok. You could test a small area under the scratchplate. The other way is good old fashioned sandpaper and elbow grease but if you take it back to the wood you'll need a sealer/grain filler before you apply paint or it will soak it up like a sponge and leave you with a woodgrain texture. Car paints are perfectly fine, this is what Leo used on the original Fenders - hence they used to come in a variety of DuPont colours that were popular on American cars from the 50s. These days you can go into Halfords and take your pick! You will also need to clear coat on top of the colour to get the shine up, again Halfords clear laquer will do the job fine but its poly based so won't come off too easily. Also, wear a mask when you're spraying and don't do it outside unless you like bits in your paint Best thing I know for the scratchplate is that there are lots of companies who make them and some will do custom shapes if you send them a tamplate, google bass scratchplates and you should get a few. not sure where you can get the raw material and how you'd get the bevelled edge etc. If you want a cheap option, just get some thick plastic sheet from a stationers. [/quote] Couldn't have said better myself... although as an ecologically minded fellow I would never use a chemical stripper. Most of the time I sand - if I'm lucky I'll get given a thick poly finish to do, which more or less chips right off. As for the scratchplate get Howard/Bass Doc to make you one to your own spec. It's not expensive and from what you've said he'll do a better job than you will.

[quote name='woodyratm' timestamp='1324304900' post='1472789'] ah feck! [/quote] Don't worry we'll work something out.

[quote name='TonyBones' timestamp='1324222428' post='1471971'] IMO [b]Leo did his homework and got it right first time simple as that[/b]. The only Basses I've ever played that felt like part of me.(if that makes any sense) [/quote] I'm a big fan, in fact my "go to" just now is a DiMarzio fuelled P... but I have to say Leo revised his design some years later and came up with the G&L L-1000. It's a killer bass which unfortunately not many people have tried. If they did they'd realise what he was originally trying to achieve with the humble P.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1324293896' post='1472557'] Do a bunch of LEDs really need 27V? Is the bass active anyway and some of the batteries are used to power the preamp (say 2 for the preamp and 1 for the LEDs)? Until you trace the wires, you won't know what the scoop is. [/quote] Generally, the power supply must have sufficient voltage to provide about 2v for each LED in series (4v for blue and white) plus at least another 2v for the resistor. It soon mounts up.

Depending on how they are wired (series/parallel) they can draw different amounts of juice.

[quote name='subdude' timestamp='1324290983' post='1472505'] certainly, i had marked them both "neck" and "bridge" before the masking tape went on. [/quote] Well that's good news at least. Do they sound different now? Perhaps you could contact the manufacturer/distributor to find out if this has happened before and if they have a solution to your problem.

The big drawback with the BBOT is that it allows very little lateral correction as your saddle grooves are pre cut and not adjustable. As the previous owner of Frank's 70's RI, I encountered a common Fender problem whereby the slightly off placement of the original bridge could not allow for the strings to run equidistantly between the pole pieces. Fitting the BAII corrected this, allowing the strings to follow, unimpeded by a "one bridge for all" solution the line they required.

Are you sure you got the same 2 pickups back from the painter?

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1324223741' post='1471989'] Lady silddx brought me back an extraordinary hat from her visit to Russia! [/quote] Is it real?

The Ibanez Soundgear range have nice skinny necks which are fast for math stuff and will help with the transition from guitar too. That's what I did in a very similar situation to yours.

Bargain for sure.

Do you know how many guys would give their right foot to have your bass just the way it is?

[quote] I can say that this bridge gave me the longest sustain and FATTEST sound I've ever heard and I have been playing for a very long time and have had many basses over the years. [/quote] Buuuuuuuuuull Shyeeeeeeet!

Encapsulating with clear lacquer is an option but from what I've seen even the best of jobs don't last long. I think clear sticky back plastic would do the job too but it would also start to come off eventually . Perhaps do both (lacquer 1st obviously)... ... or buy a new scratchplate and hang your Duff one in a safe place.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1323033732' post='1458568'] I thought I detected a slight Welsh twang to his voice. First sign of him becoming famous & we're all trying to claim him as our own! [/quote] No no, definily one of us.... we don't all sound like Rab C Nesbitt up here you know.

Weren't Kay the ones you could buy from Woolies for something like £15 way back when. (I briefly had a Kay guitar in the 80's) Although if I recall their bodies were solid... this one appears to be ply. Maybe it's just an original neck.... shame that he didn't realise until too late that you're not supposed to drill all the way through when you are drilling for the tuners. (not sure I'd trust a fret dress off someone capable of doing that )

Yeah and now you've got mock-ups up I'm definitely more on the side of black. (tempted to vote now ) What would it be like with a white pup cover?

Definitely not the original check plate one. Most likely the white one... but personally I might tend toward the black one though, to coordinate with the neck/headstock.

If an EMG-40Hz (passive only job*) will fit I think you should try one. I used a spare 35Hz (unused - picked up on here for £12) on a joke bass that I made and that wee passive 'bucker sure surprised me with what it was capable of. I believe the 40 is the same pup in a bigger housing. I have a Cort with Mighty Mite pups knocking around here somewhere and I must say when I tried it the tone wasn't off putting - it certainly didn't sound like a horrible budget bass... I'd put it somewhere in the range of a bass fitted with mid range pups - think Wizards etc. - sort of nice but not boutique but not cheaply nondescript either. *not to say you can't fit a pre afterwards if you wanted to.

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[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1323994700' post='1469734'] Doesn't deflect moisture, its just so dense that its heavier than water. Its a remarkable material. Not sure it releases oil to make you itch though. After a couple of weeks it will have shrivelled. [/quote] I was just saying that with it's notoriously oily content perhaps it is able to protect from moisture ingression in much the way a lacquered finish would.... better in fact. Also check [url="http://www.mimf.com/archives/toxic.htm"]this[/url] out.