ash

Its strange but the [i]IP Board [/i]blue theme is quicker on my PC!

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Fnarr indeed!!! The 6 knobs are - volume, volume, tone, tone, master volume, coiltap (I think...one knob is a two way switch and it cuts the mid) and three way selector switch. All work as they should, for a passive bass you can get a massive selection of useable tones.

Ok here is a bit of an oddity its a boxed Transcendent 2000 synth which was designed by EMS and sold mainly in kit form in the late 70s. This unit comes in original box with filtersweep pedal. This synth was used by many UK acts including Joy Division - there is actually a picture of Bernard Sumner and Martin Hannett using one in the studio - in the 70s. This one is in excellent cosmetic condition although it has lost many of the silver caps on the knobs and two knobs are missing (easy to buy new ones from Maplin of course!!!). Performance wise its a bit quirky - the original owner had it stored in the proverbial Uncle's loft until I liberated it, I bought it from evilbay for a studio project now completed - all knobs work and effect the sound and all keys trigger although the filter section is a bit iffy as it cuts out at times, it needs a proper service to get the best from it. That said it can produce some truly evil sub frequencies and ridiculous Hawkwind-like pink noise sweeps. You can get some great lead sounds on it too. Inside everything is clean and it has been neatly put together. There are schematics online and loads of mod options for those adept with a soldering iron. The case looks brand new to me it obviously has had little serious use and I guess with a bit of switchcleaner and TLC you could get a classic synth on the cheap. Looking for 245 for it.
I have better quality pics and also pics of its innards if required.

Here is my 70s John Birch 4000 bass it was made by John Diggins at John Birch's workshop. I traded it on this forum, It plays and sounds great and is a real looker.
Its in lovely condition and was set up by Overwater, a new one will set you back £1400, these original JB/JD ones can go for silly prices they are especially collectable in the states. This is a full scale version so slightly longer than a Rick. Sounds fantastic. Loads of knobs that give many sound options.
I'm moving house so I am considering selling stuff that I don't use much - I use my P bass for most thngs now.
Looking for £550 or make me a sensible offer. I'm not looking for trades unless you have a Moog Little Phatty. Cheers. I can email better pics if necessary. There is a case with this.
Like many Basschatters I'm having problems uploading pictures so I will try some lower resolution pics from my phone.

It's a decent read and Mr Panter is an amusing story teller I did see a copy floating around on here as a 'pass it on' .....

Thought not. I hope the high bidders don't go too mad if its a cheap copy.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320783071438?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320783071438?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649[/url]

Any thoughts? The string retainer looks wrong and there are three controls - look at the truss rod access....found in an Uncle's loft I expect!

Check out[i] Sk'ad For Life [/i]his biography - scanned through I'm sure he mentioned a hollowbody bass but I think it was a Hofner.

I've been a fan of VDGG for years, saw their latest lineup in the town where they formed - Manchester - a couple of years ago at Bridewater Hall. Superb band I used to listen to Guy Evan's drumming which really added dynamics to the band through all their longer pieces. All mentioned above are worth a listen I particularly like 'A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers' from Pawn Hearts.

Hammill was a big influence on John Lydon and an album called 'Nadir's Big Chance' from PH in the mid 70's precluded Punk. VDGG were never targetted by the press as a 'dinosaur' prog band during the punk years as much of their music had a truly vicious streak and they had 'cred'. Their only live album 'Vital' was one of the first [i]truly [/i]live albums - warts and all. Check out Nick Potter's colossal fuzz bass onslaught! Also have a listen to organist Hugh Banton's delicate melodic bass playing on 'House With No Door' on their earlier album 'H to He Who Am The Only One'.

Slight off topic but is everyone aware that Howard Devoto and Magazine are back with a new album and tour next month? I saw them at the Academy a year or so back for their first gig in 20 odd years and it was superb. Unfortunately the great Barry Adamson will not be touring this time because of his film work but great news all the same for fans of more eccentric rock genres.

I have a nice John Birch 70s Rick Bass in sunburst handmade by John Diggins....

It didn't sell as it didn't meet the reserve unless he sold after, the reserve was way higher. I contacted him to find out and didn't bother in the end as it was too high for a bass needing TLC - even though it is a lovely Wal!

Any trade interests?

PM'd

Price drop £300 for bass or £200 for neck and tuners.

or offer!

Just to update - I bought a Kent Armstrong 'Toaster' pickup for the neck and have sent the original to Jaime Campbell at 'The Creamery' in Manchester who's offered to take a look. I didn't hear back from Andy at Wizard or Joey I guess they are busy men. I also wired the bass up to two volumes/two tones and bypassed the three way - I sent the whole assembly to Jaime and used some old pots and caps I had that fitted a diagram I found I also shielded [i]everything[/i]. It's now hum free and sounds fantastic, gritty and clanky like a true Rick ought to but with a nice mellow hollowness when the tone is backed off. I may post some pics as despite the dreadful colour it looks pretty damn cool to me! Cheers for the input folks

Here is a Roger Waters 'bitsa' bass - basically I picked up a brand new genuine Roger Waters Signature mexican neck - these are all maple and very nice indeed with a great vintage feel and a stock brass nut it has the Water's signature and serial as well as a stamp and ID label at the body end. I added a set of Gotoh top quality machine heads. I had a P bass body from an old Squier that was in decent nick, this had been roughly cut down at the neck pocket to accommodate another neck. The body has a Squier backplate hardware and pickup and basically looks very good with a vintage sunburst finish. The bass has a lovely weight, balance and feel and is ripe for modding with a Badass and a better quality pickup. It was going to be my backup but I've seen something else......oh dear! There are a couple of issues the neck pocket as I said being untidy (but well hidden) and not the tightest (although it is solid enough to do its job its a bit like a post CBS 70s job) and a few minor finish dings and lacquer cracks . This is a great bitsa bass and really does have a fantastic vintage feeling neck with potential for more modding. I've added some basic pics as i still can't upload higher quality ones since the site changed. PM me if you want with an email for better ones. I'm looking for £350 for this. Cheers! Gone to ebay!

Thanks for the advice yes I have emailed Andy.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1318177888' post='1398886']

Joey's a great bloke and if your Ric is a real one then I don't see a problem.....
[/quote]

Yes it's a genuine Ric, I can understand him not wanting to have his diagram's publshed elsewhere and I did make it clear that they were for personal use, his site is very helpful and he is obviously very knowledgeable so I would welcome his opinion.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1318166624' post='1398697']
Looks like I was [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/157429-wanted-rickenbacker-or-replacement-type-neck-pickup-for-4001-bass/page__pid__1398656#entry1398656"]right[/url].

Just how knackered is it?
[/quote]

Yes it seems the only logical conclusion - my mate hasn't measured it yet but even hard wired to a jack output is low. The earth eyelet that attaches to one of the chrome surround screws has broken away so the earth wire has been soldered to the aluminium chassis. The hot wiring from the pickup has been tampered with and the wire lengthened by soldering on extra wire. Having looked at pics on 'Joey's Bass Notes' it appears to be wired correctly however the rubber shielding has perished in places and the magnet isn't as powerful as on the treble pickup. I think I may send it to be looked at by Wizard pickups - or can anyone recommend a pickup specialist who doesn't charge daft prices?
I need to amend that ad as I got a Kent Armstrong 'toaster' from WD music having read a few reviews and discussion threads, this will do the trick until I can get the repair done. Thanks for all your input so far as it's been very helpful.

They weigh a ton though, I owned one similar to that for about a week and needed physio after gigging it - about twice as heavy as a 70s P Bass!

Well I took the whole harness apart and resoldered: both pickups are working but the neck pickup is much weaker and the whole thing has the most awful earth buzz I have heard in my life - truly awful and unusable. i've ordered some copper shielding but I think this is more than an earthing issue. My mate has a meter to measure the pickup output so he will have a look when he gets around to it. I also emailed the guy who does the Ricky page 'Joey's bass Notes' but he is a little protective of his wiring PDFs and as a known enemy of the Rickenwaffe he may decline my request.....

Well I tried your suggestions, many thanks guys, unfortunately I'm getting a lot of buzzing and fizzing from the tone pots and when the bridge pickup is played solo nothing but an almighty hum....here is my wiring, I have earthed everything to the bridge as suggested including the switch and tone pots. Both the bridge and neck pickup work when directly connected to the jack and sound great. I can't see any obvious problems with the pickup wiring. Its a bit of a hotchpotch of wires but all decent quality. The bridge pickup has a white (live/hot) wire and a red ground the neck has a black/red (hot) and a black ground. Anything jump out at you? I spent a number of frustrating hours and it's driving me nuts!

Thanks I looked at that but couldn't get it to work for me as the pickup configuration and jacks are different or appear so.