icastle

[quote name='sockdeluxe_mikey' post='1268779' date='Jun 14 2011, 03:42 PM']Hi all, Have finally managed to work out which pot value I need to replace in a Peavey bass - a 'proper' one from Peavey in the UK could cost nearly £15, so I am obviously looking for other options. Where is the best place to get hold of this value of pot? I'm having trouble getting hold of a center detent one. Also, does it have to be exactly 50k or could it also be something like a 47k pot? Thanks very much [/quote] Don't know what the mechanical spec is, but [url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/electronics/miscellaneous-pots/50k-mini-pot-centre-detent-audio-taper-split-knurled-shaft-p-3245.html"]this one[/url] will do the job electronically... You'd probably get away with a 47KΩ pot but if it causes a problem you could always stick 3KΩ's worth of resistors on one of the outer contacts of the pot (i.e. not the middle contact).

[quote name='basskit_case' post='1268641' date='Jun 14 2011, 02:04 PM']I have been the happy owner of a Jack Casady bass for a good few weeks now and I would really like the action lowered on it. The bass a three point bridge and dont know whether to deal with the action myself, or not, looks awkward? If the general consensus is that the work may be beyond me, can anybody recommend a good Luthier in Suffolk, North Essex to do the work?[/quote] Three point bridges can be marginally trickier to setup than the normal flat plate types but not too difficult. The action height is set using the two back screws and then the pressure of the strings against the saddles is set by using the third screw. I've found the only real pain in the rear end is having to reset the intonation after fiddling with the third screw as it 'tilts' the bridge assembly. Take your time, make small adjustments and use a guitar tuner and it shouldn't be too difficult.

[quote name='keving' post='1268634' date='Jun 14 2011, 02:00 PM']I use hard cases and don't own a gig bag. I was thinking of lightening my load and getting a gig bag until I saw this thread over on TB: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/my-brand-new-bass-amp-were-destroyed-779573/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/my-brand-...stroyed-779573/[/url][/quote] Ouch. In fairness, looking at the state of that MM I'd guess that not even a hard case would have saved it...

[quote name='Conan' post='1268610' date='Jun 14 2011, 01:42 PM']Captain Flamboyant once described me as "sensible"![/quote] I've been told that I'm just indescribable... ... that's not good is it?

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1268598' date='Jun 14 2011, 01:35 PM']Also can I use a single 8OHM cab with it?[/quote] My gut reaction would be to say 'yes' but a quick browse of the manual shows that the impedance selector only allows setting either 2Ω or 4Ω. I'd go by what the manual says...

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1268552' date='Jun 14 2011, 12:59 PM']Couple of questions 1. How many U? 2. I have 2 cabs rated at 200W @ 8OHM each will these be ok? 3. What's all that valve bias stuff about?[/quote] 1. It's 4U (1U=1.75") 2. Yes - the SVT will work with loads down to 2Ω 3. The valve bias stuff is just a way of adjusting the voltage going to the output valves when they are at 'idle'. On the SVT I believe there are two little screws on the back panel and a set of 'traffic lights' to make setting it up easy and removing the need for amp techs to get involved. Once it's set it'll generally be OK to leave alone until the valves are changed.

[quote name='Mike' post='1268122' date='Jun 14 2011, 12:34 AM']I think we're all forgetting something here. And that's that [b]I[/b] was the first to comment on the thread. Do I win some sort of prize?[/quote] An ASBO?

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1268066' date='Jun 13 2011, 11:09 PM']If one wants someone to simper and giggle and ask about one's holidays, one should f*** off down the hairdressers'. [/quote] Which, as I haven't been on holiday for about ten years, explains the state of my hair...

[quote name='JTUK' post='1267936' date='Jun 13 2011, 09:34 PM']ok.... get someone else to fix it...the parts were never exclusive to KS were they..??[/quote] Nope. I supplied a link to the French RS Components page with a suitable replacement part on it. It was the 15th post in the thread - we are now almost at post 300...

Having read through this a couple of things spring to mind. The main business criticism seems to be based around availability of spare parts and costs involved in shipping them. Ken - you probably know what minor spare parts are the most requested, have you considered doing a deal with an EU based company and let them pick up the spare parts orders over here? I'm sure it doesn't form a large part of your business and devolving that particular reponsibilty would let you concentrate on what you do best. The second thought is that maybe you should consider an extended or 'rewarranty' arrangement. Once the warranty has expired then a yearly premium of $50 (number off the top of my head) to provide a 'parts only' deal would probably return a profit (not everyone would need to use the service after all) and provide a unique service that would show a commitment to customer care and effectively negate you wasting four hours of your time on an internet forum for the sake of what was initially a $5 pot...

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1265602' date='Jun 12 2011, 12:30 AM']If one googles micrometer monster guitar cable jack damage there are any number of refs. Many seem to suggest that Monster is not 'oversized'. If anything, it's usually bang-on at .250" But some jacks such as Neutrix are - relative to Monster - microscopically 'undersized'. Whatever the case, you can see how these things start. Best to let it lie.[/quote] A fraction of a mm out on the overall size isn't an issue regardless of the jack socket in use - the spring will happily accomodate this. Where the Monster plugs seem to differ is the shape of the tip where it pushes over the spring and the diameter/shape of the chanfer immediately prior to the tip. I think the rationale was that the slightly larger tip and skinny chamfer leading up to it would hold the plug more firmly in place - unfortunately what it seems to do on some sockets is deform the spring so it wants to push forward further than it should when it is at rest. My understanding is that eventually this can lead to the spring folding into the path the plug takes and the socket becomes u/s.

Not measured it. I just go for the lowest possible action that avoids fret buzz over all genres of music I play.

Hard cases for me every time. I have just replaced the one I've been using for my JB because it was getting tatty and had a few cracks in places - I don't need a degree in physics to work out what would have happened to my bass if I'd been using a gig bag when those cracks were made.

Unfortunately, 'mysterious' can also be described as 'odd'...

I feel myself warming to him just a little bit...

[quote name='Vibrating G String' post='1264539' date='Jun 11 2011, 01:36 AM']Yup. Dig up some of the old talkbass threads and you can see him screaming about how he has nothing to do with Ken Smith Design basses and is not responsible for them being crap even though his name is on them, he gets paid for that, and he sells them himself. He denied ever having anything to do with selling them and someone posted a bunch of old pages on his website talking about how cool they were and how to order them. They were inexpensive Chinese made basses and he marked them up way too high and then when they started falling apart he abandoned all the people who bought them. You really have to read the threads if you want the story direct.[/quote] Ah. So his long term goal is to become a politician then...

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1263426' date='Jun 9 2011, 11:12 PM']Sadly, that is just not true. Ken's basses are so good and have no trouble selling, so despite him being a total tosser he has always sold basses. No real incentive to have a good website,his order books were filled well before the internet![/quote] Well, I'd not buy one out of principle now and would rather pay one of the many top rate UK luthiers to build one for me. When all is said and done, the designs aren't hugely groundbreaking, the electronics are pretty much the same as any other and the hardware appears to be off the shelf type stuff. If people can't differentiate between expertise and rudeness then it seems that they'll end up finding out the hard way...

[quote name='Jigster' post='1262804' date='Jun 9 2011, 03:25 PM']sorted - wire to jack plug had come loose Took it to local guitar tech - he did it in five minutes FOC[/quote] Excellent Sounds like you've found a good guitar tech there as well.

[quote name='daz' post='1262356' date='Jun 9 2011, 10:01 AM']hopefully they would change policy of one single price for non guitar items.[/quote] From what I've been reading here it appears that part of the problem is that they don't have a set policy and make it up depending on the mood they're in ($300 minimum orders for some people and $100 shipping charges on a pot for others). I think it was US business guru Dale Carnegie who said 'Reputation can make or break a business'...

[quote name='bassbluestew' post='1262341' date='Jun 9 2011, 09:45 AM']It is no surprise that a dwindling number of European dealers are willing to put up with this.[/quote] IMO if manufacturers want to sell into markets foreign to their own they should provide the same level of service as they do on their 'home turf'. If they don't want to do that then they should stay at home...

[quote name='silddx' post='1262211' date='Jun 9 2011, 02:19 AM']But I have always been like this, vain and lazy, [b]and pretty hard on myself at the same time [/b][/quote] That's the bit that jumps out. This was never going to be an easy gig, you knew that. Stop writing essays and go learn those tunes you daft sod.

[quote name='ficelles' post='1261883' date='Jun 8 2011, 09:23 PM']Looks like a standard 100K PCB-mount mini pot, only question is linear or audio taper (I don't recognise the TB prefix... anyone?). Any steps or centre detente? Anyway probably a couple of Euros on eBay for an equivalent part.[/quote] The trick is to ignore all of the letter around the 100K part unless they are A or B. A= Log (or audio taper) B= Linear So this is a 100K Linear pot.

Here you go... [url="http://radiospares-fr.rs-online.com/web/410457.html"]http://radiospares-fr.rs-online.com/web/410457.html[/url]

I bet you'll find one of those [url="http://radiospares-fr.rs-online.com/web/"]here[/url].

Is there anything special about this pot? If not then I suggest the OP just buys one locally and avoids the rip off...