Bigwan

I also have a Deco HB Uke bass. In all honesty I think it's better built than the Kala U-bass I also have... At least it plays in tune...

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1488414148' post='3248828'] So jealous. [/quote] +1 to that! Health to enjoy sir!

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1488203052' post='3246711'] Ah thanks Bigwan! I'll get to rewiring mine tonight. Also I'm not convinced the neck on mine is quite right so may ask for some comparison pictures from yours if that's ok? Of course I'll do my own investigation on it first. Thanks again. [/quote] Fretwork on mine is atrocious. High frets everywhere! The tongue on the end of the neck of mine is thicker than I think it should be, so sits proud of the front of the body by about 4-5mm. Shout if you want pics of anything.

If I recall correctly the electronics are the standard jazz configuration (since a picture is equal to a thousand words I'd suggest you google jazz bass wiring). I'll check this again tonight. This is one of the very few active basses where the actual pickups are active - there is no separate preamp. The red cables from the pickups are connected to the +ve of the battery. -ve of the battery goes to the ring connection on the jack output. I actually have the neck off mine at the minute, masked up and ready for a fret level and dress. Might get to it some day this week... Edit: Don't know the value of the pots or cap in the circuit, but it'll be wired like this [url="http://s362.photobucket.com/user/Br0theralex/media/active_soapbar.jpg.html"][/url]

Why don't you want a squier? The classic vibe series is outstanding, although I think they're discontinued now. Also look at the Sire V7. Excellent basses at any money. Or the Yamaha BB series (424 or 424X) if you'd prefer something more "traditional" than the TRBX. You should be able to find used example of each wherever you are in the country as they've both sold very well.

Bring another bass, make it sound poo, job done, they'll welcome back the Yamaha...

Making a name for himself. Dublin based. Active on Bassist Ireland Facebook page. Shows off a lot of custom commission work on FB. Seems a good guy and lots of positive reports of his work if you look in the right place.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1487830608' post='3243265'] Why on earth would you want to spend that sort of money on a Fender. ?? There are so many companies that do it so much better. Don't get sucked into the Fender Vintage (its amazing because its old) thing. I'm sure it MIGHT be. but for that sort of money Alleva Coppolo, Sadowsky, Moon, Nordstrand, etc etc do it sooooo much better. Ive played a 63 Fender and it was really great. Ive played an Alleva Copplo and it was just as great. On the other side, Ive played a Harley Benton with an East preamp, was also great. Its not £3000 difference [/quote] If we were talking modern Fender I might agree with you (not from the last 8 years though... seem to have got their act together somewhat), but one of the top 3 basses I've ever played was a friend's refinished mid-60's Fender P (for completeness the other 2 were a Fodera 5 and the Scarbee Celinder J Update 4 that was owned by a few guys here over the years). If it has to be a jazz I'd be looking at Celinder if it were me...

[quote name='tom5string' timestamp='1487833649' post='3243273'] No matter what that is: the price is WAY too high imo [/quote] No different to all their used bass prices then. Especially on Warwicks. They had a Streamer 4LX on their Facebook page for a grand the other day!

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1487686429' post='3241817'] If we're talking about that kind of money and they're going to make simple errors like 'there' instead of 'their', I would go elsewhere. Edit: maybe I'm being a bit harsh here. [/quote] 80% of degree educated electronic engineers can't spell in my experience (18 years in the industry). Don't even get me started on their grammar! The younger they are, the worse it gets.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1487514877' post='3240353'] Fancy joining them? [/quote] Classic... and pretty deserving...

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1487264384' post='3238498'] £620 for a brand new ACG - good buy for somebody. Was it you Bigwan? [/quote] It was indeed. Looking forward to getting my mitts on it!

In a way everything I've ever sold... mostly because I lost money on them! Except the Wal and it was a total pig! Only bass I truly regret selling was an abused SQ Squier (only other bass I've made money on!). Looked like somebody had been trailing it round a car park by the strap, but it was light, resonant, nice neck and sounded glorious. Tried to buy it back but the guy was having none of it, and I don't blame him!

Come to me....

This is why I can't take anything BRX says seriously...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172528877300 Pickup only or I may have been tempted...

Get yourself a Vulkan Epi Brace to relieve the pain when using the arm (if you're on the border between 2 sizes go smaller rather than larger!), but other than the gentle exercises already mentioned, resting it is about all you can do in my experience. I have it in both elbows - not sure how I got it in my left elbow (certainly wasn't from playing tennis!), but it was the pull start on my father's hedge trimmer that did my right elbow in...

The bravado required to do the upper neck fretwork was definitely a product of one too many ciders, but worked a treat. Just 3 layers of masking tape on the 12th fret, marker the remaining frets and level until the top of the 13th fret is marker free. Since the frets were already leveled it only took a minute with the little leveling beam. Only issue I had with the whole fretwork process is my crowning file was brand new and a little vicious (and wasn't designed for wide jumbo frets like these) so I'm left with a few unsightly scratches near the base of the frets, but you'd only really notice if you went looking and it doesn't have any effect on the playing surface. A decent crowning file is on the shopping list for sure. I'd consider getting one of these just to stick a pair of chinese thunderbird replica pickups in.

I'm in the middle of fettling one of these as a gift. Out of the box the tuners felt awful, there were high frets all over the place and they felt rough when playing, the strings were binding on the string tree and the neck finish was so thin as to feel raw. Weight isn't bad, probably about 9.5-10lbs at a guess. Nut (although slightly too narrow for the width of the fretboard) is cut to the correct depth. Action is a little high, probably to compensate for the level of fretwork. A bit of a beast to play as a result, especially given the neck in the first position is fairly hefty! A set of Wilkinson tuners went on (after significant filing - still need a bit of lubrication), hipshot-esque string tree, a light level and crowning of the frets (my first attempt at this! Also got all Roger Sadowsky on it's ass and took progressively more off the frets after the 12th - seemed to work well), rolled the fingerboard edges a little with the shank of a screwdriver, polished up the neck with Kiwi mid tan shoe polish in an attempt to darken it down a bit (not sure it worked but it's taken the raw feel out of the equation), and a proper set up and you know what? Now it feels and plays brilliantly! Nice low action easily achievable. I may still replace the bridge with a Wilkinson as the current one looks and feels pretty cheap under adjustment. Probably needs shielding but I'm on a clock so that might have to wait. Would definitely recommend these if you have the time and inclination to do this level of work. As a confidence builder this wee project has been great. I've a couple of basses that need frets leveling so I'll not be frightened to tackle that sort of thing any more.