JPJ

I had a candy apple red metallic one purchased new for £450 around 1990. This had the PJ config, active two-band eq and gold hardware. Twas a very good bass, lovely tone, I just found the neck to be a little 'flexible' and I felt like I was constantly tweaking the truss rod.

Well after another protracted period of thinking about this project whilst doing other domestic projects, a similar build thread on a local forum spurred me to return to this project. The problems with the three-way switch continue in that the dutchman when fitted, left the three-way switch sticking out of the back of the body. A quick check with the calipers revealed that in my haste, I'd ended up with a body that was only 39mm thick instead of the more musicman-like 45mm hence why the three-way was too deep for the body! The only solution was to a) remove the dutchman and laminate another piece of swamp ash onto the back of the body to give me the correct finished depth. First step was to order some 18mm thick swamp ash to laminate to the back and then to machine off around 10-12mm of the existing body in readiness for the lamination: That done, I routed out the defective area around the three-way switch in the front: Then I made an insert to go into the new 'hole': Then sanded this smooth: Finally, having laminated the new swamp ash onto the back of the body, I rough cut the shape with a laminate trimming bit and then thinned the body to 46mm total in readiness for final sanding. As I've also been able to source some black grain filler, my plan is now to finish the back in a trans-black finish with only the solid japaning lacquer on the edges. Tonight will be spent finishing shaping the back of the body including the belly area and rounding over the edges. As I now have a large non-matching dutchman in the face of the bass, I'm not going to be as particular with the finishing. If the bass works as well as I hope, then I'll make another body (using the lessons learned).

We played a local bike club rally the other week (i.e. big tent in a field) and the headline band were a sort of rock/punk covers act. The bass player fell off the stage (think farm trailer about 4ft high) towards the end of their set and knocked himself clean out. On coming round he was found to have four broken ribs and a suspected broken neck, and would have been airlifted to hospital had the air ambulance not been busy that night.

[quote name='TheRev' post='1271716' date='Jun 16 2011, 04:01 PM']Ultimately, I think it's more in the hands and ears than anything else.[/quote] [quote name='Beedster' post='1271706' date='Jun 16 2011, 03:55 PM']Pick your sound and your instrument and learn to be as articulate as possible with both, it's what many of the great players do.[/quote] Agree with both of these. My "db" experience is around 1 month and my reference point is my Stagg EUB but already I've found I can get quite different results/sounds from how I 'attack' the bass. It appears to me that the longscale is particularly more sensitive to the nuances of your playing than the electric bass. In fact, it reminds me of my conversion from fretted to fretless some twenty-five odd years ago, there is so much more expression available and the instrument is so much more sensitive to your touch/technique.

[quote name='Mikey R' post='395243' date='Jan 30 2009, 11:58 AM']Hi Al, Could you tell us how you routed out the Jazz pickup? Did you square off the corners with a chisel? Im just wondering if I need to buy a new router bit for those pesky singlecoils. Cheers![/quote] My sneaky solution is to drill the four corners with a 4mm drill in the bench drill, stop the router bit about 1/8" short of the corners and clean out the the residue with a sharp chisel. Saves the needle file bit and gives a professional rounded corner with a much tighter radius than the router bit alone

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' post='1261747' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:17 PM']Good luck with the build, great resto work so far. Not familiar with him, but from these pics, Dave Wilson's obviously a name to remember[/quote] Dave is a bit of a legend up in these parts and most of the North East bass playing community are aware of his pedigree. Theres a bit more info on him and his work [url="http://www.dwilsonguitars.com/"]here[/url].

[quote name='JPJ' post='1267273' date='Jun 13 2011, 01:36 PM']and another useful tip is to warm the rattle can before spraying by standing it in warm water, it helps the lacquer to fully atomise in the nozzle meaning less droplets hitting the body. Just remember to fully dry the rattle can with a cloth before spraying as wet lacquer and water dont mix [/quote] Oh and by the way, I had one these in the same candy apple red. Was a great lightweight bass with powerful active eq. The only downside was a rather flexible neck, I felt like I was constantly tweaking the truss rod.

[quote name='LawrenceH' post='1266853' date='Jun 13 2011, 12:35 AM']Oh yeah, and the key to getting a decent finish with the rattlecans from my experience is in putting down a decent amount of clearcoat, in really thin layers, with plenty of waiting between each[/quote] and another useful tip is to warm the rattle can before spraying by standing it in warm water, it helps the lacquer to fully atomise in the nozzle meaning less droplets hitting the body. Just remember to fully dry the rattle can with a cloth before spraying as wet lacquer and water dont mix

Wow, very nice indeed. I might just crack on and do this to mine (and a defret at the same time). Good work that man

[quote name='dood' post='1259182' date='Jun 7 2011, 12:12 AM']Hmmm... interesting - See what Carvin are bringing to the table in D Class world! [url="http://www.carvinworld.com/bassamps/bassheads.php"]http://www.carvinworld.com/bassamps/bassheads.php[/url][/quote] That BX1500 looks tasty and only weighs 10lbs Somebody send the schematic to SWR please as my SM1500 weighs 67lbs Seriously though, I'd like a nice mono power amp, preferably in a module for that I could build into a cabinet (possibly my Schroeder 21012) to pair with my PJB Bass Buddy. Now that would be a nice little rig

[quote name='Bigwan' post='1244209' date='May 25 2011, 01:28 PM']Try getting yourself a forearm clasp from a phsio. Great job and helped me a lot when I had my tennis elbow problems (and you get to look like yer man Greenwood from Radiohead to boot!). I'm afraid to say you'll be lucky if it clears up in a few weeks...[/quote] Big +1 to the Epi Clasp Having suffered from Epicondylitis in my left elbow for a number of years and tiring of endless bouts of painkillers and anti-inflammatories, I purchased one of these on a friends recommendation. Within two months the symptoms cleared up and now only both me after a severe bout of DIY but the clasp counters this within a day or so.

I've just picked up a Stagg from a fellow basschat member (thanks Ash) and I'm completely blown away by it. Mine seems to have none of the known issues mentioned by others and plays really well. All in all, Im finding the transition much simpler than I thought I would and, get this, even Mrs JPJ likes it! (that has got to be a first!). The tone is a fairly convincing DB with the sub-bass backed off just a little from full on, and I'm loving playing it, although I understand its fitted with a much better set of strings than those originally fitted at the factory. For anybody contemplating the move to DB from bass guitar, I'd recommend the Stagg.

Red for me too. I've never liked those blue to turquoise 'bursts but I bet it would look absolutely wicked redone in a black burst

Consett Stonedskis bike rally. Massive PA, and you can't beat playing on the back of a farm trailer in a marquee in a field in the middle of absolutely no where We don't gig regularly but played last weekend so we were in the groove almost from the first note. I did manage a couple of jazz notes when one biker kindly exposed his girlfriends breasts to me when I went on my customary crowd walkabout I love playing rally's, good job as we've four more this summer On a sadder note, I'm hearing rumours that the bass player from last nights headline band fell off the stage and was knocked unconscious and suffered a suspected broken neck. Heres hoping he's ok!

If it's strung through the bridge, I'd say normal longscale strings will be fine. I notice that Overwater recommend long scale for up to 35" thru bridge basses and extra long scale for 35" through body strung and longer scale instruments. I use the standard long scale nickel Overwater strings on my 35" Jazz with no problem.

Well I'd like it, but with a reverse headstock (a la left handed neck on a right handed bass type of way) for those ZZ Top moments. I might just have to head down the shed and knock one up now its got me thinking....maybe a five string.....in black with a tort plate.....hmmmm

[quote name='dub' post='1246840' date='May 27 2011, 11:26 AM']I recently ripped the cone of the B+C driver in my Epifani T110 UL cab. I replaced it with an Eminence DELTALITE II 2510. 10" It seems like an improvement to my ears, I'm well impressed with the sound of the cab with this driver, I'd say it was a more even response. The truth is I'm just glad it's working again![/quote] I've just replaced four PAS drivers in my Goliath with these, and like you I am very impressed with the smoothness of the bottom end

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1246867' date='May 27 2011, 11:47 AM']I'll get back to you with some mock-ups when I get time but this fella seems to cover a few bases for you at once (chrome hardware though) [/quote] Ooooh me likey velly much

[quote name='JPJ' post='1207110' date='Apr 21 2011, 02:28 PM']Well I've taken the plunge and bought a Stagg EUB off Ash on this very here forum. Hope to collect it on Saturday and then the fun will begin! Thanks to all for your replies and pm's.[/quote] Well after a bit of a delay caused entirely by my insane work schedule I finally managed to get over to Ash's place on Wednesday to collect the Stagg. Wow, am I impressed! The build quality seems spot on and its a lot easier to play than I thought it would be and the tone is very close to the db tone I carry around in my head. I'm surprised how quickly I've been able to adjust to the increased scale length and the fact the action is bass guitar like means no hand aches as of yet. Can anybody recommend a good tutorial book/dvd for an absolute beginner? I don't want to start with any bad habits so something that covers hand position, fingering etc would be great.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1241460' date='May 23 2011, 12:31 PM']wow... SM1500 is a lot of amp.[/quote] Yep [quote name='JTUK' post='1241460' date='May 23 2011, 12:31 PM']I use the SM400 and wouldn't want to use anymore to drive up the band volume. I can't use the bass anymore than 12 o'clock as that was an idiosyncrasy with that model and I get tons of bass from my 2 112's.[/quote] I know what you mean. The Bass control on the SM1500 is voiced at 70Hz with +/-15dB of control. I normally run this at the twelve o'clock 'flat' position but was running nearer to 9 o'clock on Sat night. [quote name='JTUK' post='1241460' date='May 23 2011, 12:31 PM']I would still love a SWR610 though... and if it came with PAS that would suit me fine.[/quote] Believe me, I've been tempted by a couple of these in the past. Would love to try one under the SM1500 in a gig situation. [quote name='JTUK' post='1241460' date='May 23 2011, 12:31 PM']So far, I am the only slightly negative voice I know about this particular conversion and it relates entirely to the sound although I am aware of NEO and non NEO arguments. It is all subjective.[/quote] It is indeed subjective, and its even harder to describe. There are differences for sure, but so far the beefed up bottom end and the weight saving means I'm struggling to find a downside to the conversion.

[b][u]Field Testing Report #1[/u][/b] Venue = small/medium sized pub with a good shaped room. Setup location = rig about four feet off the back wall of the room, but only about a foot off the side wall. Amp = my trusty SWR SM1500, eq flat with the exception of big bass cut (more of this later). Bass = Musicman Stingray V, eq flat. Band = 5 piece southern rock band, twin guitars (Jeff Beck telecaster through 100w Marshall DSL + PRS/Yamaha SG through 100w Marshall TSL), loud drummer with large kit, vocals. To test the new cones, I stacked my speakers with the neo equipped cabinet on top. I share the same side of the stage as the telecaster equipped guitarist and whether its his guitar or his amp settings, he produces a lot of bass! Suffice to say that at the stage volumes we play at (ask Warwickhunt, but remember to speak up as I think we damaged his delicate hearing ), our sound guy has problems controlling the bottom end hence the big bass cut on the low end of my amp The proximity of the side wall to my rig probably also contributed to the overall bassiness of the sound, but hey thats pub rock! First impressions are very favourable. The neos are much smoother than the stock PAS speakers giving a warmer feel to the tone (something I like). They also seemed to have a much more even response across the fretboard with no notes 'disappearing'. The big plus was in the real low end stuff (on the B string) where the full character of the note came through, so much so that normal open E's became played as a fretted E on the B as the night progressed. Another plus was the clarity with which each note comes through, octave pairs ring out and its worth putting all the little fills in now as you can hear each and every note clearly. All in all, for the first time out in anger, I'm very pleased with the results. Alone, the cab sounds slightly more nasal or Ampeg sounding than my non-neo equipped cabinet but in the band situation, it seemed to sit in the mix very nicely. My back really appreciated the weight saving during the load in/out too Field Test #2 will be next Friday at a bike rally. Marquee's in fields can, in my experience, be a nightmare for bass so I'm looking forward to winding my amp up and driving the new cones a little harder than I had to on Saturday night.

[quote name='indiegrungesound' post='1238328' date='May 20 2011, 04:05 PM']Just been to P.M.T. in Manchester, tried out and BOUGHT a PF-350.[/quote] The exact reason why haven't wandered down to Soundslive to try the PF-500 they have in stock Keep us posted with reports of performance in the real world!

I like the sound of that PF500, and that's a cracking price. Wonder if Mrs JPJ fancies buying me one for my birthday?