Jono Bolton

I've just put a new scratchplate on my P Bass but there's no output coming from the jack socket. When I take the scratchplate off with all the wiring in place and plug in my tuner I get a signal, but once the plate's in place again there's nothing. The control cavity and the rear of the scratchplate are shielded with copper tape, but I can't imagine that has anything to do with it (unless it works so well that it eliminates all noise!). With this P Bass I've always found that I have to force the scratchplate down, it doesn't just slot into place, and it arcs up where the pots are until I screw the plate down. Is it possible that the jack socket is touching the side of the cavity and causing it to cut out?

Have a word with this fella: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/7835-kiogon/"]http://basschat.co.u...er/7835-kiogon/[/url] He does all sorts of custom wiring looms and can probably help you out.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1414449494' post='2589493'] I think it was [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Mesh-Micromesh-Cushioned-Abrasive-Polishing-Kit-9-Sheets-6-X-4/141378195269?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3D22f4b9be51ae404ca00c9cea94628fd5%26pid%3D100204%26prg%3D20140407115239%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D20%26sd%3D131249123251"]this stuff I got[/url] [/quote] That's the stuff I was looking at. Same price as the wet & dry I had looked at previously, I think I'll go for the micromesh and take it from there.

Thanks for the replies guys. I've had a look at micromesh online, would I be best to sand up to 2500 with the wet & dry I already have, then go to the micromesh? Should I still use burnishing cream after the micromesh? I've used burnishing cream before but that was in school many moons ago, although my tech teacher was very impressed with my finish!

I'm in the process of drop-filling the finish on my Peavey Foundation bass, there are that many chips that I have a feeling that it's going to look a little patchy. So far I've been scraping back the glue to just above the surface of the finish, then strip sanding from 400 through to 800, then block sanding up to 2500 and buffing out with car scratch remover (like T-Cut). It's not perfect as it stands, so I've been thinking about going up to a higher grit paper but going over the whole body to try and blend it all in. I can get a pack with a sheet each of 3000, 5000, and 7000 wet & dry, but is this going to be fine enough to get me a decent finish? The finish isn't that thick (not as thick as my MIM P Bass), so I don't want to do too much sanding in case I end up going through to the wood. Any suggestions/advice/criticism would be appreciated. Ta.

I was used to the massive frets on my MIM Precision until I swapped to a Warmoth Telebass neck that came with really skinny frets. At first I thought I'd have to refret as I wouldn't be able to play with frets so small, but it's actually much more comfortable for me.

The Foundation's is now totally dismantled. Once if had a chance to give it a proper look over it was apparent that it was in much worse condition that the seller let on. Big chips in the finish had been coloured in with pen and not mentioned or pictured in the ad, the hardware was manky as were the frets and most of the neck, the pots had taken a knock and were at an angle, the screw holes in the control cavity had stripped, been filled with bits of match stick and then the screws put back in at an angle, causing them to chew up the wood and the plastic on the cover so I'll need to do a fill & redrill and get a new cover made up. Pretty pissed off if I'm honest and there's a lot of work to do BUT it does play nicely and the pickups sound great as well. Looks like I've got a bigger project on my hands than I thought or wanted.

Are these the ones? If so, there's a set on ebay here: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jaguar-bass-machine-head-tuners-/321553335896?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL&hash=item4ade128658#ht_339wt_958"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jaguar-bass-machine-head-tuners-/321553335896?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL&hash=item4ade128658#ht_339wt_958[/url] And here: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jaguar-bass-machine-head-tuners-/321553333202?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL&hash=item4ade127bd2#ht_339wt_958"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jaguar-bass-machine-head-tuners-/321553333202?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL&hash=item4ade127bd2#ht_339wt_958[/url]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1413553150' post='2579474'] crucially, it's got a rosewood fingerboard... I already have TWO cheap precisions with rosewood fingerboard: a Sue Ryder one with a Wizard Thumper pickup, and a Squier Mike Dirnt signature. And I enjoy them, but I want something a little better... and MAPLE. It's got to be maple... oh yes. [/quote] Squier Matt Freeman? They're very good.

I always regret not buying one a few years ago when they were about £450 new, I had the cash and passed it up even though it was the nice playing bass I've ever come across, better than the US P I had at the time.

The Foundation arrived today, had a bit of a mad dash home on my lunch to be in for the courier as my neighbour who was going to sign for it had to go out before it was delivered, but I got it in the end. A bit rougher than the pics in the ebay auction let on but it plays nicely and sounded very good when I gave it a quick run through my amp. It's extremely light as well!

At least it's not this:

Today? One. A bitsa P Bass Tomorrow? Hopefully two. A new arrival is en route and should be delivered in the morning. I'm working but my neighbour has been kind enough to take it in til I get home.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1413399085' post='2577958'] Can I ask where the guard comes from ? [/quote] It was the Bass Doc, although it's since been replaced with a cheaper printed tort scratchplate rather than celluloid.

If everyone could refrain from posting pictures of their Sonic Blue basses I'd really appreciate it (as will my bank balance).

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1413379466' post='2577694'] I think that tortoise shell looks awesome on black. [/quote] That's what I have on my P Bass. [attachment=173881:photo1.jpg]

Black, tort, or gold adonised.

Do they fit together properly?

I'm in two minds about whether or not to pick up the T-40 neck that's on ebay just now to put on the Foundation. It's ridiculously cheap, but I want to replace the vol/vol/tone setup with master vol/tone/3-way switch and don't have the cash for both. I'll probably leave the neck now I think about it as getting the right tuners to fit will be pricey too. I'll wait and see how the Peavey is when it arrives but I think the new wiring loom and a heavier bridge will probably be the only appointments.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1413352696' post='2577341'] Jono . what's overpaid about it. Cheaper than a squier. And another Peavey comes to Scotland. [/quote] My original one was £50! That was about 14 years ago though, but I see Peavey's go for silly prices. A Foundation went for about £80 recently, but it was sunburst & rosewood, and I really wanted the same model as my old one. I nearly bought a second-hand Japanese Squier but thought I'd have a quick search for a Foundation at the weekend and there it was, exactly the bass I was looking for: same version but black and maple! Must have been fate! If this was Talkbass we'd have to assign each other numbers and start a club!

A Matt Freeman went on ebay for £170 a couple of weekends ago - I was outbid at the last second. I just bought a Peavey Foundation on ebay but if I'd missed out I'd have gone for a second hand CV, or one of the two Squier Silver Series P Basses on here.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1413052196' post='2574568'] The Foundation on ebay is at £161 just now so you've saved £80. Result. [/quote] That Foundation is now mine! Reckon I slightly overpaid at £190 but my first bass was the exact same model in red, so for nostalgia's sake - plus having a killer bass for my new band - I'm not totally bummed out about the whole thing.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1413118124' post='2575018'] Have sung along to the blue album with friends like an idiot and spoken of forming a band for the purpose of covering the entire blue album.[/quote] I follow one of the guys that runs Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar in Seattle on Instagram and they've done just that. They've even replicated all the band's original gear; Rivers' custom Strat, Matt's parts Jazz, Brian's Gibson Melody Maker SG, the level of details they've gone to is crazy. Simultaneously the nerdiest and coolest thing I've ever seen.

It's a hole from the CNC machine as far as I know, both my Mexican Fenders have had the same thing.

The shape's not dissimilar to a Warwick Streamer, Warwick being another German manufacturer.