MichaelDean

Only as long as you dispose of the gloves correctly... http://www.iowaiai.org/latent-fingerprints-on-latex-gloves/

Always learning things when it comes to building a bass. Today's lesson was a two-parter! You can't steam a fretboard off in a lunch break Start at the heel end and you're less likely to splinter/split the neck! I watched a YouTube video where someone steamed off a guitar fretboard in 25 minutes. I felt emboldened. I was misguided! 🤣 I've not got massive splits, and they haven't come off entirely, but I thought it would be easier to start at the nut end as there was a nice, easy access point. I was wrong! I'll be able to glue them up though, so it'll be fiiiiiine 😅 The wenge is very brittle. It broke off quite a lot and couldn't have been reglued. Plus, as you can see below, it has bowed a bit now it's off! I'll need to spend some more time with it and get the rest off another day. Astute onlookers may also be wondering where the channel for the truss rod is. It's hidden under a maple sliver. The slot was a bit deep, so at the suggestion of a friend, it was filled from the front. There is still plenty of material to carve a comfy shape at the back though.

I also love the feel of a resonant instrument. I returned an otherwise very nice bass recently because it wasn't as resonant as my other basses. I found it also translated to the sustain. It wasn't as long and didn't ring out in the same way. I've had it with electric guitars too. I purchased a Harley Benton Tele a while back to mod as I see fit. One of the things I did was to replace the neck screws with bots and threaded inserts. It made it more resonant and increased the sustain. I can feel the neck resonate now where it didn't before. The whole thing feels a bit more alive.

I owned a 4 string Dimension in the old series for a week. That thing didn't sustain like my other basses, which made it feel a bit underwhelming. I know some people don't care about sustain, but I need it for what I play. Hopefully that was a just a duff one. Very much enjoyed the ergonomics of it though and I think the 9th fret being the parallel fret might fit me better than the 7th on my Dingwall. I'd be keen to try one of these new ones out!

Not a lot of progress, but the new fretboard arrived today. Looks good and no additional VAT! So feels like a bit of a bargain! It is a bit thinner than what I have already and seems to be pretty light, so hopefully that'll be a gram or two off. I think it'll look really good with the matching board. I've had a crazy idea of using a small angle grinder to carve the heel joint. My father in law has one I'm sure he'd lend me. I'm not sure about either using a carving disc or a flap disc. Does anyone have any opinions? All this has got me thinking about a second build too. I'll see how gluing the fretboard goes on for this, but I'd love a 4 string multiscale...

Definitley an Alpher. I reckon it's this one... https://www.instagram.com/p/B61OuqCAz0s/?img_index=1

@tauzero they're pretty pricy though! https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/daddario-nyxl-nickel-plated-5-string-45-130-bass-guitar-strings-multi-scale-p15879

I don't have one of those, but for that scale length I'd recommend Dingwall or Payson strings. Have a look on Bass Direct's website and filter for multiscale strings. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product-category/strings/filters/strings-scale-length/multiscale/

If you right click on it and then open it from the menu, it should let you install it.

I wonder what material they rejected if they thought that was the one to release...

Yes, it'll be fine.

Or do you mean what it'll sound like? In which case, there's only really one way to find out...

It'll be about the same. Just instead of the wires coming from the pickups, it'll be the wires coming off the switch into the current preamp.

A music related degree doesn't have to be all playing either. I did a degree in audio and music technology, but it was a BSc and covered things like programming in C to make plugins, 3d game audio, and an introduction to acoustics. While I haven't gone into the music tech field, the ability to pickup new software/programming languages quickly and have to deliver assignments on them has really helped me stay adaptable in work. For my current role I've taught myself SQL, Power BI, and with a bit of guidance I've been doing a fair bit of Salesforce admin stuff. Getting the foundation of logic structures was a really useful part of my degree. Not saying your daughter necessarily needs to take that route, but there are definitley useful and transferrable skills to be attained from a degree. Plus lots of networking opportunities that she might not get if she stays at home.

The added length does really help with adding tension to a thicker string. I'm only in drop C for my band, but everyone agrees that my Dingwall really fits in sonically. I feel like the note definition is really clear which really helps. You'd get away with stock strings on a 5 tuning to drop A#. The downside to a 5 string may be that you just end up needing to be constantly muting the higest string. I think there should be more entry level 4 string multiscales for when you need to go low and don't need 5. The BTBs are probably an acquired taste visually, but if you do want to go that way, I'd be tempted to try their new multiscales out. The shop in the link below are meant to be getting some in this month at only £20 over budget. https://livelouder.co.uk/product/ibanez-btb605ms-cem-cerulean-aura-burst-matte/

Yeah, but are you going to hear that over the sound of 2x810 cabs? That thing isn't meant for anything but the biggest stages!

How many innertubes did you need to glue the fretboard on? I'm short on clamps, but do have an innertube or two I could cannibalise...

No, they didn't say, but did confirm that something had gone wrong internally. I'm sure they wouldn't charge much to get it good again if GG don't get it sorted.

I had a similar issue with a very new ABM 600. The valve drive just had loads of extra noise and swapping the valve did nothing. I sent it off to Ashdown and it came back all happy again and has been fine since. I did a video too: https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/448210-abm-600-valve-noise/?do=findComment&comment=4427667

The back is a bit thinner than before. I don't have a proper plane, so I was using a belt sander (I know, I know...). I was just about to change the belt when the handle to release it snapped. Bums! So, there isn't a lot of material off the back so far. I spent the rest of the time I had today taking the nose off the top horn, shaping that a bit and thinking about the rear scoop. I think I need a gouge chisel to do it how I want it to look, but my trusty Shinto and half round rasps have done some of the work for me. Still a long way to go sanding and shaping though! I'm down 420g since starting, so I'll be in the ballpark I was aiming for. The body doesn't feel nearly as massive as it did either, so I'm really pleased with the direction it's going in. The new fretboard is meant to arrive next Monday (21st), so I'll try and steam the fretboard off this week. Also, I had some proper fret nippers arrive yesterday. SO much better to be using the right tool. They cut through the old stainless steel frets like nobody's business. I'm tempted to try for stainless steel frets again if I can find anywhere that has vintage size pre-radiused SS fretwire in stock. Are there any good places to look that Google might not find?

@neepheid I'd be very keen to try your Les Paul bass!

Ok, we can start with The Light by The Album Leaf. Then, let's get them bawling with some Sigur Rós. Hoppípolla ought to do it. And then they can leave to Do You Realize? by The Flaming Lips to end.

I'm here to recommend Steve at Hawker Repairs Guitar Workshop in Bristol. https://www.facebook.com/hawkerrepairs I used the original strap button screws when I put strap locks on my Combustion. 4 years later, the screw failed (due to it being a countersunk screw, not a flat top) leaving me with a lot of screw embedded in the top horn. He got it out, dowelled it and refinished the area with a perfect transparent blue colour match. He also did a stainless steel refret on my Mustang during lockdown. I'm really pleased with that too.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs at SWX on Friday 29th of September, then This Will Destroy Us at The Fleece on Monday 2nd of October. Both Bristol.

It does mirror it a bit. But I think it'll look odd if the top horn doesn't do the same, and then I'm not sure I want it on the top horn.