Jean-Luc Pickguard

Saw this CD in Asda today. [attachment=79355:elvis_movies.jpg] I was drawn to the 6-string bass/guitar doubleneck on the cover. It seems to have a 6 string bass neck (with schaller-style tuners) & a 6 string guitar neck, as opposed to the Jimmy Page 12 string guitar/6 string guitar. A similar pic crops off the headstock: [attachment=79356:ElvisPre..._guitar3.jpg] I never saw a Gibson like this & certainly saw never Elvis play anything like this, so I'm not sure whether its a photoshop hackup or custom instrument or what? Any ideas?

It does look like Rick James's bass was for show only - probably not even plugged into anything

[quote name='Matt P' post='1221456' date='May 5 2011, 07:42 PM']wow, what are they made of? do you think they'd respond well to having all the finish stripped off? (then a nice tv yellow or cherry red) i wonder if one of those could be de-glittered and then pimped to make a great stage bass. (i'm rather fond of shorter scale basses) Matt[/quote] I believe the neck & body are mahogany. The top is a laminate of pearloid similar to that used for pickguards and toilet seats. As it is bound, I'm not sure how thick the layer is or how easily it could be removed. Its already a great stage bass and thomastic JF324s fit perfectly I actually have two of these basses hanging up on wall, plus a matching guitar - only one of the basses is mine, the other bass and the guitar belong to my daughters. Strangely the guitar was made in china whereas the basses are indonesian.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='1221465' date='May 5 2011, 07:47 PM']I'd go along & see them, sit down with them over a pint & ask them straight out why they buggered me about. If I got a decent & respectful apology, I'd go with it, otherwise I'd walk away. G.[/quote] +1!

Looks like a less funky and more expensive version of my daisyrock I see Gibson are still designing new basses with that ridiculous 3 point bridge. Surely they could design something that looks similar but works better. It seems to me that the only reason to use that tired old flawed design is for the sake of vintage cred.

i guess you'd not be interested in one of my woven bacon straps then?

What did he use to fit those tuners? A Hammer? If I was selling that, I wouldn't admit to bolluxing it up either.

I use the guitar rig Session I/O - a little hardware thingy that comes with a cut-down version of guitar rig (inc bassamp), but when I got it there was an offer for a free update to the full version of guitar rig - I run that along with iTunes for an ideal headphone practice rig.

I have an NS CR5M which I bought as an upgrade to my old Dean Pace. I don't think I'll ever part with my NS. The NXT seems to be very similar to the CR5M. Had it been available when I bought my CR I would have probably gone for an NXT and saved a few quid.

I used Isopon P38 car body filler for a £100 musicmaster I repainted eleven years years ago. I'm sure a nice bit of alder would have been better, but I'd have made a mess of it, having neither the tools, patience, skills or suitable piece of wood. This was under the pickguard and I sprayed the bass a solid colour, so it was easy to hide and with the pickguard off the repair cannot be seen. I've never had anyone complain about the bass sounding less 'woody'.

In my experience a Badass (or similar) is great on a Jazz bass - but sucks all the punch out of a Precision. I'd put the BBOT back on. YMMV!

I've used the screwdriver method with great success on a few basses. The only one where I removed wood were on the brandoni neck of my Fretless precision where I sanded a radius into the edge of the ebony fingerboard.

No One would believe my Ashbory is actually a bass, so I'll be OK

I wouldn't buy one as I don't like the design of these instruments no matter how well they play & how good they sound. From what Bill C says about the service from the company that makes his budget range, it sound like a potential nightmare for any UK company who takes on local distribution/sales & has to handle support.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='1208131' date='Apr 22 2011, 11:35 AM']A Squier VM Mustang - much rather have one of these to the Bronco/Musicmaster[/quote] I'd be up for one of those - or an accurate '66 RI Roadworn or Fender version in a wider colour choice than red or white.

The first batch of Pro IV & Pro V T-birds had the front strap button in the usual neck dive position, but the later ones, including my natural-oil Pro V have it on the back of the neck heel.

I have a set of weedwackers on my bass. Much lower tension than the original strings or Thomastics. I love the sound of them except the E which sounds more like like a bucket of jelly being slapped with a haddock.

It struck me that on a vintage-style bass, such as a 62 RI precsion the riveted reverse tuners look right, but I avoid them because they turn the wrong way. My MIJ 62 RI has 'CBS era' style tuners, so loses some brownie points on authenticity, but at lease they turn the right way. Wouldn't it be nice if a company (hipshot?) made authenic looking tuners which turned the same way as all other tuners. Also on my list would be a set of hipshot 'lollypop' tuners for a CIJ mustang bass (inc D-tuner) which look like the original 1966 fender ones. Any other bass stuff not available to buy, but you think it should be?

That looks blummin' stupid, but as a fan of ashtrays on precisions I've never liked a jazz bridge cover even on a jazz.

She's going to be upset when she sees what the zips on her jacket have done to the back of the bass.

[quote name='Ross' post='1203770' date='Apr 18 2011, 04:29 PM']Anyone know anything about them fretless precision kits for £60 on ebay?[/quote] The ones you can use to make a bass worth £40?

Have a look at [url="http://brandoniguitars.co.uk/kits.asp"]brandoniguitars.co.uk[/url]

finest plywood

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1188182' date='Apr 4 2011, 07:32 PM']Isn't 'Van Morrison and smile' in the same sentence an oxymoron?[/quote] Reminds me of a story a friend told me. One of his friends was in Soho square and spotted Van Morrison on a bench reading a newspaper. Not knowing any better, he went up to him & told Van how much he enjoyed his music and would he mind signing an autograph for him. Vans's response was to lower his newspaper, look the poor chap in the eye and snarl "F**k Off" then raise the newspaper

I've lost count of the number of times I've played that song at a Jam night as its a favourites of one of the singers who regularly turns up and puts together an impromptu band. I always preferred Sugarpie DeSanto; Low Heel Slip in Mules