Maude

From this, [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/120120141398_zps2b8cf865.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/120120141398_zps2b8cf865.jpg[/IMG][/URL] To this, [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/130120141404_zpsc89fa494.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/130120141404_zpsc89fa494.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I marked out the new profile and used a 20mm belt sander to shape nearly to the line, then finished off by hand with sandpaper on a block. When almost there go down through the grades and finish with a fine paper, I then just finished with wax until the shade matched. The decal wasn't under all the lacquer so came without removing the finish totally (printed on rather than a decal). I liked the neck finish so didn't want to touch that but after sanding 'til the decal came off I went down through the grades on the headstock and polished to a satin finish so that the new profile edges wax finish matched, it sort of fades from satin to gloss on the side from the new finish to the old but I'm not too worried as it's functional and really doesn't notice until close inspection. Sorry no pictures yet of the finished headstock but will try to get some this week, which reminds me I need to update the build diary I started on it.

Things like this seem really difficult to me .......... until it clicks and then I can't believe how simple it was, usually over thinking things . Your vid explains it all so it makes sense, thanks .

It looks like it should be played by the Comfort fabric softener characters.

Not for everyone I realise, but how about some kind of fretless U-bass if size is a problem. I presume you can get them bigger that the usual Kala one everyone goes for as when I ordered strings for my home built one they had a selection of different scale lengths.

And Thomanns quality control is very good, mine didn't have any of the 'usual' Palatino things that needed addressing. I don't know if the build quality is better now or wether Thomann set them up a bit during QC but I was very happy with mine.

The Harley Benton [i]is[/i] a Palatino. Mine even came in a Palatino box with a HB sticker over the VE 500 number.

A late twenties girl and a bunch of middle aged blokes .................... 'Pretty Ugly'

I like a bridge cover to use in a similar way to 'Bassassins' explanation of the pickup cover, when playing octaves with the forefinger and thumb for example.

I went in my nearest shop for the first (and last) time about a year ago. I was after some flats or tapewounds and they didn't carry any. I asked about ordering some to try on the Bex4 I just got and what he thought would sound good, flats or tapes, he said they would all make it sound old and dead and not to bother, so I didn't, bother ordering anything from him, got some Fender nylon tapes from whoever was cheapest on the net. From point of view is, if you don't want to help or compete then don't grumble when you have no customers. On the flipside I went in a shop in Plymouth, can't remember the name, and they had a very good selection of strings, round, flat, nylon, etc. Will be using them again. Edit to add the name of the good shop - Sound Unlimited

I don't know if you want to go down the second hand do-er upper route but this old Tele copy looks interesting, 25". If you're into a bit of restoration it could be a fun project for you both, or just keep it as it is, genuine (hate the word) 'roadworn'. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121323600542?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

Can help with the synth stabs but a cover of that song is crying out to morph into 'Billie Jean' for a bit in the middle, just for fun, unless you hate that kind of thing .

The above wasn't meant to look smug by the way, reading it back does look a bit that way.

It's taken a long time get here but I'm finally in a place where I have everything I want from my set ups. Band 1, My bass gives me exactly what I want/need from it and after a refinish looks perfect, my effects are sorted, amp does everything I want it too. Band 2, My Double bass plays/sounds/looks lovely, my pre-amp and amp just work together like a dream to give me what I need/want. I'm happy with it all, my bands are happy with it all .................... so why is browsing various sites on the web for gear an almost daily occurrence?

It seems to me that as your wife is the one insisting on using a DB then it's her that needs to move aside to make room for it. It would be a lot cheaper putting a seat up on the roof rack for her than buying a waterproof DB case for up there! Sorry. It don't know if you can get a fully waterproof case but if you can it will be expensive, and possible extremes of temperature may be an issue.

[quote name='Mr Anthony' timestamp='1394384414' post='2390863'] That looks absolutely great! Nice one. Much better than how it looked before What did you use to paint it, if you don't mind me asking? [/quote] It's 2K acrylic car paint which is pretty much the same as the poly finishes on most basses but not as thick/dense. Automotive paints have pretty much been the same as guitar finishes through time. Early on it was nitro cellulose lacquer, the car industry called it cellulose, the guitar industry calls it nitro (cos we all want to be Americans ) , then it went to acrylics, polyesters and polyurethanes which are all very similar. The very old Fender custom colours were actually car paints apparently, which would have been cellulose back then. I'm sure I read somewhere that PRS use DuPont car lacquers for their guitars. It's quick drying and tough as hell compared to "nitro" which doesn't have all the properties I've heard folks claim. Oh yeah, and polishes up a treat .

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1394310700' post='2390244'] Good work, tis a lovely looking tool. [/quote] Thank you . The build diary is here if anyone's interested .................... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/227483-variax-make-over/

Oh and thanks Dad . It amuses me that Line 6 went all the trouble of doing the electrics and forgot about the styling .

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1394297645' post='2390040'] Looks awesome. Like, REALLY awesome. Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why you didn't bind the F-hole too? [/quote] Thanks, I did do the 'binding' round the 'f' hole but it didn't look right. With the edges of the hole the same colour as the body you see the 3D shape of the cutout against the dark (shadowed) background, when the edges were black they merged into the shadowed interior make it look a bit 2D, like a sticker. The way it is now accentuates the effect of having an actual cavity.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1394295448' post='2390009'] That looks lovely! [/quote] Thanks, I'm very pleased with the way it's turned out. You have these ideas in your head but never know for sure until it's done wether it'll work or not, personally I think it's loads better. I'm thinking about some black nylon tapewound strings, as well as sounding lovely (I have some on my fretless P) I think they'll look superb with the new colour scheme.

It's not finished yet, just the heastock to decal and lacquer but as the 'white bass' thread is at the top of the page, why not add to it . Here's my Variax which started out black but I really never liked the style of it but loved the versatility of it, so refinished it with a smattering of Fender Tele Thinline influences. [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I like threads like this, you go down through all the pictures and it's like, 'that's good, and that's good' and it really is good, but then you scroll to the last picture and 'holy sh*t that looks good'. Love it .

I got a bit delayed on this one, been a bit busy lately but this week I found the time to finish off the body and rebuild it. Just waiting for our drummer to do the logo for the headstock as he has the stuff to print waterslide decals. As it's a Variax which has been restyled with strong influences from a Telecaster thinline I've renamed her a 'Varicaster' . I've put the faux binding around the edges and lacquered it all in and given it a damn good polish, which I kind of hate because every single finger smear shows, at least it's not a dark colour . I've also painted inside the 'f' hole bronze which will be lacquered as well and the headstock logo will be highlighted in the same bronze just carry it through. The Tele bridge cover will be fitted once strung up so it can be perfectly aligned along the string. Here's a few piccies to show off that shine. [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141549_zpsc661678f.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141549_zpsc661678f.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141551_zpsdb533f32.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141551_zpsdb533f32.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141552_zpsf6396693.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141552_zpsf6396693.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141553_zpsf64b8291.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141553_zpsf64b8291.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141555_zps595362ee.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141555_zps595362ee.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Sidestepping the bickering for a moment , @ the OP, I assume the band uses a PA, another option would be to run into the PA and just use a smaller amp as a monitor. This is what I do, I use a Line6 X3 Live and run an output to the PA and an output to my amp, I only use an Ashdown Perfect10 Minirig which is a 60w head into two 10" cabs. When playing gigs this works well as you can turn up or down the Ashdown to hear yourself but it won't change the sound out the front which is through the PA. At rehearsals I can hear perfectly well running the amp at half volume competing with two guitarists, one using a Rickenbacker and Jam fetish so loud and 'spiky', and a very hard hitting drummer. If your amp, or one you get, doesn't have a DI output then a Behringer BDI21 will do the job very well for around £25/£30. It's just an option and will save you a lot of money on expensive amps, but where's the fun in not buying big amps eh?

Or the intro to this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbIhw_36vNA Sounds awful on it's own but in the mix sounds great, a great example of what works at home doesn't always work in the band

Flea plays with a very low buzzy action which adds character to his sound. Lots of isolated bass tracks on youtube, eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoeLpv8-l1I