Norris

Measure at the bridge end. I'd also measure near the first fret to see if it's a compound radius - it would be a tigher radius at the nut if so. Chances are your existing bridge is the correct radius though

Not much you can do about the zero fret. You can't put wood back on the fretboard, and pulling all the frets and re-shaping the board is a bit extreme. I think the conventional nut is about the only practical option. It's not the worst thing that could have happened though. Fabulous build so far!

Is Epton's chip shop still going in Skegness? (Fries, blue) And if so does it still do that fabulous onion gravy? Good memories and about the only appealing thing about Skeggy in the mid 80s

[quote name='NickRiffed' timestamp='1476452472' post='3154462'] That is just brilliant. 😀 [/quote] The band had some of the old army hut "chalets" for overnight accommodation. They were always freezing cold. The guitarist, who was a bit of an animal in the style of Keef, had enough freezing so tore down the curtains and set light to them in a metal bin to warm the place up a bit! We stayed in an off-site caravan park in Ingoldmells - I paid for accommodation rather than spend more than a week in the free chalet that Butlins provided

The year that we played at Butlin's, the "travelling" band (who played a different camp site each night) were "Brian Poole and Blackcat" - yes, he of the Tremelos. I know so because he always wore his T-shirt proclaiming that fact. Unfortunately he always wore a leather jacket that covered the first and last two letters of his name on the T-shirt. I don't think he appreciated me calling him Ian Poo

I spent 8 months there playing 6 nights a week, back in 1985. Good fun but it was pretty shabby. Skegness is/was a popular cheap holiday for lots of people from the Midlands - Leicester and Nottingham especially.

Stylophone - don't go there!

I handed mine in at the recent parsnip amnesty

[quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1475942078' post='3149971'] I played Sultans of Swing 486 times with my last band - each time the set opener. Settled us down if nothing else, and everyone knows it. [/quote] We open with this more often than not. It's a nice loosener to get warmed up. Not too much of a strain on the vocals, gets the fingers twiddling a bit and always goes down well

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1476081076' post='3150973'] The thin weedy distortion that lots of young guitarists get by using a small none valve amp with a distortion pedal flat out. There is no body or tone to the sound, no harmonics or depth just this fuzzy weedy, but loud, noise. [/quote] This. I had a guitarist once that really loved his middly, widdly fuzz and used it in every song. It got quite tiring on the ears. My current guitarist has a lot wider repertoire of tones and uses them with great subtlety

You didn't fancy Twincam's idea of veneer packing under the existing bridge? I thought it was a great idea

Having done A level music and grade 8 on the bass trombone as a youth, I had to learn theory. Personally I think I'm a better bass player for it. It's not essential though

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1475689644' post='3148026'] What's wrong with a piece of gaffa tape stuck to the grill cloth in front of the dust cap? That's what I used for years in my guitaring days. Worked a treat to stop the on-axis beaming. [/quote] That's what my guitarist uses - black gaffa tape

If you're talking about the difference between transposing a pattern along the neck or across the strings, well... both. They are both completely valid - whatever is more comfortable or better sounding or suits the situation. A good grounding in scales and arpeggios is always useful for knowing which notes are likely to fit

We play in dropped tuning - D#, which puts slightly less stress on our aging vocal chords. Then with my Hipshot d-tuner I drop down to C# for a few songs. I'm using D'Addario pro steels with a 105 E string and have no problems - sounds great and string still has decent tension on it. Oh, and 34" scale Edit to say it's the standard 45-105 set. Caveat: I don't drop the other strings to C# tuning, just the E

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1475600063' post='3147301'] No - when tackling MrsAndyjr1515 (or worse...being tackled by her), my middle name is usually more like 'Mouse' [/quote] Ruined any more rugs recently?

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1475517221' post='3146564'] Centre punches, £2.50 for a set of 3, time to find them 2? hrs at £???? Somehow it does not seem right to view tools with the cost benefit analysis method. [/quote] I did buy a set on eBay but Royal Mail... ahem... lost them

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1475432102' post='3145869'] And thank you, I will be seeking advice later about finishing when I get that far. Shed is now somewhat clearer and my 'long lost' no5 plane re-appeared. [/quote] Cool - can you come round and find the two centre punches that are somewhere in my garage? I've spent hours looking

I was also going to suggest 0000 wire wool for dulling the finish

It's amazing how good the eye is at picking out patterns - and flaws!

Get some Rotosounds then. 52 sets should about see you through a year

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1475059356' post='3142658'] This was actually my point! Would the low voltages (9v and 18v) be likely to age the capacitors in the preamp? [/quote] I think it's time that does the aging

The only (practical) thing would be to use heavier gauge strings, or strings of the same gauge that are less compliant (thicker/stiffer centre core). The other option is to increase your scale length, which would require a new neck, and then your old strings probably wouldn't fit any more

A Ric 4001 back when I was about 18 (1984ish). Far more bass than I could really afford, or have the ability to play at the time. I still kick myself for ever selling it

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1474961954' post='3141749'] I've heard of fights breaking out in pubs, but lesbian sex breaking out is something of a rarity... in my experience. [/quote] Only the once ime