Norris

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1431263657' post='2769357'] I used my rumble at a gig for the first time at the weekend, after a bit of fiddling with the tone controls it sounded good, one thing confused me though, I've been using Marshall MB4210 before with a Carlsbro Bass Beasty used as a 1 x 15 extension cab ( the amp section doesn't work anymore) to good effect, it increased volume and bottom end, but with the Rumble it had hardly any effect at all, maybe a touch more bottom end but no perceivable increase in volume, any ideas why this should be? I was thinking of getting a matching 2 x10 rumble cab for it, but now I'm not so sure. I did change the 15 inch speaker in the Beasty for an 8ohm one I had btw [/quote] The combo by itself is plenty for my needs so I can't help on extension cabs, but I'm glad you're enjoying your rumble

Lights, stands and leads in the garage. Combo in the corner of the dining room (no complaints yet). Basses under the bed, in the spare room and one currently in the hall because I haven't found a home for it yet (again no complaints... yet!)

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1431245886' post='2769059'] [attachment=191702:Hercules.jpg] Hercules. I've used them for years. You lower your bass into the spring-loaded clip and it closes around the neck. [/quote] +1 This is the one I use. Very sturdy and secure

And tauzero - you've got a lovely buzzard. That was my favourite bass of the bash

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1431202759' post='2768825'] Did he sand the lacquer off? [/quote] I'm not sure - I'll ask him. I think a lot of it was scraped off, but there was obviously a lot of steaming out the dents and a lot of sanding too

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1431204478' post='2768839'] Ah, oh well. I have a feeling they had more members anyway, I seem to remember there being a keyboard player, too (we were actually a Roland service centre repairing mostly keyboards, but I do remember installing crossovers in a bunch of said band's pa cabs). the name of that band is going to have to go on bugging me! [/quote] We never had a keyboard player or indeed a PA as sophisticated as to need crossovers

The drummer Rob Peasant was pretty bald. The guitarist was Danny Willson. We played all round Leicestershire and beyond from 1985 to 1995 Edit: No Mercedes van. We had a white Transit for a long time and then a trailer

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1431201674' post='2768811'] That's not as bad as I expected.... [/quote] That's 'cos the Internet doesn't smell

Oh, and before I go... [b]* Advert *[/b] The bass was restored by: Andy Holland mail: [email protected] He's based in South Leicestershire

[b]Strip Down & Re-Fret[/b] We decided the lacquer was in too bad a state to try to save it and it didn't look particularly good in its 'reliced' state, so the lacquer had to come off, the dents steamed out and the wood sanded back down to a nice smooth surface. Andy had taken some decent photos of the water slide transfers before stripping, so that he could get new ones made up And then re-fretted it That's enough for now. I'll post some more photos shortly

[b]A Bass Barely Alive...[/b] (We can rebuild it!) OK, here are some 'before' shots. Remember - I did warn you! The coffin opens... OK, that's enough of that. As I said, I'm not proud of the state it was in. Luckily Andy is a good mate, a rather good guitar technician/restorer & all round good bloke and he took it away to work his magic...

[b]History[/b] The bass was built in April 1980 (serial number 004097). I bought it second hand from Humbucker Music in Leicester in mid-1985. It was then my only bass for around 10 years, in a busy Leicester-based covers trio band called The Chase. We played several nights a week, pretty much every week for many years. This bass has certainly seen some use - and in some way I'm preparing you for some pretty horrible 'before' shots to come. I was young, and foolish and the bass was not particularly looked after. It has been hit against cymbals, battered by drum sticks and literally thrown into the back of vans for many years. In around about 1995 I bought myself a brand new Fender US Jazz Standard, and the Aria was put in the loft where it remained for several years, unloved, almost forgotten. <Cut to scenes of the passing seasons, the falling of leaves, new growth in spring, with stirring string accompaniment, forward to .., 2010 and my mate Andy asks me how the old Aria is, as he's always had a liking for what are now classic Japanese guitars. Curious, I fetched it out of the loft and was dismayed at the state of the poor old workhorse. The loft is obviously not completely damp-free and the years have taken their toll. Those of a nervous disposition may want to look away now. The scenes you are about to see are not pretty, and I'm not proud of myself. If you decide to proceed and end up traumatised, please bear in mind there are happier pictures to come - this is a rebuild thread after all! ...

I had a great afternoon. Thanks to everyone, especially the cake bakers and organisers

I'm a bit gutted because it looks like the Aria SB-1000 needs a new pickup so won't be playable. I'll still bring it as a bit of eye candy because local chap Andy Holland has done a fantastic job on the refinish, nay resurrection of the bass. And I promise a restore thread soon when I can get the photos sorted

Lol

Well I took the pickup out. It's definitely filled with epoxy and I can't get a DC resistance reading at all. So it looks like a replacement pickup - which one? I'm still confused as to how it could make any sound at all with an open circuit pickup. Oh and if you're interested the serial number is 004087

[quote name='Prostheta' timestamp='1431015858' post='2766952'] I've been GASing to build a ZZB 5-string Black n' Gold for far too long. Certainly won't happen with Veijo's pickups however a 4-string version wouldn't be out of the question. That said, the question could be, "batwing?". [/quote] It's got to be pointy imho. A batwing on a ZZB just wouldn't look right. Make it even pointier

It does seem a bit strange if both coils have died I was looking at the Aria UK site earlier and I'm sure I saw some 5ers in the current crop of SB re-issues

I got a reply from Aaron. If your pickup has a brass plate on the bottom (as some of them have apparently) it might be repairable. If it's epoxy it definitely can't. He also says they wind each pickup to order so it can be authentic or a bit hotter. I read a TB thread from someone who had a hotter wind and said it made the varitone a lot more usable especially at the muddy end of the scale. But then I quite like how it used to sound. Anyway, pickup out tonight to inspect its bottom ,,,

I tried to measure the full coil (red & white leads) and each individually (red to black & white to black) and couldn't get a reading off either. Anyway I've fired an enquiry off to Armstrong so I'll see what they come up with

The black box is unplugged so I should be measuring just the resistance of the pickup coil. I was getting a reading on the maximum scale of my meter but realised I was touching both probes. When I measured without touching them I couldn't get a reading. It still makes a very quiet sound though and not intermittently either

Hmmm... measuring the resistance of the pickup looks like it's open circuit, but if it is how on earth is it making any noise at all? Admittedly my multi-meter could probably do with a new battery, but it's not measuring a resistance on the pickup when it does if I touch the probes (i.e. my resistance)

As I said it's low volume even with the varitone switched (and that switch has just been replaced too as the toggle had snapped off) so I think it's either the pickup or the black box at fault. Last night I had it through my Fender Rumble 500 combo at what would normally be deafening volume. I'll measure the resistance of the pickup when I get home tonight. It wouldn't be difficult to make a new black box either (and a sight cheaper for a diagnostic test)

Thanks. I'll give that a go and let you know Edit: Just in case I need to find the Kent Armstrong page again for a replacement p/up ... http://www.armstrongpickups.co.uk/miscellaneous-pickups/