basexperience

I've got 9 if you include the Ashbory - I tend to use the 6 string a lot because it's got a GR55 it can drive, which means it can "be" several basses thanks to COSM modelling ;-) the musicman bass is particularly good on that, digs in beautifully. I gig regularly with 4 of these, one or two I wouldn't gig because they're dear to me, but the irony is I gig the expensive ones and don't mind them being dinged, etc - all part of the history you get with a working instrument!

Good call Lojo. Lemmy was utterly sick of telling people they weren't a metal band!

[list=1] [*] [quote name='Harrisonian91' timestamp='1423342515' post='2683788'] I'll give it a look. Thanks [/quote] How did you get on? I have exactly the same repairs to do to exactly the same bass! The nut cracked and I need a bridge pin (I'd like to buy a complete set to keep some spares, I think). I like this bass and I'd like to be able to play it again! [/list]

Alas, "reliced" is not possible as the drummer has already stripped the tolex from everywhere apart from the bottom :-D

Trace when they were UK based were definitely bastions of UK design and manufacturing. The latin is embossed in solder!!

I started out with a carlsbro cobra 90: it wasn't that powerful, but I rewired it to give me a speaker out and then created a cabling system to let me hook more cabs up to it. Surprisingly good trouser flap ensured until I eventually scraped enough together for a secondhand peavey TNT from sound control in Dundee!

Just discovered I'm going to have to evict a spider which is living underneath the line out PCB. The designer never spec'd it out for this I'd wager haha

Oh dear god, the band appear to have spilled sugary DRINKS into it at some point!!! It did spend a lot of time onstage in Andorra at the Aspen Bar in Soldeu (where I used it) and we did have this thing about Sambuca... THIS AMP HAS GIVEN IT SOME! ;-) (valve socket is untouched, thankfully - it was all surface and is now cleaned!)

First - massive thanks to all you guys for leaving those helpful comments. I finally got my hands on the amp! I know - it's taken a long time - but the build is going to happen. I'm posting "before" pictures at the moment: the whole thing is up on Facebook as a page - [url="https://www.facebook.com/TraceV4Reborn"]https://www.facebook.com/TraceV4Reborn[/url] I'm documenting everything I can, I'm getting more info on the amp's history and contacting Trace for any details. I've got the service manual and found part numbers, so I should be able to source bits that are in need of replacement with any luck. The head has survived really well: the tubes are probably shot (one KT88 is busted but 3 Ruby's remain...) It's the opening, but things should move on from here. Hoping to do an authentic rebuild. Have to cost it out first - the band want to know what it might cost before anything happens!

One is rare, the other less so, but they both growl beautifully. Just replaced the nut on the 4 string with a brass just-a-nut III and the results are great! Love Warwicks, they've got real character and are great for funk with drive. The fretless sounds amazing!

I'll be there on Sunday, BC lanyard proudly displayed! I'll be the one wandering around trying out amps with a Rikkers! <drools> Never forget to take earplugs! The old foam type will do, it's more about keeping you sane. They do have some for distribution at the show, I remember that from last year.

I'm tempted to give it a couple of sessions just to see if there's anything good on it. Who knows, weirder things have happened...

[sup]I'll be there on Sunday, I have something to pick up! Feels great to have seen something at the 2014 show and then come back to the Rikkers guys to pick up my own in 2015.[/sup] [sup]I'll be wearing my BC lanyard!![/sup] [sup]Did we decide to meet somewhere? Would like to shake a few more hands this year. Bassists are such lovely folk.[/sup]

Myspace: the silent social network. An irony, given its music focus. Anyone upload their stuff on there anymore? Even the foo fighters appear to have gone silent on there! Was wondering if it was worth a rummage through, or if it's completely dead - and is it worth uploading tracks to there? All opinions gratefully accepted.

Hmm. Useful? https://www.eventide.com/AudioDivision/Products/StompBoxes/PitchFactorUpdate.aspx

Yeah, that's the Rikkers "SwitchBuckers" in ebony pickup covers. The diary should have run from last November through to now: it's my bad it's been compressed, but I'm glad I managed to get it all on here. NBD will be a happy one.

Another +1 here for giving the guy a break - "on hold" means "give the guy's usual daily cycle a chance to let him check back" - I have email notifications and a mobile which tells me when someone replies, but many don't use that facility. If BassChat had an app with notifications, it might be a different story, depending on how responsive you are to the needy little computer in your pocket. But even then, as a seller, I'd wait at least a day before asking if they were still interested and to get back to me.

The final word should go to the bass, really

So - here's the final instalment. I got a parcel of complete build shots which included all the shots they've just uploaded to Facebook: The bass is beautiful and now she's coming over here... and I'll pick her up on Sunday. [url="http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-5-final-stretch.html"]http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-5-final-stretch.html[/url] I love that video of the wiring god, cracks me up!

The guys at Rikkers have a wicked sense of humour: Here's Jacco, God Of Wiring, really pulling out the stops to meet the weekend's deadline! [url="http://youtu.be/bKjFxx80K-M"]http://youtu.be/bKjFxx80K-M[/url]

... And again, with the attachment :-) You can see the little switches on the SwitchBuckers: they're ebony pickups to keep with the fretboard.

Woohoo! Pickups!

I have another update on the fabulous Rikkers bass to share - this brings us up to date! In this post I discuss the inlay - and how we had a sudden change of approach, and how technology saved the day, with a little help from Ferdinand Rikkers and his engraving skills. http://basexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/rikkers-build-part-4-bass-emerges-and.html

The youtube link I linked in the blog post about hand tools shows Ferdinand carving a guitar heel the same way: beautiful work.