rainbowreality

3 hours ago, neepheid said:

This guy - https://northwestguitars.co.uk/products/hipshot-style-string-retainer-for-bass-guitars

 

(odd that they refer to it as "Hipshot style" when it's nothing like a Hipshot string retainer, but let's gloss over that).

 

Just thought I'd throw this in there in case you had pre-existing screw holes - this should drop right in...

Thanks so much for the info!  I've had a look at this and the dimensions of the important bits seem to pretty much match the Hipshot.  My neck has no drill holes yet for the retainer so will go for the lighter Hipshot - I've put Gotoh 525's on already to lessen the neck dive so may as well keep the weight down!

1 hour ago, JazzyJ said:

I have that Hipshot retainer kicking around somewhere. I'd be happy to post it for you to check it out.

 

Ian 

Hi Ian,

That's very kind!  If you're happy to do that I'd happily cover the postage and if it fitted I'd be happy to buy it from you or return it if you didn't want to.

Paul

Hello.  I need a string tree for my Sire bass, it has a 42mm nut.  Would something like the Hipshot string retainer do the trick and do I need to overly worry about the exact sizing - for example the spacing of the retainer being a bit smaller than the string spacing?

Cheers!

Been stored away for a good few years, dusted off today and had great fun playing around with it.  Obvious signs of use and battle scars but fully working.  Price includes postage

14 minutes ago, Dood said:

 

Interesting, thank you! Did you need a serial number or proof of Sire ownership to get it ordered?

No, I had bought my P5R from Thomann originally some time back but neither they or Sire asked about it at any point and I didn't mention the fact when I emailed them.  I did it all independently of my Thomann account so as far as I can tell it's not necessary to have proof

Hello there!

Just thought I'd let others know about this - basically I needed a replacement neck for my Sire P5R and got in touch with Thomann.de  They told me they can order one and would cost me £40 plus £10 shipping.  I was a bit cynical as it sounded far too cheap but long story short I got it today and it's the real deal, Rosewood fingerboard and all. Only things not included are the tuners, string tree and back bracket but apart from that it's good to go and an absolute bargain so I thought I'd share the info!  Only downside is the waiting times from the Sire factory, mine took about a month and a half but hey it's a minor inconvenience all things considered.

Kev's a pleasure to deal with,  great comms and very prompt payment.  Great to chat with too and generally a very nice chap!

On 24/04/2025 at 08:07, LukeFRC said:

I’ve heard some of these non lumberg ones aren’t great - anyone any experience of these from switch 

https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/products/2-1mm-x-5-5mm-panel-mount-dc-power-socket-dc-022b

 

They look the same as the ones I use here -

https://www.bitsboxuk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=225_232&products_id=1699

Which I can vouch for, never had a problem with them in lots of builds,  excellent for tighter spaces.

Nik bought my Zoom B3 and you couldn't ask for a nicer chap to deal with.  Prompt payment etc and a pleasure to deal with.

Top fella,

Paul

Trade for overdrive/distortion pedal anyone?

Zoom B3 in excellent condition.  Light home use and not for a while since going over to a pedal board setup.  Price includes P&P and a Zoom power supply.  Any questions fire away! Cheers, Paul

Pm'd

Great chap to deal with, prompt payment and a pleasure to do with business with.  Thank you!

I'm having to de-clutter in preparation for a future house move so need to start culling my pedals.  They're both in mint condition with no velcro on their bums.

1. Orange Kongpressor £85 £75 £65 posted - really nice compressor but wasted on me (I just don't get compressors) so it's up for sale.  Pretty much new condition boxed.

2. MXR Micro Flanger £70 £65 posted - not sure whether to keep this one,  really solid build (feels more so than other MXR pedals)  and in mint condition with it's box. SOLD

3. EHX Small Stone £45 £35  £30 posted - nice phaser but not quite for me so I went with the more chewy MXR variety. Used for about 30 minutes so boxed and mint.

4. MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe £65 posted - fair condition with obvious signs of use such as a few scratches,  works as it all should with no issues though and sounds very nice! SOLD

Any questions please fire away and may be tempted with trades

Boss recorder in pristine condition.  Very light use to record my modular setup on a handful of occasions and then stored away.  Boxed with 8gb memory card and extensive manual.  Really good little recorder but it's not getting any love at the moment from me so could do with a new home.  Still under warranty I think.  Open to trades etc and any questions please fire away

Tascam handheld recorder with a few accessories - travel pouch, hand thingymejig and cat's ears cover for the mics (not real cat's ears).  Used less than a dozen times for field recording (which it did excellently) and in pretty much new condition.  32gb micro SD included and I may have the box somewhere.  Yours for £50 posted.  Any questions please ask!

Great to chap to buy from,  I bought a Mono Sleeve from him and it was exactly as described and arrived very quickly.  Would happily buy from Rob again1

DM'd!

I'd give the MusicNomad ones another thumbs up, they cut cleanly and are nice to use.  I bought mine separately from GuitarGuitar and worked out at £80 for a 4 string bass (I can live without the case)

I'm amazed this hasn't gone, this pedal is so nice on bass

Dm'd

30 minutes ago, Matt P said:

some sockets have quite a deep taper/radius at the open end to aid getting the socket cleanly onto a nut from odd angles, if the nut is very thin (as it often is for a machinehead) you are likely still in that tapered/radiused section so won't get any grip.

 

the choice is either to use an open ended spanner or to grind the last few mm off the end of a deep socket to get to the parallel section. I usually go for the open ended spanner approach.

 

Matt

It was slowly dawning on me that might be the case and like you I think I'm going to go down the open ended spanner path!  Thanks for the advice.

35 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

Is the socket deep enough to get onto the nut without fouling the bit that sticks up that you put the string in (technical term)? You might need to use an open-ended or ring spanner, or a deep socket.

The socket's deep enough but isn't getting a purchase - maybe a spanner might be the way to go - I have a 17mm and 19mm but no 18mm (grrr) so will have buy one!

I've installed Gotoh GB on my Sire U5 and it's fine except I'm not sure what size socket I need to tighten them up - according to Gotoh's website they're 18mm nuts but my socket isn't getting a grip.  Anybody had experience of these know what size socket/spanner they used?

Cheers!

I've got one of these and they're great,  enough fuzz to melt your ears and brain.  GLWTS