xilddx

[quote name='BigRedX' post='898988' date='Jul 19 2010, 02:32 PM']IME series/parallel switching works best with two pickups of similar impedance, so humbucker/single coil set-up isn't probably going to very good. However series/parallel when your humbucker is coil-tapped might be worth it.[/quote] Thanks BRX, this is the sort of thing I have no idea about. I need to check impedance with a meter, but it's interesting to note (perhaps) that the Rockbass from which the pups were taken had 500k pots for both pickups (and a 250k for the pickup pan), and both pups seem to have similar output level, so I'm wondering if the SC is really hot. They seemed very well matched.

[quote name='purpleblob' post='898977' date='Jul 19 2010, 02:28 PM']Built in flanger ?[/quote] That would be such fun wouldn't it But the POD provides all the herbs and spices.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='898952' date='Jul 19 2010, 02:03 PM']PS - seems a bit pointless getting a maple cap if you are still going for a scratchplate. I would either ditch the scratchplate (and go rear routed) or go with a transparent plate... but that's like putting a condom over your sofa...[/quote] This maple cap isn't going to be a pretty one. It is purely there as a body thickener with the addition of possibly brightening the tone a little. The bass will be solid white.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='898947' date='Jul 19 2010, 02:00 PM']silddx... hows this for food for thought...? How about getting the body finished, flattened and polished... Then flatten it down to a matt, satin finish. Then... mask off a design with something like some sticky vinyl. Then... if the vinyl is sticky enough, put it on the polishing wheel to polish up the bits of the body that aren't covered by the vinyl/mask. Or... if the vinyl isn't sticky enough to resist the polishing wheel, do an off the gun lacquer finish on the bits that aren't covered by the vinyl/mask. Remove the masking.... and then you'll get a solid colour bass, with a mix of shiny/satin pattern. Looks pretty cool. (Similar to a spot varnish finish in the magazine world)[/quote] That's a nice idea EBS! I will consider something like that.

Mmm, my luthier mate has now suggested he can do a 38mm mahogany body with a 6mm maple cap! Sweet! As far as the electronics are looking, it could be: 3-way pickup selector switch. [b]MM HB[/b] - Vol / Tone / Villex / Series/Parallel switch / Coil Tap switch. [b]J SC[/b] - Vol / Tone / Villex / Series/Parallel switch.

My mate just told me about the Kent Armstrong Tone Choke. Anyone with any experience of one?

[quote name='Rich' post='898864' date='Jul 19 2010, 01:01 PM']+1 for the series/parallel switching. Also, how about a Villex passive tone thingy?[/quote] Ahh! This is the kind of thing I need to know! Like this [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2462"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2462[/url] Brilliant, thank you

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='898849' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:50 PM']not a blend knob instead of the pickup selector. although if you have a volume on each pup do you need a selector? you could also have a series/parallel switch for both pups a'la danelectro[/quote] Thanks man. Re your first point, I like the instant change of tone with a switch and I see volumes as subtle tone controls, so I thought my idea of a three-way pup selector switch and a volume for each would be a good way to go. Second point, good idea!

I building a bass and wondering what wiring options I might have. It will be passive but I want it to be versatile and get the best from the pickups. Meant to say it's a four string 34 scale. 1 x MEC MM style HB near the bridge. 1 x MEC J-type SC near the neck and on an angle. Like this .. [b]ll /[/b] I was thinking Volume & Tone for each pickup, 3-way pickup selector and a series/parallel/Coil Tap switch for the HB. Any better ideas? I'm clueless with electronics so any help will be really appreciated. Cheers.

[quote name='JTUK' post='895251' date='Jul 15 2010, 12:10 AM']If you like and get on with the people, then that is as important as anything.. If you put the time in, you'll get better musically...but if you don't get on then that is that, pretty much[/quote] 100% agree. If you like them as people and they like you as a person, you have a huge advantage. All you have to do then is make their music sound right/good to you and them. Think like a bassist and as a musician, you DO NOT have to show them everything you can do believing they might be impressed. They want to hear their songs sounding great, not just you sounding great. If I audition someone, I'm not really looking for masses of technical ability, I'm looking for timing and sensitivity, good tone from amp and hands, and a few whispers of a mutual musical connection which might indicate some sort of future musical harmony. If you can play their songs in a way that increases their enjoyment of them, you're on a winner. It's subjective but you should be able to spot what bass playing they might like from hearing their songs. Just don't get tempted to go rilly rilly ree over them, especially in between songs when you should be doing that most important thing in an audition - letting them chat with you. Don't talk over them either. While you are playing the songs, try to look at them and their body language, not at your bass or your shoes. If they are smiling or really getting into their music, carry on doing what you're doing. Don't be nervous, go there with the attitude that Old Git points out, you are also auditioning [i]them[/i]. Good luck!

I was listening to it today as it happens. Faves are IGY, Nightfly and Goodbye Look. I don't even listen to the bass on any of them, the songs are too good. It's a great effort to try isolating any instrument on that album, except perhaps the sublime tones and note choices of Larry Carlton.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='891549' date='Jul 10 2010, 07:53 PM']IMO, this would probably be more to do with [b]Chris not being that fantastic a player[/b] than the basses themselves! As I've never known Jonas Hellborg have trouble getting "oomph" out of them![/quote] A rather strange statement that. What do you mean by it? That he's not very technical? Accomplished? Poor technique?

I've never felt that problem with Fenders, and almost every bass I try, I check the resonance on the body and the headstock. Nothing to do with NT design either.

Although this is not going to be exactly like Chris Squire's, I do want to keep the main elements and I like the mirror plate, I think it will look very snazzy! I'm not decided about the electronics yet. I wanted to keep it passive but I may go for active. If I do go active I'll go for a three band eq.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='890290' date='Jul 9 2010, 11:51 AM']I do it in my head. Can we have that as an option on the poll?[/quote] +1

[quote name='arsenic' post='891810' date='Jul 11 2010, 10:27 AM']I think gold on white/black can look quite nice. I'm thinking of this. Looks quite nice to me, but I have been accused of having little or no taste. I assume that is the sort of colour scheme you had in mind.[/quote] That's a great example of why I think the scheme works, thanks! And clearly you have impeccable taste

[quote name='alexharvay' post='891187' date='Jul 10 2010, 11:27 AM']^ That one seems to wear chrome quite well. I think black hardware on white basses looks a bit odd. The white Thunderbirds to me never looks as good. As for gold..... it's a bit Vicky Pollard, isn't it?[/quote] We definitely have an aesthetic clash Alex And Vicky Pollard couldn't afford Hipshot, she's more of an Allparts kinda gal. I'm actually toying with a white gently textured snake-skin finish at the moment, that will look lovely with a bit of gold. It's all about balance with design, I reckon I'm up to getting the balance, but it's not going to be to everyone's taste. I quite like Josh Dunham's white and gold patterned Ritter, and i usually hate Ritters.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='891005' date='Jul 10 2010, 01:45 AM']Siddx have you seen him?? if so where? Before i die i will see that man live! apparently his mentor is Larry Graham...very religious the man is..him and Larry[/quote] Wembley Arena, 1996.

[quote name='molan' post='890222' date='Jul 9 2010, 10:44 AM'][b]I really liked Planet Earth![/b] Mind you I am a bit of a Prince freak, lol. I've had a real Prince-fest the past few days & have been playing loads of his stuff - had no idea there was a new album out though I always thought he was the artist most appropriate for CD's when I first started buying them. About half of each album is utter tripe but buried away there's always a few gems. With a CD he was the first person I discovered the 'skip' button. However he caught me out with early versions of LoveSexy - it only has one track so you can't just go straight to Anastesia which was the last track on side one of the LP.[/quote] So did I. There are some fabulous tunes on there. He's always been an awe inspiring songwriter, artist and musician in my book. Live, he's astonishing.

It will never sport any chrome, chrome is only for guitars I am very tempted to go for gold, as it were.

[quote name='eude' post='890427' date='Jul 9 2010, 02:13 PM']BLACK! Gold just looks tacky to my eye, on pretty much all basses. I'd also see if you can get the headstock painted to match and design yourself up some nice graphics for it. There's loads of places that custom print vinyl or waterslide decals on line... Eude[/quote] Cheers mate. I'll be painting the headstock black, and I will be getting a decal. Also going to have bowtie inlays on the 'board.

OK, Gold or Black hardware?

[quote name='Marvin' post='888812' date='Jul 7 2010, 06:46 PM'][b]Well, try it but if I don't like it you'll have to change it [/b] I like the body shape looks the business. The black one on this thread looks like the neck doesn't go very far into the body or am I not looking at it correctly? I must admit to preferring minimal and or sleek design or industrial. Nice review of the Rockbass always wondered what they were like.[/quote] Mine's a 24 fret neck, the real thing is 22, hence mine going further in. I mocked it up in Photoshop this afternoon and although the vision of gold in my head looks lovely, the gold in the mock up doesn't look right. We'll have to see when the body's finished in white and get a feel for it. I may end up going for black hardware. Yeah, the Rockbass is stunning for the money. It needed a damn good set up when I got it, but after vigorous truss rod adjustment and the saddles tweaked, it was a good low action and played a treat. Then I took the whole bass apart.

White.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='888212' date='Jul 7 2010, 11:15 AM']I see you can get this in brass. Wonder how much that weighs?! That would go some way to offsetting any neck dive! That bridge certainly looks pretty thin at the bottom - with the neck set ito the body correctly, you should be able to get some crazy low action. Looks like that black example has had this bridge fitted. Do the CS mods include a change to the original bridge? What should the bridge on these things look like?[/quote] CS's has a lot of mods, the body shape and the bridge being two of them. It think the originals had the Ricky style bridge which I quite like. And as per your thinking, I reckon the brass one has to be pretty weighty and it will be in the most effective place. I looked at the O-Rings and don't like the look so I'll probably get gold Warwick knobs which are heavy too.