xilddx

[quote name='Lorne' timestamp='1380636979' post='2228231'] I completely agree with Shockwave, and I will name and shame I gave Chris Eccleshall my B.C.Rich Widow bass to remove 3 pots, add a rosewood headstock overlay, bind the body inlay the fretboard and headstock with inlays I provided,respray it completely in black, all work was painstakingly explained and he took notes. MANY MANY phone calls in between (All from my end), I finally get the "It's finished" call 2 YEARS later. I arrive, he's set is up all lovely on a stand at the end of a corridor, from 20 ft away I say "Oh for F***'s sake!" , What's wrong is the reply, "The inlays are opposing triangles, the points of which are supposed to touch in the middle of the fretboard, NONE of them do, and they get further apart towards the body" Of course, I am wrong, then I get close to the bass, "where's the serial number gone from the end of the fretboard?" What serial number? I didn't see one I made him stamp it back on, there and then. the headstock overlay was 2 peices of rosewood, the binding wasn't great, and it was 2 different colours of black!!!! But, under the threat of me killing him, I gave him a second chance with my USA B.C.Rich Ironbird, which I had with me, he was NOT to respray it, get someone else to do it, remove the fretboard, replace the trussrod (DO NOT LOSE THE SERIAL NUMBER) get it working, then strip the paint and send it away for a respray. All to be done within a year! After 3 YEARS of me phoning and asking, "How much has been done" and getting the predictable, I haven't done much, I asked "SPECIFICALLY, what have you done in the 2 months since my last phone call" NOTHING "Right, find all the bits. I'll pick it up" Ok, when "NOW" Got the bass back, all that had happened is the hardware removed, the electrics and one of the pick ups, absolutely NO work actually done to it. I gave it to Tom Anderson and told him to just get it working 12 HOURS later, the fretboard is OFF, broken truss rod removed and a new one to be custom made, ordered. although the respray was dropped from the list of work for now, Tom Anderson had the bass completely fixed and working in 3 weeks and 1 day, now, that is what I call service, he had told me 4 weeks to 6 weeks. I will never use Chris Eccleshall again, which is a shame as he is such a nice guy, just useless [/quote] f*** me, that is pretty f***ing amazing mate! How did you keep your lid on for that amount of time!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1380635946' post='2228210'] In essence , I agree with what you are saying here in a lot of ways , especially the bit about spending less money on equipment and more on learning how to play. Lets just be clear ,though, there is no way the O.P or anyone else should be "punished "for ordering a custom bass because it doesn't fit in with some other folks prescibed idea of what a bass should or shouldn't be and how or how not you should choose and buy a bass. . I'm sure we all agree, whatever our own preferences or opinions on basses, that people should get what they have paid for and that the goods should meet their reasonable expectations . Also , are we all on the same wavelenghth when we say "custom bass"? I think some folks mean any high-end predominantly handmade bass whereas others are referring more to individualistic, one-off designs with a degree of customisation on them . And so , in light of that, I would be interested to know if other people think it is wrong or ill-advised to buy superior quality, higher cost versions of established designs. Myself, I think it's a much better idea than designing your own bass in the vast majority of cases, but at the same time , I have to be honest and say that, slinky playability and good looks aside, the final sound that comes out of a boutique Fender-style bass that costs three grand isn't that different to what you get from one that costs eleven hundred quid ( or less) brand new from the factory that you can try before you buy in a shop. I have spent [u]a lot [/u]of money comiing to that conclusion though, and it certainly isn't a standpoint that comes from any sense of resentment or envy about what I can't afford . In line with what Nigel has said , I have realised that a lot of the time, buying fancy basses and focusing on equipment is a diversion from the far more difficult task of learning how to play properly , and players who can play well will make any bass sound better that a player who is less capable. Improving yours skills on the bass improves the sound of your equipment. [/quote] No you are quite right, no-one should expect to be dicked about when they order something from a luthier. But then, you get people in all professions doing this, plumbers, motor garages, builders, whatavyer. I also think that easily available info needs to be available about these people, especially about after sales care. There is also responsibility on the buyer to research properly and hit the builder with the right questions and get assurances and contact details in advance. But the fact is, and I'm sorry to say this and I hope I don't offend anyone, but every time I go to a bass bash or play someone's bass, or even buy a bass from someone on here, most of the time I am surprised by how badly they are set up, and how poorly they play, sometimes I am amazed at how little they seem to have been cared for. So, I find it hard to believe that the majority of people who order a custom bass have any idea what they want, other than some pretty bookmatched bullshit.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1380630318' post='2228060'] Thank you, sir! And I've just noticed that in my haste to get pics up I've left one of the screws undone! [/quote]I didn't want to mention it

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1380626969' post='2227980'] My Bass Doc 'anodized' gold pg arrived yesterday. I bet you don't see many 51-style gold guards about. Thanks Uncle Horrid! [/quote] Lovely mate!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380621947' post='2227864'] Meet you half way Mr xilddx? Been trying to put myself off this one for months now... [/quote] It's nice! Quite a pleasing design, but surely neck binding is not too much to ask? I was after a Mayonnaise Jabbahut that looked a bit like that, but in shell pink. Got that chrome Warwick instead.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380621300' post='2227857'] Dont forget that it has to be a non standard scale too. Oh. And don't forget the ramp. [/quote] Tee hee

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1380620266' post='2227835'] +1 Seems a bit like flash cars vs a working tool for doing the job. Sure, some tools are better quality than others but they quickly plateau after a certain price point. Anyway, what happened to the 'it's all in the fingers' sentiment? [/quote] Tone is all in the fingers as long as those fingers are stroking some bookmatched diseased wood in the shape of a sperm whale with elephantitis.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380615279' post='2227735'] I don't get the J bass thing either. By their very nature they are a production line instrument. May as well get a Warmoth body and neck and customise to your hearts content. Of course this doesn't give the same birthing process that I think many crave. Warmoth will cater for your choice of wood and make pretty much anything you want within a standard j bass spec. Only if there is something truly whacky about your desired spec I could see why you must go custom. The thing is, luthiers can come up with something whacky... And it won't sell. People want the normality of a j bass but not the normality of a Fender. Time and time again you see luthiers start off with something out of the norm... Then plump for a j bass. Why? Cos it sells and is a timeless shape. I can see why guys like ACG, Wal, GB, Alembic and Schack to name a few, do well. Their usp is all in their electronics. Nothing else sounds like them and the full electronics package and pickups are generally not available for purchase to put in other basses. And quite right too. As for Morgan, it's not a literal comparison... But there are elements of a bass that are not as straightforward either. Take this for example... http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/images/innovation/detail/bass_preamp_lg.jpg That's years of r and d and each one of those circuits are hand soldered and matched to the pickups it will work with. That's not your normal plug and play circuit. I'd say elements of this are on par with a Morgan personally... Remember, Morgan don't build their own engines for starters. The actual production is vastly different but my stance on only a Morgan will do if the buyer wants a Morgan still stands. As for the Wal pickups, it's not as simple as that either. Where are you going to find a Wal pickup to reverse engineer? If you find one, are you going to destroy it in your quest to replicate it? Have you got the winders to make it a viable process? Are you going to invest the time and money to buy all the components (in small but expensive quantities) to test it all? And remember, the pickups are only half of the Wal sound. Yes, they could be built at home... But in reality they are not are they? Especially as a one off. That's why our New Jersey friend tried to make a business venture out of it. You make it sound like its easy... But it's far from that. If it was that easy, everybody would be doing it and cashing in. [/quote] A J also balances perfectly and has the golden proportions, a good Fender Jazz is a beautiful thing, a lovely design. Fenders are so customisable anyway, that's part of the joy of owning one. New PG, new pups, new body, hardware, a John East pre-amp, even a new neck if you bought blind, or foolishly. I think trying to reverse engineer a pickup is daft, how the hell are you supposed to guess what it will sound like in the bass? People THINK they know, but they don't really, it's all hit and miss. And very expensive. Seems to me a custom bass is simply a vanity indulgence for most people, their time and money would be better spent on learning how to set up their instruments, learn about sound and eq. I think half the problems they think they are addressing with a custom bass could be solved more simply if it's not just a vanity project. Probably should get some lessons on how to play the thing too

[quote name='alhbass' timestamp='1380558038' post='2227058'] What kind of envelope filter, for example..? I have a good compressor - wondering whether that might help at all? [/quote] You don't need an envelope filter. For gods sake don't use an octaver. A little compression is cool. All depends on how you feel your dub, you HAVE to feel inspired by your sound. Remember, all the real dub and reggae players had simple gear, and YOU can make those sounds with the kit you already have. Turn up the bass and mids to you liking (I like a bit of bite in my dubby tones), use the neck pup, cut your fingernails, and pluck near the neck. I love to use the side of my thumb, sometimes while damping by the bridge with the side of my hand at the same time. However, it's more about what you play rather than the tone.

Nah, forget all that sh*t, what you need is one of my patented JAH-TONE control knob sets. Stick em on, tighten em up, and you will find the Rastaman Vibrations in your wedding vegetables. Satisfaction guaranteed. Jah be praised. Bless up.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380553405' post='2226976'] Ooh.... that's made me go all tingly inside. [/quote]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380553014' post='2226969'] Ah so romantic! This is true - for a lot of people, it's that promise of nirvana, all their dreams answered.... when in reality, it's the build that is the bit that captures their imagination, rather than the finished product. Just because you can choose from an almost limited amount of options, doesn't mean you should. Choose all the woods you want, choose your pickups, circuits... spec this, spec that... the only way you know what it sounds like, how it plays like, is when it's in your hands... And when it is in your hands, you have to convince your friends it's the best thing ever... before you put if up for sale months later in BC classified. See it all too often... Go on, say it xilddx... say my new favourite quote...! [/quote] 'They don't know what the f*** they want, only when they f***ing want it'. I put some extra sauce on for you mate

Are many of the customers just as much of a pain in the arse as many of the builders though? People who think they know what they want but can't communicate it, or think they will get the perfect bass when in fact it will be pretty much like any other bass of similar spec, just looking different. Custom Bass Disease. Everyone loves a good build thread. They love the transformation of an old bit of diseased wood that looks like anything in yer dad's shed to when they start bevelling edges and sculpting laminated neck heels, then that magic rub with a bit of water to show how wickid the grain will look when the Ronseal goes on Sadly that's the only bit that 'does what it says on the tin', the rest of it is just a bass that you have no idea about, how it will feel, what it will sound like, or when you will get it. All you really want is to see your custom bass being made from bits of wood and metal and being transformed over an excruciating period of time into what you think you will have an everlasting loving relationship with.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380546143' post='2226790'] Err... I'm not making excuses. I'm actually agreeing with people... just saying, nothing is going to change. It's been it like the 70s... and it's not changing soon. Those that evolve, survive, those that don't, get eaten. Speak with you wallet. Take your business elsewhere. [/quote] Exactly, I think people are not getting what you are saying. They should ask xgsjx what he thinks would happen to his wife's cake making business if she got a reputation for not delivering custom wedding cakes on time.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1380448501' post='2225284'] Are you keeping the metal plate or will you be changing it for a black one? [/quote] Do you mean the bell plate? That will be going, this will be a one-piece PG mate. I'll be selling the neck, tuners & string retainer, neck plate, PG, bell plate, knobs. I'll donate 50% of the proceeds to the Bass Bash charity.

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1380373514' post='2224418'] Love the look of it Nige... [/quote] [quote name='PTB' timestamp='1380447567' post='2225263'] Great to see you're making this your own, looks cool! [/quote] Thanks fellas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zMQYMgj3xI

Ok, getting there with the headstock painting and PG design. Also getting Howard to make me a small wedge-shaped ebony thumb-rest to go on the black part of the lion's face.

Superb, Sylvia! Thanks so much for this, must have taken a lot of effort. x

Wow, I've noticed a lot of them, good on yer for volunteering!

Absolutely brilliant!

[quote name='Lee Carter' timestamp='1380188775' post='2221961'] [url="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/487910_10151246406321792_2079860067_n.jpg"]/487910_10151246406321792_2079860067_n.jpg[/url]" class="ipsImage" /> [/quote]Excellent!

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1380188662' post='2221958'] Remember, if you are painting the head-stock, make sure you put the transfer on [u]after[/u] [size=4]the paintwork.[/size] [size=4]Just don't want you messing it up.[/size] [/quote] Thank you! I was going to put on whatever gets delivered first, so thanks for that heads up mate

[quote name='Raggy' timestamp='1380186376' post='2221904'] Another chance to post mine from Rothko (again) But do take your time as mentioned. [attachment=144634:224759_2065411038721_4067109_n.jpg] [/quote] That looks brilliant!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1380180265' post='2221800'] Rothko are great to deal with and decals are of excellent quality Nige. Good advice from Kev, they are thin, which is one of the reasons they look so convincing when the job is complete. [/quote] Thanks G Can't wait to get the heastock painted!