Joebethell

Had a few questions.

Yes the Curlee comes with all the Hipshot bits and other parts/pickup I have. 

The ESP is a player but could be improved. 

14 hours ago, Bigwan said:

Do it - they're AWESOME!

As tempted as I am my head has won the fight at this time. 

If any are at the Midlands Bass Bass I might have a first play and that might bring on the Gas Attack but as it is I'm managing to resist. 

Have decided to put the curlee up for sale as I am just not getting the time to put the work in that this bass needs and deserves so will be in the basses for sale section. 

SD curlee now sold 

ESP ON HOLD.

It's time to admit I have no time or enough talent to complete these two projects. 

The first is the easier of the two an ESP PJ I purchased it from a fellow bass chatter after previously seeing it for sale In a shop. 

It's been stripped at some point in it's life so has no finish that I can feel on the body but you can see it used to be dark blue in the control cavity. The neck has has a defret plays quite well ideally needs a shim or having the frets put back to get it perfect. Nut width is around 42/3mm and the neck is quite slim (I much prefer smaller jazz type necks but found this very comfy) 

Pickups and pots I think have been changed but sounds phat on the Dimarzio P. 

The second bass is more of a project but a rare one. 

I had this imported from Birdsong guitars it was part of the old SD Curlee parts and tooling Scott purchased when he acquired he brand.

More info can be found here www.birdsongguitars.com/sd-curlee-info

Now as stated this is the only maple capped bass made (well part made) so I was trying to complete it as best I could but I just don't have the time or skills to do it. The bass does have some issues that need sorting to complete it and I will happily go through it all with any interested party. 

I have some parts and a letter from Scott that came when I purchased the bass. 

Any questions feel free to ask. 

I'm looking to sell not trade will be happy to meet up or you can come to me. I have no cases for either bass so cannot really post. 

Based in Market Harborough with a decent kettle. 

Great cab this! 

Can buy with confidence David is cracking chap. ✌

Think I'm starting to get a thing for ACG this is about the 4th or 5th that I have started to lust over 

On 05/02/2018 at 18:06, wateroftyne said:

Quick update... Leszek's just messaged to tell me a trial model is en-route to Geordieland :-)

He says: 'It isn't the final design, but let's treat this matter like experiment ok? Amp sounds brighter caused by the speaker transformer I have used in this one. I am happy to hear your opinion, but ultimately I will use the transformer with a darker sound.'

So... we'll see what happens! It's arriving just in time for a solid week of rehearsals, so I'll have loads of time to try it.

At some point I imagine it'll be going on a grand tour of the UK, so watch this space.

 

So do we know or have an idea to when they will be happy to run with a production model? 

That's a stunner 

So it' taking me a bit longer again but I have made some progress with a shim for the bridge.

I think I will need another thin one but the 1.2mm plate almost makes it may try and get hold of a 0.2 and 0.5 and see if I can get it perfect. 

I have also taken the time to drill some wiring holes and copper tape the pickup,bridge and control openings. 

Hoping for some more free time to get cracking. 

Had a zoot all to briefly (5string black jazz style) 

This won't hang around for long. 

1 minute ago, SpondonBassed said:

I'd suggest you don't attach the shim.  If you make it with enough accuracy the through-holes for the bridge mount screws will provide location for it.  The shim thing is often misunderstood.

Shims should always be loose when the parts are disassembled.

Thanks for the tip 

2 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I'm sure a spacer plate is the way to go. 

Schaller provide them on some of their bridges as standard - so the principle is utterly sound.  Do you remember this same problem with @W1_Pro's beautiful Mockingbird?

 

In the end, I had to fit 3 (!) spacers to get the bridge high enough:

 

Anything that is hard and cut to the right size will do.  It will be in compression only so, providing is isn't crushable it will work and if it is hard wood or plastic it will tranfer the vibrations just fine.  Maybe some cuts from an ebony headstock plate or similar?  You could prove it out with some plywood first to see how thick it needs to be....

Thanks for the suggestion I can see me playing with some wood scraps then getting some brass and seeing what I can come up with! Might secure it with a couple of screws recessed to the front depending on depth as it will be hidden under the bridge and held st the back by the bridge mounting anyway 

Today has been a day to forget really. So in preparation for trying to get something done at the weekend on the bass I tried to stick some strings on to make sure everything is good up to tension (I should have done this a while ago but time has gotten away from me the last couple of months). Anyway things of note! 

Lucky I have a spare nut as in my absence of skill I may have adjusted it tiny bit too low but the even with it the bass has a bigger issue the bride recess. 

The only thing I can think is that the mark1 Badass has a thicker base plate as the Hipshot now struggles with adjustment. Height has to be set at a scary angle to get the string off the board. 

So back to square one do I wait for an old badass with the narrow spacing (rarer than s rare thing) or do I find some way to shim the bridge maybe like the old brass tone plate idea that yamaha used to use? 

19 minutes ago, 4000 said:

 

Actually, there was a Ric in the B/ham Bass Centre that was one of my 'ones that got away'. Wonder it was the same one? Probably would have been mid/late 90s. I'd traded my Dolphin Pro 2 in ME for a Status 2000. When I got it home, I realised the Status caused me severe issues (as they do), so took it back and reclaimed my Dolphin. While I was there I popped round to the Bass Centre and they had in a Jetglo 4001, Nov or Dec 72 IIRC. Checkered binding, toaster, crushed pearl etc. I think it was £795, or possibly £895. They had it incorrectly listed as a '73 or something, so I told them what it was. It wasn't very well set up, but I plugged it in and it sounded huge. Unfortunately I didn't have any cash at the time, and for some reason it didn't occur to me to offer up my Dolphin as a px. Yeah, wish I'd bought that bass, it was definitely up there in 'chances missed'. It was one of the best-sounding Rics I've played, although I do generally love '72s. Wonder who has it now? It'd be around £3k these days!

 

 

 

Yeah would have been around the same time late 90s. The RIC that I played was in the Exchange and was fireglo or Montezuma Brown can't remember exactly just remember the tone blew me away. Have had a couple since a 4003 and a 4001 but I still think that one had something extra. 

Such a same the two shops are gone though! Not many like that anymore if any. 

Right time I got back on this.

After not really getting time to do anything for a few months I plan on working on the Curlee over the weekend so hopefully some interesting updates to come.

Spent many hours lusting over Basses in the old Musical Exchange Brimingham and the Bass Centre round the corner. Stand out items include a Wal Mk1 for £300 a black Jaydee Supernatual that played like butter and a 4001 that sounded so huge!! I have never picked up another Ricky that sounded like that one. WHY I didn't purchase any of these I don't know.

I used to love getting buzzed into the old vintage section next to the bass cave in Musical exchange silly really but I always remember that and the broken bits area that you could hunt through and make offers for all sorts.

Stupid mistake by me was letting my PT5 go a few years ago after falling in love with it in Bass Direct still miss that bass keep looking at Tbird loaded basses (none Tbird shaped)

18 hours ago, alyctes said:

I tend to agree with Sean.  At £700 and local collection it might go, but TBH £900 is pushing it even if seller would courier, IMO.

Ah so it is priced a bit high then. Good looking thing though not that I could justify it just not seen one for a while. 

Dont know if this is a good price but looks like s nice bass for the money to me. 

Seem to remember these are rated very highly by some. 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F372168107339

SOLD OUTSIDE Basschat

That's a nice looking bass

Back up again.

Up

That top is stunning I know you have a fingerboard selected but I think a birds eye or flamed maple would contrast really well.
If it plays like the little beast I played at at the bash this will be very very hard to put down.

Been a while but finally got a little bit more work done on the Curlee.

After my concerns over the bridge I have managed to attach it with very little work i sanded some of the finish in the cutaway flat and it fits in quite well now. I have also managed to screw it down without issue although the two outer screws are at the point where the neck joins the body they seem to bite into the body wood deeper than the neck so it feels very secure.

Tuners have also now been attached after receiving the correct fitment.

Next on the plans order a pickup and attach/shape the brass nut so I can get some tension on the neck and get it setup and playable.

Couple of nibbles but no takers yet type bump.