Mikey R

Very interesting - cant believe I nearly missed this! I didnt know you could get low voltage valves. Ive just done a quick google for data sheets for the 1zh1zb - I didnt get any hits. Where did you find these valves? Were they NOS?

The bids are still coming in...!

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='580799' date='Aug 25 2009, 11:18 PM']AC hum from cheap power supplies is well documented, advice is to spend a lot more to get a quiet one, like a Dunlop brick, but i can't justify the expense yet.[/quote] Al, have you tried making one up yourself? Surely its just a well shielded transformer followed by a full wave rectifier and a regulator.

[quote name='Merton' post='579009' date='Aug 24 2009, 01:05 PM']Gigged this baby 3 times in the last 11 days, that's about 5 1/2 hours of giggage so far under its belt.[/quote] Any photos? We need proof!

[quote name='rjb' post='578351' date='Aug 23 2009, 05:40 PM']Could you not make a little maple plug to fill the middle one in? Or perhaps a glue and maple sawdust filler?[/quote] I could - it would never be perfect though. And carried on fixing all of the wrincles on this one then I wouldnt have time to make another [quote name='Tait' post='578536' date='Aug 23 2009, 08:51 PM']+1 speaking as someone who has done this course (well, i did the one to one course), i have to agree with every word of that. you'll also love it more than any other bass you'll ever play, i promise![/quote] So true - I love this bass, worts and all. Im keeping all of the imperfections to remind me not to make the same mistakes again.

That is a very nice piece. Checked it out this morning, have you seen the price its going for now? Good on Andy!

[quote name='dood' post='573412' date='Aug 18 2009, 08:17 PM']Dood don't play in Korn, he play in [url="http://withinthevoid.com"]Within The Void[/url] [/quote] I was waiting for that!

He makes some seriously sweet instruments. This one is my favourite: Very nearly perfect - I love the details, like the Celtic knot inlay in the pale moon ebony top. Totally beautiful!

[quote name='RhysP' post='572576' date='Aug 18 2009, 06:33 AM']Some couriers probably wouldn't take anything that wasn't boxed up. If they did I'm pretty certain you'd be screwed if you needed to make an insurance claim.[/quote] When I sent mine over to Merton, I read on the Parcel Force website that they will only take an instrument if its in a hardcase, and if the external packagins IS the hardcase, then the case isnt insured. The case is insured if its inside other packaging. So I wrapped the case up in brown paper. It made perfect sense to me at the time.

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='573185' date='Aug 18 2009, 05:00 PM']Been too preoccupied with electronics for the last 2 months to nitice this thread : ( Must say thats one gorgeous bass - you must be well pleased with the outcome. I love the understated classy finish, not too flash. When you going to lend it to me?[/quote] Thanks Al!

Just a question - would it be easier to buy one from a shop rather than an internet outlet? The shops tend to pick out the prettiest ones and send back the dogs so you dont have to.

Excelent! Are you hooked?

[quote name='Metalmoore' post='562994' date='Aug 7 2009, 06:51 PM']Wow now that we got some closeups i'm in love. The wood is beautiful! How much was the course? Was it just you or were their other people building with you?[/quote] Its all on [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/coursedetails.html"]http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/coursedetails.html[/url] We did the three person course. My spec was at the absolute upper limit of what anyone could really do in a week - I aim high. Steve and Chris took a more practical approach and didnt mess with the spec, so they finished on time and didnt have to rush - and they probably enjoyed the course a whole lot more because of that. Now that Ive done the course, I'd recommend going for a one piece neck and a body without a cap, it will save you a whole day at the beginning and you wont be trying to catch up for the rest of the week. You will need to remember that you are responsible for the instrument you are building, Jon and Rob will tell you what you need to do and offer guidance, but its down to you to get the tasks done. If you just want a top quality, perfect custom bass, commision Jon to build one for you. But if you want your own, thats got your own wrinkles, (and you really will know where every wrinkle is, believe me!) then this will be the best week you ever spent.

Heres the pics:

[quote name='thedonutman' post='562459' date='Aug 7 2009, 01:24 AM']That second riff you played, it's the Basstasters riff isn't it? Do you know if it's actually a riff from a song or just a lick they came up with?[/quote] So was the first riff - easier comparison for tone [quote name='soopercrip' post='562601' date='Aug 7 2009, 10:00 AM']got the building bug bad then? (me too) GAS attack for buying, whats the build bug then? (answers on a £50 note send too....)[/quote] Well, theres TAS (tool aquisition syndrome), I think builders bug must just be an accepted risk. [quote name='GreeneKing' post='562684' date='Aug 7 2009, 11:29 AM']You know when the thought of building a bass comes to mind it's always the neck that I wonder about, how to achieve a perfect profile lengthwise? Must be quite a skill methinks to get it right.[/quote] After getting the rough shape with the rasps and spokeshave, its actually quite similar to boat building - fair it with paper on a block so you dont introduce too many bumps, and just keep going till its right! It should be a faily slow process, unless youre rushing, so you get plenty of warning for if its going badly wrong.

[quote name='soopercrip' post='561677' date='Aug 6 2009, 07:33 AM']I'm using the ACG 02 pre, you think that will be ok without a string ground?[/quote] I dont think the pre makes much difference, but Im not sure - I think the hum is mostly picked up by the pickups. IIRC EMG recommend not using a string ground, as their pickups are really well shielded the string ground actually makes this worse. Merton and I have a pair of custom Wizard 84s that have extra shielding, when I get round to it Im going to try them without a ground and see how they hum.

[quote name='soopercrip' post='561445' date='Aug 5 2009, 08:23 PM']So, they all need grounding, right?? Or just one?? Andy[/quote] I rekon you have four choices - 1) ground them all, or 2) ground one and use a brass nut, or 3) ground one and use a zero fret, or 4) use pickups that dont require the strings to be grounded, like EMGs It can be a bit tricky to get the screw holes for the bridge pieces placed EXACTLY where you want them, if they are a little off then its really noticable. I drilled mine by hand, but it think it might have been better to make a template from either steel plate, or maybe perspex. EDIT: Forgot to say, remember its safer to not have a string ground - less chance of getting shocked by dodgy stage and desk wiring.

Wow! Break a leg Peter! [quote name='GreeneKing' post='514789' date='Jun 15 2009, 09:37 PM']It's the 1st gig for all 4 of us too but we really are improving. Lead guitard is still a bit of a plonker at times but at least I know everyone else in the band thinks this now which makes it easier [/quote] Thats the role of all Guitards in a gigging band. [sub](joke)[/sub] You should have gone for TMG - Three Musicians and a Guitarist... Disclaimer - my guitarist is also a bassist in his other band.

How much does it weigh? Looks really handy for travelling with!

[quote name='Sercet' post='560547' date='Aug 4 2009, 07:33 PM']Mike, My neck has a few bumps too, but I still like it. Where will you make your next bass? Steve[/quote] Hey Steve, our basses are totally unique - I love that about them. The few very minor problems they have just prove that point. Yours just sounded so nice! Was that a Basslines pickup in yours? I'll be out of the country for a while, but when I get back I'll be looking for a new house with a garage. Its going to be a busy end of the year but Im hoping there will be a bandsaw somewhere in my future!

[quote name='funkypenguin' post='560531' date='Aug 4 2009, 07:18 PM']thats one of the nicest P-basses ive ever seen! lovely piece of work well done[/quote] Thanks! I was having a play after work today, Im just so pleased. The balance is perfect, it looks cool and I can get all of the P-type sounds I need from it. Really good rock bass and I'd suspect it would do some pretty good funk tones too. Theres only three problems, and they are probably very minor but they bug me cos its mine: * The pickup route in the scratchguard is not quite centered in the strings, so Ive had to move the strings over towards the treble side a little. Schaller 2000 bridge made this really easy! I'll eventually make a new scratchguard. * The neck has a few dips and bumps. Its slimmest at the 5th fret but then gets thicker by a very small amount towards the volute. * The HIDEOUS three dots! Im tempted to keep all these imperfections as a reminder not to rush, and plan and measure EVERYTHING! But Im totally hooked on this building thing - Im planning another bass (after Merts of course), same thing but a little different...

Heres the finished bass: Ive attached a recording made this evening. We recorded direct to the EMU soundcard, and used quite a lot of EQ from the presets - pretty nasty! Ive also got the original dry tracks - I'll try and put them up later too.

[quote name='WarPig' post='557069' date='Jul 31 2009, 01:11 PM']Nothing beats a p-bass loaded with a thumper too![/quote] Ive got a new Thumper on mine, cant wait to get it all soldered up! [quote name='Mr.T' post='557080' date='Jul 31 2009, 01:19 PM']I could make one, but not sure how I would get the bevelled edge?[/quote] Rough cut the outline of the scratchguard to within 2mm of the line, then stick it down onto the top of your MDF template using double sided tape. Break out the router and tidy up the outline using a straight cutter, followed but a 45 degree chamfer cutter, lowering the bit in several passes.

Hey Pete, did you get any new photos through?

[quote name='Sercet' post='551024' date='Jul 25 2009, 12:08 PM']And the finished bass... [url="http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa206/sercet/Bass%20Making/?action=view&current=P7252568.jpg"][/url][url="http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa206/sercet/Bass%20Making/?action=view&current=P7252569.jpg"][/url][url="http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa206/sercet/Bass%20Making/?action=view&current=P7252570.jpg"][/url][url="http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa206/sercet/Bass%20Making/?action=view&current=P7252571.jpg"][/url][/quote] Hi Steve, Ive got a few finished pics of you and your bass, I've PM'd you the links