Fretless Eric

I'm only recently getting effects after many years of playing. One of the boxes I have is the T-Rex Sweeper that no-ne has mentioned yet. I haven't tried many recent boxes but in the past I have been disappointed with chorus especially for removing the bottom end, I don't find that at all with this. Not a thorough reply but I am pleased with it and I hope it helps. [url="http://t-rex-effects.com/Default.aspx?ID=93&ProductID=PROD116&VariantID"]http://t-rex-effects.com/Default.aspx?ID=9...6&VariantID[/url]

Yes, agreed and until I know the circuit a bit, it's all guesswork. I have really searched for the schematic but no luck so far.

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me please? I have a vintage Orange Phazer like this: [url="http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/album146/PHASERS/ORANGE_PHASER.jpg.html"]http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php...PHASER.jpg.html[/url] and it uses 2 batteries. Without spending too much time and reverse-engineering it, the two batteries appear to power different parts of the circuit rather than just adding to provide a total 18V. I am thinking of converting it to accept an external supply and so I'd appreciate a circuit to help. Google is not my friend in this instance. Thanks for looking. Cheers, Eric.

It is worth considering that stands exist for a purpose of making your instrument readily accessible, either at home, practice or a gig and it's prime role is not to protect the instrument - no stand can prevent knocks or potential falls and long term hanging on a rubber hanger may also affect the finish. [font="Arial Black"]The best stand is to put it away in the case[/font]. Not to put a dampner on things, I suggest you think about why you want a stand in the first place. To me, stability is more important than gripping the bass. I hope this helps.

Way, way back I bought an Ibanez 2388B, black 4001 copy with bolt on neck and hence the smaller of the two neck pick ups and was mono, same as Rick Buckler has on the Jam's "In The City" album cover. This was a great bass and I played countless gigs with it. I sold this a few years ago now, when I lived in Balham, and I hope the guy that bought it has also enjoyed playing it [if you're here then I'd be interested to hear how it is]. I always wanted it to be stereo and so I did at one point replace the jack socket with an XLR and wire the two pick ups out separately. Anyway, time rolls on and I have eventually met the promise I made to myself when I sold it and I have bought a Jetglo 4003. This is a great bass, putting aside the usual RIC bridge saddle rattles which will be sorted. I still want to run it stereo so I have bought one of these boxes:- [url="http://www.ricsrus.com/Accessories.html"]http://www.ricsrus.com/Accessories.html[/url] - who needs to pay for a vintage Rickosound box? I also bought a bezel for the treble pick up hole - this is something I can whole-heartedly recommend [apart from the price] and something that RIC should offer themselves. I am now looking forward to my next gig so that I can run the neck pick up through my series 6 Trace AH200 head and the bridge through my Ashdown ABM for the valve and also so I can use a tremolo pedal. These will each use a single 1x12 cabinet [see the "DIY cabinets" sticky [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=380"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=380[/url]]. Can I ask if anyone has ever used or heard of anyone using the Bartolini pick up that replaces the rubber mute? I don't know if they even make it now. Great thread, keep it going it could be definitive. Thanks guys.

Good link, thank you. I'll continue to search locally at the moment until I feel I really have exhausted all the options but it's good to have these options. They will be open again shortly. I'm glad you got yours sorted.

[quote name='Fretless Eric' post='854344' date='Jun 2 2010, 09:02 AM']Many thanks TBD, PM replied. I'll post on progress.[/quote] I promised I'd post on progress so; still haven't been able to locate a screw. I am told that the Allparts Part No. GS-0359-005 [url="http://www.allparts.com/Bass-Key-Screws-p/gs-0359-005.htm"]http://www.allparts.com/Bass-Key-Screws-p/gs-0359-005.htm[/url] is the one to get, it certainly has the right "imperial" thread: 12/24. Unfortunately they have a high minimum order value and despite the exceptional exchange rate we can get in Australia, I am not about to buy these and I can't find anyone who is about to order from Allparts so that I can piggy-back. I'm sure I'll find one eventually, at least it means that my other basses are getting out and about.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='853681' date='Jun 2 2010, 12:40 AM']P.M.'d[/quote] Many thanks TBD, PM replied. I'll post on progress.

I don't know if anyone can help with this problem but it is the best place I know to ask. Back in 1981 or 82, before Fender started selling vintage reissues, I wanted a dot marker Jazz bass so I assembled one. A tiny advert in Melody Maker led me to a small one room in Wapping occupied by the congenial Barry Moorhouse running “Bassmate” where he had 2 Mighty Mite bodies, I chose a 1-piece Ash Jazz (I later went back and bought the other as well, but thats another story) and got it sprayed sunburst by Rockbottom in Croydon (I suspect by Bernie Goodfellow). At the same time, I fortunately found a Mighty Mite dot marker Jazz neck from Len Stiles in Lewisham (is it still there?) and had it sprayed up in Nitro-cellulose with a correct decal added. Reverse Kluson tuners were from Barry at “Bassmate” and added to the authentic vibe. “Bassmate” went on to explode into the world renowned “Bass Centre”, Barry deservedly met all his heroes, became rich and drove a Porsche. I didn’t, but the bass has been terrific, played many, many gigs and is looking genuinely relic'ed; I now live and gig in Melbourne. Fast forward to last week at band rehearsal and I break an A string. The gear cog fell off onto the floor. No screw or washer were to be seen anywhere so I guess these came off somewhere along the route and the gear has been held on by string tension alone. Let this be a lesson to us all! So my problem is finding a replacement screw and washer for one close-to-29 years old, reverse Kluson machine head. Any help, pointers, sympathy would be much appreciated, as you can well imagine. Thanks for reading this far.

[quote name='Alfie' post='669957' date='Dec 1 2009, 12:13 AM']Did you ever manage to find a decent dedicated shortscale case? Has anyone come across one in the last year?[/quote] Have you tried Hiscox, they are certainly a leader in the field and I can't believe they would never have been asked about one before?

[quote name='BeLow' post='639301' date='Oct 29 2009, 05:02 AM']Hey Fretless Eric - no answer to your question but great to see a post - hope life is good for you down under.[/quote] HI and thanks for the welcome. It's been a busy (almost) 3 years and been playing a lot. As it turned out the recording I was doing last week highlighted more differences in the band than had been apparent and I feel a sense of relief to be out of it. I have other stuff going on anyway now. Melbourne is entering summer now and it is a great time to be here with no regrets. Unfortunately the time difference on forums isn't conducive to adding much. The same goes for Hi-Fi Forum, although I do feel more comfortable with UK based discussions that Aussie doe the the differnt backgrounds of the contributors: interesting. Thank you all the other posters. I will try Thomastiks myself one day but I'll use my stock of Rotos first.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='635757' date='Oct 25 2009, 09:48 AM']Ken Smith strings are purple bound. The steel ones keep just the right bit of the bright end even when they are really old. Planning on getting a pile more at some point.[/quote] Thanks Mr Foxen. I have also just spotted that Thomastik may use purple as well. I need to ask some more questions about the strings I think.

Hi, I was recording yesterday and in speaking to the engineer, who was also a bass player, he was telling me about his bass that he had bought from a touring bass player when he came to Melbourne, where I live now. The sale of the bass funded his ticket home as sounded like a well thought out strategy. The bass is an Overwater, I have no other details of it, but he said that the strings were the best sounding that he had come across and he is older than me! He has changed them a few times for other makes but always came back to the original set that came on the bass because they just sounded great. I said that I would endeavour to find out what they were as this forum is full of generous and knowlegeable people and also UK based, as was the touring bassist and the Overwater. The only clue as to the strings are the fact that they have purple binding. I have not come across this before but then again I don't get around as much as I used to The Overwater site is awaiting images of their strings so I don't know if they are their own make. Any suggestions would be appreciated. That touring bass player may actually be on here - are you? Thanks guys, Eric.

Hi all, I know this might appear as if I am a right tart, after all I registered a while back but hardly contribute, but I do lurk and read post. This time I would really like some advice, possibly from someone who has had experience and I think I would get a more comprehensive and considered response from Basschat UK than my regular music forum in Melbourne [Melband]. My Giffin Custom (1987) has developed a problem in the electronics. The pre-amp is a Bartolini dual band "TBT". It still works but as time goes on, during playing, it produces a loud pop. In my mind it is as if a capacitor is charging up over a 5 to 10 minute period and then discharges producing the noise. I'm also guessing that this may be part of a component failure in the preamp. Am I on the right lines here? I'd really like to fix it rather then just replace it with some modern equivalent (NTBT?). Thanks guys.

Hi Plonk, Pleased to see another Giffin fan around. I have a custom 4 string from 1987. My first item from him was a bass neck in 1982 after I played Felix Krish's at the Cricketers. Top notch craftsmanship. Well done on having the 5 & 6 as well as the fretless. Have fun on the board, I don't contribute too much since moving to Melbourne but I do occassionally lurk (do people still use that expression?). Cheers, Eric.