SpondonBassed

I've been hesitant to go further this week because I was looking at a relatively expensive purchase in the sourcing of pickguard material. This will almost certainly be a unique shape even though I am following the outline of the missing original in the faded red paint of the Encore body. The pickup position that has been dictated by the Yamaha neck has made that most likely. The faded paint is just visible enough to make out under good light. Tracing paper is not transparent enough to make out and trace with a pencil however. I used some flimsy masking sheet that was handy and getting it as gently taut as possible was able to trace the outline onto it. The trick then is to get that outline onto the card backing* without distorting or ripping the flimsy plastic sheet. It is especially fragile since I have cut the outline of the pickup and the neck with a sharp blade to allow the sheet to sit flat against the body. I used a glass cutter. The little wheel allowed me to follow the curve accurately whilst scribing that curve into the card. *In this case, a Weetabix packet. Other cereals' or products' containers may be used. I followed the scribed outline with a sharp blade. It came out better than I'd hoped. A few minor shavings and I've ended up with a pleasing shape that is worth working on both to mount the controls and to finish off the instrument respectfully. Here it is in reverse. For the next build, I quite like the idea of using a "Pop Tart" packet with the outside showing and then having it laminated onto a proper three ply backing... The mock up is promising.

Especially if there is a bass driver hidden in the seat of it...

That sounds like a cracking idea. Couldn't be worse than endless twelve bar blues on open mic nights... could it?

In the seventies I named my dog Jet. He wasn't all black nor did I know what the Shadows' bassist was called. I shamefully admit that I took the name from Maccer's Jet.

It would be a shame to bin it just because no-one is in a position to collect. It would be different if we didn't have the current restrictions of course. I know fifteen inch cones aren't exactly fashionable but that means they are more rare. When they come into favour again, you could gain from it. There must be more folk like myself who like big drivers. I already own a fifteen inch Ashdown Toneman 300 with an eighteen inch Trace extension cab. I'd be after it for myself otherwise.

You might as well try and stop people from reposting jokes from the Bad Jokes topic in the Bad Jokes topic. It's fine by me. I get the OP's point and sometimes find myself frustrated by meandering topics too. Unlike Internet search engines though, searching BC you don't get other search engines touting for business among the results. THAT's irritating.

Did you ever follow up with Ashdown's offer to look at it?

Welcome Bob.

That's lovely. Thanks for documenting it. I didn't see any strap buttons but I am wondering how it balances.

It looks like someone left grope marks on a large woman with underboobs.

PMd.

I had another play on it this evening. It sustains as long as any of my other basses, including the neck through ones.

Yes. I forget where I got this from but it details several makes: PickupPositionsForManyMakesOfBass.xlsx

No photos this time, sorry. There isn't much to see. All I've done is to connect the controls and loom and tape them up to the body in the absence of a pickguard upon which to mount them. The solderless loom gives me the option of trying a couple of different pickups with relatively little hassle although I don't find soldering a problem. It plays! @Shepster8316 had dressed the frets on the Yamaha neck already. This must have helped because I only had a little bit of setting up to do. The neck was fine under tension. I got the action low enough to play easily and then all that was needed was a slight adjustment to the intonation. When I connected the controls and plugged in I got an immediate response. Nice. The output with its original pickup is low as you might expect. It's a little lacking in top end too. It does however give a nice fat tone. The B is okay but not great. I may well restring it to the standard EADG yet. I t might be more to do with the pickup though. I ran through a couple of numbers off my set the other evening and found I was enjoying it despite having to be careful with half its guts hanging out. I need a suitable sheet of material from which to make a pickguard. Prices are prohibitive for what is essential a bass made from donated spares. Hopefully, I will find something soon. More then.

Welcome Laurent.

I seem to recall that noise reduction was frowned upon in some circles. Tape noise was reckoned to be less of a handicap to the music than the head-under-a-blanket sound of NR.

Reminds me of Mezzoforte.

The belts are knackered. They can usually be replaced.

Grand.

Aw.

Bang on! (I like your signature file now too... or do I?)

The pickup screws? I have no idea. I wouldn't be able to compare it to anything anyway as the only other bass I built also had screws.

I drilled the pilot holes for the pickups. I measured and tried to get a good position for the pole pieces several times and when I was satisfied, I went for it. Measuring up after... nailed it! 295mm on the knob. Next task, shielding. As if there hasn't been 'nuff of that this year!!! I am still using some self adhesive tape that my late mum bought to keep slugs away from her plant pots. It's good stuff for shielding too. Doing it all now means I wont have to worry about it again. Pickup mounting springs and screws. I've restrung it and it's looking good. Pole pieces are aligned as best they can be and the copper shielding hides my chiselling marks. Controls and loom ready to fit tomorrow, all being well. I think it's one of @KiOgon's that a fellow member donated to me.

The Fostex X15 runs at normal speed. What machine have you got? Chances are that all it needs is a new set of belts. The rubber perishes over time.

Everything below the underscore beneath the word "Quote" is your signature file. It appears at the end of each post you make to those members who select the option to see signature files. The bit I've circled in red is called a spoiler box. It hides its contents until the reader reveals them. In this case, yours is empty. To edit: Click on your user name at the top right of the page. Go to Account Settings and on the left of the page select Signature. From there you can edit your signature file.