lucky

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1411472743' post='2559804'] What you'll need to bear in mind is that the screw lugs on MM style pups are on the top and bottom of the case, and J pickups have them on the left and right (long sides), so there might need to be a little bit of woodwork to accommodate this. I think the 'sweet spot' for the MM pickup placement is 52 or 53mm from the saddle of the G string to the centre of the pickup. Hopefully this is of some help. [/quote] I have to admit I'd not thought of that! thanks for the eagle eye. If the humbucker was placed further up (towards the neck) than 53cm, is there any way to guestimate how that will affect the sound? [quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1411473038' post='2559810'] No boos or hisses from me. I just wonder, can you really revert it to stock if you rout for a MM pickup? And, if the current J represents the MM bridge coil, is there enough room without having to remove/relocate the P? As for the aesthetics. I too would change things around (not really a fan of all that black). I'm not against relic'ing, really. I think anything goes, but I know I wouldn't bother trying to make the thing look authentically worn. I'd just do a straight refinish. You should do whatever you want but, again, if you're thinking of reverting back to stock to sell it, your refinish is really going to affect the value. [/quote] I suppose it'll never be totally stock, but if the electronics and parts are all original will it matter that there's a tad more wood missing from inside the cavity, which is covered by the scratchplate? [quote name='mingsta' timestamp='1411473892' post='2559819'] Does this bass have any sentimental value? If not, then you might be better off selling it and getting something different. It sounds like a good £300 for parts and labour. I briefly considered butchering my 94 stingray to make it an HH and refin, but concluded that with the money I'd spend, I'd be halfway to having enough for another used bass. [/quote] Fair point, and you're probably right but I've grown to love the neck and the body shape/weight so I figure it's worth a go. I'm not attached to it yet, I've not named it and it's not a particularly collectible or valuable Fender so I think it's worth a punt to see if I get a bass that I actually play rather than waste as decoration which is what it's currently relegated to (decoration I don't admire particularly) and regarding the finish- does it make sense to try to relic it a little and if I like it, I keep it or if I make a pigs ear of it then I fork out on a nice white (as that's pretty much the only colour I'd pick to match a rosewood fretboard) refin' or will that cause problems? Cheers for the help so far guys

love it

Hi Guys, this is an open ended posting so all 2 cents welcome.. So I have an old ish fender jp-90, (kind've a pre-highway one cheapo AM bass) and the intention of upgrading it, my dilemma is how. I've never done anything beyond resoldering it before so I'll need a good tech (recommendations welcome) to implement this stuff. It's not too common a bass so I can't find much info on previous mod's to them. here is a google pic of it: The stock pickups and 'lectrics are pretty poor, so I'd like to take off all the originals, that way it can be reverted to stock in future, and replace the PJ pickups with a chunky MM/MEC style humbucker at the bridge (cue the boos and hisses..). The logic behind it is that I want an alternative to the PJ style and I'm loving the sound of the chunky humbuckers on my Warwick $$, I know that a few mod's won't make it sound like a Warwick but still.. I guess that the bridge coil will sit where the J pickup is now so hopefully that'll still sound familiar (right?) and as these basses were made on the cheap there is a big ol' cavity underneath the scratchplate so I don't think it'll require as much routing. I'd also like to have have a 3 way selector switch, bridge coils/both coils/neck coil, and a new bridge The final dilemma is that I'm not huge on the Black/rosewood/maple headstock combo, and I'm considering relic'ing it (again boo, hiss) to expose some of the wood underneath or a possible refin. So, my dilemma is whether should I butcher it so? and if yes, what would you do? and any input on how to proceed/past experiences appreciated Cheers y'all

'06 Warwick Streamer $$ a few months back, non-functioning active circuit but works just fine passively, reduced from £500 to £400 I did an obligatory scout of the serial number beforehand and the guy said it was a pawn that was never reclaimed so seemed to be a legit acquisition

[quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1406119525' post='2508482'] Her rendition of hth is jolly good even if you disregard the cleavage [/quote] if you what now? She's definitely talented, and conciously giving the people of the internet what they want

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1399966685' post='2449318'] For sure! The Warwick is such a radical departure from what you're accustomed to!! Welcome to the light! In a couple of years time you'll be contemplating your Warwick collection, deciding upon whether to play your Streamer $$, your Thumb NT, or your fretless Dolphin, and thanking that sweet fateful day when Crack Converters freed you from the shackles of Fenderdom. Maybe keep a Fender in the attic though, just for those times when you need to remind yourself what proper basses evolved from [/quote] hahaha i still can't believe the difference. But I suppose it's like cars, yes there's still 4 tyres/strings and something to make it move (engine/pups) but the similarities end there

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1399902440' post='2448769'] With actives I think the usual reason for why some seem better than others is how (in a 3 band EQ for example) the treble, mid and bass frequencies are chosen, the shape (width) of the filter curves and the amount in dB of cut and boost available. Some EQs also have selectable mid frequencies. Some active EQs employ sweepable frequency boosts (parametric EQs) like my old Westone Spectrum LX which has a passive tone control (which like other passives cuts treble) and in active mode will add an amount of boost centred around a sweepable frequency which can be either treble or bass (much like Wal basses I gather). [/quote] This sounds both fun and complicated. How much do you tend to use the EQ while you're playing? As opposed to finding a standard EQ on your amp and leaving it largely alone Would it be heresy/a waste just to make it purely passive and replace the 2EQ pots with a pair of tone pots?

Thanks. I've never really used active electronics so I've never really got how one is significantly better than the other? Hence why the John Easts, Aguilars etc are worth it?

Thanks guys. The only issue is it's making me re-evaluate the exclusively Fender only policy I've had towards basses the last couple of years. I suppose it's a nice problem to have so i shan't complain [quote name='lemmywinks' timestamp='1399556262' post='2445272'] £400 is a top price, well done bud! Why does my local Crack Converters never have anything like this in? [/quote] I've said the same thing before but now I daresay I can never say it again. I guess they're always just worth a quick look

Given that you've repeat flipped to get maple, and that you seem to want one that looks and feels like the particular one that you've played then i'd just haggle a little and buy it. You'll absolutely kick yourself if the one you wind up with isn't quite as perfect the one you've played, and despite small price difference and sweeteners, that's got to be the priority. Also if it's local then you can get it straight away And my go to bass is a maple necked Fender P so I can't disagree there!

I'm not much help on the where to buy front, but I love the old Olympic white - tort' - rosewood combo

Apologies for the suspense, i wanted unbiased opinion to see if it was the reasonabley priced gem i thought it was. and the answer is... £400. originally £500 but reduced due to the knackered EQ. so i'm feeling pretty good about it

my new toy, courtesy of cash converters

that bucky burl is stunning!

I think I'd try to take each bass purely on its own merit and see whether you want to keep them individually rather than a full cull. If they all have unique advantages be it playability, sound or whatever then I'd be more likely to regret it. But if there are effectively duplicates then I'd move the less played versions on

So on Saturday I went and picked up a lovely old Fender Bullet from our own Ash as planned (pictures below) which fits nicely with my other couple of fenders, however I also picked up something else I didn't plan on. As someone was leaving work last week I got dragged to out on Friday night, on the way to town I spied a Warwick in the window of cash converters with a not unreasonable (I think) price tag. So I went back on Saturday morning to check it out, asked to play it, but it took a while to get any sound out as the active circuit is shot (I've not idea what's broken and it's not a dead battery), however it works just fine in passive mode. After discovering this, playing it a little and shooting the Warwick breeze the price was reduced and I said "OK, f*** it. I'll take it" It needs a set up, the action lowering and could benefit from a new set of strings after being sat in the cash converters basement storage or 6 months, plus the obvious fix of the active circuit, but the overall condition is very good. So my questions are; considering what it is and that the EQ needs fixing/replacing, how much would you have paid for it? And does anyone know of anyone in the Sheffield area who they'd recommend to give it a going over including the EQ? Bargainous Warwick Streamer $$ pics? [attachment=162153:photo (11).JPG] [attachment=162154:photo (12).JPG] Old Fender pics (courtesy of Ash) [attachment=162155:bullet.jpg] [attachment=162156:bullet 2.jpg]

Bought an old fender bullet off ash on saturday, couldn't have been smoother. Thanks again Ash!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1390210421' post='2342527'] What on earth? Not worth his time? He's there anyway, isn't he? I mean, he didn't open the shop up just for your mate, did he? Sounds like he made it not worth his time by talking your mate out of a sale. [/quote] nope, it was a Saturday afternoon and we were the only ones in there, yet still such negative customer service..

I'd keep 'em all unless there was something else (bass or non-bass related) for the money i valued more. i'm definitely too attached to mine to sell without a good reason, maybe i shouldn't have named them.. if you had to thin the herd i'd lose whichever you find you find yourself reaching for the least when it's playing just for pleasure

I'd say it's a great idea. I once went into a guitar shop with a friend who was in the market for a new guitar, he asked to play one and was handed the guitar of interest, after a few minutes he asked to try another similar guitar and was told if he wasn't there to buy a guitar that day then it wasn't worth the music shop guy having to clean and tune the guitar. Needless to say no guitar was bought that day. If somewhere had a guitar i'd seen online it would be great to try it out perfectly honestly before buying elsewhere, while still benefiting the music shop. And if the charge for trying a few things out was deducted from the final price then it could be make the prices closer with online competitors (after paying to try the things out) On a side note, i would happily pay a few pounds to spend some time just enjoying a few different instruments/amps in a little booth/room somewhere for fun

Wanting a USA p-bass and having the money is a great situation to be in. If/when I find myself in that situation again I'd save a few hundred off your budget and buy one off here (again). no regrets!

done also, best of luck

Just bought Alec's old amp. Work's great, nice chap, very straightforward cash for neighbor-annoying-device transaction

I still have mine around, beasty things best of the oldschool IMHO all i'd say is don't be afraid to play with the EQ (i'm always tweaking..), i know both myself and the previous owner had some slightly more severe settings than on my other amps what are those cabs you're using with it?