bnt

Dig Me - King Crimson

Chain Lightning - Rush

Tied Up - Yello

I think I saw those videos: his main conclusion was that the HNB3 needs a real neck pickup, and a bridge pickup is underwhelming. Simply moving the existing humbucker up was a good start, but I think it could use more. Still thinking about it.

My Favourite Headache - Geddy Lee

Back on the topic of the HNB3, I'm thinking of getting one so I can drop in the Artec Mudbucker I bought but haven't used so far. I did some mockups of what the black model would look like with that and different colour pickguards:

Lady Writer - Dire Straits

This morning I thought I ought to make a start on the Parasit Studios Into The Unknown kit I bought a few weeks ago from MusikDing. It might be a bit ambitious for my first electronics job in decades, but I thought I should try and I wanted a 4046 PLL pedal. Six hours later and the board is fully built and fitted to the case.. Which took some doing, what with eight pots, three switches and two LEDs. What's left is to hook up the connectors and footswitch, then hope I don't have a bad solder joint somewhere in there ..!

Apocalypse in 9/8 - Genesis

Why Does It Always Rain On Me? - Travis

Now, the upcoming HZB4 looks a bit better to me, though a 5-string would be preferable. The changes from the HNB5 are subtle e.g. the pickguard is not quite as mad and isn't under half the controls. The rear doesn't have a cavity all the way under the bridge. These pics are the Satin Silver (top) and Gloss Aura Pearl (rear) finishes, it's also expected in Satin Black.

Muffin Man - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

Speed King - Deep Purple

Rock and Roll, Goochie Koo - Rick Derringer

Hmm. There was a thread about the EMG E series as possible replacements for the Bartolini BH2s in Ibanez EHB 5-strings. They are the Bartolini P4 shape, 117x32mm, while the EMG E6W is 119x32mm. These on the HILS look slightly smaller, 114x30mm? It might take a little woodwork or smaller pickups than those I mentioned.

Would you mind measuring the pup dimensions? It would let us see what will fit e.g. maybe the EMG E5W or similar.

Trains - Porcupine Tree

Friday On My Mind - Easybeats

Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk

Also - I actually did get to try a HNB5 in Anderton's back in May, through a MarkBass combo. I agree with the pickup spacing comments: never mind a neck pickup, the fact that it's a 24-fret neck means that that "middle" pickup isn't really in a middle position either. That cover that appears to go under the bridge has me concerned too - unless it's something required for the bridge itself, I don't want to see wood removed when there are structural requirements.

HILS are also introducing a new model, the HZB4, which has a HS pickup configuration and a slightly different design. So far, only 4-string with mild multiscale (34.5" - 33.5").

Happy Together - The Turtles

Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson

This Is Not America - David Bowie

Coma - Bourgeois Tagg