nick

Could work. Importantly get a good clean cut. I used decent sharp electrician's cable cutters. I also think ezbass's recommendation above of a dab of superglue & maybe a bit of a tape is a good idea. Obviously you're not gonna get as much windings of the silk on the tuner posts. Particularly on the E string.

Thanks... To be fair I did cut them really carefully & crimped the ends to prevent the windings from unravelling. Also with stringing through body would have taken some excess length of the long scale strings.

Not wanting to contradict any advice stating it's a bad idea, but I did it. Had a set of cut down 34" Labella tape wounds on one of my Squier Vista Musicmasters (pink) with no issues.

I've got Hosco vintage style BBOT's on both my old Tokais, and in process of putting another on my Greco P-Bass. I prefer the spiral-saddles on Fender style basses. They're well made, decent quality for the price & fitted OK without need to drill new holes. I understand Hosco is an export brand for Gotoh..

There's a decent looking '96 Squier 'Vista' Musicmaster on ebay at the moment: Ebay - Squier Vista Musicmaster I've had a few of them, and think they're great underrated shortscales IMHO. I too prefer a chunkier neck with 19mm spacing too, and the neck profile on them suits me. The seller is open to offers, and considering it doesn't have it's original pickup, might accept a lower price.

They're not too expensive to at least trial.... Would be interested to hear what they're like too. Just in case I need any more in the future, should a cap drop off.

The Gallien Krueger P/No. for the cap is 100-0102-0 This stockist of amp spares in Spain appears to sell them & have them in stock: https://www.audiotestserviciotecnico.com/tienda/100-0102-0-cap-72-apls-spline-sh-gallien-krueger/ Hope this helps. Cheers Nick

I bought some knob caps for the ones missing on my 400RB & 800RB about 8 years ago from a seller in the States who sold NOS amp spares & bits. Unfortunately, can't find the details that is if he's still even trading these days. However, I remember them being quite expensive. I understand from Talkbass forum they are incredibly rare & hard to find even over there. Apparently the chap that builds DiCosimo Audio 800RB Bass Preamp Pedals uses these knobs which look quite similar: https://www.rapidonline.com/re-an-p300-h-098-s6-tricolour-knob-grey-insert-32-1208?fbclid=IwAR1V9CXvtrZvBj8qDbppXNkGYYGza8jQB06x9X-z8G2cddsjvOFTuuD_QJE The grey knob caps themselves are also available. They look pretty similar to the 400RB one, so might be a close enough replacement? Maybe worth a try for 62p each? https://www.rapidonline.com/re-an-t861-h-89-grey-cap-to-suit-19mm-knob-32-0345?fbclid=IwAR0UbSS4kwxIEmtTPq0M2ZnWgDowPFWT4MAkwAfGyJ66xgLxQoBHEwK6Yjw

Yes, the Armstrong reproduction is two jazz like coils parallel to each other within the casing. However the original Aria MB1/1E's are the same construction. This is the dead Aria MB1 taken from my SB700 which shows that: I believe your SB R-80 would have had MBII pickups which were constructed as per P-Bass configuration. So, unsurprisingly the Armstrong would sound quite different & possibly mismatched with the existing MBII in your SB R-80.

Not wanting to debate this, but I recently had to replace a dead MB-1 pickup in one of my 'Batwing' SB-700's with an Armstrong reproduction as Rautia are no longer producing them. I honestly couldn't hear any discernible difference in tone when A/B'ing it against an identical SB-700 with it's original MB-1. The Armstrong sounded great IMHO.

Finally got my hands on a Danelectro Longhorn, after years of wanting one or at least trying one out.... I believe it's 90's MIK 'Pro' version, with the fully adjustable bridge & better tuners. Got the rusty old roundwounds that came with it off & restrung it with some GHS Brite Flats. Really liking it so far. Though I'm not finding it the most comfortable body shape (for me) But it's lovely to play & has a big sound for it's size, and has quite a unique but useable tone IMHO. Will see if I can bond with it, and if it's a keeper 🙂

Yeah, I find the same with my 400RB Though I guess what sounds 'flat' can be quite subjective & can depend on choice of cab, room acoustics etc... Here's the settings that I perceive as 'flat'-ish, at least to my cloth ears with a couple of 12" Vanderkleys.

Double Squier Vista Musicmasters

A pair of '83 Ibanez RB920's One with frets & one without