ForbiddenWytch

On 28/01/2021 at 18:00, Andyjr1515 said:

Ref the bridge, to be honest I think @ForbiddenWytch 's planned solution is going to be fine.  

Here is a typical offset with an 8 saddle system:

The octave strings will be, typically, 2-3mm forward of their bass counterparts (similar to the offset between the G and the A/E on a 4 string)

This is pretty much the same with a 12-string acoustic where there are octave strings on the bottom four pairs.  And with these, of course, you only have the width of the bone saddle to file the difference (this is a pre-made one, but you achieve the same with a solid saddle by filing so the fulcrum for each string is towards the front or towards the back of the saddle):

 

So putting these two concepts together, and with @ForbiddenWytch saying above that he is going to put a different saddle set on a Badass II bridge... :

...then all he will need to do is intonate the saddle to the octave string and then, with a bit of 'get close and then creep up on it' approach, just file the bass string slot of each affected pair backwards by the appropriate 2-3mm.  The saddles have more than enough thickness to allow the slots to be cut back the appropriate amount.

Having cut acoustic saddles on both 12-string guitars and the recent Guitar Bouzouki, I personally can't see a problem...

 

Thank you for your backing and explanations in there. That's really cool of you to do that. Those are the exact saddles I;ll be using for it so hopefully I won't have any issue. Really interesting piece you've put there about the saddle difference only needing to be cut back 2-3mm for the fat string. I'll work out the difference and get it filed once the initial test fit is made.

Again, thank you for your helpful reply!

6 hours ago, BigRedX said:

IME with a single saddle for each course from about the 3rd fret to the 6th fret you get increasing amounts of chorus-y sound which further up the neck gives way to a definite out-of-tuneness.

Chorus is my favourite effect, it might end up working in my favour then haha! 

On 25/01/2021 at 15:56, BigRedX said:

Unfortunately just because several manufactures make their 8-string basses with a single saddle for each course doesn't mean that they are right. It just means that they are saving money. 

Both 8-string basses I have owned had individual saddles for each string and they needed it, and 8-string basses are especially suited for bass lines that reach further up the neck than usual.

It used to be that the go-to bridge for an 8-string bass was a special version of the Schaller 3D bridge, but that is now out of production, and any left in the retail chain have seriously high price tags attached to them because of their scarcity. The only other 8-string bridges with individual saddle that I know of are the two-piece bridge/tailpiece used on the Dean, Schecter and similar asian-made basses and those fitted to Tune basses. I have no idea how you would go about buying one separately.

I appreciate the heads up and it's definitely something I'll keep an eye on once I've got it together. It's only for a bit of fun anyway so if it ends up "close enough" then I'll leave it as is. Obviously if it ends up totally different notes then I'll be having a rethink haha!

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

Does that mean each course is tuned in unison rather than octaves? 

IME 8-string basses with octave courses are noticeably out of tune in the course above the 7th fret if both strings in the course share the same saddle.

We’re bassists! What are you doing going above the 5th feet anyway? 😂😂

Joking aside, if it’s that noticeable or just that bad to intonate, I’ll seek another option but I’ve seen quite a few 8 string bridges where the pairs of strings share the same saddle or are split on two smaller saddles and intonated by the same screw so i suppose it’s going to be some trial and error. Mainly for a bit of fun and so I can play Cheap Trick/Pearl Jam songs 

1 hour ago, Rich said:

Are you confident that the neck will withstand the substantial increase in string pull? I saw a comment on (I think) Farcebook the other day from someone who'd converted their 4 to an 8 and ended up with a neck that Robin Hood could have fired arrows from. Something to look out for. Personally if I was to make an 8 (and I've considered it a few times) I'd consider using a narrow-spaced five string as a basis. OLP 5-string 'Ray perhaps?

I’ve thought about the extra tension on the neck which is why I’m going to try fairly light gauge bass strings on it, something like a 90/95 gauge set instead of 105/110 like I’d usually use and keep the skinnies to something around 45 gauge.

Doing the conversion on another bass means buying another bass to do the conversion on and due to the pandemic, funds are basically non existent. If it destroys the bass I’m intending on using, it’s no loss as the bas hasn’t been used for over 2 years and way I see it is I’m not owed anything from the bass it’s self as I had the all top end EMG electronics out of it for my other bass. 

the neck on the bass is a real thick piece of wood and I did have 125 gauge strings tuned to C# on it before which pulled the neck like Robin Hood’s bow (good analogy btw!) but a quick turn of the truss rod sorted that out. If it gets to the point where   I’m having to adjust it every few weeks then I’ll change it back to a regular 4 string with the old bridge saddles and nut but again, I’m not too worried about it. 
 

sorry, long reply!

3 hours ago, EssentialTension said:

Won't that make intonation difficult?

Not really, the end of the saddle will be the starting point of the string so as long as the break point of the nut is the same for each pair of strings then the intonation will be no different. the bottom of each pair of strings will be at the same level leaving the saddles too. I'm awful at explaining things btw.

3 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Ooooh...I like the sound of this.  I'll be watching with great interest.

 

 

Thanks Andy,  hopefully I won't be too long before I can post an update...

3 hours ago, Matt P said:

very interesting, looking forward to seeing this develop, i do like the idea of using the string through idea to convert a 4 string bridge to a 8 string one, very ingenious!

 

Matt

Thanks Matt, I thought this might be a better option as it takes some of the tension off the bridge screws!

21 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

Interesting. I look forward to seeing this one. Drilling and fitting an extra set of machine heads seems easy enough, as is cutting a new nut. But where are you sourcing an 8 string bridge? Are they really available? 

Hey man, nah I won''t be sourcing a new bridge, I'll be using a Badass II I have in my spares box and buying some of the pre-slotted saddles for it to accommodate two strings per saddle. The Badass bridge can be drilled through the bottom to accommodate thru body stringing of the skinny strings or put an extra hole for each skinny string on the back plate of the bridge but that'll add extra tension on the screws so likely it'll be string thru body for the skinnies.

Sorry for the long-winded reply!

Hello!.

Going to preface this by saying this won’t be a quick project so don’t expect daily updates... I’m too lazy 😊

I’ve had this Shine neck thru bass laying around for a while, basically I bought it for £100 because it had EMG-X pickups and EMG BQC pre amp in it which I wanted for another bass and this has just sat unused apart from a 6 month period I had some Entwistle neo pickups in it and routed it for a humbucker in the neck for a Billy Sheehan type mod with a £6 double rail humbucker from China. It actually worked great until I sold the pickups 😂 

Having always wanted an 8 string bass, I might as well use this as it has a 42mm nut, which I’ve seen an ESP/LTD & Dean 8 string basses also has. I have experience in cutting new nuts for basses so it won’t be a problem doing that bit.

The Bass will be getting stripped down and repainted as it’s quite badly dented/scratched/chipped & I managed to spill a potted candle all over the body recently (DONT ask! 😂). I mIght end up filling in the neck pickup rout but I’m not sure yet.

Electronics wise, I’ve got a set of EMG PJA-X pickups in a spares box and I’ve always been intrigued by the basses I’ve seen with EMG 81 or 60 pickups (I’d go for the X version to keep the output the same as the P&J) in them and could have it on a switchable separate output to send to different effects. 
1 3 way toggle switch (P&J), 2 Volumes (P&J/Neck) with a push/pull on the neck one switching outputs, stacked EMG BTC preamp on main, PA-2 booster on the neck-only output.

Tuning pegs I’m not decided on but it’ll likely just be any 4 and 4 matching sets of guitar and bass tuners I have in my spares box to keep the cost down. Hoping I have them both in matching colours but if I have one set in chrome and one in black, it changes the paint scheme (which I’m keeping quiet on for now)

Ive thought over what to use for the bridge and I do have an old Badass II in my spares box but the saddles are fudged so if I got some fresh saddles, I could cut them in for 2 strings on each saddle and add an extra hole in the back plate or through the bottom plate (and go string-thru body) for the skinny strings

Tuning wise it’ll be in E standard so I’ll go with whichever string set is fairly light on tension with something around 95s for the fat strings.

Anyway, I think I’ve covered most of it. 😅😅 Updates coming on a day ending in Y...

26 minutes ago, prowla said:

Like I said; it’s whack-a-mole. 

Medusa comes to mind. Cut one snake off and 10 more appear. He's also using the name "Mike" instead of "Mick" on Gumtree to avoid being found under Mick Mason on there.

3 hours ago, prowla said:

In case anybody is wondering about his bullying and manipulative tendencies, here's couple of excerpts from my messenger conversations with him where he said he was coming to my house "to refund me":

 

Note it includes threats to have my FB profile removed, insults, told me to "give it up", and the assertion that I should "man up".

I wasn't going to accept meeting at my house, because one of the members here suggested that he could then not turn up, but post a message along the lines of "Great to meet you earlier and glad we could sort it all out.", which would then turn into a case of his word against mine (even though he is a convicted fraudster, liar, and counterfeiter).

I enjoyed suggesting we should meet at the local police station, but the funniest bit was where he said to me "Why lie" - that was a case of the pot calling the kettle black!

This is the measure of the man.

Then later, further attempts to manipulate events via his proxy "Jason Lear" account:

 

 

The cover was slipping throughout that Jason Lear conversation, though I played it straight.

The "I've a relative who's a lawyer" ruse was fairly transparent, but the telling bit was the "I've (over) £100 too", where he slipped to 1st person.

 

Those are basically the exact same threats I got but different numbers were thrown about and much like you, I got called a peadophile quite a few times. He’s such a charmer. Modern day Romeo.

Just now, ForbiddenWytch said:

I’m keeping all the conversations in my messenger inbox. Happy to provide access to anyone who needs and wants them.

...except you Mick/Jason

1 hour ago, Pseudonym said:

I suppose everyone needs a hobby.

Perhaps it is worth noting at this juncture that "Jason Lear" might be aggravating any offences that might have been committed. Should any of this get to court, that might bode ill for a defendant.

This is becoming very serious indeed. It is well past time to stop playing games with people online, or by any other means, if the purpose of doing so could in any way be construed as intimidation of potential witnesses.

Also, I recall from my days as a snot-nosed legal lackey in Britain that judges and magistrates really dislike people who hurl around nonsense threats about libel, especially when those threats appear to be designed to conceal culpable behaviour. Still, tant pis.

I’m keeping all the conversations in my messenger inbox. Happy to provide access to anyone who needs and wants them.

Serious question, had any one else on here been contacted by an account called “Jason Lear” claiming to know Mick/ask for details on anyone who contacted you about him??

If so, Jason Lear isn’t real. It’s Mick Mason... 

he’ll ask you for details on people who’ve contacted you about Mason (I refused to give the names of the genuine people who contacted me) then claims that “Mick doesn’t need to steal, he’s a HUGE promoter, I’m shocked”. He kept asking over and over if I got my money back then blocked me when I wouldn’t give him any details of others.

Update: he’s deactivated his Facebook page but his messenger is still active so he’s clearly tried to go in to hiding.

Inb4 anyone says “he’s just blocked you”, no, his messenger is active as I can send messages to him but he’s deactivated his actual Facebook page.

The police will require the thread to be left available so don’t bow to Mason’s pressure and remove it. 

I think it’s safe to say he’s shi77ing himself at the moment. 25 pages of evidence brought against him. I’ll be phoning Leicestershire Police and giving them the details to add to the crime ref number I had opened when he scammed me. 
 

I hope you’re reading this Mick, happy Christmas,m.

He really is something special.

1 hour ago, Pseudonym said:

He's played all over the world, has he? Well, thanks in part to the prominence of this thread (and the inflammatory behaviour by Mason that seems to have led to it), he is much more likely to be barred from entry into the United States than he was even two weeks ago if he is indeed the individual identified in the Leicester Mercury article. Convicted fraudsters and their ilk are inadmissible (we have plenty of our own), and US authorities welcome information about anyone planning to enter improperly. Worthless threats of defamation action are even more worthless if the supposed defamation has legitimate law enforcement value.

Happy Christmas Mick. Happy Christmas everyone.

Oh he most certainly is that very same one in the article. He confirmed that himself. Happy Christmas indeed, Mr. Mason!

I’ve tried to message the Real Magic vocalist John Henderson but he rejected the message request and blocked me... seems like a lovely band of people there.

I’ve been banned from the “Real Magic Queen Tribute” Facebook page. Quite obvious now he’s the admin on there.

1 hour ago, prowla said:

Incidentally, your tracking number wasn't PN518894078GB, was it?

F...sake, yeah it was!

1 minute ago, prowla said:

I've just had a message from one of his band members:

 

Bloody hell! Quite damming really isn’t it

I have messaged John Henderson, found a tagged video on Mick's profile so gone direct to him.

Just now, Doctor J said:

Note the channel name

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3FpD5FxyDXL1rTrGsYKXAw

F... me, how can some one be so foolish