The Bass Doc

Let me know your address by PM and I'll send you a bridge height adjustment screw to fit a Mex bridge. Maybe I'll send two so you can lose one down the side of the sofa straight away and save time.

I've got a cheapy double J pickup you could use in the experimental stage of what you have in mind - it could then be used as a cover only for better quality J-pickups if you take the project further. Bear in mind that the right way to house a pair would involve finding pickups that are reverse-wound/reverse polarity to behave as a true humbucker. I might just be able to help on that score too if I can find the right parts in my many spares boxes.

How about having a neck made to replicate the Bongo with an ebony board, lined or unlined, markers where you want them. The only thing would be a lack of decal on the headstock. I had a similar job done not so long ago for around £200.

Nikita - Elton John.

Hire a 3-year-old who's into Lego Duplo. Mind you I suggest the soldering be supervised. Seriously if you live close to a forum member with a bit of experience it may only cost you a drink. In my case that would be a crate of Jack Daniels to take out please.

[quote name='silddx' post='626301' date='Oct 14 2009, 07:27 PM']Hope you get well soon Doctor.[/quote] Thanks for that - I've just had the equivalent of a fret-stoning, so on we go - 'Bop till yer drop'.

I should be able to make it but will have to learn some new chops with my axe. Hey, awesome, dood. Err, sorry I've been lurking on Talkbass forum of late..... It'll be jolly nice to see some of the chaps again. Toodle pip. H.

[quote name='headofire' post='623995' date='Oct 12 2009, 02:14 PM']that you howard? i recognised you in the picture... ha ha its graeme ross how are you?[/quote] Hi Graeme, I've just checked the picture again and yes it's me. I've just come out of hospital after an operation for prostrate cancer and I'm feeling not too bad - hope to gig on Saturday but may have to play sitting down. Howard.

Not gear, but bass related - Will lee.

Some work will be needed to accomodate the 2 sizes of replacement pickups but you may find one of them slots in OK and the other should require minimum adjustments. The only other pickups that are equi-sized that I know of can be found on early Mex Jazzes - so not much of an improvement in quality there. I do have a pair of those little tinkers if you want to give them a go at £10 + postage.

Volume per pickup is just as good as a selecter switch - maybe not as fast but we do get a gap between songs to make the move, don't we?

Do we know what the MIM jazz has in the way of fingerboard? Just thinking that WoT's ebony may account for some of the difference in brightness.

I do set-ups for guys 'round the doors' from me and the one thing I suggest you don't do with a 'shop front' that claims to offer this service is simply leave the bass with whoever is serving and ask for a set-up. Bear in mind some shops will have one person setting-up their own instruments which will be mostly 6-string guitars and their man may make the mistake of treating a bass the same as a guitar i.e. only bigger and having less strings (obviously those here who play basses with more than 4 should ignore that bit). It is, as we know, a competely different animal. From my perspective I need to know how the guy plays - plec, finger-style, slap, tap, whatever, how hard he plays and where on the bass he usually has his right hand (apologies to lefties) as all of these factors dictate the sort of action appropriate to an individual set-up. It should be tailored to the player as much as the instrument. It's therefore a good idea to master your own setting-up if you can and then you will presumably be content with the result.

My copy of Ken Achard's book 'The Fender Guitar' (published 1977) was autographed for me by Leo Fender in June 1979.

Yes, by positive and negative I meant use the red wire to the output and the black to earth so both wires are indeed used for the one piece you are going to instal. Just a thought - we are close to each other if you need help I could easily do the necessary. PM me if you want assistance.

It's no problem to use one half of a P-bass pickup - in your case just class the red wire as positive and the black negative - how you separate them is up to you but if you're handy with a soldering iron a new, longer black lead would be best, otherwise add an extension to the black when cut. You should be left with the second pickup as blue, negative, and the remainder of the black regarded as positve. Then you'll have another one to go at if anything knacks up.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='608665' date='Sep 25 2009, 02:13 PM']and a jolly nice bloke I got too.[/quote] So they don't just do strings then?

I've just rung them for a single Chrome 40 guage - they answered straight away.

Fleetwood Mac.

I was also at the gig and was mightily impressed with the Vintage. To turn to WoT's performance, two of the notes he played were absolutely splendid.....if only he could get them the right way round... Wot you mean WoT - I'll have to get the next pints in myself?

A frienf of mine is looking for a Gretch Penquin - can you help?

A Blart.

Present market suggests around £1500 would be right for an original 72 (prehaps more if it's a shop). It would take up quite a bit of space to set out everything to look for - I personally would need lots of pics (inside and out) to make a judgement. Totally original is hard to claim since (apart from strings) very few would make it this far without the odd change of pot(s), re-fret, new nut etc. Covers and thumb rest need to be present also. So more info is required.

I'm in two bands and sometimes need someone to cover when dates clash - I've thought of contacting Johnny Depp 'cos presumably he does such things but I can't find a number for him and he's rarely in the area. I'll let you know if I hear of any other line-ups looking for your undoubted talent.