The Bass Doc

I've experienced quite a few MIM basses that guys have gradually modded - usual upgrades are pickups, bridge and machine heads - work out that cost then compare it to choosing your own neck and body combination plus such hardware. Either way you're never going to get back what you spend so if you go ahead try and envisage it as a keeper.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='502075' date='May 31 2009, 08:05 AM']Looks spot-on to me.[/quote] Me two - so many pics but I'd like to have seen bridge and pickup detail. Worth a punt in my view.

Top one - not sure about the scratchplate shape. Could you try a version whereby the plate travels further up the top horn(towards '51 style P-bass) and have it wrap round the P-bass pickup leaving the MM type 'in the wood'. Might not work - just a thought - I'm no good at graphics of the photoshop kind.

[quote name='EBS_freak' date='May 27 2009, 03:46 PM' post='498911 OK- the fitting of the bridge making the bass sound better unplugged - did it sound better plugged in or did you not get to try it out. And I guess it sounded "better" is open to question because it's all down to taste I guess. [/quote] Yes, the bass in question sounded distinctly 'tinny' and thin until the Badass was fitted then you could sense more resonance as in 'feeling' it through the body when it was held (accoustically). Plugging in would simply confirm what was then known - if you have a bass that's say 'dead' accoustically, plugging it in results in a dead bass sounding louder. If you have a bass that is lively and resonant, plugging it in gives you a lively resonant bass only louder. I did plug in the bass in question which simply confirmed the above.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='498824' date='May 27 2009, 02:47 PM']The piece of tin - is that why they put the huge ash tray over it? Covers a multitude of sins right? So, people are with me then? The BadAss doesn't really offer anything over the standard bridge unless you are certain that the larger mass improves sustain. Has anybody actually *proven* this to be true? As for the Schaller 3Ds - yup, they have their issues on a restring but they are still a nice bridge. Hipshot A are still my fave though. The thing that bothers me about the filing of the bridge- it's just a bit too limiting for my liking. What about if you were to change string gauge... or make your bass a piccolo bass? That's an expensive bridge to become unusuable. OK, granted, the nut would probably have to be replaced, but the cost of a new nut is a lot less that that of a new bridge. Can you buy spares for the BadAss for such circumstances? Or is is new bridge time?[/quote] The ash tray was originally called a hand rest - Leo's idea was that you would position your hand over the chrome cover in the pickup position to play ahead of it for a relatively deep sound and over the bridge position cover for a more trebly response. As for 'proven' to improve the sound I have heard a poor 'tinny' sounding cheaper-end bass sound better (accoutically) after fitting a Badass but I wouldn't rush to fit one to a perfectly OK Fender - the difference (if any) would be minimal and in many cases it robs from it's originality. Badass do now supply replacement saddles for the occasions you mention above.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='498786' date='May 27 2009, 02:29 PM']FWIW - I get on with the bent tin just fine, as do thousands of others. I wouldn't describe them as unusable or anything...[/quote] Yup the bent tin on my '63 hasn't moved in the twenty-odd years I've owned it.

Yes, definitely clever marketing and being 'first'. It's a bit like EMGs being first to mass produce active pickups - many more followed (I remember being a fan of Reflex but they were BRITISH therefore couldn't possibly any good?). On your point of adjustability, if the Badass is cut correctly on day one I can't think why anyone would want to vary it - indeed Schaller 3Ds have a habit of losing the preferred spacing every time you re-string. There's now some healthy competition for Badass but it's going to be hard to shift them from 'Top spot'.

[quote name='Beedster' post='498677' date='May 27 2009, 12:44 PM']I don't have any brass plates, is it going to make a significant difference to simply earthing the bridge through the strip to a wire and then to the case of one of the earthed pots?[/quote] No real difference - that sounds fine.

Mainly the fact that it prohibits any sideways movement of the saddles. It also has greater mass and enhances the potential sustain. It's important to have the slots properly - I've seen examples where the string is just allowed to sit on the saddle and this negates the first point.

[quote name='Beedster' post='498658' date='May 27 2009, 12:29 PM']Cheers Doc, I take it I simply attach that strip to the common earth one way or another?[/quote] The correct way would be to solder it to a brass plate which would also carry the sponge strip supporting the bridge pickup and then an ordinary piece of wire soldered onto that plate goes out to the control cavity along with your 'hot' and 'cold' pickup leads.

[quote name='Beedster' post='498634' date='May 27 2009, 12:06 PM']I'm currently putting together a Jazz Bass and have the opposite problem, that is I need an earth strip as it's a 62' RI body and there's no way I'm gonna take a drill to the control cavity! However, as I'm installing a J-Retro, I'm getting the idea from the abovge posts that I can do so without needing to earth the bridge, is that the case? Cheers Chris[/quote] I don't think so - it's the fact that the pickups are passive that will dictate that an earth connection is required - EMGs are normally the only ones to get round this. A strip of shim brass can easily be installed 'top-side' to replicate the 62 style.

[quote name='OldGit' post='497941' date='May 26 2009, 12:54 PM']Did all the nuns get basses from you?[/quote] That's not all the nuns got from me - Sister Raquel and Sister Siobhan were very accomodating on their days off. Some very strange habits. They were not good payers however which gave rise to the saying 'as tight as a nun's knicker-leg'.

Welcome aboard - I've already commented on the custom-build thread. I was bound to like your two M.R. basses 'cos I built 'em!

Hi Mikey, I'm Howard the Bass Doc - built your two custom jobs. I don't have the shop anymore but I'm still active at the home workshop. You can PM me via the forum any time. All the best.

Allparts do one.

[quote name='wegale' post='496475' date='May 24 2009, 09:14 AM']I've just bought a second-hand fretless Ibanez Musician Bass, does anyone have information on the controls?[/quote] I think there's a couple of variations in the control department so a picture of the layout would help. The more common model has active and passive capability and the knobs are finished differently to indicate which is which.

+1 for Di Marzio model J with the proviso that Schaller JBX have identical specs. and may be found cheaper - I've used both loads of times and can't hear any difference - the only bias towards Di Marzio is that 'USA' thing. The Ulta Jazz is OK but I think loses a little top end by being so strong - bit like quarter-pounders-v-hot.

[quote name='truegeminis' post='493162' date='May 20 2009, 12:12 PM']Kenny Potter was my bass teacher when I first started playing bass. Nice bloke, good teacher. Does he have website anywhere, wouldn't mind seeing what he's up to now?[/quote] Not sure about a website but if you need a telephone number for Kenny let me know via PM.

[quote name='Twigman' post='491397' date='May 18 2009, 02:28 PM']2 full seasons of Leeds United programs from 1974-5 and 1975-6 - strange as I support Sunderland and have never been anywhere near Elland Road ???[/quote] If you support Sunderland I wouldn't recommend going near Elland Road especially if you were to mention the 1973 Cup Final. Anyway, best of luck at Portsmouth tonight.

[quote name='Golchen' post='491308' date='May 18 2009, 01:03 PM']I prefer my horses relic'd[/quote] Did you not mean radished?

There's an outside chance you have a kink in the string just ahead of the fretting position - can you check that or perhaps replace the string to see if if the buzz disappears. In my early days I was driven mad with a similar problem and tried all other methods before a close inspection revealed that the bass had taken a knock 'face on' resulting in a kink downwards which had the effect of the string presenting itself to the next fret a tad lower than normal. The kink can be so slight it's hard to spot , hence the suggestion of trying a replacement.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='491234' date='May 18 2009, 11:46 AM']Small world... I bought that very same bass. It was an absolute pig at first, but plays great now that I defretted it and swapped out the horrible old flatwounds for rotosounds. I'm thinking about routing it for a Kahler.[/quote] I trust you've also had it sprayed metallic purple and replaced the pickup with something tasty like an Artec soapbar.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='491206' date='May 18 2009, 11:08 AM']Benwell? You sure that was an "n" in Funk? [/quote] Actually now you mention it the 'n' did look a bit sideways. I was told the bass had 'apparently' been the one that recorded the song 'Bercadette' by the Fower Terps.

[quote name='Killstarz' post='491101' date='May 18 2009, 08:50 AM']Does anybody have a phone number or contact email address for Neil Harland Please? ive had a quick scout about on the web but couldnt find anything...[/quote] You have a PM with Neil's number. Cheers.