Al Heeley

green or grey plastic pads like a pan scourer, available from B&Q, etc. in the section with sandpaper and wet'n'dry, etc.. They are a great alternative to wire wool and very gently rub the edge off the gloss, leaving a neck satin smooth and slippery. I've used them on all my guitar and bass necks. Takes only a tiny bit of the coating off and works well to remove any stickiness.

start off at the EHX bass big muff then work upwards!

[quote name='bobbass4k' post='864860' date='Jun 12 2010, 12:59 AM']I'm building a fuzz factory clone, I've wanted to mess around with one for ages, but not enough to drop £100 2'ns hand. Anywho just wanted to run the stripboard layout I came up with by everyone: I basically combined a stripboard layout I found with the schematic [url="http://madbeanpedals.com/projects/Zombii/docs/Zombii_ver4.pdf"]here[/url]. Just wondering if anyone can spot any major cockups I've made, improvements I could make etc. I might end up putting the little LED and (what I assume) is the rectifier bit on it's own little bit of stripboard, as the stab knob probably won't be with the others. Also, anyone got any suggestions for any bass friendlier mods? I've already increased the first and last cap values.[/quote] Did u get this working ok? Need to check the wire to switch for the LED indicator - it doesn't really go anywhere.

you may also need to check your nut slots cos fatter strings might not sit down so far in the grooves, and action could seem a bit higher.

The crossovers on my Marshall cabs had the power resistors mounted on their legs maybe 1/2 an inch proud of the pcb to aid cooling. Trouble with this was there was greater leverage on vibrations which then caused the solder joint to crack. So mounting proud of the board is an acceptable way of tacking it but try to mount the pcb with some vibration absorbtion and make sure the connections to the board are really strong.

[quote name='badgerific' post='875805' date='Jun 23 2010, 08:15 PM']It doesn't say on the BYOC site, I don't think it's a proper clone of anything really, I could be wrong though. Anyone know where I could get a bend piece of metal like the one above the tube on this pedal: [url="http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00ZCoEItQcgqzm/Tube-Distortion-Guitar-Effect-Pedal-Value-OTD-100VAL-.jpg"]http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00ZCoEI...OTD-100VAL-.jpg[/url] I want one for a future tube boost pedal build so I don't end up stomping my tube off.[/quote] Try a good kitchen shop or even Ikea - you might be able to make use of a small steel drawer handle of similar shape.

Cheers, tried the 115 on its own at the practice tonite, it has that distinctive air-pushing solid low end you only seem to get from a 15" speaker, quite a different voice from the 4x10 which is tight and punchy. Although some frown on mixing cabs like this I think each has its own contribution to the overall sound. My Stingray has bags of mid and bright treble so it goes really nicely with the 15" cab character, and its SO much lighter to cart around.

Amazing! Enjoy - and post pics! Bloody well done!

I'm a very happy user of 410XL and since Sunday a 115XL to go with it. I've had a lot of very good comments from punters listening to our set, on how great the bass sounds, punchy and authoritive. I'm using a Peavey Tour 450 head and either Squier Jazz Bass or (mostly) EBMM Stingray playing punky indy rock stuff. I love the Hartke cabs.

you mean you dont just leave them all turned up to full all the time? No wear then, no resistance!

Thanks - good point, shopping list needs compiling

Here's my cheeky little fuzz factory project - just waiting for the mini pots from Small Bear US - if anyone knows a closer retailer I'd love to know. Little home drawn/etched pcb and I had to copy the old FF graphics as they are so funky.

nice work jack, cool looking minis

Contemplating getting a 115XL cab to complement my 410XL cab but I see the power rating is different, the 115 being only 200W / 8Ohm. I have a [size=1]Peavey[/size] tour450 head which supplies about 300W into 8Ohm and 450 into 4Ohm. Are the 115 and 410 cabs designed with the different power ratings to work together as a pair or is this a bad idea?

I've been putting together a couple of tubescreamer circuits with mods for bass as well as different clipping, I use one myself for Blur's Song#2 in our set, brings a big smile and trembling windows when I turn it on. This is driving a Peavey tour 450 s/s amp - sounds great and u can roll off the gain for a punchy overdrive or crank up for some filthy distortion.

[quote name='escholl' post='868057' date='Jun 15 2010, 03:04 PM']..also sorry if my last post came across as a bit of an abrupt know-it-all, in filling my head with electronics stuff I seem to have chucked out some useful things, like any sort of social skills. [/quote] Hey no problem! I like to get to the truth, there's often a lot of conflicting stuff on forums, thx for the input

blimey, you know your trannies! I bow to your superior knowledge but i am now destined to hunt the interweb for eternity in search of a rogue BS170 chip.

[quote name='escholl' post='857850' date='Jun 4 2010, 11:55 PM']all pinouts for the same model number are always the same, regardless of who makes it.[/quote] that does not appear to be strictly true. [url="http://www.muzique.com/lab/trans.gif"]http://www.muzique.com/lab/trans.gif[/url] the BS170 trannies legs can be swapped over, depending on mfr.

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='866755' date='Jun 14 2010, 09:37 AM']Interestingly, the polytune does have a built-in USB port, but the use of it is undocumented...[/quote] The instructions sheet refers to this port for facilitating firmware upgrades. that's all it says about it.

not sarcastic at all, succinct and to the point. Incidentally anyone here with bass necks sitting under their beds for 2 years, please get them out and sell them to me!

Have to agree with chris-b; the less pretty lumps of timber get the thick opaque paint jobs! Best leave well alone, save your money and buy a lovely trans warmoth body

Due to my natural cynicism, signature instruments put me off as they are just a marketing tool to get more moeny out of punters who may be a fan or follower of the endorsee. Its certainly been a very lucrative strategy for Fender but I'm sure the extra £££'s you spend on a sig model are pretty much wasted.