Velarian

Zombie thread resurrection alert! Looks like the future has now arrived. Emperor's new clothes or genuine progress?

On reflection I’m not sure it is exactly how I remember it and it maybe not a solution after all but worth a try perhaps?

I managed to find the post but the picture is missing. I think it’s referring to these things: -

I saw a post on here a little while ago which had a picture of a bass where there was a little cube with a hole in it which went between the string ball and the back plate of the bridge. This pulls the string back a bit to clear the silk from the saddle. I had a look for the picture but couldn’t find it. However, it’s academic now that you’ve solved it.

It’s gone already!

I was thinking of the one in your avatar pic but if there’s a choice… 😂

Great idea. I’ll do something similar. EDIT: P.S. can I have your P Bass? 😉

All excellent points and I guess the deceased estate example is a relatively common scenario. I know I wouldn’t relish the hassle of selling my basses privately and my wife wouldn’t have a clue what to do when I’ve popped my clogs, so an auction would be a likely outcome.

This auction example makes me wonder why it’s worth selling at auction at all. If buyers take into account the buyer’s premium plus VAT and end up paying a total price that represents the true value of the item, in this case £3,600, then the seller would net just under £2,300 after commission and VAT. £1,300 is quite a hefty hit to take on what might be achieved elsewhere.

Looks like it’s based on what the 1980s thought the future would be like. 😧

Yes but those who actually want one, will probably want 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. 😉 I have at least 7 more than I need. I should sell some but I’m waiting for the prices to go up 😂 (not actually true; I’d be happy to get somewhere close to what I paid for them).

I think it was around 1981 when I had this. I started my first proper job at the end of 1980 and as I was still living at home, paying very little board, I was able to afford it. I’ve just remembered that my guitarist mate had one too so we were able to do some rudimentary ‘multitrack’ recording by recording two tracks on one machine, bouncing them both to a single track on the other one and then adding a third track etc. I’m not sure we did many iterations of that because it was a PITA, the quality wasn’t great and you effectively had to mix the recording with each pass. Still, happy days. 🙂

I used to use a Teac A-108 cassette deck which allowed you record left and right channels separately. I would have loved a 4-track portastudio but they were outside of my budget.

As others have alluded to this, I would suggest that the best decade would be from the mid 70s to the mid 80s, so yes, it would definitely include the Stranglers in my book.

I know Jack about this sort of thing but but WTF! has the the mix/mastering engineer been given some sort of executive control over your material? Surely the decision to replace your parts should remain with you?

It’s impossible to unsee that now and it would annoy the hell outta me. 😖

Paul has already admirably covered everything nicely. All I would add from my own experience is that the critical measurement (for a standard long-scale bass) is that the breakpoint of the G string saddle should be 34” from the front edge of the nut. It’s not likely that you’ll need to adjust the G saddle much if you get that measurement right so maybe just have the saddle a few mil short of the furthest forward position which leaves plenty of adjustment backwards for the E,A,D strings. In my case the pre-drilled hole for the ground wire was further forward than I would have liked so it was a fine balance between getting the saddle in the right place (34”) whilst allowing the bridge plate to cover the ground hole. A combination of of correct scale length, with the bridge properly centred at 90 degrees to the centre line should get you there. My body didn’t have pre-drilled bridge holes either so it was a case of measuring many times before committing to drilling the holes.

This one? Not a metal control plate though (one day I’ll get one made)

This puts the cat amongst the tonewood pigeons: - “NITROCELLULOSE LACQUER FINISHES These vintage finishes not only let the body breathe with its true tonal character, they also age in a distinctly personal way.” All those poly finishes must be suffocating the tonal character of your instrument so those arguments about which wood is better are pointless if you don’t have a nitro finish. 😮 Who knew?

If it helps ease your conscience, I think you’ve done the right thing. 👍

I love the philosophy behind this build. Life is too complicated and getting back to something simpler is a great goal. I hope it’s had the therapeutic benefit you were seeking.

How about Tony Hart? (oops, wrong thread) 😉

JJ Burnel