Beedster

Anyone tried these or know anything about the PUPs or the builder? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bi-Sonic-Darkstar-type-NuSonic-Pickup-/200989484654?pt=Guitar&hash=item2ecbe8266e"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2ecbe8266e[/url] Cheers Chris

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1386685367' post='2303058'] Listen, the solution is simple. Simply have the maple routed out, source some Wenge (your top is Wenge btw)...match the grain as closely as you can, shape the Wenge, glue into place, plane then sand smooth for a perfect patch up. Its not exactly the low cost, or simplest way to go...but it is the best way. Any luthier worth their salt could do it in a day. Trust me, I build furniture. [/quote] Thanks for your advice. I agree 100% and I hope the cost is doable. I have a budget for this bass (which is in part why I'm selling the case) and the board and PUPs are the first point of call. The PUPs will require work to the area in question so it would likely be a false economy to do half the job now and then come back to it later (e.g., to install PUPs now and then do the work with the Wenge in a year). Do you know where I could get the correct wood in such a smal quantity?

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1386680694' post='2302974'] Dude, in the name of all that is holy...NO WOODSTAIN!! [/quote] It can't be worse than it is. Of all the questions I have about the modifications to this bass, the one I find hardest to answer is that of why put a rectangular lump of maple in the middle of a beautiful dark wood veneer? Stain's not the best solution for sure, but it's a first step on the path

Old Ibanez FLs have very useful lines at each 'fret' at the top of the board (and one I owned, tiny reference lines under the G also). This is probably what I'm going to have done on my Wazz [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/224386-waljazz-mongrel/unread/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/224386-waljazz-mongrel/unread/[/url]

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1386674420' post='2302838'] If a veneer is possible, I think that would certainly be the best bet too, but I think Bass Doc has already potentially ruled that out... Eude [/quote] Thanks folks, Howard (Bass Doc) suggested a full-top veneer but I love the original veneer - just not the pale rectangle in the middle - and would rather not lose it if at all possible. The pickguard posted above looks great but on this bass would need to be very close to the bridge to completely cover the mess. It might end up looking as odd as it does now!

Ha ha, thanks folks. i spoke to Bass Doc yesterday and he wasn't optimistic about a new veneer so I'd starting thinking along the lines of a real retro leather pickguard. I'm thinking however that some well applied woodstain might do the job sufficiently well to avoid the cost of this, especially as the wood work on this bass has in fact been very well done. Over and above this, an ebony board will make a massive difference, as will a pair of decent PUPs. Re the latter I'd originally planned to get a Simms Super 8 in there but they only install them into Enfields which is a shame, so it's going to be a pair of Super Quads which will provide a lot of tonal options (certainly Precision, Jazz and 'Ray, which is all a guy could want really). It's going to be a very nice instrument, if not a Wal, but as I said above, I wasn't a great fan of the Wal sound anyway.

Loud = Peavey Heavy = Peavey Old School = Peavey It's what's called a no-brainer

I've one of each also. I like to flatter myself that I can play fretless in tune, but every time I've picked up one with fretlines I've realised that my ear isn't the great judge I wish it was. This is especially true when recording. I much prefer not to have them, but given the choice of no lines, or of being in tune most if not all of the time, I take the latter.

I'm very suspicious of all Fender components on eBay as so few of them are verifiable unless by an expert, and you don't normally get the option of an expert appraisal - certainly in the flesh - before you buy.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1386631282' post='2302582'] I have those pups on my new bass.... worked out what the switches do yet? The SD website just talks about the later ones with 2 switches not the 3. [/quote] I posted a link in the tech section that explains them Luke. If you want some backups, I'll be moving these on

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1386631076' post='2302576'] They did [i]what[/i] to the frets?! [/quote] They/he/it filed them down to the board.... Not unusual, although crap. The neck plays very well and there's no noticeable change in tone or feel at the frets. It does seem to be an extraordinary thing to do though. The neck's in very good shape otherwise, so I suspect the best bet is either a refret or a new board. I'm not keen on a lined fretless with the dots in the wrong place.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1386629601' post='2302537'] I am normally not squeemish at all....but I am currently looking away! [/quote] Ha ha, these won't help then.... [attachment=150190:Wal 2.jpg] [attachment=150188:Wal 3.jpg] [attachment=150189:Wal Case 2.jpg]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1386629004' post='2302522'] ^ I'm thinking exactly the same as you guys Definitely a few alarm bells ringing. While I'm here, what you think of this one: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390717718808"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390717718808[/url] ...? It looks legit to my untrained eyes - by then I don't know much! I'm thinking about starting a parts-build project next year and wondering whether this would be a good purchase - or not. Let me know what you think. [/quote] No, Firstly our US cousins get very sweaty about vintage Fenders and they often attract higher prices there than here. Second, courier fees, VAT and import duty will be high, third you have no idea if it's legit, fourth if it's not legit or crap you have a nightmare returning it (US retail law varies from state to state and this can effects your rights even with an eBay transaction), and last it's a horrible refin anyway? Get Bas Doc to make you a nice ash precision body for half the price.

Those of you who've noticed my ability to buy and sell Jazzes perhaps know that I love the tone but don't like the thin necks and clumsy body shape. Several years ago I also bought a Wal MK1 fretless and whilst I loved the feel and playability, I resented the length time it took me to find usable tones amongst the unusable ones and always found even the tones I used a little synthetic to my ears. So there I was taking 5 minutes out of writing a paper last week and noodling eBay and up pops the below. Ugly as hell, in fact I dread to think what stories it could tell of its miseries at the hands of late 80's and early 90's luthiers, but it has the essence of the bits of Jazz I like and he bit of Wals I like. If you're squeemish, look away now........... [attachment=150182:Wal.jpg] The original frets have been filed down to the board (!!!), the PUPs/circuit removed and replaced with some early 90's SDs with switches on the PUPs, and a monstrous piece of pale wood has been used to cover the work to the body. But, it sounds OK, plays well and as I've always found with Wals, feels beautiful. I've spoken to both the Bass Doc and Martin Simms about what can be done, and at present, given it was originally fretted, I'm torn between.... Neck: refretting the original neck and having a fretless matching neck made with an ebony board (I guess I could sell on the fretted neck to pay for the fretless as I'm really after a fretless bass here), or alternatively having an ebony board put on this neck PUPs: installing some passive J-PUPs (Lollar or similar) or going the whole hog and installing some Simms Super Quads. Either way, something is going to have to be done about the pale rectangle of wood around the PUPs. I paid what I consider to be over the odds (but which others seem to think was a bargain) price wise, so as the deal involved a very nice Wal case I'm going to sell that separately to help pay for the work on the bass. However it works out it'll be a nice and unique instrument that meets my needs, I just can't decide which way to go at present. I'll keep y'all posted

Thanks guys, they sound pretty good and whilst the switches are subtle, they're still quite effective. Bottom line for me however is that it's just another thing to go wrong so the PUPs will be coming off the bass in question PDQ

Price is always too good to be true until the auction finishes, plus it's a refin, plus even given that there's no clear evidence that it is what the seller says it is. I'm not saying it isn't, just that this is a real case of buyer beware, without some evidence it's just a piece of wood with some paint on it

Just acquired a pair of these http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?233372-Rare-Jazz-Bass-Seymour-Duncan-Pickups-what-are-they! also linked here http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/frequently-asked/everything-else/i_have_the_old/ Any thoughts/experience? Chris

check out 'Love Stinks' in The Wedding Singer, the best rendition of a love song ever. It'll bring the house down one way or another

What it says above really? Any other suggestions? Thanks Chris