Mutley

I decided to keep my SX JB75, despite issues with the Gloss neck, that have been improved somewhat by using a window cleaner on the neck instead of Mr Sheen and as I read elsewhere washing hands before playing. So I have decided to have a mod session with this one too, have done all the shielding, sticking with the bridge and tuners as they are very good, so just new pots, scratchplate and of course new Pup's. I am very pleased with the Seymour Duncan QP's I put on my P Bass so could just go with their Jazz QP's, however, the DiMarzio J Bass DP123 have got my interest as well. I would like too keep fairly close to the Jazz sounds. As a newbie to Jazz's I was unaware that the two Pup's are different sizes, is this normal on all Jazz's? The Dimarzio's look about right spec wise to what I have in the SX (92 and 94mm long) however cant find any specs on the SD's, would they be the same? Thanks in advance

Anyone recommend a good polish for our beloved Basses?

Well I ordered £155 worth on the 15th January, a week later and UPS bill me £50, decided not to pay, did the return to sender on the UPS website and it has been stuck in Feltham since, showing return to sender awaiting payment, I have tried numerous times contacting Thomann and no reply, where they usually get straight back to me, as they do when you want to spend money with them, so getting on for 3 weeks, cant get a refund and the parcel is sitting tight, wont be using them again, I have spent a lot with them over the last few months too.

Ok, thanks guys. just not had that with the Elixirs, NYXL's or the Hi beams so far, will be exploring flats a bit more though, right up my ally sound wise. Just out of interest, how do the Fender flats rate, seem cheap but that's not always an indication being no good, after all they are fender.

Hey Guys, I decided to put some Flats on the newly finished SBK, Went for GHS Precision Flats 45-105, absolutely love them, not only for the sound but the feel (first set of flats ever) a real revelation. However, the E string is long, where the A, D and G wind on the binding at the end, the E string has go around the tuning post so is slightly out of line, my worry with this is the fact that it will be sitting tighter to one side of the nut, therefore wear issues? is this normal, is this an issue? or am I just being Paranoid? 😬 Thanks in advance

Thanks very much everyone for all the positive feedback, its great to have some learned opinions, especially on a first attempt. A couple of Bass's will have to go sooner or later and who knows, I may get stuck into another one, will be asking a few questions on here if I do, hopefully that will save me a bob or two or stop the rookie mistakes 😁 Thanks again The SBK is solid, has a great sustain, the neck is just how I like it for a P, so it is a great starter project for sure. I have an SX JB75 Swamp Ash in Blue that I got for a steal from DV247, prior to leaving the EU that is, rock solid superb quality and finish, that will get the shielding and a scratch plate, but I really like the sound of the Pup's, Hardware and pots/wiring are great, so just a mini project. I love HB's too, I have the MP-4 MN Enhanced which is my go too. Love it as is, so no desire too upgrade any of it ........ YET!!! Didn't really notice, but see what you mean, but looking at it, it follows the the ridge on the body perfectly, however, the chamfer is a lot shallower and longer on the neck side which makes it look out of line, the camera angle does make it look worse to be fair, I can live with it,

OK, so first build and first proper post, so go gently 😁 Compared to the stuff done in here this is almost embarrassing to do but we all have to start somewhere I guess, so, I am fairly recently back into Bass after nearly 40 years, decided to do a cheap project P style bass, back then I was plug and play (Vox Standard amongst others) very little attention to anything else. OK, I could have bought a decent one but I like to tinker and nothing better than taking something average or less so in this case, improving and learning along the way. So I found an unloved HB SBK 20 on FB for £40 and thought I didn't have a lot too loose at that, what's the worst that can happen?? The thing was shot Tuner wise, but apart from a couple of little nicks good condition. Tuner cogs teeth were all chewed flat, would tune somewhat and just slip out of tune, sounded ok though but needed sorting. I am not taken with the all Black look so decided to go Chrome, nice contrast to the Black, imo. So the shopping list was..................... Chrome Bridge and Tuners (£42) Seymour Duncan QP's (£80) Black Tusq Nut (£10) Chrome String retainer (£3.50) P Bass Flat Top Knobs (£8.50) Stainless Scratch plate screws (£5.25) Chrome Strap buttons (£7.99) Copper Tape (7.99) Pots/Wiring (£23) Ebay SBK 20 (£40) I wont you anyone more than you probably are by now, so I will be brief as possible with the rest. Removed old Tuners, plugged old holes with Cocktail sticks and CA, was not worried on looks as they come under the new Tuners so not an issue. Re drilled the new tuner holes without much fuss. Then the same on all the scratch plate screw holes, all bar one were stripped as such, left them 5 mm short of the top so as to leave a bit of a guide for new screws, all tighten to a stop now. Dry fitted the new wiring/pots, this just needed a small amount of wood off the side of the recess for it to drop in nicely, the old pots were crap, all the adjustment in the last quarter of a turn, nothing before and they were very, very loose friction wise, so worth changing the lot. The nut was a bit more of an effort, guess HB decided they were unlikely to be changed so it was well glued in, had to remove it bit by bit, a pain tbh but got it all out, tidied the slot up and the new one slipped in a treat. Then it was shielding the scratch plate and cavity, I wanted to do this to more to try it, as a few quid and a couple of hours is cheap learning imo. Went with the 1" width as more versatile for the job in hand imo. I had assembled everything back together prior to doing this too see how the tone noise was prior to shielding and it was quite loud, mostly disappearing when strings etc touched, happy to say (once I had earthed it, DUH!!!!) the result is considerably quieter now, so worth the effort and it gave me the opportunity to do a few photos for this, not great but hopefully show Its not perfect, a few rookie mistakes along the way but hey ho!!!!!! Put it all back together and put some DR Hi Beams I bought for my TRBX to try it out, actually surprised how good they sound, nice thud but quite bright too, but I will try some flats on it at some point soon though. I was not looking to make it Classic P Bassy looks wise or sound wise, just what I liked and that it sounded good to me and it does, so for a first basic attempt it is a win win for me especially at a tad over £230 all in, plus some new strings eventually, which is what this was all about for me, a pointless waste of time and money to some I guess, could have bought a ............. for that etc, but each to their own, still a very enjoyable and educational exercise well worth doing. Thanks for reading to this point (if you did) Cheers 😊

Its my first go at doing one, nothing fancy at all but pleased with the result, will knock some pictures up and list the work.

Hi all, Getting on a bit now, last played bass (in a band) in my late teens, used a Vox Standard, that for the time was a great Bass imho. I decided to get into it again just for me this time nearly 40 years on, fingers don't work quite as well now but really enjoying learning to play again and modding this time round, boy have I missed out, there are some great Guitars around now, have too many already but just finding out what I like. Just finished my first cheapy project and its a keeper for sure. Picked up some great info here so decided to join in. Cheers Mark