GreeneKing

I've had my 1st attempts at recording and it's been quite fun. I installed a pair of Villex 'P' pickups to my Bob Glaub recently, to make best use of the Villex booster that's been a really great extra knob that really brings out 3 progressively enhancing colors to the tone. The Villex pickups aren't just another set of pups with different windings and magnets, they have a separate output (resulting in 4 wires and an earth, not sure how this works) giving a passive Mid control using a 50k pot to augment the normal tone control that then becomes a treble control. So that's volume and treble on one stack, the booster and then the mid placed where the jack was. Of course the pickups themselves are an upgrade and using a stacked pot without the booster enables the original jack to be retained. As pickups they're a noticeable improvement over the Lindy Fralins (themselves great pickups) with a very punchy tone and stacks of oomph. With the extra tonal pallette on top they make an already impressive passive P bass so much more versatile. I've tried recording some samples and only had limited success as what the bass really can do through an amp and what it does into my PC aren't totally comparable, especially the operation of the booster unit which seems to need 'load' to function effectively. I'm still working on this and if I get anywhere I'll add some soundclips. I've used 'Putfile' to host my samples after looking at 'Soundclick' which I found a bit harder to use. I'm the archetypal 'bedroom player so don't expect any stunning playing'. [url="http://media.putfile.com/Mid-only-89"]No mid or treble[/url] [url="http://media.putfile.com/Mid-only"]Mid only[/url] [url="http://media.putfile.com/Mid-only-74"]Treble only[/url] [url="http://media.putfile.com/mid-and-treble"]Mid and treble[/url] Peter

Yes mines a Skyline and not particularly heavy, nowhere near as light as a Bass Collection but not heavy either if that helps. Peter

Well I'm not going to take the piss. Hope you feel better Peter

It could be a bargain and I really hope it is. Id wait until it arrives before celebrating though. Peter

Hagstrom rescue A great thread. Peter

I have two Bass Collection SB320's and they are great. I don't need two and one is for sale so if you're at all interested pm me for details. They are light/compact, sound good and are very playable. Delightful basses. Peter

Wow Nick that's absolutely stunning. Congratulations. I love the cream finish. I suspect it sounds a bit better than a standard 4003 with that Horseshoe and toaster Peter

I've got all three in various guises. For upper fret access my ACG is superb and that's glued in. Neck thru is good the same way and looks cool. Some basses with bolt ons sound great and the best sustaining basses I've had haven't always been NT. So I'd have to say whatever plays and sounds best and the neck contruction may not be the factor. Peter

'No longer for sale' = 'sold' I think

It's not your fault at all I just think that if a company are selling something on eBay like this and when there is a huge response that to pull it when someone walks into the shop and buys it is not really ethical. Cash Converters, ethical? Nuff said really I would happily of invested that in a BIN scenario, with investment being the operative word here. It looks stunning, just needs a Silver Tolex case and all the'candy'. Mega congratulations. I'll take you up on that 1st refusal! Peter

Bugger This bass is presently being auctioned on eBay. Is this ethical? I was going to bid for it too Over 5 days to run and at least 18 bids. Peter

Hehe, coming as I do from a place called Mersea Island, Essex in name but Suffolk in nature, we always called it Low stoft but I just wondered what the 'official' verdict was. Thanks Dood Pierre

Hiya Paul and welcome. How do the local pronounce Lowestoft btw, is it: Low e stoft or Low stoft always wondered and suspected it might be the latter. Peter

Originally I took advantage of Tigran's Villex Tone Booster offer and installed one in the BG, using concentric Tone/Volume pots rated at 500K instead of the original 250K in order to make a hole available for the booster. As I said in my review at the time, I was very pleased with the result. The 500K tone pot also made more treble available, with the original capacitor, value unknown, re-installed. Reading that the Booster works most effectively with the Villex pickups (I'm blaming Ped here) I decided to go the whole way and fit a set, not realising that they came with an additional Mid control. So, I fitted a jack into the body to free up the old jack position for the Mid pot. I also bought a 0.047 microfarad capacitor to match up with the 500k tone pot. On wiring up the bass there was no output at all and no obvious reason to me why this should be so. I dissassembled the wiring and with the help of Tigran checked out the pickups which were fine. I also checked the pots, all functioning correctly. Today some proper shielded cable arrived and I built up the circuit one componant at a time checking output and all connections for conductivity as I went. All was great until I finally placed the Tone Booster in the hot output. Then I realised that I had failed to earth the booster! This I'm fairly sure was my original problem too So that's it, all buttoned up and working exceptionally well. All I need now is to give it a true test at gigging volume as my Roland cube 30 isn't the best way to hear the benefits. New Jack: Finally wired up correctly, I moved the cap btw Here it is with all the messy bits tucked outta sight, 4 knobs on a passive bass. Peter

Being a black wire it may be the earth connection. Possibly replacing it soldered to a pot earth will have you up and running? Good luck and post some piccies if you need help Peter

Hmm... Nice idea. What's my chance of getting a 54 Precision? Lovely looking bass and all the best looking for a sponsor.

I'm getting ready to drill holes in my BG. I've bought a set of Villex P pickups to complement the booster and they come with an additional Mid control so I'm moving the jack into the body to make room. I'll update but I'm hoping that with the increased treble, mid and booster plus the Villex pups it'll be even more tonally incredible. Peter

I was chatting to my daughter's boyfriend about eBay dealing. He then proudly boasted about shilling bidding for his mates and even selling known stolen gear (plant) that was defective and unservicable at a vast profit, dropping it off with the buyer and doing a runner. Needless to say I'm hoping that the relationship doesn't last! It's interesting because I'm sure he considers himself fairly honest and trustworthy, but just 'playing the game'.

I've just put my Harlot down and would just re-inforce that. Well worth the wait! Peter

Have you considered Villex pickups? I'm putting a pair in my Lakland Bob Glaub. The pickup comes with an additional Mid passive tone control too giving more options. Do a search on Villex. Not just yer usual variation of windings, materials and magnets. Peter