W1_Pro

Lovely. Probably plays nicely too. How do they do it for the money?

I have to say I have TI's on an old Birchenbacker that I have (because of the lack of mass at the heel and the tendency of the whole thing to basically fold in half with rounds on it) and they are utterly lovely and such good fun to play. TI's it is, I think.

I eneded up buying a Hofner Contemporary Series. Very nice it is too. I was a little dissapointed to see it come minus the tea cup knobs (it has those funny little black ones) but its a lovely bass and great fun to play. Any suggestions as to a set of flats that won't break the bank? I know, its a big ask these days...😆

Hello Maude, Thats absolute genius. I did exactly what you did, took the pickups apart, and lo and behold, Dimarzio's! Many thanks for the help and for taking the trouble. The pickup seems to be OK too, so thats going back in. Best Stuart

Amazing! Thanks @Bassassin.

Thanks Andy, Much appreciated. I may well contact you in a blind panic at some point in the next few months...😅

This will be the repair thread..I doubt I'll be anywhere near as efficient (or competent) as the likes of @Andyjr1515, but I shall try....😆

Hello Maude, The US ones are awesome machines. I've got one of the two pickup ones (the Curbeck its called I think) and that has the same pickups as your one. The woodwork on these is phenomenal. I read somewhere that they were called 'the poor mans Alembic' because the workmanship was so good. I'll put a meter on pickup out of the Hondo and see if its still a thing. Incidentally, my Curbeck has been signed by Victor Wooten. Thats how it came to me and I don't know why or how, but its a nice thing.

Thanks for the info Bassassin. Here it is taken apart. Its such an innovative design. 'Nearly neck thru'😆 The body is indeed mahogany, might even be one piece! I think you are right about the bridge. A cheap and nasty chrome item which does not look as deep as the brass originals. The pickups...I don't know...no markings of any sort visible but the wiring colours seem to check out. Anyone recognise them?

I picked this up a while ago from a chap in Norfolk. Didnt pay a lot for it, about £90 iirc. Its been languishing in my office, but I have finally gotten around to it. Cosmetically its pretty beaten up, but the neck is straight and there doesnt seem to be anything terminal.....I hope! So, the plan is: Strip the paint and refinish (looks like quite a nice piece of mahogany, if it is, tru-oil if not, paint). The fingerboard is pretty worn and pitted, so that'll need sanding and a refret. I understand that the pickups on these are Dimarzios. Anyone know for certain? @Bassassin perhaps? If it turns out to be decent I shall try and clean it up and salvage it. The cavity is a mess, it'll need a complete rewire, new pots and knobs. There is a hole for a micro switch, I think this is a series/ parallel. If anyone knows for sure please let me know. Thanks! Stuart

Also China, I believe.

Hi everyone, this has probably been covered before, but I can't find a thread so here goes. I want to replace the vol & tone pots on my P bass. I'm planning to use CTS 250K log pots with a .047 orange drop cap. One thing I am confused about, are there specific volume and tone pots or is a pot just a pot? Advice appreciated... Many thanks Stuart

Good question re. the winding of the pickups.......I suppose you could extrapolate that out to anything...what is the difference between a P bass routed on a CNC machine in China vs. one routed on a CNC machine in the states.....about a grand by the look of it.....

Thanks for all of the info and thoughts gents. All very useful. I've just ordered a Contemporary, as the consensus seems to be these are somewhat superior instruments...

Thats good info PS, thanks very much for taking the time, much appreciated!

So does the centre block make any appreciable difference to the sound?

Hello everyone, I'm thinking of getting a violin bass. I'm looking at the Ignition, which (I think) is made in China, is hollow and is about £300 odd new. There is another one that seems to go for about £650. I think that has german Hofner pickups (as opposed to non German ones on the Ignition?), a centre block and a bit of a relic job on the paint. Do any of these things make it worth the extra £300? Also, the pickup spacing. Aesthetically I quite like the ones where the pickups are both set towards the neck. My thinking is that you'll never get searing treble out of one of these, so might as well lean into it and go for maximum thump, and they look nice. Has anyone got any experiences they'd like to share? Many thanks in advance! Stuart

I think for me, what stands out about these basses (apart from the top notch woodwork) is the fact that they are a genuinely different and successful take on the two horn Fender design as used by just about everybody. They are beautiful instruments. Something you wouldnt normally say about for instance, a Musicman Bongo (unless you've just bought one of course and then no doubt you'd think it was lovely).