ikay

Aha! Thanks for the link

Does the HCT Violin bass have an unbound or bound fingerboard? I've seen pictures with both (see below). The unbound pic is taken from BassDirect, other websites show the HCT with binding. Are the older HCTs unbound and later ones bound (or vice versa)?

Could it be your Phil Jones combo rather than the bass? Have you tried a different bass with your rig? I found this post which mentions a distorting double 4 - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/289284-intermittant-distortion-from-my-phil-jones-double-four/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/289284-intermittant-distortion-from-my-phil-jones-double-four/[/url]

Re low output, it depends which piezo you're using. Hipshot/Graphtech piezo bridges have more output than your average humbucker!

To mix the piezo and mag signals together you'll need something like the East MPM-01 buffer circuit. I'd suggest giving John a call and explaining what you need, he'll be able to sort you out.

I take it you've also got a wire from the bridge to the jack earth?

Here's the Delano one - [url="http://www.delano.de/products.html?&cHash=9185ee9f3f&tx_smtdelano_pi1[cat]=2&tx_smtdelano_pi1[series]=11&tx_smtdelano_pi1[system]=123"]http://www.delano.de/products.html?&cHash=9185ee9f3f&tx_smtdelano_pi1[cat]=2&tx_smtdelano_pi1[series]=11&tx_smtdelano_pi1[system]=123[/url]

[quote name='sirmuppet' timestamp='1500282633' post='3336599'] I did hear before of a pickup that had four coils and you could select which were on/off. The front and back coils were split into bass and treble. So that would allow for the split P sound (ish). For the life of me I can't remember who made them but wasn't one of the ones you suggested. [/quote] One of these maybe? - https://www.bartolini.net/product-tag/quad-coil-splittable/

Here are a couple I know of: Bartolini MPB2-918 - [url="https://www.allparts.uk.com/products/bartolini-buffer-and-blend-balance-for-bass"]https://www.allparts.uk.com/products/bartolini-buffer-and-blend-balance-for-bass[/url] John East MPM-01 - [url="http://www.east-uk.com/index.php/all-products/mpm-01.html"]http://www.east-uk.com/index.php/all-products/mpm-01.html[/url]

A suitably coloured marker pen carefully applied? Cheap and cheerful, but then I am!

Looks like toast to me. I'd contact Ibanez and see if they can supply replacement saddle - [url="http://www2.ibanez.com/contact/"]http://www2.ibanez.com/contact/[/url]

If the piezo saddles are anything like those on my Hipshot piezo bridge then I think you'll need a new saddle. Can you post a pic?

I made a cardboard sunshield for my PitchBlack but it didn't make any difference! I also have a Poytune clip-on in which is a bit better in sunlight but still not particularly easy to see. I wish I'd kept my old Boss TU-12 with the Vu type needle meter for sunny outdoor gigs.

With a lined fretless, personally I find having the dots in the 'usual' position feels more natural and makes switching between fretted and fretless easier. Removing frets and adding lines is entirely doable by a good luthier. No need to replace the fingerboard unless you want an unlined neck (in which case you will want the dots on the fret positions as mybass says).

I have a Dbx 160A permanently plumbed into my rig. I have it set to give a gentle 2:1 squeeze with a fairly high threshold just to subtly smooth transients out like Highfox. I've tried several pedals in the past but they all seemed to suck the life out of my sound. I like the Dbx because it's amazingly transparent and doesn't colour the sound at all. Once it's set you just forget it's there.

Just sold my ACG EQ01 preamp to Dave. Top chap to deal with, good comms and prompt payment. Many thanks Dave and enjoy exploring the endless tones of the filter pre! Cheers, Ian