Joe Nation

One of the retrovibe necks might fit - the heel width is 56mm, I've no idea how wide the pocket is on a P body though.

That's a good point, glad I didn't waste my time figuring it out! The Fluence has a solder bridge on the PCB to select the default single-coil, but you can wire it to a switch. I doubt my useless ears could tell the difference either way. I have also just come across - I think - a push-pull 3-way rotary, so I could have the coil split on the same knob as the voices. Not sure if it's worth the hassle frankly, but I think I'd prefer if that way.

@Cato huh, I never knew that. I can understand his guilt.

https://www.fishman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Fluence-SB1-Single-Bass-Pickup-w-Dual-Concentric-2-Band-EQ-1x9V.pdf This is Fishman's wiring diagram for a single Fluence pickup, the 3-way switch is bottom-right. Looks like the black wire is the ground, the orange wire is pin 1 and yellow is pin 3, as per your diagram. I think you're right about the (off/off)(on/off)(on/on) switching of those two wires. I thought about trying to do something really cool with the coil tapping, like humbucker/inside coils/outside coils on another rotary, or even a 9 way switch with a single position for each possible combination. But that seems like a bit too much faff for my taste. I'll stick with the push-pull volume knob for now.

You're a legend, thanks @neepheid. I think you're right about pic of the Schaller, it's an M model which is 5-way. I've done some other research and although I couldn't find exactly what I needed, I think I've got it figured out - unless anyone else cares to weigh in?

I was just wondering the same about Kurt Cobain while listening to Nevermind this morning. We would never have gotten the Foo Fighters for one thing.

*Squier. If the bridge saddles were touching when you checked, did they get knocked or something? How's the intonation and string height, compared to where it was when it sounded good? Have you checked pickup height? Too high and the magnets can pull on the strings and dampen the vibration.

sound as a pound

Lots of stuff already mentioned: Anything relic'd, especially if it's homemade, OTT or has had fire anywhere near it. If you want it to look old, you have to wait until it gets there on it's own! Scratchplates that don't match the shape of the body (the Sandburg above is passable, at least it's a design choice and not just bad/lazy design, but it'd look 100% better if it followed the shape). Pickup covers - what are they even for?! 6 strings or more - unless my fingers were to suddenly grow an extra inch or two. Headless bridges with tuners that stick out an extra 6 inches at the butt, and/or really weird butt shapes to accommodate them.

I've got a single Fishman Fluence pickup to go in my 5-string project build. It comes with a push-pull volume pot, stacked treble/bass pot and a 3-way DPDT toggle switch to select the voice of the pickup. I'd like to fit a rotary switch in place of the toggle, so I can have three matching knobs. Would this 3-way rotary Schaller Megaswitch work? My wiring skills are non-existent, so I'm all in a muddle about how these things work. The standard toggle has six tabs but the megaswitch has 12, I assume it's just a matter of establishing which tabs to solder and in what configuration, to get the right functionality. There are loads of schematics on Schaller's website are for wiring up conventional pickups in conventional configurations, but nothing shows the basic workings of the switch. Edit: I just found this MEC switch, which looks similar but has 8 tabs. No schematics at all on MEC's website.

We do have roads out here, it's not that rural 😆

Question is, do you have the beard to match?

How thick are the bodies and necks? I'm guessing the P neck is slightly wider than the Jazz. This can add a substantial amount of wood, and also the pickup/control cavities can take a lot out. Also the electronics can add a bit of weight if there's a lot there - 2 active pickups with a battery and 4-5 pots will be a good bit heavier than a simple passive P vol/tone setup.

Couple of technical questions: if I were to plane the body down and add a 6mm top, would this be about the right thickness to attach the pots or would I need to adjust the thickness (only where the pots mount)? Guess it depends on the pots and how much thread they have. More importantly, can anyone direct me to a good how-to guide for finishing a quilted top? The type where you stain it black, sand back then put the colour on. I want a look something like these: TIA.

Thanks for bringing this up. Only other day - having just got my first 5 string - I was wondering about the pros/cons of playing a 5 versus a 4 in drop-D. Guess it depends on how much you need the open D or if you just need a lower D and Eb.

Taking it closer to a Jazz did cross my mind, but I felt it wouldn't be jazzy enough (I hate those almost-Jazz copies that change the headstock and body shape just enough to look like something else). It would run the risk of looking like a modern car with chrome and whitewalls. I've always loved the Explorer shape, but I think I'd have to add so much wood to make that work (even reverso, Adam Clayton style) that I'd be better off making a new body.

So by sheer luck and good vibes, I've managed to score two five string projects for next-to-nothing - a Peavey Grind BXP (thanks Phill) and a Warwick Rockbass Streamer (thanks Joe). The Rockbass body has a massive crack and may be beyond repair, but the neck, electronics and hardware are all good (I'm still awaiting delivery so it'll need further inspection). The Peavey was subject to a slightly dodgy respray by the previous owner and has no electrics, but the body and neck are sound. The Peavey is routed for 2 Jazz pickups and five control pots, the Streamer has soapbars and 3 pots, so I can't easily swap anything between the two to make a complete bass. I currently have a Rockbass Fortress 4, and my first decent bass back in about 2001 was a Peavey Cirrus 4, so both have a certain sentimental appeal. I'm completely torn about what to do with them both. If I had to pick one it would be the Streamer, but if the body is junk then I don't have the equipment to scratch-build a new one (I could probably do it very slowly and sketchily with hand tools on the patio table!); finding a direct replacement might be tricky without spending quite a few bob. The Peavey is nice but looks a bit too "metal" for my taste - however I've got my eye on a shop-soiled single Fishman Fluence pickup and controls, which I reckon would look and sound pretty cool. For that to work I'd need to either fill in existing routes or plane the body down and put a cap on top - the latter would take more work but would allow for a nice bit of figured wood. I might also do some reshaping of the body to make it a bit more interesting. OTOH, if the Streamer can be glued up, I'm tempted to put the body cap and Fluence on that instead. In that case I'd paint up the Grind, fit the Streamer's passive electrics and some cheap pickups and sell it on. Or I could keep the standard electrics on the Streamer but make the body nicer - it's the most basic/budget Rockbass model with a carolena (spruce) body, so not nearly as nice as a "proper" Streamer - maybe finished in a nice sonic blue or something. Anyone care to share any thoughts, ideas, pics or your own builds? I really like the Squier CV 60s Jazz in daphne blue with the red tort scratchplate, but somehow I don't think that look would work on either of these.

Sadly, I'm no longer seeing the Foo Fighters in July

Yesss!

It's way too soon to start speculating. I just hope no-one gives them any grief, what ever decision they make.

No surprise that they've cancelled the tour. TBH I'd be surprised if they ever tour again - maybe a farewell tour with guest drummers would be cool though.

I'm rubbish at knowing band member's names' unless they're a really famous frontperson. But Taylor was one name I did know, and The Foos are one of my all-time favourites. I still have never seen them live, but we managed to get tickets for their UK tour in July. I'm really hoping they don't cancel it, but at the same time I'd be really sad to see them "incomplete".

I love the body shape, but TBH the mixture of coloured knobs, different wood finishes and block inlays was a bit much for me... Until those blue strings went on. Then it's like, yeah I'm weird and different colours and whatnot, deal with it!

Don't worry, no-one else does either

Dizzy - The Wonder Stuff and Vic Reeves