3below

The unmentionable bass (looks very similar to yours) that I owned many years ago also had an incredibly thick fingerboard with the same style binding. In this respect the Shaftesbury is being faithful. Really good work so far and so rewarding when a DIY job saves the day. Having recently encountered (for the first time ever) a neck with a back bow I would use a double action rod if you can. If you need a strip of maple to fill the truss rod channel bed for the double action rod put the dimensions up on here.

USA Strat circa 1990 bought by telephone and email from ABC. Still have it, as it was as good as they said.

This video is useful, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYJIJOF1ZV0

What composite board have you used? Looking very good,

Can not recommend Mid Wales Music in Newtown highly enough. Plenty of interesting guitars and basses pass through their door. Am just hoping it survives the current situation.

Jon Shuker also worked wonders on my G&L when the truss rod lifted and broke the fretboard. It came back better than new, with stainless frets and you can not see any finish damage. Super job all round at an extremely reasonable price.

Persist on the well known Internet auction site for ABM parts. They do crop up, this year I have got very lucky with ABM bridges - twice

Head looks very clean, it will be a nice example when 'fully healthy'.

Probably not I did mail them with the above suggestions a few years back. Polite but bland reply afair.

This ^, and I have a Leeds in my possession. It is seriously good, it curbed my gas for owning a Hiwatt 200 again.. I wish they did a Leeds Deluxe (i.e Leeds version of VT Deluxe).

Records really well when plugged straight into my Scarlett interface.

Seems that Andy Fraser was not a great bass player then. At least I now know that for all these years I have misunderstood what being a great player is....

Bought some TI Flats from Paul. Excellent transaction, arrived next day despite these extraordinary times. Many thanks.

Just like a previous transaction (many years ago now), spot on. Bought a P bas pickup from Lee, it arrived quickly (considering these strange times), really well packed. Great communication. Top chap, deal with confidence.

Nothing new here, some USA Standards circa late 80s and into the 90s were veneered tops e.g. US Telecaster Plus. I spent considerable time avoiding buying a Tele with this 'feature' ). Until recently I had an Ash Strat, beautiful thing, would be a custom shop body in today's world. I also needed a body building course, it was a boat anchor.

Just needs a Telecaster style headstock

Phil Lynott - Vagabonds of The Western World, Andy Fraser - Free Live, John Entwistle - Live at Leeds. All of these have inspired me over my many years of bass playing, the tone, the technique. I might get there one day

Probably;y telling you the obvious, before you chisel down the grain into the 'belly cut', tenon saw plenty of cuts at right angles and just above the 'belly cut' depth / profile. This video (just one I found on YT, nothing 'special') gives you the idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2j57h3E3m4 This method prevents 'massive', ''unfortunate' splits along the grain etc, the kind of moments you do not want and makes it all easier. Apols if you know this and were going to do it anyway.