paul h

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1042855' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:07 PM']Everyone should have a project bass, It should become law! Good work. I here this mixing superglue and a filed down nut to make a paste then letting it set before re-filing the slot does the job just fine mate. [/quote] As we're just talking about a plastic nut, surely I can just use almost any plastic item as paste donor?

[quote name='mcnach' post='1042885' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:22 PM']Ursa is a model, not a brand They're still labelled as "SX". The CNB link is interesting 'though. It could well be that they're cheap and local (local to a Chinese manufacturer) and that's why they ended up being sold with Jim Deacon instruments... Even if they came from the same factory, it does not mean they're the same. They could have very different specs. The cheaper SX basses sold in a package with an amp etc are not the same as the slightly nicer SX basses sold individually, for instance. However... if you have in front of you the Jim Deacon and two SX... I have to admit you have more tangible elements of comparison than I have! Oh, I just re-read it.. you *have had* two SX... I fell in love with SX when I found my GG1JR Les Paul style guitar, with a couple of P90s. It has some cosmetic details that betray its origin, but it's a lovely guitar and sounds great. When I started selling my guitar gear, only two guitars remained: a Fender Stratocaster, and the SX! I bought the SX from an internet only shop in Germany around 5-6 years ago. I wanted to find more, and frustrated by their invisibility I added a little SX page to my website, where I put a bunch pf pictures, generally stated how much I loved them, and asking if anybody knew where they sold SX guitars in the UK to contact me. A few weeks ago I got a message about that page. It was from China. Someone from the family who started the company (about 15 years ago, she said). I did my best in my reply to give them an opportunity to send a lovely natural finish maple neck Jazz style bass, which I'd review and play proudly in my 3 bands (not exactly at the international level, admittedly ) but I thinkk they passed on that one maybe I'll ask about the Jim Deacon brand, just out of curiosity now. Let's solve the Jim Deacon provenance mystery! [/quote] I hadn't noticed they were still badged as SX to be honest. I lost interest with the latest headstock! You should definitely email them though...horses mouth and all that.

The problem with that that nut fix, is not having a spare nut to file down for paste material! My SX P ended up with a new tort scratchplate, P pickup and a badly added J. It then got mixed up with a donor body to make it a black/black/maple P. The Jazz just had a new scratchplate and pickups. Totally agree, everyone should have a go!

It's just the angle of the picture! It's a wide arsed neck for sure but I am used to a jazz neck at the moment. The only real issue I have found, cosmetics aside, is that the A nut slot is too big and it's rattling about. I am waiting for some new strings to be shipped so I will try it with them first before I worry too much. Of course once I have the new strings on I will decide whether to swap out the pickup or not. If I do I will go for an Artec so that will only be £21! I have ordered a bridge cover and I think I have found a mint green pickguard to replace my dodgy one. I think I will forego the headstock painting because a the missus rightly pointed out I will only nark it up!

[quote name='mcnach' post='1042622' date='Nov 30 2010, 05:25 PM']I don't think they are the same basses. I'm not quite sure what's the link, as it's implied in several places... but the company making SX instruments makes several others and Jim Deacon doesn't appear on their list. They do share some details, like the dark orangey finish, the look of the hardware... but that's pretty generic anyway.[/quote] I wouldn't necessarily take that list as definitive. For instance they have no mention of the Ursa brand that they have been making for Rondo Music since the rumoured legal problems with the SX MKII headstock. And of course the clincher is the fact it was shipped in a cheap CNB gig bag. Which is a Team International product line. I have had two SX's and now one Jim Deacon and I am 99.99% sure that JD=SX.

Sounds pretty good to me. Sounds like Bobby Vega!

I've just spent £115 on a Jim Deacon P bass because it was CAR. I am about to buy a mint green scratchplate and a bridge cover too. I'm hoping it sounds and plays ok because it's going to look good!

I might email them back again and reinforce the point!

I was hoping fr the SX but was also fully prepared for the JD. They are the same basses just with different branding. It's only really the non-matching headstock that is the issue. This will plenty good enough for me! Candy Apple Red is the new white!

I realised I missed having a P bass and I have been gas'ing after a CAR bass so after some google time I found this... [url="http://www.hwmusic.co.uk/product/jim_deacon_45559.aspx"]http://www.hwmusic.co.uk/product/jim_deacon_45559.aspx[/url] Candy apple red, matching headstock, white plate. Pretty much exactly what I was after. Except of course, being a bit of an SX fan I spotted something wrong. The image is actually an old SX model with a "fish-hook" headstock. I thought that maybe they had some old stock in and after all they are made in the same factory as Jim Deacon so that may explain the photo and description not matching. I decided to take a punt. I was hoping to get the SX branded bass as per the picture. I nearly waited until the next day to phone and check but seeing there is a Basscentre online shop thread going I thought I might as well test out the supplier. During Paypal checkout I left them a note just asking them to check that the bass did indeed have a matching headstock. I ordered Friday evening and had zero correspondence. Not an order confirmation. No email about the headstock. Nothing. This is what turned up this morning... [attachment=65379:SN851504.JPG] [attachment=65380:SN851505.JPG] Candy apple red but no matching headstock and a tort plate. I had an old white SX plate so I gave it a quick rub with fine sandpaper, mixed some vaguely mint acrylic paint and hey presto! It won't really pass close inspection but from a few feet away certainly has that more vintage, minty vibe. [attachment=65381:SN851509.JPG] Next stop fret fettling, fretboard oiling and new strings. And maybe one day a trip to Halfords for some metallic red! I also just emailed HW music to suggest a more accurate photo (at least the same brand) or a more detailed description. They replied really quickly thanking me for the comments and totally ignoring the issues I raised!

I started with 4. Dabbled with 5. Tried 6. Toyed with 6/fretless. Gave up. Back to 4.

Here's another trick... Take the covers off and make some shims (folded electrical tape is fine) roughly the same height as the exposed polepieces. Lay the shims each side of the poles and put the covers back on. Hey presto, clank free flush covers.

[quote name='chrismuzz' post='1041912' date='Nov 30 2010, 06:01 AM']Colour is TOO important for me! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the new Peavey Grind 6ers to come out JUST because they will be in black [/quote] I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for a CAR P copy!

Without listening I would be confident it is indeed strings hitting the pole pieces. However why it's only happened recently is a mystery unless you have swapped to lighter gauge or lower tension strings. It is possible, although not necessarily advisable on a 73, to knock the pole pieces through the pickup so they are flush with the cover. Obviously have a look at the underside of the pickups first to make sure they are unimpeded. Although that is probably only the case with ceramic pickups. If you do go that route you will probably have to raise the pickup slightly to keep the pole piece at your preferred difference from the string. Alternatively as has been mentioned...electrical tape!

I am quite a fan of the pickups but never used the preamps. My Aero2 is fitted with them and I have a p bass on the way which may well get an Artec too. For me ceramic pickups sound too harsh and so they are a cheap way to swap to Alnico.

[quote name='Udathunkit' post='1039154' date='Nov 27 2010, 07:05 PM']Hi Paul H - just wondering what these basses are like, I have looked at them on e bay several times and been tempted but don't know anyone who has actually played one - cheers mate[/quote] I really enjoy mine. I gave it a quick fret level and I have changed the pickups but purely for personal preference. I am extremely pleased with it. It plays much better than the Aerodyne I used to have and looks awesome! Keep in mind I have the Aero2 which is set neck and 33 1/4" scale length. I am sure the bolt ons are just as nice...and they are cheaper!

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1038154' date='Nov 26 2010, 07:14 PM']It going to be Surf green with a maple/black blocks neck, what are the feelings on a matching headstock?[/quote] Yes with rosewood no with maple.

I am so into CAR right now I think I am going to buy one tomorrow.

I remember TR! I haven't been there for 20+ years! Glad to see it's still going.

[quote name='Bassbadger' post='1035026' date='Nov 24 2010, 01:03 PM']Hi All, I think Paul and I share a similar white bass fetish! Here is a pic of a one-off bass I had made up for my own personal use. It's nickname is "Honky" and the maple board with white pearl block inlays and white binding were inspired by '70s Jazz necks. Enjoy![/quote] That is rather nice! I have been banging on about my Aero2 for months now and it's good to see more and more Retrovibes cropping up. Of course, you have an advantage when it comes to custom orders though!

Can I do another new one? I found looperman.com yesterday and decided to have a quick play with a rap sample! [url="https://sites.google.com/site/paulharckham/home/changeforthebetter.mp3"]Rap fun[/url] Notable only for a(nother) P slap riff.

[quote name='icastle' post='1032711' date='Nov 22 2010, 03:02 PM']ROTFLMAO - You are just [b]so[/b] damn classy Paul [/quote] I'm glad someone noticed my finer points.

My mistake. Thought I heard a little Satch in there! I was quite a Satriani fan but fund Vai just too overblown for me. I actually bought a Tony McAlpine album because Billy was playing bass.