simisker

37 minutes ago, NikNik said:

Thanks for agreeing with me, for Eastwood didn't. That, there, is an internet image, and the Wedgtail Eastwood supplied to me had the exact same issue with the Bigsby alignment. They put in humbuckers instead of single coils, but I knew that. However, they were really dark. But it was the Bigsby that got me: every time I looked at it, I winced, so back it went.

 

I'd have done the same. It can't be unseen!

An inherent CAD flaw, perhaps? It's a shame Eastwood didn't acknowledge it - I imagine they order small manufacturing runs, and would have looked to correct it stealthily for their next batch -  but at least you didn't end up out of pocket [I hope].

[Edit: for balance, I'd like to point out that my Hooky purchase was not straightforward for reasons [not QC], but the Eastwood UK team went above and beyond to sort it out ]

1 hour ago, NikNik said:

Does anyone think the Bigsby is out of alignment in the photo of the Eastwood below (top photo)?

 

Yes, even taking into account photo aberrations, angle etc, I'd say it's out of alignment:

someone clearly used the bridge as a guide

I will add that I've recently become the owner of a Hooky Bass 6 Pro, and I love it: No issues with QC. I can only assume that you were unlucky with this particular Wedgetail.

Incidentally, the observations from Maude and BigRedX above were spot on: Coming from playing bass, once you play a Hooky Bass 6 you'll never touch a Fender/Squier/HB Bass VI ever again.

5 hours ago, Misdee said:

[...] I only mentioned Alvin Stardust because I vividly remember him and that glove during those days [...]

As a quick aside: according to the Chart Music TOTP podcast, the one glove was to hide the badly stained hand he'd acquired as a result of a hasty decision to apply jet black hair dye the day before a TOTP recording. How true this is, I couldn't say, but the CM folks are usually very good with their research.

Yes! Rear facings that are just as ridiculously figured as the front. Fantastic! 🫡

The body shape may not be my cup of tea, but everything else about it is ace! Congratulations

So if you just go mono with a single lead, does the bass "sense" this and send an aggregate output of both pickups blended, like a normal bass config?

An ACG with a P-Retro preamp is one hell of a combo, in my experience *pats No.1 bass lovingly*

GLWTS!

Vox Starstream (1H ?)

Had a phone call from BD today. Not long now

Recording at home? So it doesn't have to be real-time, then?

If that's the case, record the 'guitar' part on your bass, convert that audio to midi using your DAW, and then use a Kontakt library - e.g. one of the Impact Soundworks' excellent Shreddage series - to trigger real guitar samples.

It does seem like a bit of a faff, though, compared to getting hold of an actual guitar and recording that!

EDIT: Shreddage also allows power chords and tremolo picking to be triggered from one note, which may be useful depending on the genre you're after.

$66 for shipping 3 of the blighters. I bailed at that point. Shame

I've also just bought a pedal from @green3101 and can confirm that buying from him is pretty much a perfect experience. It was exactly as described, in mint condition, he was quick to reply, and it was posted/delivered next day.

No hesitation here: big recommendation. Many thanks

Hidden deep within the ToS, eh? Right next to the sign that says "Vorsicht vor dem Leoparden!"? 😉 I think I'll pass. Me and German online retailers aren't getting on at the moment.

Anyway, it's moot - they don't have what I want. Ta once again, however

15 hours ago, tauzero said:

http://knobshop.com/Concentric-Aluminum-Knob-lined-black-anodized perhaps?

 

Who'd have thought there was a shop just for knobs?

Thanks but that site feels dodgy AF. Not secure, no shop/contact address... big fat nope.

2 minutes ago, BlueMoon said:

This^^^^
 

I’ve used the alloy from a standard ring-pull can and wrapped a suitably sized piece around while jamming the ends into split shafts. Are your pots solid shaft?

If the bass was a Squier or something, then yeah, maybe... but it's a £2k+ Marusczyzk. I'm feeling guilty just typing the words "Jamming" and "Ring-pull can" while in the same room as it.

Full Macgyver points, though, fair play. I'd definitely want to be locked in an outbuilding by goons with you

Me: "Aww...."

The embodiment of my post-christmas financial situation: "Yay!"

Just to clarify: that's from me just looking at their site; I have no other knowledge.

The last mention of these from BD was in one of their newsletters, mentioning "in the New Year", as I recall.

Looks like BD have just had a fresh Dingwall delivery.

So either the JT Rios were part of this delivery and some of us are about to get notified...  or we're talking another couple of months until the next delivery.

That's also an option, I suppose. Not much of a maker, but in the immortal words: how hard could it be?

Actually, giving it a moment's thought: I'd need to account for the side-mounted screw fixing system, for one thing.

Yeah, it's already getting beyond my skill/effort/reward equation

Finding slimmer concentrics isn't a problem; it's getting them to fit the shafts - the John East concentrics on my ACGs are noticeably slimmer [and in my opinion, nicer to use] than the Warwick ones, for example.

Converters or sleeves could be an option - but I haven't found any yet.

I can't even swap out the control plate + pre-amp to another manufacturer - For example, John East is having trouble sourcing gold hardware, Audere don't ship out of the US, and Lusithand don't do gold at all.

I guess I'm stuck with what I have, then. Who would have guessed that swapping some knobs would have been such a palaver? 😄

Anyway, it was only a small quality-of-life improvement, so no biggy in the scheme of things.

@neepheid Them's the ones. They're good knobs on Warwicks or other through-body control setups, but 4 of them on a J control plate is a bit of a squeeze.

I don't think those Allparts ones fit, from memory [it's been a while now!]. And I'm looking for gold ones, because I'm a shallow magpie.

Some useful paths of investigation there, though. Thanks both 🙂

Of course, there's always the nuclear option: replace the Noll preamp with another 4-pot solution. Hmm... 🤔

44 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

How much did you put down?

"Trenter percenter..."

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

It was 10%.

I've got a deposit on one of BD's allocation of Rio Dream editions.

Have to admit, the GAS has subsided a fair bit since the excitement of ordering. But, y'know, let's see how I feel when it turns up

An update in Jan 2024 [!] ...

After 6 months of waiting, with no communication unless chased but them having my money all that time, I ran out of patience and cancelled my order with Banzai.

I did receive a prompt full refund - probably the only positive interaction I had with this company.

I won't be using or recommending Banzai Music again. Live and learn, eh?

So... anyone know of anywhere else that sells/makes/machines these unusually specced knobs*?

* yes, yes - johnpeel.jpg, etc

... or "Sob king", if you move the second 'o' towards the 'l'.

Perfect for emo.

Remember these? Now not expected until the New Year [2024]

I have to admit, I thought these would have been ready - or nearly ready - to ship soon after deposit time, just after the NAMM show in April. These aren't bespoke, after all.

Was that naive of me? 🤷‍♂️

Another post of praise!

I bought a pedal from him, and as you'd expect from a top-notch member of this community, the whole experience was great. Always quick to reply, and he kept me updated at every step.

The pedal was mint - exactly as described - and was well packaged and delivered quickly.

Honestly, I couldn't be happier. Cheers once again, Darren