KiOgon

How about [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25-4mm-BLACK-RED-HEAT-SHRINK-TUBING-4pcs-x-300mm-/400155488341?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item5d2b203055"]Heat Shrink Tubing[/url] over the foam? Cheerz, John

Vicky is sure lucky to have a mate like you Jack, good on ya! I can't think of anything more for the bass build, but let me know if she's using pedals & needs a PSU, I'm happy to donate one for her. Best wishes to Vicky, Cheerz, John

[quote name='RhysP' post='960728' date='Sep 18 2010, 08:05 PM']My sister would deck you if she heard you say that - she thinks he's gorgeous.............. [/quote] She definitely should have gone to specsavers

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='961314' date='Sep 19 2010, 05:02 PM']+1. In each of my La Bella sets all four strings have close to the same length of non-silked string.[/quote] Thanks for that Dave - reassurance at last! Cheerz, John

I started to watch the Alex Bershadsky solo video but I couldn't get it to run at the right speed Not my cup of tea ta but have fun if you're going.

[quote name='walbassist' post='960924' date='Sep 19 2010, 08:50 AM']Looks like a medium scale E string was packed with a long scale set to me. I've never had that problem with the La Bella sets I've used in the past or now.[/quote] Yep! That's exactly what it looks like to me too Cheerz, John

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='960899' date='Sep 19 2010, 07:01 AM']Oh.. that is odd. I'd see what La Bella have to say...[/quote] I've found the invoice from Stringbusters so I've sent them an email with pictures, we'll see what they say. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a reply from La Bella direct, never seem to have much luck with replies from across the pond! Cheerz, John

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='960892' date='Sep 19 2010, 06:20 AM']^^ what he said. I'm afraid to say, you should have bought a long-scale set. As for the stiffness & size of the E.. If you've gone from a .100 E to a .110, it's bound to be a shock. The 54's / Jamersons are pretty extreme. Maybe you should have tried some more 'normal' La Bellas, like the FLs, first...?[/quote] They are a long scale set how else would the A D & G be just right? It's only the E that's short. To be pedantic the 'scale length' doesn't change strung through body or bridge I use GHS on my '51 P bass - bridge mounted & the same GHS on my Skjold 35" scale, they fit either just right. The silks are 3/4" - 1" away from the Skjold nut & 2" from the P bass. The GHS 3060s E string measures .107/.108" & they are sweet & flexible on both so I wasn't expecting the extra 2 or 3 thou to make a big difference in feel, it's not like these are the first flats I've tried, I've used mostly flats for 45 years! I do like a big G string , preferably over .050" so the LaBellas seemed a good choice, size wise. I never expected the E string to be effectively 2" shorter than the other 3 - that's the thing Edit: To make matters worse, I've just noticed on te LaBella packet - "Perfectly Balanced Sets" - I don't think so

Top guy, Graham bought one of my custom PSUs, easy to deal with & no problems, highly recommended. Cheerz, John

Top guy, sold a PSU to Chris, no problems easy to deal with, highly recommended. Cheerz, John

[quote name='Johnston' post='960429' date='Sep 18 2010, 02:45 PM']I thought Labella didn't recommend that you put flats through the body!![/quote] I've never seen any official recommendation other than don't wind the main string around the peg, oh and never let your bollx dangle in the dust Not to mention that these are "Original 1954 Oldies" & how did 1951 - 1954 in fact until 1957 P basses have their strings fitted? Cheerz, John

[quote name='chris_b' post='960423' date='Sep 18 2010, 02:38 PM']You can string the E through the bridge.[/quote] Yeah but no but yeah but - no I can't - if you look at the pic of the E over the bridge you'll see how the winds have started to 'open' & the strings will all have a kink which is not nice if you then put the same strings through the bridge ending up with a not nice bit of string about 1 or 1.5" from the saddles, right where you might want to pluck!

I've just fitted a set of La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flatwounds (1954 Oldies) to my Frank Bello & I'm a bit p155ed with them, more specifically - the E string. It has to be said I'm a bit fussy about things & strings so as the E is like a QE2 anchor cable I thought I'd check the nut fit as I was going up from a .100" to the .110" & the old Fender seemed to sit a bit high in the nut. Also because I use a Hipshot xtender I wanted to make sure it had a free run through the nut. I spent a long time fettling & filing the nut slots to get a perfect fit on all strings, judging by the last 1/2" or so of the string before the silk. The Frank Bello has a BadAss3 fitted as standard, again 'as standard' is strung through body. When I fitted the G, D & A I was happy but then the E - it's not bloody long enough! The silk sits in the nut but worse than that, the flatwound section stops almost exactly where the silk starts, so the part of string actually in contact with the nut is not even smooth or even & with using the extender the silk ain't going to last long rubbing against the nut. Another moan is the rigidity & rough spiral of the silk covered ends that wrap around the pegs, they're really hard to guide neatly when winding on. Annoying or what? The other 3 silks end nicely in line about 2" above the nut, if the E was the same it would be perfect, with the main body of the string just on the tuner peg. At first I didn't like the feel or the tension of them either but tweaked the truss rod & left it overnight to settle. This morning I gave it a complete setup, the E sits a fraction low in the nut but I was able to get a good low action on all strings, with the E .100" clear from last fret, the A, D & G .080" or under, with .012" clearance under a 2' steel rule on the 8th fret. I'm hoping the stiffness eases a bit when they've had a good stretch & workout! I nearly went back to the Fenders straight away, or maybe try some Status flats but at £25 a set I'll give them a fair try + of course I'll need a new nut now as well before I can change to anything less than a .110" E. Sorry meant to post in miscellaneous etc. Cheerz, John

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='953211' date='Sep 11 2010, 10:16 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-51-Precision-Bass-Butterscotch-MIJ-/140452289373?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20b39bdb5d"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-51-Precision-...=item20b39bdb5d[/url] I had one of these briefly (in original spec, I hasten to add). I have to wonder what this sounds like.[/quote] Now I wonder my '51 P RI MIJ is a T05**** serial number & I was told when bought, (from a well known Nick on here), it's a 94/95, Fender website & Guitar dater project both agree on 94/95. It looks as good as a 2009 mind you

Good call - I saw that advertised - lovely innit (for a stingray)

Guitar Dater Project says, serial # V015986 :- "Guitar Info This guitar is from the U.S. Vintage Series made at the Corona Plant (Fender), USA in the Year(s): Cannot be determined from serial number, however you can consult this chart showing the corelation between serial numbers and dates found on the neck Fender MIA RI Serial Number vs. Neck Date" Also: Fender: Corona Corona factory was opened in 1985, Corona California, with major guitar production starting in 1987. With the addition of a custom shop in 1987 the plant currently employs about 700 workers. Apart from general and Custom Shop Fender instruments and amplifiers, it also encompasses Guild acoustic & electric guitars. How does the seller reckon it's a Fullerton? Let alone a '84 So you pays your money & takes your chances, unless you get to That London & have a good look

I was selling an outboard motor for £30, (about 20 years ago), when the guy came to see it he wanted it but said he only had £20 - which I refused. He said "hang on I'll see what I've got in the car", he came back with a very expensive Williams torque wrench to which I said yeah I like that, then he rumaged in his car again & came out with a lovely pair of Greencat 10x50 binoculars, leather case too. I said yep OK deal, thinking either of the items he was offering were of greater value than the old outboard & I was on a winner. Imagine my suprise when he put the motor in his car boot, he came back & gave me the £20 as well! I was speechless, he went away happy & I've still got the torque wrench & the binos but I bet the outboard died years ago! Not exactly bass related but - that don't happen often