4 Strings

The bridge pieces will be staggered slightly to take account basic intonation so that each saddle is in the middle of it's adjustment to start with (the backward leaning line here):] As you can see, they are as far South as they will go! I really wanted the shorter, Ibanez bridges but they never got back with our requests. (They are on the 34" line at the moment, the top one will sit on the backward line, the angle of the camera makes it look otherwise). All just roughed out at the moment. [URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/Newlayout_zps7d72ac26.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/Newlayout_zps7d72ac26.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Anyway, back to more solid things, it's all about the detail, and much time spent this morning talking millimetres. I'm not going for a new sound, and so to get the sounds I want (mimicking a Jazz, MM and a P - not much to ask!) the pup locations are critical. Thing is, we have a 24 fret neck encroaching on the body, a tuner panel to get between the pups etc. The centre of a MM is 90mm from the bridge (further than expected). The point where the two parts of a P pup touch is around 135mm from the bridge and a Jazz is 65mm and 160mm (neck pup much further than expected) We've got a compromise that almost does everything perfectly, Jazz coil of bridge is 65mm, centre of MM bridge pup is 80 and the centre of the Jazz shaped P is 135mm. The MM pup is less than 1/2" nearer the bridge than a preEB Stingray and there's ~30mm between the pups to accommodate a 20mm tuner display. All is good, Heath will be making templates today for routing! Here's the layout: [URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/Controllayout1_zpsdb313ead.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/Controllayout1_zpsdb313ead.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Lots of to and fro about getting everything, including two batteries, in the control cavity, the tuner circuit tipped the boat. So, our brilliant luthier came up with the solution of routing a small, deeper channel in the MM pup cavity for the tuner circuit. This will be housing the wire route anyway. Neat. Other solutions would have included a second cavity for the batteries to make space. Only one needed now. Just means I'll need to take out the MM pup should I need to get to the tuner circuit board, which I hope I won't. Tuner will be powered from the pre-amp battery. We'll need to see if the East Preamps are one of those which may make a clicking noise as the leds change when the tuner is switched on. More lacquer and sanding will be taking place on the fingerboard and headstock. Hope the dots arrive soon! This bass won't be having front dots, I'm trying not to look at them on the current bass to get used to it!

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1381605007' post='2241391'] The last time I went to a Church service, the Rev looked like Robert De Niro. He had a beard and ponytail and wore a black leather jacket. He just appeared on the stage for about a minute, at the beginning (which had a huge PA system on it) and then the band, who were like a Christian version of the manic street preachers, went rocking into their set. At the end everybody got a hug and went home. It wasn't like it is in 'songs of praise'. [/quote] Most churches are not like Songs of Praise.

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1381529967' post='2240516'] Translucent orange with PRSesque fake binding around the edge. [/quote] I know I was joking about whether to go or not with orange (due to the traffic light thing) but this was my initial thought for colour, no doubt it would look great. Just feel that for a custom bass, natural or orangey brown is for me, well, custom bass colour. Now I've gone green I'm almost obsessed.

There are plenty of black churches playing that sort of stuff in the UK, often with amazing bass players to boot. There will be one in Cardiff, just look around. Some Assemblies of God, Elim and others may (I say a big MAY as no church is typical) have such a band. If you're in East London City Gates have an outrageous group of musicians and play a Gospel style.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1381530987' post='2240520'] Insanely great. [/quote] 'Tis truly amazing. I know they are flat strings, but no squeaking going either. Funny how with solos people spend most of it up the dusty end on the G string. I suppose the more normal register is a bit heavy and indistinct sounding on it's own but it means it become less to do with being a bass.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1381514973' post='2240240'] If it's got to be green then a darker british racing tint would be more pleasing on my 'not paying for it playing it' eye ;-) With a utilitarian go faster stripe too [/quote] Utilitarian, brg and go faster stripe... [attachment=145843:escort_studio_003.jpg]

[quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1381514683' post='2240229'] Orange. [/quote] Hmm, undecided about orange!

But anyway, this one is nice, and has to do with bass guitar playing. I still didn't have the patience to get through the whole thing, but it certainly inspires; http://youtu.be/vQtTpF6IdZI

Along a similar theme, and to prove the OP's point: http://youtu.be/Zv2uwdekgKQ

Ha, see I AM converting the world! When I have, I'm having my bass in blue. Apparently the Hipshot gear has arrived safe and sound, and being applied as I type. The bridge is being mounted as far South as practicable to keep the neck short and the bass balanced and so we'll see how much space will be left for my weird strapbutton ramp. Mr Wittman has rejoined the throng with info on the dimensions of a tuner circuit board twice as large as expected and so Heath is looking to see how this can all be accommodated in a cavity which doesn't impinge on pickup routs and a through bridge and doesn't require a bulging cavity cover on the back. With the pup dims confirmed it's all systems go! Go, that's green isn't it?

[quote name='Ziphoblat' timestamp='1381501137' post='2239958'] Yeah, very nice playing, the string squeak just gets a bit distracting. [/quote] Yep, same here. A classical guitar player would have conquered this a long time before. However, the tone here is trebly and so would accentuate squeaks which would have been missed on a classical guitar (where three strings are unwound and the others with much thinner wire). However, if I concentrate on squeak removal at my comparatively basic level of playing, a bit more attention to it would, to my mind, improve things.

[quote name='RoRi' timestamp='1381421111' post='2238907'] Terrible he even can't stand in the shadow of Victor. [/quote] +1. Very clever, but not very interesting. He's clearly spent a lot of time on this though. I was privileged to be at the VW workshop at the now empty Digital Village in Romford. He was amazing. His timing, accuracy, musical knowledge and downright groove put him on a pedestal for me. Whereas my previous experience of him was his tricks, which get put up on Youtube, his history and demeanour put him among the greats for me. Even if this Brain Salad of a tune (which I didn't recognise) is more clever than something VW does to my mind, no, he's not in his shadow. Having said that, I don't have one record with VW playing on it.

Love Games - Level 42 or Somebody Else's Guy - Jocelyn Brown

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1381441474' post='2239323'] there was a shirt thread aswell somewhere but cant find it now, but till I do you can have this as it has my gig hat on [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16408931@N03/10196335706/"][/url] [/quote] Good hat, and, just like a good carpenter always has a pencil behind his ear, I see you are prepared for bvs at any time! Also - love the Green Bass!

And, suddenly, it looks like a Fender neck. But bigger.

Now sorted!

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1381428338' post='2239059'] Rubber feet mounted over strap buttons with strap permanently screwed on to strap button before rubber fitted? All my straps are screwed in with a big washer to hold them in place. Why am I obsessed with your bass? [/quote] Because it's going to be the most useful 'Go to' bass there is! (Or because it's going to be green!) We decided that two feet were necessary to stop it spinning or leaning over when standing. With the top touching the wall (or whatever) a tripod is created. I did wonder about a permanently fixed strap with a foot (see post 83) for a while, but then decided we need two feet. Pup dims are sorted, covers are off to Aaron Kent to fit his innards so the pup cavities and (with a guess for the size of the Wittman tuner circuit) the control cavity can now be routed. Also, the Hipshot stuff will be delivered tomorrow so the bridge pieces can be fixed (these are the tricky Triple Lock Down type with the hollow bolts going through the body) and tuners can go on. Can't wait for the neck to go on!

Yes, thats the sort of thing, although I didn't want it resting on the strap button, it tends to loosen the screw and not be as good as a grippy, rubber foot. Utility! So, we'll try to get the strap button out the way and have it resting on small rubber pads. Finishes on both basses are pretty amazing though! The Pangbourne is very Jaydee-esque.

[quote name='scojack' timestamp='1381415768' post='2238769'] Out of interest , has the built in stand idea been shelved ? [/quote] Not shelved, but just couldn't come up with a reasonable and robust solution that wasn't going to put the bass at risk when used (the lack of length available if it tucks into the back meant the backward lean would be quite marked). However, we're looking into a 'safe leaner'! i.e., made so it can be safely leant against things. This includes a small rubber protection strip at the top and Heath is looking into cutting back the body where the strap button is to get it out the way and then two (tastefully crafted!) rubber strips at the bottom/back so it has two safe points of contact with the floor. Very simple, no constructions to rattle or break, but Heath hates the idea of the rubber! He's making a mock up of the current idea from this dodgy sketch I sent, it will need a lot of developing to both work and not look crap - watch this space! [attachment=145769:Dodgy Sketch.jpg] (I think this is an important feature as, not so much at gigs, but in practice at home and with the band, the bass is on and off like a yoyo sometimes and a safe and quick way to put it down will help stop me trying to do things with the bass swinging round on my neck)

Another quickie: Our band is completing an album with some live recordings on Saturday evening in East London and we want to record it on video too so we can add the recorded sound track. But, we've been let down by someone and are struggling to find someone who can use a couple of cameras and take a video of the 5 recorded songs. Limited budget (of course!) but we expect to pay. Any recommendations?

I realise this should be in a a technical forum, but I hoped a first shout here might reach a wider audience. Has anyone use, got or have a picture of the circuit that goes with a Wittman Pro onboard tuner? The guy at Wittman has come back with info when asked in the past, except for just recently, but it's holding up the progress of my custom bass. The luthier wants to rout the controls chamber but needs to know how much space to allow for the tuner circuit board (it's pretty tight at the moment). Anybody seen one? Cheers

Just trying to avoid this sort of look: [attachment=145764:Sunburst Green 2.jpg]

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1381394983' post='2238340'] Seeing them pictures, I'm now very much for the green! [/quote] Hooray! - I'll convert the world, you'll see!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1381395359' post='2238348'] Green basses are just wrong. [size=4] It should of course be white (or blonde), as any fule kno. [/size] [size=4]You can't beat white with a maple neck. *Babbles incoherently* [/size] [/quote] You mean like this: [attachment=145762:JE Frankenstein.jpg]