essexbasscat

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1332062557' post='1582584'] I've sometimes used a low tech approach (I think it came from an old booklet by Rob Armstrong). Once the frets are level (and flat topped) wrap a small piece of fine sandpaper around two fingers and rub over the whole fingerboard. Does a surprisingly good job of returning the frets to a more rounded profile, ready for a final polish. I hate flat top frets...looks unfinished. [/quote] I can see how that would work, I'm just a bit surprised that technique doesn't created uneveness along the length of the fretboard. Glad it works for you though Thanks Prosebass BTW, your basses look interesting. Shame we're not any closer, I'd love to have a long chat with you about building and maintaining stuff. Do you go to any bass shows ? Mr Foxen - I'm really wondering if we should open another thread to discuss the topic of beliefs and wisdom when it comes to levelling frets, setting up basses / guitars etc. I know it's been done before, but there still seems to be widespread potential for debate around the subject, as you rightly say, so many people disagree on the pros and cons. Especiall around the PLEK machine

Where's my allen key ?

Now I have this image of MM Bongos being played in Brighton gay bars

Interesting that you mention the PLEK machine, one or two people around here have an issue or two with those things. Thing is, in theory they should work well, but then again...

I have heard from a friendly luthier that D'Addario are one of the few factories that make strings.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1332015270' post='1582200'] From the recent Gibsons I've looked at, they just don't bother. The stick a Gibson decal on the headstock an call it good. I do the same as above. I've shine up nickel frets with T-cut on a cloth, just because I had a cloth with T-cut on from other jobs, worked pretty well, imagine stainless steel frets are too hard to benefit much from that. [/quote] Those stainless steel frets can bounce right off my front door ....

long brown coat as well ?

Now that look like a cheap workable solution to the problem ! Does anyone know how the manufacturers do it ? Somehow, I can't see a row of flat - capped old geezers smoking woodbines standing at guitar benches flattening off frets in the Gibson factory all day. Well, not these days anyway.

Just two basses; - Maple / maple 1972 USA precision with a white scratchplate. My first USA precision, the one I used to pick up when I got home after a gig and wanted to play just a bit more. What a dunce to sell it even though it did help finance my Goodfellow Rumour. I'd now sell other basses to have it back - Hohner Jack bass, the best one of three in the shop. Just a good bass, nice and light, easy to play, sounded great, lovely sustain, did everything a bass is supposed to do. I keep seeing them come up around here when I havn't got the money. One day, in the not too distant future.......

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1332013185' post='1582166'] No, it was a reference to the story that George Martin told about one of the first times that he had been recording 'the boys' and the fact that he hadn't really 'teken' to them at the time. Anyway, after the session he invited them all into the control room to listen to what he had been doing and he said to them them that if there was anything that they didn't like, they just had to tell him and he'd change it. Harrison was the first to speak and said "Well I don't like your tie for a start" GM said that was the point at which he started to warm to them. [/quote] And the rock star was born ....

One for the luthier types After levelling frets, many luthiers crown the newly ground frets with a fret file, creating a rounded contact surface. The newly rounded frets are then often polished with fine grade wire wool, typically 000 or 0000 to remove any tooling marks. However, that's not always the case. I've come across more than a few basses and heaps of guitars with flat areas at the point where the fret meets the string. Les Pauls come to mind straight away. Does anyone know how the freshly ground flat fret surface can be polished without taking all week while maintaining the newly ground tolerances ? I usually use a straight beam with sandpaper attached to grind the frets flat, but I recall someone mentioning that jewellers polishing compound can be used. If this is so, how is it used with a long flat beam ? Thanks all EBC

Played a wake two years ago, in a pub on the evening of the funeral. It was what the family wanted and far enough removed from the location of the funeral to be respectful. It was clearly explained to everyone that a 60's band would be playing that evening and everyone seemed to enjoy it. However, there was a facepalm moment during the first set when the band leader started off 'When I'm dead and gone' in the usual place in the set. I asked him "Are you Sure"? when he started and he said YES, CARRY ON ! I asked him at the break why he started that song, given the occasion. His reply = Oh No ! (GROAN) Classic

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1331985661' post='1581711'] That's what I think too (but I am generally a stupidly optimistic b***ger). Genuine tone deafness is very rare and (I think) a clinical condition. My belief and observation is that most people can 'sing' a tune properly in their heads but can't always sing it out 'for real' properly. This is because they lack the skill to use the tools they have (the vocal chords, the links between brain and voice, breathing etc). properly. These skills can be taught, learned and practised. Whether anyone becomes a singer of character that others want to listen to, and are engaged by, is a different matter! [/quote] Well said, that man

Thanks Chris (I'll just peek into the 'other' place, don't tell anyone)

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1331948852' post='1581435'] The GS112 and DB112 have the same speaker and tweeter and are exactly the same size, except the DB112 is 1" deeper. [/quote] Thanks Chris, that's both interesting and curious to hear. I've heard elsewhere 'round 'ere that the DB's (if you'll pardon the expression) express the mid frequencies rather better than the GS's. Yet the deeper cab of the DB's would intuitively seem to work the other way around. However, I do realise there's much, much more to it than that. I'm just a little surpised I suppose. I guess the only way I'm going to find out about the DB series is to take an Eden head along to try one out somewhere. Thanks again Chris

Oh, that was entertaining. A really nice reminder of George's capacity for melodic composition, as well as his humanity. The world would certainly be no worse off if there were more like him. FF - is that a Sellars / ying tong yiddle I Po gag ?

The biggest rock band in the world on a comedy record label

IT's been on before, but worth a second look ? I'm off to watch it again

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1331930248' post='1581219'] In that case, I'd be tempted to look into an alternative speaker for your cab. Maybe PM Gilento as he might have put a NEO in a GS112 cab..IIRC. and he is a very helpful chap as well. I brought my spare GS speaker from him [/quote] Top man, cheers !!

Thanks for the replies Eude and JTUK I like the low end frequencies of the GS112, as it suits my Peavey MKIV head and Precision nicely. However, the GS's almost mask some of the tonal range of an Eden or Markbass head IME. When I heard an Eden WT550 through a Berg AE212, the difference was profound when compared to the GS. That said, the GS appears to present a more vintage sound which I like. But I also would like to have the option of a slightly more modern, but warm, sound. I guess what I'm after is a cab for all purposes, but I'm not sure there is such a beast. Thanks again

[quote name='Al Heeley' timestamp='1331907197' post='1580766'] I saw this lunchtime someone selling a plastic wedge on ebay for this purpose [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TECHNOFRET-12th-fret-action-gauge-luthier-guitar-tool-/170654512812?_trksid=p4340.m1374&_trkparms=algo%3DPI.WATCH%26its%3DC%252BS%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7042855604754301573"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TECHNOFRET-12th-fret-action-gauge-luthier-guitar-tool-/170654512812?_trksid=p4340.m1374&_trkparms=algo%3DPI.WATCH%26its%3DC%252BS%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7042855604754301573[/url] [/quote] Yes, I have one of them ! a cheap little tool that does the job nicely. That chap also sells some other very handy tools (such as a fret levelling beam) and has posted on this forum too.

Hi all I have two an Aguilar GS112 which has worked well up to now with my Peavey MKIV head. When trying it out with other amps however, I've found that the GS112 doesn't expose some of the mid frequencies very well. Others on the forum have said that the GS series speakers have a very noticable mid -scoop, while the DB series tend to be more even across the frequency range. At a glance, the DB112 and GS112's appear to be quite similar in size. Are they similar internally ? Thing is, I have another GS112 cab with a blown speaker. Before I go replacing the speaker with a recommended direct replacement (I hear that eminance are good for these) I'd be interested to hear if there is a simple upgrade to the GS112 that can be made (I.e. an alternative speaker ?) to help expose some of the mid frequencies better. Is it just a case of an alternative replacement speaker ? Thanks all