6feet7

Here's the neck pocket routed out.

I've always had a weak spot for Les Pauls and 'f' holes, and because of this I used to own an Epiphone Zenith bass (basically a not quite as semi hollow as it looks with double f hole Les Paul type bass). I now only play 5 strings and they only made the Zenith as a 4, so when I saw a Zenith bass body going for sale for less than it costs me to fill my car with fuel I had an idea. Firstly I bought the body and had to wait a week for shipping from the USA. I then got in touch with Keisel/Carvin in the USA to make a 5 string neck (I didn't want a Fender type headstock and they were the only people I could find who could make me a neck with a paddle shaped headstock affordably (unfortunately it's a 22 fret neck and the Zenith was originally a 21 fret neck, so some routing out of the body plus reshaping the heel of the neck will be required.) It's maple with an ebony board. The headstock will be shaped in the open book more Gibson than Epiphone style. Instead of the piezo/magnetic mix pickup that was on the original Zenith I've got an almost new set of EMG passive pickups plus a copy of an LR Baggs piezo unit/ batteryless preamp. I was going to go for Kent Armstrong Claymore pickups that are in my Patrick Eggle basses, but found the pair of EMG's for the same price as one Armstrong one. I'm sticking with the wooden/through body stringing bridge, though a new wider rosewood bridge will have to be made to accommodate the 5 strings. Unfortunately I'm totally cack handed when it comes to either woodwork or electrics, so Simon Farmer of GUS Guitars (maker of Prince's last guitar and bass) who lives just up the road from me is doing the mods (you should have seen his face when I took all the parts over to him Anyway, here's the body when it first arrived. (and also a photo of what it 'originally' looked like).

My old, originals band (MALF). The first picture was in a town called Weed in North California, USA, where we the only British band playing at their festival. They sure do like an English accent (though they couldn't understand Dave (purple shirt) who is from Yorkshire, and Rodger (beard and sunglasses) from Scotland). Sadly no longer together but we have said that when we have some money we are going back to California for some gigs. Here's hoping.

These - the 12cm wide ones. I've been searching for years and these are the best I've found (for me, anyway). http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Maruszczyk_straps.html

Prince didn't actually order the GUS G1 guitar. Simon had made it for him a few years before (he knew someone in Prince's entourage and between them they tried to get it to Prince when he was last over here touring. It didn't happen). But, word over the internet reached Prince about a Purple Special GUS G1 guitar so he asked for it to be sent over (and there is a picture of Prince holding it at his last ever performance). He liked it so much he then ordered the bass.

Simon Farmer from GUS Guitars (he lives 5 miles up the road from me and has looked after my guitars and basses for 20 years) finally managed to get a purple special GUS G1 guitar to Prince (a long story over several years about missed meetings/opportunities etc etc) and Prince used it on his very last appearance (along with a new purple piano). It was a gift to Prince from Simon but Prince then asked Simon to build him the bass. Unfortunately Prince never got to see it (I have, as well as having held the purple guitar, and both were absolutely fabulous). Another famous artist (I don't know if the information is in the public realm yet, so I wont say who) now owns both guitar and bass.

Just bought a Phil Jones Briefcase from Rob. Great communication and an absolute pleasure to deal with.

I've a strip of white reflective tape from Halfords and use a hole punch and stick the punched out dots over the fret marker dots. I use this method on all my basses.

I had a Retromatic B2 and, apart from it's wonderful looks, it was a great bass.Shame they only made it as a 4 string or else I'd have kept it. Peerless make guitars and basses for many other companies (a bit like Cort) so you can't really go wrong with them.

The same could be said for my bass playing

Sunbeams are the only strings I use nowadays.

OK OK. I finish work in a couple of hours and will take a couple of piccies then

I've just had one of my two Patrick Eggle Milan V's painted metallic lime green (it was originally plain wood finish. Then Andyjr stained it green and finished it in danish oil but when I saw the metallic lime I had to have that, so it was primed, painted and lacquered (as thin as it could be done) and looks extremely 'lush'. Go for it.

Hoping I can still make it but there is a ? Whether I can now

This

I'm the same with anything Fender shaped. I've tried various versions from cheapo to bl**dy expensive. I just can't get along with any of them. horses for courses

Hoping to come along with my 5 string DB - Can someone can show me how to play the bl**dy thing

Totally agree. I play 5's now and spend most of my time around the 5th - 8th fret. Makes life so much easier.