Dave Vader

[quote name='Marvin' post='1344601' date='Aug 18 2011, 05:09 PM']When are you planning on unleashing this fine piece of Devon craftsmanship on the public? BTW, if I ever get around to building my own P-Bass you might find me popping around your way for advice [/quote] Oh, and pop away Marv, I rarely get to bore people with tales of guitar building, you may hear the missus trying to hang herself in the background once I get going, but don't let that bother you.

I have a pair of 20 year old (probably) 58s, that have never had anything done to them (except for gaffa tape holding the casings together, damn those punk bands) and still sound as good as they always have. I have done nothing to them, and have no intention of replacing them.

[quote name='Marvin' post='1345077' date='Aug 19 2011, 08:11 AM']Never been to Guildford.[/quote] You should, it's an excuse to stop in Reading.

Well Marv, as I recently realised I have gone to a lot of effort to make sure I have 2 fretless basses, just in time to realise that I have recently left BOTH bands that I was playing fretless in. So as to when I unleash it, I would imagine it will be on the day I feel brave enough to play a Spaced Invaders set on fretless, or next time somebody asks me to go and play with their band, and I can work a fretless into the set. There will come a day, probably not that far away either. (Am not putting it through compressors and choruses and gawd knows what to make it work in the Spaced Invaders 80s tribute set, can't do it). And many thanks MM, I never used to like it so much, but once I'd used all my best strat bits to make that one, I realised I liked it more than I thought. Wouldn't like it so much without the cream bits though. All black is too much.

[quote name='gary mac' post='1344582' date='Aug 18 2011, 04:53 PM']Nice one Dave, it looks very rock n roll[/quote] Thanks Gary, though being a fretless, it is not that rock n roll, sadly. More jazz 'n' folk

[quote name='Johnston' post='1344580' date='Aug 18 2011, 04:52 PM']Is this the one with the rather worse for wear bridge?[/quote] That's the one, bridge coming to a comedy ebay auction near you when I can be arsed to write it. None of that is relicing by the way, it is just shoddy workmanship, poor handling and a spilt tube of superglue.

Just went searching for my original build thread started a year ago. Turns out I never got round to starting such a thing, despite having a special flickr folder for all the pictures and everything. (there weren't very many pictures, and they weren't very good, this thread will be better, and shorter).

Welcome, i have stopped in Reading, but only to change trains to get back to Guildford.

[quote name='ibanez_ownz' post='1343094' date='Aug 17 2011, 01:43 PM']i wanna modify my jazz copy purely cuz its my first bass and its got alot of sentimental value right now its at my perents its haggard but has pertential im a complete noob at this kinda stuff but hey what the hell everyones gotta start somewhere ive already sorced parts neck bridge pickups its kind off a extended project becuase i have hardly any money i just dont know anything bout wiring and stuff like that so iff someone could give me a crash course of what to do what to buy and where from it would be much aprechiated[/quote] And breathe.... Have a look through the build diary threads here and on talkbass for ideas of stuff to do, and how to wire it. There are diagrams all over the web, google is your friend. So are axesrus and wdmusic and allparts. Just go for it, and when you hit a problem (specific one) start a thread about it, or search for it. Someone else will have had the same problem before you, it will probably have been me.

So some of you might remember my desire to build a black and maple fretless P-bass to go with my old strat, and the fun I had with the rusty bridge of an old Hondo body. Finally got it together, and here she is. It's a Hondo 2 plywood body, with an ebay generic P type neck which I defretted, and has been passed around a few basses while I finished this one off. Has a Wizard Trad bought off samuel on BC, covered with cream covers got from howard (bass doc), an old bridge I had lying around (which has snapped off screws hiding underneath it, lets call them sustain blocks ) pots, cap and input also sourced from my parts box along with the mint green knobs, which will be replaced with cream ones to match properly when I get a few quid spare. Oh, and Status Hotwire flats, 105-45, bit heftier than the fender 100-50s I was running on my other basses. Thought I'd give status a crack, so far so good. Sounds immense, just like those old bad company records that made me want a fretless P in the first place. Here 's the pics.... Hanging on my wall, looking black and mapley and good. Sitting on the sofa next to his little brother (who inspired the whole build) And lying on the other sofa with the "other" black and maple (alright white) member of the household, Bam-Bam (who came with that name)

About 20 minutes to come up with something workable. Then the rest of the song's gigging life tweaking and playing with it til it works. (Never sounds the same live as it does on a demo)

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='1342179' date='Aug 16 2011, 05:45 PM']You should stick some cow bell in there. If it still sounds similar then utilise some more cow bell. If that doesn't work then you need a new cow bell.[/quote] This

[quote name='charic' post='1341735' date='Aug 16 2011, 12:03 PM']I wrote the intro riff for newborn (on piano) years before it was released [/quote] I wrote Nirvana's heart-shaped box a year before it came out, whilst writing a parody song in the style of Nirvana. Quite pleased secretly.... Also wrote Purple Haze 20 years after Jimi Hendrix (though 2 weeks before I got my first hendrix album)

[quote name='gjones' post='1341311' date='Aug 15 2011, 11:03 PM']I've heard lots of good stuff about Blazers and MIJ Squiers are great too (I have a Jazz). But one thing you [s]can't can[/s] don't need to do with Blazers but you [s]can[/s] have to do with Fenders is upgrade them with [s]standard[/s] non- Fender parts. It's one of the reason I bought an old MIJ Fender instead of a Blazer when I was loooking for a P bass.[/quote] Fixed it for you

Still gigging my old P-copy that I got for £30 a very long time ago. It never fails me, ever. And I like it more than any other bass I've ever played. So option 1 here (mostly to be contrary).

[quote name='uncle psychosis' post='1340769' date='Aug 15 2011, 03:29 PM']Maybe its just me, but I don't really give a toss about what the other guys play, so long as it makes the band sound good. If someone wants to double "my" line then if it sounds cool, go ahead. If it sounds crap, then we have issues, but I don't need a moment of personal glory to enjoy a gig.[/quote] +1 very much so Always used to double up for hey joe, working up to harmony lines on the bass part, it was a bit cool actually. As long as you can play in time/tune this should not be a problem

Blazer. This is all. (Still need another one, miss mine)

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1339562' date='Aug 14 2011, 01:05 PM']Bought some xlr cables from Dave. Great value. Dave stayed in touch at all times and sent the stuff fast and beautifully packed. A credit to our community.[/quote] + 1 Top guy, very happy.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1337813' date='Aug 12 2011, 03:54 PM']I'm fairly immune to neck profiles..[/quote] Yep, me too, have a couple of skinny ones and a couple of fat ones, and don't even notice once I'm playing them. Same with guitar, only realise how different they feel when I put them in a funny tuning and slap a capo on, have to tighten it all the way for my SG, and take it back all the way out for my old Tele. Don't notice at all when I'm playing them.

Why not

After 20 odd years of gigging it, I still find I use the Sunn Mustang P copy that I got for 30 quid gets more use than anything else. It has had a few tweaks and changes over the years, but it still plays and sounds monster. Love it.

[quote name='Lenny B' post='1328282' date='Aug 5 2011, 09:23 AM']I sometimes use a pick with my fretless, for no other reason than it gives me the sound I want for that song. I also sometimes use my fingers on the fretless - I don't slap though, because that doesn't give me the sound I want. No rules. (except that)[/quote] I have slapped my fretless a few times, I liked it, so did she....

[quote name='bigjohn' post='1327345' date='Aug 4 2011, 04:37 PM']If you don't give us the link, none of us will come back.[/quote] +1

I have a GK backline 600 and 2 big old 15" Laney PA cabs that I pulled the tweeters out of, and stuck Celestion drivers in. I like it a lor, have done for the last year and a half. Was considering changing it as I thought it was a bit muddy, then I heard a bunch of other guys playing through it all last weekend at a local festival, it is not muddy, I am too close (and clearly like to make things sound muddy). It's staying.

[quote name='lettsguitars' post='1327085' date='Aug 4 2011, 02:58 PM']if you're right handed your pitch perception comes from the left ear which is the side you listen to yourself with, and vice-versa. This is why you only use one side of the 'cans'. right handed-left side off, left handed-right side off.[/quote] Am deaf in my right ear and right handed. Probably out of tune and never realised then?