Ross

Body I think is slightly tinted by the shellac sanding sealer, did 5 coats of that with a brush. The neck I didn't bother as it was nice and smooth anyway.
Both got a good coating of clear gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, I can't remember exactly how many as I was getting rather high off the fumes due to my lack of a respirator but I think it was 6.

The cavities I used copper foil with conductive adhesive preapplied.
Easy to do, I used the cavities themselves as templates and cut the pieces to line the bottom slightly bigger than needed so they rose up the sides.
Then measured the depth and cut strips to line the edges, added a few beads of solder round the edges to connect the pieces incase the conductive glue drys out and then soldered a length of wire between the pickups and control cavity to connect it all up.
And as you can see ran a strip to the bridge, largely because I can be bothered to drill a hole to run a earthing wire.

I don't think i'd use the extras, anything I write doesn't go past the 17th, anything I play has yet to go past the 21 frets.

Love it, think when I get round to getting a precision it's gonna have to be similar in design.

A lot of the hold ups have been financial and tool limitations.
I could have had this done weeks and weeks ago, it's surprisingly easy, very enjoyable and I'd highly recommend it.
All I need now is pickups and nobs, which are a long way off. I'm £1000 overdrawn and jobless until at the earliest, july so good times. I did however get the pickguard screws finally so here's how she stands today:




I've yet to give it a finishing coat of wax because I can't afford the wax either

I had one by these guys for my thunderbird, dear god it weighed a ton.
And it didn't fit the bass very well (it rattled round inside if you weren't careful). But it was a one off and the guy I bought it off gave the dimensions so that was part of the problem.

Depends what you want, how big, how complicated a design.

If it's basic I'd recommend picking up a load of polycotton and fabric paints and just doing it yourself.
Or find a decent struggling artist and see how much they'd do it for.

As much as I'd love a Shuker I know the waiting times are insane. I'd have to buy a used one if I went down that path.

Pretty sure 0.47 is the standard cap used in most setups.

That sounds brilliant, wish I'd been there to see it!
And give the celebratory "wahey" for staying on your feet.

I can't use my amp at all at the moment, back home, elderly neighbours, thin walls.
Can't wait to get back to uni, I can practise through something.

Hey, I'm getting round to sorting my '62 RI Jazz out finally, the sets gone a bit wonky, the necks dry, the hardware is crusty.
Anyway, I was thinking of putting some pickup covers on it, only trouble being I've heard they don't fit over badass II bridges? Can anyone recommend bridges which do fit.

A second question, I noticed the truss rod screw is in the most inconvinient place possible. Bottom of the neck with no rout to access it. I don't really want to add a rout to it, whats the best way to adjust the truss rod, this seems like it's gonna be a major pain in the arse.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1275348' date='Jun 19 2011, 10:31 PM']Warwick jack socket... nuff said!

Get a Soundcraft or Neutrik one and you'll be sorted. TBH it's a relatively (dead easy) DIY job and should theoretically be a £20 job but seeing as how many places will charge you a minimum £30-£40 the total could end up being that +£6-£10 for the socket.[/quote]
£30-40? To change a jack socket?
It's a 5 minute job, dear god.

Yeah, it's about the sound. I'm not a huge metal fan, it's not my bag man. Especially not a lot of this newer stuff with screaming singers, maybe a bit of sabbath but I kind of grew out of it for the most part.

But i'd take my hat off, I don't like this whole "jagged ugly ass bass, a million tattoos, long greasy unkept hair and beard and BLACK EVERYTHING downtuned to buggery and distorted beyond recognition" thing man, it's so dark, why can't metal bands be a little more cheerful.
If the dude was more interested in his sound than his looks i'd be more inclined to give his band a chance though.

If someone showed up with an ugly spikemonster of doom but they could play like a boss then I'd have them, no worries.

I went for a piss pre set once, ended up splashing on my leg in a set of light jeans, so a horrible dark patch of piss formed.
Franticly trying to dry them off rubbing lavatory paper on it some bloke came in, looked at me rubbing my crotch and walked out.

I piss loads when I'm nervous, or drunk, or in bed (annoyingly the bathroom is downstairs and at the other end of the house). But not when i'm up on stage.

Fender pickguard screws are 2.5mm.
1mm is too small, 1.5mm is the best at the size if you ask me.
Get a couple of bits, they snap so easily at that size, even for 4 holes. Better to have a spare bit than have to go back and buy another for the sake of a couple of quid.

It's not too hard, I did all of the holes on my bass body using a crappy nutool drill I borrowed off my neighbour, bad idea but I got fed up and impatient of waiting to use a drill press. All of the holes are exactly lined up and straight, all about taking your time, luckily the chuck was straight as a die (surprising for such a cheap bit of kit).

Put a few bits of tape roughly where the holes with go, stick the covers into the position you want then using a nail tap a hole dead centre, get in a stable position to have the drill dead straight. Make sure the bit is it straight and the chuck is tight and tape off the bit (taking into account the thickness of the pickguard and covers) so you don't drill deeper than is needed.
It's easy.

Absolutely stunning, if you ever want to sell it give me a pm

A guide to the veneering would be awesome as well

OBBM/ bassic bits brilliant for premade cables. Got one years ago, still going strong.

I make my own now using neutrik connections/ van damme cable. Which works out slightly cheaper for basically the same cables.

Very underated player, always loved the clash as well being that it's the band which got me into rock music in general.

After reading a biography on the band and on strummer it's pretty clear they were just a bunch of down to earth guys most of the time.

I never sell my gear.
Theres been weeks living off tinned soup or plain rice, i've sold a few dvds but never my gear.

It'd make life easier but I always find the money from other avenues.

Yeah the set I've put on my project seem to be really shiny and not nearly as thumpy as I was expecting having heard them on other basses.
And the first set the e string broke with my thumb resting on it.

I'm hoping that they'll dull down after a while though, with my filthy hands. The roundwounds on my jazz are 7 years old and have more low down thump than the la bellas do.

I bought an 80p cheapo jack from "pikeys second hand and electronics" about a month ago as a temporary fix, already starting to lose contact.
Invest in a quality component.

Yeah, I've got dings and scratches on my bass purely from bedroom practise. Playing live it never gets a scratch.
These things happen, don't worry.

Gig bag, I had a hard case once, it weighed a ton so I ditched it.
Way I see it I don't need that much protection, instruments always go on top of the pile of crap and it's not like i'm gonna throw it into the wall when I get to the gig.

There was a point where I just carried my bass slung over my shoulder much like an axe with no case at all. The only dents it has are from playing in my room and not having a stand for it.

The thing Ken can't seem to grasp, if people are spending £3k+ on a bass, it's not a big thing to expect the company to ship them a $10 pot and not extort $100 for their back pocket claiming it was for shipping. That is disgraceful customer service.

Oh and, Ross Curtis here, 19, business student. And to be honest I wouldn't buy a Ken Smith bass because I don't like the majority of botique basses and can't afford it on a student budget. If I did decide in the future when I'm earning good money I do want one I'd think twice about buying a Ken Smith now.

I always return to business' that go the extra mile.
Like stringbusters, a string broke after less than a day, no quibble, didn't expect the string back as proof, just sent another next day in the post.
Absolutely outstanding service, which is why i will use them again.

I highly doubt I'd use a ken smith product after seeing some of the dreadful responses and customer service displayed in this thread.