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Fender Basses / Incoming Performer
« on: December 19, 2016, 03:58:06 PM »
I've never seen one in person but I became intrigued in the 90s after reading about them in a German history of Fender basses. A guy on TB just bought a basket case and linked to this one. BIN seemed right, so...
Possibly the last time Fender attempted anything different, even if the headstock was just a trimmed standard one.
Got some pretty severe chunks out of the body as well as crack in the stock at the E string. Might be just what I was looking for to paint Sunset Orange Metallic.
Possibly the last time Fender attempted anything different, even if the headstock was just a trimmed standard one.
Got some pretty severe chunks out of the body as well as crack in the stock at the E string. Might be just what I was looking for to paint Sunset Orange Metallic.
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Rickenbacker Basses / 4003 Reissue Horseshoe Problems
« on: December 15, 2016, 03:33:08 PM »
From a customer of mine:
"I’m having issue with the bridge pickup on my Rickenbacker 4003….its one of the reissue Horseshoe pups and the string to string volume is crap,well the most important string “the E” is quieter than the rest of them…..tried raising that side but that also makes the A louder,and i certainly don’t need that…..the poles on the A/D strings are significantly higher than the pole on the E/A,do you have a Pickup recommendation for the Ric?….or is it just a preference thing?"
I know very little about Rics, I do seem to remember some criticism of the RI Horseshoe pup. Any solutions or recommendations? THANKS!
"I’m having issue with the bridge pickup on my Rickenbacker 4003….its one of the reissue Horseshoe pups and the string to string volume is crap,well the most important string “the E” is quieter than the rest of them…..tried raising that side but that also makes the A louder,and i certainly don’t need that…..the poles on the A/D strings are significantly higher than the pole on the E/A,do you have a Pickup recommendation for the Ric?….or is it just a preference thing?"
I know very little about Rics, I do seem to remember some criticism of the RI Horseshoe pup. Any solutions or recommendations? THANKS!
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Gibson Basses / Gibson's Credit Rating
« on: September 27, 2016, 08:12:33 AM »
analysis of a Moody's report...by a bass player. Does not look good:
http://www.ericgarland.co/2016/09/27/gibson-rating-moodys/
http://www.ericgarland.co/2016/09/27/gibson-rating-moodys/
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Gibson Basses / '66 ThunderBuckers vs Chinabuckers Shootout...with clips.
« on: June 14, 2016, 01:53:17 PM »
I bought a pair of ChinaBuckers on Ebay, one had been installed, the other hadn't. I stuck them in a bass, they sounded OK but lacked something. I sent them to Steve (ThunderBucker) to scope.
Here's his response:
So I got to compare a set of my 66s against CBs. They measure out a
little different
Pup R L Q
66N 8.635 3.713 2.095
CBN 8.420 3.031 1.801
66B 9.231 4.371 2.267
CBB 9.382 4.026 2.054
I get a little more L for R than they do, that could be a difference
in the mag perm of their magnets. I'd expect my N to be a bit louder
than theirs due to the large diff in L.
That does show up in the VU meters once recorded.
66 NB pair -5.9
CB NB pair -5.4
66N -3.2
CBN -6.9
L is inductance, the resistance to a change in current flow. It is affected by number of turns squared, and any permeable (iron-like) materials in the magnetic circuit. In this case, mostly the recoil permeability of the alnico magnets (how much they act like iron to a magnetic field)(ferrite magnets don't act like iron at all, they act like air). Q is the ratio of the inductive reactance to the pure DC resistance of the coil. A perfect inductor would have no resistance at all and an infinite Q. Q is also affected by losses in the magnetic circuit, which is mainly eddy current losses in the alnico magnets.
In this case, the CBs seem to be getting less L for equivalent resistance, which is turns basically. Maybe the coils aren't wound as tightly (that would raise R per turn) or their magnets have higher eddy current losses. Either way the differences aren't large. Mainly what I offer is different winds and some customization.
Here's the clips he cut edited together. Same bass, same strings, same setup, and same riff.
https://soundcloud.com/dadagoboi/chinabuckersmix
ThunderBuckers are first and third clips. As they say in auto racing, "The last 10% of performance costs 90% more. YMMV.
Here's his response:
So I got to compare a set of my 66s against CBs. They measure out a
little different
Pup R L Q
66N 8.635 3.713 2.095
CBN 8.420 3.031 1.801
66B 9.231 4.371 2.267
CBB 9.382 4.026 2.054
I get a little more L for R than they do, that could be a difference
in the mag perm of their magnets. I'd expect my N to be a bit louder
than theirs due to the large diff in L.
That does show up in the VU meters once recorded.
66 NB pair -5.9
CB NB pair -5.4
66N -3.2
CBN -6.9
L is inductance, the resistance to a change in current flow. It is affected by number of turns squared, and any permeable (iron-like) materials in the magnetic circuit. In this case, mostly the recoil permeability of the alnico magnets (how much they act like iron to a magnetic field)(ferrite magnets don't act like iron at all, they act like air). Q is the ratio of the inductive reactance to the pure DC resistance of the coil. A perfect inductor would have no resistance at all and an infinite Q. Q is also affected by losses in the magnetic circuit, which is mainly eddy current losses in the alnico magnets.
In this case, the CBs seem to be getting less L for equivalent resistance, which is turns basically. Maybe the coils aren't wound as tightly (that would raise R per turn) or their magnets have higher eddy current losses. Either way the differences aren't large. Mainly what I offer is different winds and some customization.
Here's the clips he cut edited together. Same bass, same strings, same setup, and same riff.
https://soundcloud.com/dadagoboi/chinabuckersmix
ThunderBuckers are first and third clips. As they say in auto racing, "The last 10% of performance costs 90% more. YMMV.
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The Outpost Cafe / Perfect Nite Lite...
« on: April 30, 2016, 12:52:57 PM »
...for brats who whine, "mommy, I'm afraid of the dark."
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Other Bass Brands / Incoming Hollow Body, '66 Harmony H-22
« on: December 12, 2015, 07:46:54 AM »
Been considering one for a while, this popped up on Reverb...looks pretty clean. 
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Other Bass Brands / Incoming Hamer...Slammer
« on: August 24, 2015, 08:27:34 AM »
I jumped on this 95% for the case. I'm pretty sure it will fit my 1960 EBO which has been living in a Fender Electric 12 case since '73, long after the cardboard OEM disintegrated. I've been looking for a decent replacement ever since.
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The Bass Zone / Omega (BadAss II Clone) Bridge
« on: August 20, 2015, 03:06:47 PM »
Just got one in from Allparts.
The plating and overall quality is excellent. If you're a fan of the Badass II, you'll like it IMO. If you're not, nothing to see here.
Saddles and length adjusting screws appear to be interchangeable with the BA II. My two basses with them are buried and I'm too busy to dig them out at the moment. AP also sells a replacement saddle kit.
This Omega is nickel plated, the preferred finish of Old Farts everywhere. I'm betting the other finishes are the same quality. The BA and BA III are chrome, I bought them used.
The BadAssII patent expired a while ago and I guess no one trademarked the look.
Difficult to believe, considering thatdildo guy from QuarterFlash trademarked the Vox Phantom shape. I got a letter from his lawyers a month or so ago. Check my website for my reply
The plating and overall quality is excellent. If you're a fan of the Badass II, you'll like it IMO. If you're not, nothing to see here.
Saddles and length adjusting screws appear to be interchangeable with the BA II. My two basses with them are buried and I'm too busy to dig them out at the moment. AP also sells a replacement saddle kit.
This Omega is nickel plated, the preferred finish of Old Farts everywhere. I'm betting the other finishes are the same quality. The BA and BA III are chrome, I bought them used.
The BadAssII patent expired a while ago and I guess no one trademarked the look.
Difficult to believe, considering that
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Other Bass Brands / Incoming ABG- Stu Hamm sig Washburn AB40SH
« on: July 06, 2015, 09:39:07 PM »
Serial #1, with any luck it will be here Friday.
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The Outpost Cafe / What's Up, Doc?
« on: June 30, 2015, 09:11:53 AM »
After reading Bill's message in "Projects" and seeing Scott's FB post, I just want to send out Best Wishes.
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The Outpost Cafe / New Don Henley
« on: May 07, 2015, 12:26:09 PM »
Long rumored Don Henley record is supposedly dropping soon. I'm looking forward to how it's received in today's market.
And, of course, having Uwe explain it all to us.
And, of course, having Uwe explain it all to us.
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Other Bass Brands / Incoming M-85, gaga for Guild.
« on: April 28, 2015, 09:39:25 AM »
I'm really digging my B-301, it has given me an appreciation for the brand. So when this came up I bit:
It's a '73. Click the pics if you want to see more. Seems to be around 95% complete, the chesterfield inlay seems to have fallen out. There's some honest wear but I might do a total restoration.
It's a '73. Click the pics if you want to see more. Seems to be around 95% complete, the chesterfield inlay seems to have fallen out. There's some honest wear but I might do a total restoration.
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Gibson Basses / NR Forgery
« on: February 24, 2015, 01:19:33 PM »
Guy contacted me through my website about an NR he bought at Sam Ash about this bass. It was sold to him as one of mine. Pretty sure I know who built it...wasn't me!
Have to admire the creativity of the forger in the cavity cover.
I actually went to elementary school in Carle Place grades K-5 before we moved to Florida. Fun place to grow up.
Have to admire the creativity of the forger in the cavity cover.
I actually went to elementary school in Carle Place grades K-5 before we moved to Florida. Fun place to grow up.
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Other Bass Brands / Incoming Guild B-301
« on: January 15, 2015, 02:12:18 PM »
Trading my Cataldo Eighter to an early customer for this:
I'd prefer a blonde mahogany, been looking for a while but none has turned up. I'm sure they'll start coming out of the woodwork now...
I'd prefer a blonde mahogany, been looking for a while but none has turned up. I'm sure they'll start coming out of the woodwork now...