The Last Bass Outpost

I've been assembling parts for an 8 string LP Triumph style bass and am not sure what scale length I want to go with.  I believe that some of the Hamers are 30" and 32". Anyone here have any insight into 8 string shorties?

No padding included.  





To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's breakthrough Nevermind album, Gibson USA is proud to introduce the Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass. Through his distinctive playing with groundbreaking grunge band Nirvana, to his post-Nirvana bands Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift, and Flipper, Krist Novoselic has distinguished himself as a bassist of formidable tone and unmistakable style. Able to hold down a firm bottom end that glues a song together while simultaneously shining as a center-stage musician in his own right, Novoselic helped to establish a standard for the sound, feel, and style of alternative-rock bass playing of the past two decades. To honor this musician's impact on the sound of contemporary rock, Gibson USA presents the Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass, an instrument primed with unparalleled playability and powerful contemporary tones, all dressed in an alternative style that countless modern bassists will appreciate. Finished in Ebony Black nitrocellulose lacquer, the distinctive lines of the RD body shape cut a figure that definitely stands out from the crowd, too.

Here's an interview with Novoselic: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/krist-novoselic-0928-2011/

It appears that Fano guitars is making a Nonreverse/Fenderbird bass.  Here's the link fo it.  Of course, it's already been sold.





http://www.fattoneguitars.com/Fano_Alt_De_Facto_PX4_Bass_in_Antigua_p/fan02.htm

I just picked up a Magnum II that consisted of a neck, body, and a ziplock bag of parts.  It appears that virtually everything is here, but I have no idea how to wire it up.  Would anyone here happen to have a schematic for it?  Or even better, a Magnum I schematic.  I'd probably be happier with it being passive and selling the preamp.

I saw a listing on eBay selling them and I can't find anything on the Hipshot website.  I would assume that they're made for the later 2 pointer?

I just got a call form a person interested in selling some NOS Gibson bass necks.  From what he and my coworker told me, they have inlays and fretted boards and are ready for install and spray.  My coworker said that they looked like EB2 necks with 6 digit serial numbers on them.  How much should I offer they guy?

Thanks!

I've finally finished up a few projects so I thought I'd share them with ya'll.

First up, the remains of my first project:



One of the reasons that I went to repair school was breaking the truss rod in my 1975 G3.  I replaced the rod and added a carbon fiber strip to strengthen the neck.  At that time I also put on a fretless ebony board and refinished it blue.  I loved the way it looked and played, but it sat in the corner for a few years.  It turns out that the only fretless instrument I was interested in was the upright bass.

Fast forward a few years.  I had a friend who was just getting into bass and had acquired a 77 EB3.  He played on it for a while and found that it was a poor fit for the C-tuned sludge rock he was playing.  We talked about my G3 and how it might be a better instrument for what he was doing.  I put the original maple board on and made an even trade. 

Last December he mistakenly left it in his trunk for about three weeks (in Minnesota!! ).  The neck was all messed up and he took it to a local shop for adjustment.  I had told him to bring it to me because of the graphite.  Other techs might get too overzealous and snap it.  Well, another tech took the nut right off.  We talked about trying to remove the graphite and put in yet another truss rod, but I wasn't very keen on that idea.

About that time I bought a Ripper carcass off of ebay.  I planned on finding all of the parts and rehabbing it to former glory.  I had enough basses at the time and he needed an instrument so I offered to pull the electronics and make a Gripper.

I just finished up with it and thought I'd show it off:


I made a custom TRC for it:



The strings running to the nut obscure it a little but I think it turned out well.

My other project was rehabbing another Ripper for myself.  My karma must have been good, for about the time I started the project for my friend I came across a Ripper for a very low price.  I used that bridge on the Gripper and ordered the Supertone in black.  I also had the black Gibby tuners that Old Puppy offered up here for free (send me your address) so I did up the Ripper in black.  I need to do a slight fret level so the strings are off, but here's a pic of the two together:



I apologize for the poor pics.  I could use a new camera (and some photography pointers  ).

I'm beginning my next project:  a 1983 Squier Bullet bass that will have a mahogany cap to cover the many previous routs.  I'll put the cavity control in the rear and install complete Ripper electronics in it.  I can't wait!