Fraser Welsh

A couple of months ago I got a bass exactly like this one at a car boot sale...

Just wondering what you guys think's worth doing with it. Currently it needs rewiring from scratch, but beyond that I don't know what to do with it. It's only a plywood body, so I'm undecided whether I should make/buy a solid wood body for it. Opinions?

Primerally I'm a guitarist, so this would only be using this for fooling about and maybe recording with. As a hard-up student I can't really afford to spend a great deal on it.

So, what do you think reckon I could do to get the most out of it?

Anyone have any ideas about which color is likely to be which?

Cheers for that, the problem is the guitar dosen't have any switches at all, though I guess it could be a non-original pickup, I'll give it a try anyway...

Thanks for your help.

Hi all, just a quick question...

I picked up a cheap bass guitar at a car boot sale, which has several broken connections, which I'm trying to sort out, I can cope with wiring the pots, put the pickup (looks like a single coil, but I might be wrong) has three wires, red, white and blue and all scematics for similar guitars ( 1 pickup, vol & tone) show only two wires, so where do should the wires go?

Cheers...

what I would do is put like a nail or something into the screw holes in the neck, position the neck and then clamp.

Yeah, that's more or less the way I did it...

Cheers for the compliments, like I say there'll be better pictures once I've got the new knobs and pickup covers for her...

More or less finished. Only awaiting chrome knobs and pickup covers, final polishing and the neck pickup needs replacing...

I'll post some better pictures once all the final detail's been done...

Yeah, that sorted it. I was fairly sure it would be something simple like that. Anyway, cheers guys...

Yesterday I finally got round to wiring up my project, following scematics for standard strat configuration I got off line. However, when I come to test it, it didn't work. I've checked and rechecked the way in which it's wired and I'm almost certain it's right. All the components were brand new and the pickups were from a Squire Strat. Theoretically they should work, however, they simply don't ...

If anybody can give me any suggestions as to where I've gone wrong I'd really appreciate it. The scematics I used were from here and here.

Here's a couple of pictures though I don't know how much use they'll be. If more specific pictures/information isd needed, just let me know...

Cheers...

Both the body and scratchplate are finished in fabric (though the scratchplate isn't laquered yet.) The bolt isn't as close as it looks, though I suppose it is fairly close.

is that a gibson?

I wish!...it's a Lorenzo, though it is a nice guitar...

Scratchplate in progress...

Not much left to do now (at last!)

Thanks very much, I'll look into your suggestions...

Anyone? I'd be greatful for even the smallest pointers...

Very classy, I like it a lot...

I'm currently working on a scratchplate for my project so the time has come to decide how I want the thing wired, so I can drill apropriate holes. I like the versitility of standart strat wiring but want something a little hotter (think Stevie Ray Vaughn meets David Gilmour) in my current strat I've got two stock singlecoils with a hotrail style humbucker at the bridge, to try to approach that type of tone, though I find it a little to harsh sounding. Also, I wouldn't mind a little more versatility so was thinking of doing something like this.

Anyway, any ideas, recomendations or general pointers you can give me would be apreciated...

Thank you very much. That's just what I needed to know. I think I'll probably go for a more expensive power source as it seems like it's going to be more beneficial in the long run...

Surely someone can give me some advice. Anybody?

I'm currently in the process of putting together a pedal board and need mains supply for my pedals to save on 9 volt batteries. I curently have four pedals but will likely get a couple more in the next few months. Will one of the cheaper adaptors with multiple connectors do the job reliably or am I better off getting a more expensive unit like BOSS and others make? Also my Russian Big Muff can only be powered from a battery can it be converted to work from an adaptor? Thanks...

Thanks, that's perfect...

Ideally I want a red tortoise shell style pickguard for my project, but due to the unusual shape cannot get a pre-cut one. So where can I get suitable plastic for making my own? (I'm in the UK.) Is the right stuff easily available or would I be better off getting some nice quilted maple or such like and dying it?

Is there a reason behind the unconventional cavity?

When I got the body the cavities were slightly different; the control cavity was about twice as narrow, so I widened it to accomode standard electronics. The cavity in the lower horn was also deeper so I filled it in a little as I thought it was unnecessary. Really I should have shortened the control cavity by an inch or so so the scratch plate looks a bit more balanced, but at least I have plenty space for additional circuitry and such like should I need it...

Hello All. I used to post here a while back when I first started my project but havn't been around in a fair few months. In that time, however, I've made a significant amount of progress. Here she is...

Basically a strat but with material finished mahogany body, 22 fret neck contoured heal, through body stringing and (in the next couple of weeks) a Brian May style switching system.

Any feedback/advice greatly appreciated...

Well...she's strung up with a nice new set of 12s, and the rattle's now only there if I give it a big whack, which obviously I tend not to do so I think that can be considered a sucess...

Thanks for all the help guys

That might be the key to the solution...the guitar's fitted with 10s which I gather is quite light for an acoustic...I'll try some higher guage strings next time (she's due a restring anyway) I'll kick myself if it was that simple all along!

Thanks for the advice...

Thanks for the help...

I'm pretty sure it's the truss rattling (definately comming from the neck) which isn't particularly reassuring...will adjusting the rod help, or is it a lost cause?

Boyes carry a range of 'Acrylic-plus' car body paints...quite good value at 2-95 for 300ml cans...though I'm still a bit worried about using the clear coat on my material finish after what I've heard about acrylic laquers...