C18Q1 Bridgehouse's Tragedy Bass Rebuild - Abandoned

Bridgehouse

I'm mid butchering on the body. Pics later just in case it's an embarrassing comedy failure.

However, a question whilst the various bits dry etc.

The bass has a battery holder (for the comedy LED lights - not a Preamp.) I wonder, is it worth having a Preamp onboard (though I want to stick with three controls) or would you stick with vol vol tone passive?

I will fit the battery holder but keep it empty if I stay passive..

TTony

More is always better, you know that.

WezV

I think you need to figure out a way to install more comedy lights

Funkfingers

Bridgehouse said:

Is it worth having a Preamp onboard (though I want to stick with three controls) or would you stick with vol vol tone passive?

This video might help. 



I was especially interested in the suggestion of switchable series/parallel interconnection of the two RBX pickups. There is an argument for permanently linking the two pickups and reconfiguring the control array to Master Volume and a stacked knob three-band EQ occupying the other two places.

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

Bridgehouse said:

Is it worth having a Preamp onboard (though I want to stick with three controls) or would you stick with vol vol tone passive?

This video might help. 



I was especially interested in the suggestion of switchable series/parallel interconnection of the two RBX pickups. There is an argument for permanently linking the two pickups and reconfiguring the control array to Master Volume and a stacked knob three-band EQ occupying the other two places.

You edited your post so the video link has gone...

Funkfingers

FTFY

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

FTFY

Ta! Will have a watch later on. Got me wood butchering apron on at the mo

Strangefan

This is a cool bass! 

Bridgehouse

Strangefan said:

This is a cool bass! 

You might want to reserve judgement till you see the final result

Funkfingers

Bridgehouse said:

You might want to reserve judgement till you HEAR the final result

FTFY

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

Bridgehouse said:

You might want to reserve judgement till you HEAR the final result

FTFY

Uh, in that case all my basses are crap...

Bridgehouse

Prepare yourself for some proper horror style wood butchery.

Nearest cutter I had wasn't quite big enough. Best bit of hardwood I had was quite thick.. so...



Told you it was comedy. However, a rasp and liberal use of sander meant it was close..



And out came good old wood filler esq.



Stop sniggering at the back there!!

Bridgehouse

Meanwhile, this happened..

TTony

That'll be fine.

You just need a few coats of some really thick paint over it and no-one will ever know.

Bridgehouse

TTony said:

That'll be fine.

You just need a few coats of some really thick paint over it and no-one will ever know.

I have some Artex somewhere..

m_c

You could of at least lined the grain up.

Bridgehouse

m_c said:

You could of at least lined the grain up.

Meh. I went for best fit. Then again, now it's gonna be a solid colour I don't think it will matter.

Tho you will all know and it's bound to annoy you

Funkfingers

Bridgehouse said:
Then again, now it's gonna be a solid colour I don't think it will matter.

When the nitro finish sinks into the grain, the misalignment will become all too apparent. This could be hidden in plain sight by adding fake finish wear around the control knobs. 

m_c

Bridgehouse said:

m_c said:

You could of at least lined the grain up.

Meh. I went for best fit. Then again, now it's gonna be a solid colour I don't think it will matter.

Tho you will all know and it's bound to annoy you

We'll just use it as justification for your rubbish tone, as that interrupted grain will obviously interrupt the flow of tone.

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

Bridgehouse said:
Then again, now it's gonna be a solid colour I don't think it will matter.

When the nitro finish sinks into the grain, the misalignment will become all too apparent. This could be hidden in plain sight by adding fake finish wear around the control knobs. 

Given this bass had graphic lines, 80s style lettering and silver fake binding, as well as coloured LED lights on the controls, I doubt a bit of grain sink will make any difference whatsoever.

You guys are labouring under the delusion that this is anything more than a quick hatchet job!

WezV

if it happens it will be a slight line that follows the knobs quite closely - hardly  worth worrying about.

Wood shrinks more along the grain than across it, but the ratio of dimensional shrinkages is different for each wood.  

If plugging with the same type of wood  it makes sense to match the grain direction and there is a good chance you will never see the fill, no guarantees though.  

If plugging with a different wood  it matters less  as its likely to reappear as a bit of shrinkage whatever you do

Bridgehouse

WezV said:

if it happens it will be a slight line that follows the knobs quite closely - hardly  worth worrying about.

Wood shrinks more along the grain than across it, but the ratio of dimensional shrinkages is different for each wood.  

If plugging with the same type of wood  it makes sense to match the grain direction and there is a good chance you will never see the fill, no guarantees though.  

If plugging with a different wood  it matters less  as its likely to reappear as a bit of shrinkage whatever you do

I was unlikely to ever match whatever veneer they have used in this one

Funkfingers

Speaking of matches, the project bass deserves to be heard through appropriate amplification. For some reason, Orange and Crate spring to mind. 

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

Speaking of matches, the project bass deserves to be heard through appropriate amplification. For some reason, Orange and Crate spring to mind. 

Steady

I'm going to Preamp it up so it will sound much better than it did..

Bridgehouse

Did it work?

Yeah. Sort of. Does it look any good? Not really. Do I care? Not much.. 

Bridgehouse

Hmmm. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be..

Bridgehouse

Having mused quite a bit, I'm going to put the Glockenlang Preamp harness in this. Master volume, blend, and 2 band active eq. Should sharpen it up a bit.

It will be a tight fit tho - needs 28mm clearance and the cavity is 29mm..

Bridgehouse

One of these..

TTony

Bridgehouse said:

One of these..

Just the one?

It'd work better if you installed all 3 of those.

Bridgehouse

TTony said:

Bridgehouse said:

One of these..

Just the one?

It'd work better if you installed all 3 of those.

Some people...

That's a single loom