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03-19-2010, 09:48 AM
|  | Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time. | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Higley, AZ | | | Is there a Bible?
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I really like tinkering with my own basses. I recently did a project with a cheap p-bass where I added a j-pup (with it's own volume pot) and a 3-way switch - kinda like a fretted Tony Franklin.
My birthday is coming up, and my Ol' Girl is asking me which book is best for her budding bass tech. I see that many have recommended Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide (3rd Ed.), and How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great books. I also saw LeVan's Guitar Setup, Maintenance and Repair.
Do these books cover basses well enough, or is there really any appreciable difference between working on basses vs. guitars? Are there any books exclusive to basses...specifically Fenders? If I was going to get just The Bible...which would it be? |
03-19-2010, 09:51 AM
|  | Real Basses Have 5 Strings! | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado | | | A good way to learn is to but some cheap basses like SX or Squier, or build parts basses or buy a bass kit from ebay. Make your mistakes on the cheaper basses. |
03-19-2010, 10:02 AM
| | Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time. | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Higley, AZ | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Ric5  A good way to learn is to but some cheap basses like SX or Squier, or build parts basses or buy a bass kit from ebay. Make your mistakes on the cheaper basses. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine207 I recently did a project with a cheap p-bass where I added a j-pup (with it's own volume pot) and a 3-way switch - kinda like a fretted Tony Franklin. | Yup!!  But is there a single book (or maybe even two) that discusses the correct way to do things and may bend my learning curve upwards? |
03-19-2010, 10:30 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Illinois, USA | | | Yes, that's why I like Erelewine's "Complete Guitar Repair" better than his "How To Make..."
(I have both). Much more information specific to basses in it. And, after 30 years of doing set-up, maintenance, and repair, I think this is as close to the best all-in-one source there is.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
John
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03-19-2010, 11:05 AM
| | Registered User
Pickup Maker, Luthier, and Repairman, Wimsatt Instruments | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Nashville, TN | | | I highly recommend Erlewine's book too. |
03-19-2010, 11:37 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado | | | Me, three.
It's also interesting and helpful to subscribe to the repair e-newsletters that Erlewine puts out through Stew-mac. A lot of good stuff comes out there.
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03-19-2010, 11:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Catford, London | | Jerzy Drozd has a very useful free download that covers setup & maintenance - http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/
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03-19-2010, 11:57 AM
| | Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time. | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Higley, AZ | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilgrim It's also interesting and helpful to subscribe to the repair e-newsletters that Erlewine puts out through Stew-mac. A lot of good stuff comes out there. | Yeagh...I accidentally started getting those when I ordered parts for my ProjectTF bass with Jordan. I'm glad, cause I read them every time. Now that we have The Bible out of the way, any other good reference books I should try to get my paws on should the opportunity arise? |
03-19-2010, 04:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Denver | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine207 Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide (3rd Ed.) | +1
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John
Avatar owners club #227, Official Fender Precision Bass club #346, SWR fan club #90, Hagstrom Club #4, SX!
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03-19-2010, 06:03 PM
|  | Endorsing Artist: Wild Turkey Bourbon | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Wilds of NW Pa. | | | Me, four ...
Erlewine's book is about as close as you'll get to a "bible" under one cover.
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Last edited by Steveaux : 03-19-2010 at 11:40 PM.
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03-19-2010, 06:58 PM
|  | Less barking, more wagging! | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA | | A few years ago I joined the Guild of American Luthiers, and their quarterly publication is well worth the cost of admission for those who are happiest when learning new things and exposing themselves to new ideas; not much that's specific to electric basses, but lots of very thought-provoking content. http://www.luth.org/ | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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