• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fret Saw Recommendations: Odd Sized Kerf

Bruce's idea of checking out kerf widths on saws at the store is probably the simplest solution, but there are also saw tools made to bend the teeth side to side to adjust the set of the saw blade. This is a Lee Valley Veritas, so it's spendy, but there are cheap ones available on amazon and the like, probably with associated quality. :smug:

Full disclosure, I've used these on large handsaws when I learned carpentry at school in the late 80s, but I don't personally own a saw set tool, and have never tried one on the tiny teeth of a fretting saw. :thumbsup:

Hey Beej;

Yes, you can adjust the kerf width of a saw by setting the teeth. And you don't need a fancy Saw Set tool. They are really made for big coarse-tooth hand saws.

I use a technique with pliers, a Sharpie, feeler gauges, and a smooth-jaw machinist's vise to adjust the set of the teeth on my circular StewMac slotting blades in my power fret saw. I adjust them to cut the slots exactly 0.023" wide. The same technique could be used on a straight hand saw, to set it to cut whatever width you want.

Basically, I use small flat jaw pliers to bend each tooth outward, alternating in direction, a little bit wider than they need to be. Then I put the blade in a smooth-jaw machinist's vise and squish them back toward flat. The trick is to put a steel feeler gauge in the vise too, which limits how far they get squished. When you release the vise, the teeth will spring back out about 0.001". I've found by experience that, using a 0.022" feeler gauge, the teeth end up at 0.023".

Here's the post showing the process:

  • Like
Reactions: Beej

Ampeg V-4B - Blown cathode Resistors

Note that the cathode resistors are 10 ohm 1W, don’t use a higher wattage rating. It is intended that they blow in the event of a problem. It wouldn’t hurt to check D1, D2, D3, and D4, the 1N4007 flyback diodes. The tubes may have tested good but inspect the sockets for cracked or bad solder joints, etc.

Ampeg posted this bias procedure on TB. Check the bias with the 6L6GC tubes installed.


V4BR BIAS INSTRUCTION:
1. CONNECT LOAD TO AMPLIFIER {this can be a speaker cabinet or a dummy load}
2. TURN R16 (BIAS ADJUSTMENT POT) FULLY CCW (MINIMUM SETTING)
3. TURN MASTER CONTROL FULLY CW
4. TURN POWER SWITCH TO ON AND WAIT 2 MINUTES
5. TURN STANDBY SWITCH ON
6. ENSURE THERE IS NOTHING PLUGGED INTO INPUT CHANNELS
7. WAIT 10 MINUTES {I like to wait 30 minutes}
8. MEASURE VDC ACROSS R12, THE CATHODE RESISTOR OF V5
9. ADJUST R16 UNTIL YOU MEASURE 450mVDC ACROSS R12
10. MEASURE VDC ACROSS R13 (V6). SHOULD FALL BETWEEN 400mVDC - 500mVDC
11. REPEAT STEP #10 FOR R14 (V8), THEN R15 (V7)
12. ALL MEASUREMENTS FOR V5, V6, V8, AND V7 SHOULD BE WITHIN 400mVDC -500mVDC
12A)
IF #12 IS TRUE, ENJOY 100W OF V-4B


IF #12 IS FALSE, THE TUBES ARE NOT PROPERLY MATCHED FOR YOUR PRECIOUS V-4B, SO GET NEW ONES.
  • Like
Reactions: bass player 53

Why do I kinda like this nugget??

I also had an original Guild one back in the ‘90s that was white. I must be allergic to whatever the strings were made out of because every time I played it my sinuses would bother me for hours. It was a really fun bass to play so I would just deal with it.

I’m glad I sold it when I did because when the DeArmond ones came out the prices dropped quite a bit.
  • Like
Reactions: MotherAnarchy

"Tell Me Something Good" Tips

Try to count and clap along with the track the way your drummer is suggesting (bass i on the ands). Slow it down on youtube a bit if you need. Don't worry about playing along with it on bass until that feels pretty easy. Don't shortcut it. Learning how to count and organize the beat that way in your head is a really good and crucial step in rhythmic fluency

Ashdown ABM 300 Users?

Looking at one of these heads (Evo IV). Many years using the ABM 500 and just want to know how much output, headroom, volume available, thump difference there is - if any? I'm pretty sure the tone id similar but again, any differences? Probably would use it with a BF Super Twin, so a very efficient 4 ohm cab.
I don't know, but in theory and if everything else is equal, going from 500W to 300W, you only loose roughly 2 decibels.

1782237367443.png

RATM bass cover

Hi everyone! I'm sharing a RATM bass cover, I hope you like it!

Gear
Bass: Dingwall D Roc Standard
Pedal: Darkglass Anagram

Login to view embedded media
Pretty good. Something is not quite right with your rhythm during the "verse" ("some of those that work forces, are the same the burn crosses") Sounds like you're rushing part of it each time - a bit out of sync.
  • Like
Reactions: mcnach

Quick question for fellow Kubicki Factor players

I feel certain Phil designed the circuit with a LOT of planning and consideration, so I have a hard time believing he would have offered three "throw away" settings ... which makes me wonder: Am I using it wrong?

Good questions. Maybe @Jon Scott can fill us in a little.
More extensive information on the 9V and the 18V preamps is being compiled and will be posted on the website when it's available.

Gig Rpt: Feeling good

Oh, also! IF any of y'all have old homemovies or recordings of television on VHS tapes that you want digitized or don't want anymore, let me know. I would happily digitize them for you if it meant I could then purchase or keep the tape for future recordings like this. I have plenty of tape but what I don't have is already recorded on degraded tape that will have artifacting and bleed through from the lights. The best example of the effect this causes is this cut of a different gig from the same tape

Login to view embedded media

Best bass + string + amp combo that got you the most clear/punchy E string sounds?

The advice of zooberwerx ^^^ is probably the best. But to answer your question, I get that evenness and punch from an MIJ PBass (such as a roadstar 630 or 650 or my 82 Blazer), a Dimarzio style P pickup such as the early 80’s Ibanez’ Maxon copies, a GK RB series amp (400RB, 700RBii, 800RB) and a compact stack of two Bag End S15 cabinets.

This setup has a little grind to the tone, which is one great way to get a balance of warmth and clarity — even though a touch of grind is actually distortion, it comes across in a big rock mix as clarity.

Login to view embedded media Just posted this in the roadstar club thread, but here is a little train beat original at this weekend’s brewery duo gig. You can hear the bass speak in its mid register in the intro, and then I hang out plucking the E and A. I’m plucking gently on the E because of the small room, but you can hear it articulate on the chromatic run back up to the Ab at the chord change. It feels even and clear to me

Sterling Bongo...worth the wait?

View attachment 7363497

Mod complete! The result is ridiculously good. EMG MMWTX in the neck position, MMCSX in the bridge position, ABCX blend control, push pull volume, Trickfish IPA preamp with 90hz bass, 663hz mid, and 6khz treble. Had to drill out the pot holes a little and dremel the pickguard a smidge but otherwise was smooth sailing.

Waiting on the stacked guyker knobs for the bass/treble control
One popped up on GC used. On its way!

Paul McCartney's Fender Jazz Bass

image-104.jpg

The auction shows us a bass that has darker steel strings with angled shine rather than rounds, and there's blue silk wrap on both ends. Totally Chromes. The video he posted before he gave the bass up also has those strings, and it has that aggressive sound, but with a darker character:

Login to view embedded media
I'm not sure when he put those strings on the bass, but probably at some point after he stopped using it as his primary recording bass in the middle of the 80's.
“Yes, I was there” :laugh:
  • Haha
Reactions: bassfiddlesteve

Medium scale single strings

The set does what you want it to do at the price of a set, not the extra cost of buying singles. Hopefully you can find a solution to your E string issue as I did.
I honestly wasn't aware that that particular set existed. Looks like about a $4 difference over single strings. I have a Dunlop set on the way and will be checking out Newtone strings.

Nordstand NJ4SV installed in my Lakland Skyline DJ-4

I just got a used set of NJ4SV's, and I notice they have slightly raised middle poles as well. Were yours the vintage, 7.25 radius or normal radius set? I had expected mine to be flat as they were sold to me as the normal radius, but maybe they all have raised middle poles?
I believe they all have raised poles but you can always check with Nordstrand.
  • Like
Reactions: DuluthDank

New players budget/value pedal or pickups combos

You might look into something like the Zoom MS60B+, it has tons of compressors, preamps (like SansAmp, etc), overdrives, amp sims, EQ's.

It offers all kinds of effects as well, if you like choruses, reverbs, flanger, delays, etc. It's easy to get some great tones, and it doesn't cost a fortune. :thumbsup:

Any used Zoom, for that fact...I use the B3n 'cuz I can actually see the durn display and turn real knobs. 20% of the available FX are actually pretty decent.

Riis
  • Like
Reactions: stingray69

Thinking about a Mike Lull P4, but worried it might be "too modern/polite" for a vintage P lover

To be fair, that difference in the low-mids might partly be due to the action. I keep the string height on my '66 set quite a bit higher, whereas the Lull is set up lower. But even when switching to the P4, I was able to tweak the EQ on my rig to get it into a very comfortable ballpark.
Also, the difference in string height might also mean a difference in how close the strings are to the pickup. They might sound even more alike if you tweaked the pickup height on one or the other.

Latest Classifieds

Bergantino Super Pre Excellent condition
$525.00
Location
Edinburg Texas, United States
includes grommets and screws
$275.00
Location
California, United States
Bridge is in great shape, works as it should. 250 shipped
$250.00
Location
Pennsylvania, United States
Great shape, ready to drop into a new bass.
$125.00
Location
Pennsylvania, United States
4 band, multiple config options, 2 extra dual mid controls.
$375.00
1 watching
Location
Pennsylvania, United States

Filter