Recent content by Chasarms

This is not completely true, as a change in relief will change the position of the nut relative to the saddles, thus changing the plane of the string relative to the fingerboard.

Chef for the win. I might use the word "transparent" over "organic," but it's probably an A# verses Bb discussion.

I think I would just sell the bass and buy something else. Taking the Sadowsky preamp out and installing something else is likened to putting a Porsche motor in a Ferrari. Sure, it may run well and be fast, but it sure won't sound like a Ferrari anymore.

the Metro Express basses are not being produced in Germany.

I have owned a few PJ basses. Two Sadowskys and a Valenti. The Metro was Alder/Pau Ferro with the traditional PJ configuration. I never bonded with that bass at all. It just lacked the "bite" that I have come accustomed to with Sadowskys. I also had an NYC Ash/Maple with the P pickup reversed...

At one point, I owned 6-7 basses (at the same time. I think I have owned over 100). When I realized that a few of them hadn't been played in forever, I decided to sell them off and buy one really, really nice one. I've never regretted it for a second. Fortunately, I now have two really, really...

It is pretty easy to fill the slots with some material and convert it to fretless. You can use wood veneer or an appropriately thick made-made material. For the best aesthetic,mix some sanding dust with the adhesive to fill the chip out from where the frets came out. Or, you can fill those...

You may be fine, but you may have to take some kind of measure to ensure the crews stay tight. If you can find some that have the same heads but are a tough longer, it may be worth it.

I would fill them with epoxy-based wood filler.

That is an unusual location for a dead spot, but it's possible. Based on what you are describing, it sounds like the string is just barely touching a fret, causing the fundamental to cancel. I would probably try raising the saddles just a hair first to see if it helps.

I wouldn't attempt to bend the bridge. The plating may crack. If I just couldn't live with it, (which I probably could) I would thin the base plate of the bridge on the other side with a belt sander. I seriously doubt it should be noticeable.

Usually, that happens when someone opens it up and then doesn't get the wiring out of the way when they stuff it back in there.

It's a lot easier if you have a file with a safe side on it. That is, one designed for the job. If you try to do it with a common file, it's almost impossible to get in tight without chewing up the fingerboard.

Never seen that one. Does it have any kind of odor? It could be grime, our it could be something someone put on the FB in an attempt to darken it. I'd use some naphtha (lighter fluid) and see if it cleans off.

Like others, I am curious as to the why, but when my daughter first began with violin, the instructor put a couple of pieces of thin vinyl tape on the fingerboard for reference, with the idea being that by the time it was worn off, she wouldn't need it. It lasted for most of the school year. It...