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basses for newbies (SX batch build thread)

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#801
Time for some P-bass love. . . I think I have some numbering confusion happening. Earlier in the week, I invoiced Jasaman #11 when I meant #13, and today, I'm looking at my pile and wondering where #14 went. As it turns out, I had 2 #13's. . . :eyebrow::confused::eek:

(EDIT: OK. . . I'm wayyy too tired and confused. . . There IS a #14. It's the silver P-bass. . . I need to go back and adjust my build sheets and edit this post to reflect the right numbers)

anyways,

#12 is up. It had some EMG select pickups onboard when I got it, and they sounded ok. Nothing wrong, nothing inspiring. As I'm finding with a lot of these p-basses, the holes were in the wrong place for the Nordstrands, so I had to plug them and re-drill. Here, the shielding foil is installed.

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And, pickups go in with my nifty little grounding trick I discovered a few basses back. . . if you try this, make double sure the shielding foil doesn't touch the solder joints of the pickup wire terminals. Just ground the pole pieces.

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. . . and, all wired up with the standard p-bass setup. . . vol, tone --> 250K audio taper pots. I picked up some smooth shaft ones in my last electronics order for basses like this that came with aftermarket knobs.

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Frets get sanded and polished to remove PLEK machining marks

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I tried the 3M sanding pads that JLS gave me, and they work really well, but for the initial removing of the PLEK machine marks, it's easier still for me to use a combination of 320 paper (left over from my leveling beam) on my finger, and backed by an eraser. After this intial clean up, the 3M pads make short work of bringing the frets to a nice state for polishing. I know 3M makes grits all the way up to ridiculous, and I may try those out so I don't have to use the dremel/felt wheel anymore and get more control.

And, #12 ready to roll. . . I also needed to file down the nut slots a bit because they were a bit high. I'm retaining the stock nut on this bass because, well, I've been doing that on all of the basses that have serviceable nuts and that I don't have a specific client request for a new nut.

Jasaman's coming over tomorrow, so I figured I'd make the time more productive and be able to grade #11 and #12 as well as get a 2nd opinion on the Genz Benz Shuttle combo.

I really like these p-basses because they still price out really reasonable. Jasaman just informed me that he wants to buy #14 (silver p-bass) for personal use. It slotted in at premium grade. He's been a die-hard jazz bass guy for years, but in testing these P's on gigs has been converted. Ever since #4, he has been keeping an eye out on these builds for a stand-out p-bass to appear.

I really dig the sound of #12. Every time another one of these comes together, I feel good about the time and effort spent in pickup development because the custom P-bass pickup I'm using right now is really dynamic and fun to play. In general, I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of high-grade basses in this batch. I knew going in though that there were probably going to be a lot more great p's than j's in the pile from initial playing (on the ones that actually worked). #12 is going to rank pretty well in the pack!

Well, I'm really tired now and should have hit the hay about 4 hours ago, so 'til next time:


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#805
Musicbiz60 said:
Hey Chunger -
What string guages do you put on your basses (and why)?
Click to expand...

These are running Dunlop Stainless Steel in 45, 65, 85, 105 (Medium Gauge. I'm mostly using this gauge on this string because it is a very flexible string, and i wanted a little more mass to make the string not move as much (for lower action).

I think I'm moving to Rotosound or DR strings though. More middle of the road. Same gauges seem to be working well. I'm thinking about dropping to 45, 65, 80, 100 on the normal hex core stuff to use a little less tension. Jasaman likes the medium gauges though. The stiffer strings are a bit more precise when playing and I can run the action lower, but the round core xtra lifes and the squishy Dunlops are fun. They sound and feel very good, but we are discovering that when pushed hard, they start to do weird things (the Dunlops) where the DR low riders, Rotosound SS, and DR extra life ones remain controlled when pushed. Please note, I DO NOT like the way the black DR extra life strings sound. The Cool Blue ones sound significantly different to my ear and are the ones I'm consider except for availability and cost.
 
#806
chunger said:
These are running Dunlop Stainless Steel in 45, 65, 85, 105 (Medium Gauge. I'm mostly using this gauge on this string because it is a very flexible string, and i wanted a little more mass to make the string not move as much (for lower action).

I think I'm moving to Rotosound or DR strings though. More middle of the road. Same gauges seem to be working well. I'm thinking about dropping to 45, 65, 80, 100 on the normal hex core stuff to use a little less tension. Jasaman likes the medium gauges though. The stiffer strings are a bit more precise when playing and I can run the action lower, but the round core xtra lifes and the squishy Dunlops are fun.
Click to expand...
There's always DR Sunbeams. Round core nickels.
 
#807
So,

I had a very short, but very productive little test session today with Jasaman. He was on his way through my neck of the woods between gigs, and I wanted to grade the 2 most recent completed basses. . . #11, and #12. I also wanted to get another set of ears on the Genz Benz combo and A/B against a reference Walter Woods amp.

All suspicions were confirmed.

#11 (sunburst P/J) slots in easily at premium grade :hyper:

#12 (black on black P) slots in at a mid-level professional grade a bit better than #7. . . it's a great sounding/playing bass. Just doesn't have enough extra sauce in it to bump all the way up. Makes me think about swapping out the stock NP4 pickup that's in #7 right now with the custom one. . . and then just sell the stock NP4. I think it'll pull the advantage back to #7 or at least put the 2 basses on even footing.

Jasaman confirms my observations about the Genz Benz. . . slightly veiled/closed tone, lack of bass extension (amp and cab), and something in the upper mids a little wonky, BUT, he also felt it to be a very solid usable tool. Form factor/ergonomics/power are outstanding and it can probably carry a gig just fine. He gives it a thumbs up as a viable option for package solution. Test tubes are inbound so I'm still "messin" with the head.

I think I'm going to go work on some more basses and make this a productive weekend. Webstore development is under way as well. I'm hoping to launch that sometime in the next few months to help sell some basses and a few other often-requested items (threaded inserts, custom Nordstrands). I definitely want the webstore up, polished and strong by the time new production Chunger basses hit.
 
#809
blubolt said:
Chunger,

I heard the clips of the Nordy Pup and it freaking rules! how can we get those and how much change did it cost ya?

thanks!
Click to expand...

I have been cleared by Carey to sell the "chunger" custom pickup loose to folks who are interested at MAP pricing (same as you see on all the NP4's on the internets). The fastest way to get them is through me because I have a few spares on hand. I am not allowed per rules of talkbass to carry on with sales dialog on thread, so please email me if interested:

[email protected]

selowitch said:
And are those brass saddles on that P-bass' bridge?
Click to expand...

It looks like it. I have no clue what kind they are, and I'm not sure this bridge setup yields any advantage to stock. The bass came with the saddles and EMG Select pickup installed.
 
#810
Billy's bass is up tonight. . . best not keep people waiting too long.

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This was the one that did not PLEK very well. I think there were a combination of issues. I believe the cutter head speed needs to be slowed down for the small frets. There was more chatter marks on this one than the previous basses. Also, the PLEK does not hold the bass in the cradle as firmly as I would think possible. . . who am I to criticize the big expensive German machine. . . at any rate, something went screwy.

The PLEK scan below shows soap at the 10th fret on the G string and on the E string. The "X" marks indicate buzz zones, and as I recall, these were pretty accurate. The rest of the plot looks pretty ok.

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My fret rocker confirmed this condition, so I went in and slowly filed down the critical areas on the 10th fret. After this, the bass played pretty well, and being as these frets are so tiny. I did not want to take off any more fret than absolutely necessary. I had already run it through PLEK 2X.

So, after hand sanding the tool marks off, polishing the frets, and applying a really thin coat of kyser lem-oil to the fretboard (which FYI is not really lemon oil, but some concoction of synthetic oils with lemon flavor added. . . I set action to .085" @ E and a hair under .080" @ G string, and this bass is good to go. There were no other mods performed on this bass. . just PLEK, setup, and intonation. I didn't want to chance messing with resale value on a rare-ish Japanese instrument in the US unless there was a problem with its performance.

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#812
Billy came by to pick up his pretty Japanese Fender Aerodyne today. He asked what I thought about it. . . real opinion, and I told him it looks great. . . plays great. . . I personally think the Nordy P/J combo I have running now rules and is superior to the Fender ones in there, but the Fender pups DO sound fantastic. The Nordy P/J option I'm using is THE most expensive pickup configuration I'm working with at this point.

The shielding job I have on mine do a better job of rejecting noise especially on soloed single coils in the bridge. My go-to P/J setup does not use single coils, but this was for Billy's info, so I demo'd #9 that was sitting handy. It has Prototype A single coils, and I soloed the bridge pickup and he was able to compare that with the full up sound of the Aerodyne. Notable difference in buzz.

He does not mind modifying the instrument because he says that bass is going to the grave with him. I held back from messin' with a good thing on the Aerodyne partly because I'm scared to scratch it (so pretty), and for future collector or resale value. Doing a fret job doesn't change it's value, but changing the pups, doing shielding, and ripping out the stock electronics reduces collector value quite a bit from what I've read.

So, he did play #11 as well. . . and Jasaman has been calling me about it. The premium grade ones leave an impression :D Billy says he's going to start a bidding war and pay 2x what Jasaman will pay. The vultures are starting to circle again.

EDIT:

Whoah!!! It was way too late at night, and I typed that the Fender stock pickups "do not" sound fantastic when in fact I meant the OPPOSITE. The stock Fender pickups sound great. I didn't want anyone to mis-understand the post. I need to double check my stuff way better before posting.
 
#813
I have to admit I am full of envoy because number 11 blew my socks off. I am very impressed with the hudge FAT sound that those pickups put out.Wow and the wiring setup that Chung has gives a myrid of sounds.I am waiting I think for a appointment to get the Areo in for his pickup install I am not a world class touring member of any band but to have a bass that sounds that good in my garage band would make me so happy.After all we all play music for our own enjoyment and if it gets us fame and money then all the better.I will break the news to Jasaman today that he stands the chance of loosing his E(ast)BAY bid on number 11.Well if we can get the setup on the Areodyne then I will cut him some slack (and thats a big LOL)I told my friend Roy on the ride home last night that he just met a soon to be famous bass guitar wizard.:bassist:
 
#815
chunger, I just received an invite to a workshop in Santa Clara that might be of interest to you: What You Should Know About Sourcing and Manufacturing in China

Put on by ISM (Institute for Supply Managers). $350 for non members.

Message me if you need details, or a member to sponsor you.

Really exciting path you are on!
 
#818
I made a huge typing mistake in the previous post about the Fender Aerodyne pickups. What I meant to say was the stock pickups on there sound excellent. What I typed was the exact opposite of what I meant. I didn't want there to be any confusion or for Billy to think I was bummed about the way the bass is in present configuration (stock).

It sounds outstanding, and I will install new pickups in the bass IF he wants to do it, but I feel they should be played stock for a while to make sure we don't spend needless money or worse take steps backwards in tone. I have not tested the "chunger" p-pickup and the NJ4SE combination on flatwounds although I suspect they will work fine.
 
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