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Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

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#33,181
I just put new roundwound strings on my Squier VM70s jazz bass yesterday. I took the opportunity to clean it up and do a complete set up. The more I do it, the easier and quicker it becomes.

I am planning on replacing the stock pups in my MIM P-bass (with LaBella Flats, of course) with Custom Shop '62 pups. I have never soldered before but I am going to try changing the pups myself.

For those DIY'ers on here, what soldering iron do you recommend? I am not really interested in the high tech (high priced) professional stations, but more of a solid iron for soldering pups, output jacks, etc.
 
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#33,182
GwenOnBass said:
Speaking of strings, now that the La Bella LTFs are really broken at 7 months in and sounding great, temptation beckons with an unopened package of Dunlop .040 - .100 flats.
Click to expand...
You must resist the evil pull of the "more, better and different" siren's call of those Dunlops. It is but a zephyr of idle thought, a frisson of excitement to the pulse, no more. The La Bellas shouldn't need changing unless they break. Ever. The brand is the ne plus ultra of StringWorld.

I shall brook no competing representations. All preferences and desires for other brands are false and specious, and their purveyors are bad and wrong. I'm rubber, you're glue. Everything you say bounces off me and sticks back on you. Nyah, nyah. :laugh: :roflmao:
 
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#33,184
Charlie Tango said:
You must resist the evil pull of the "more, better and different" siren's call of those Dunlops. It is but a zephyr of idle thought, a frisson of excitement to the pulse, no more. The La Bellas shouldn't need changing unless they break. Ever. The brand is the ne plus ultra of StringWorld.

I shall brook no competing representations. All preferences and desires for other brands are false and specious, and their purveyors are bad and wrong. I'm rubber, you're glue. Everything you say bounces off me and sticks back on you. Nyah, nyah. :laugh: :roflmao:
Click to expand...

Well they are Low Tension Flats and not the venerated Deep Talkin' Flats. Same pedigree .... What I find IRL is the neck could use some more tension. The nut is cut for a .100 and it seems to me a .105 is the outer edge before it needs a luthier's attention. Which is how I came to the LTFs (OEM were D'Addario nickels) after romancing a few tapes. I still prefer the feel of tapes :cautious:

Looks to me from Dave's WoFS the nut is a perfect height. Yeah I bought a feeler gauge because of Dave. Just finished watching the third in a series of the rehabilitation of a 70s Jazz Bass. :thumbsup:

The La Bella 760FX .096 - .039 could be mine too, and sit in the drawer with the Dunlops until I get string-itis....
 
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#33,186
Polish Thunder said:
When I replaced the stock roundwounds on my Fender MIM P-bass (Fender NPS, .045-.105), I put on LaBella 760FS Deep Talkin' Bass Flatwounds (.045, .065, .085, .105) and they sound great! I have had them on for over a year now and they actually sound better with time. James Jamerson had it right! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah. At seven months the LTFs are sounding truly sweet. Not really at the point where I want foam but you never know.
 
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#33,188
Polish Thunder said:
I have never soldered before but I am going to try changing the pups myself. For those DIY'ers on here, what soldering iron do you recommend? I am not really interested in the high tech (high priced) professional stations, but more of a solid iron for soldering pups, output jacks, etc.
Click to expand...

I use this one for general purpose work: WE 1010NA Soldering Station | Weller, about $120. But there are many less expensive ones.

An adjustable temperature is a good feature to look for. Too much heat can destroy circuit boards, components, and melt wires. Many pickups for example have a small inner wire and a heavier braided shield. The shield requires more heat to solder properly.

There is one here with adjustable heat for $15. Not sure how long it will last at that price.

Soldering - SparkFun Electronics


In addition to the iron, it is good to look for some solder flux paste (not the plumbing stuff) , even when most solders have flux in them. You'll need some 60/40 or lead/tin/silver solder. A roll of solder wick for desoldering is also handy to have.

Youtube has many good how-to-solder tutorials. Do your homework and practice before tackling your bass. Ask lots of questions.

Adafruit Guide To Excellent Soldering
 
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#33,192
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#33,193
beans-on-toast said:
Some solder religiously. Found in the Bible, the word Frankincense derives from the French expression franc encens, meaning "high-quality incense". Still used today in incense.
Click to expand...
Choir singers hate it! Click here for the one weird reason why. :roflmao:

Good ol' resin-core solder has a great smell, but one shouldn't breathe it, and should be especially careful about getting solder smoke in the eyes.
 
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#33,195
Polish Thunder said:
I just put new roundwound strings on my Squier VM70s jazz bass yesterday. I took the opportunity to clean it up and do a complete set up. The more I do it, the easier and quicker it becomes.

I am planning on replacing the stock pups in my MIM P-bass (with LaBella Flats, of course) with Custom Shop '62 pups. I have never soldered before but I am going to try changing the pups myself.

For those DIY'ers on here, what soldering iron do you recommend? I am not really interested in the high tech (high priced) professional stations, but more of a solid iron for soldering pups, output jacks, etc.
Click to expand...
Weller makes good ones. No more than 40 watts will do you fine.
 
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#33,196
GwenOnBass said:
Well they are Low Tension Flats and not the venerated Deep Talkin' Flats. Same pedigree .... What I find IRL is the neck could use some more tension. The nut is cut for a .100 and it seems to me a .105 is the outer edge before it needs a luthier's attention. Which is how I came to the LTFs (OEM were D'Addario nickels) after romancing a few tapes. I still prefer the feel of tapes :cautious:

Looks to me from Dave's WoFS the nut is a perfect height. Yeah I bought a feeler gauge because of Dave. Just finished watching the third in a series of the rehabilitation of a 70s Jazz Bass. :thumbsup:

The La Bella 760FX .096 - .039 could be mine too, and sit in the drawer with the Dunlops until I get string-itis....
Click to expand...
It's no sin to swap La Bellas for other members of the family. You might like those DTFs. I sure do.
 
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#33,197
Jeff Scott said:
Do cats even eat bagels?
Click to expand...

Squirrels do, cats eat squirrels, hence cats eat bagels.

4D03C850-2AF4-4BE1-9502-58E3A6A6029B.png
 
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