Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[alaskaleftybass]

Well, don't I feel like the fool today. Wife called and said the bass arrived this morning. It was double boxed, and inside the bass was double plastic wrapped. Guitar Center did an excellent job of shipping! The boxes are very heavy duty. Wife wanted the boxes! LOL.

The bass is very high ending looking for me-- but it does need a nice polish as there are fingerprints and some finger oil here and there. I'm a little OCD about that. Tonight I set it up, test electronics, play it a bit, then take it to the jam tomorrow! I might be able to do some recording tomorrow night so I can post in Soundcloud. Pics of the bass I promise after it's wiped down and new strings.

EDIT: My guitarist found a 25 year old lady guitar player that does Stevie Ray Vaughn and Hendrix! She's coming to the jam tomorrow night, she's heard good things about us. I hope she's as good as we think she might be!

Sorry for the worry and whining. All is well and ended well!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Well, it turns out to be a sad ending. The bridge is permanently mounted in a drilled out recess in the body. I can't adjust the intonation. I play my bass left handed strung right handed. Does anyone think that if I didn't adjust the intonation it would sound that bad? I never play above the 12th fret, being an old fart 70's-80's player. The bass is heavier than my SR500 and definitely neck heavy. The action is high because the truss rod needs adjustment.

I'm half tempted to try out the bass even though as you can tell if I put the strings on strung right handed, the intonation will be terribly off. But I've played basses with intonation off before and it didn't seem to matter until you got way high up on the neck.

What say ye GOF's? I'm attaching a picture of the bass and please look at the bridge permanently attached. I would have to drill out a new channel to move the bridge pieces. So my question to you guys, how bad will the bass sound at the first 12 frets with the left handed bridge with strings mounted right handed? Thanks anyone for your input.

Here's another thought-- I could buy a different bridge from Ibanez that is on my SR500-- it's fully adjustable. But I don't know if it will cover the entire space of the original "rails."

 

[agedhorse]

Is there an adjustable version of that bridge?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Is there an adjustable version of that bridge?

Hi @agedhorse ! I just edited my post and included a picture of the bridge that comes with my SR500. My only concern is that the bridge won't be large enough to cover the channels they drilled in for the split rail bridge. I think any attempt I made to fill the holes with wood filler would look pretty cheap....

The bass is so solidly built and it's hard for me to find quality lefty basses at a decent price..

 

[Stumbo]

Is there an adjustable version of that bridge?

How can you make a bass w/o being able to adjust the intonation?

I'd think about returning it.

 

[rust_preacher]

 

[BadExample]

Well, it turns out to be a sad ending. The bridge is permanently mounted in a drilled out recess in the body. I can't adjust the intonation. I play my bass left handed strung right handed. Does anyone think that if I didn't adjust the intonation it would sound that bad? I never play above the 12th fret, being an old fart 70's-80's player. The bass is heavier than my SR500 and definitely neck heavy. The action is high because the truss rod needs adjustment.

I'm half tempted to try out the bass even though as you can tell if I put the strings on strung right handed, the intonation will be terribly off. But I've played basses with intonation off before and it didn't seem to matter until you got way high up on the neck.

What say ye GOF's? I'm attaching a picture of the bass and please look at the bridge permanently attached. I would have to drill out a new channel to move the bridge pieces. So my question to you guys, how bad will the bass sound at the first 12 frets with the left handed bridge with strings mounted right handed? Thanks anyone for your input.

View attachment 3050704
Here's another thought-- I could buy a different bridge from Ibanez that is on my SR500-- it's fully adjustable. But I don't know if it will cover the entire space of the original "rails."

View attachment 3050703

Maybe a kickass would cover better:

Check @ time 1:00

 

[beans-on-toast]

Return or modify, it’s a tough call. It’s a new bass that was expensive.

I would want the intonation set properly.

Those monorail fingers do have some adjustment with the positioning screw that goes into the body. On some bases where there are no channels, you can slide the assembly back and forth.

You can remove the one in the rearranged low E position and see what channel routing would be necessary to extend the groove and position the bridge correctly. You want a good flat bed for the bridge to lie in so vibrations will optimally transfer to the wood. The channel can’t be too low as it affects the string height. Any extension would have to be same height. The work would have to be performed by a good craftsman. Given the finish on the wood, the modification can be made to look good a lot easier than on other basses such as a sunburst.

If you make a cardboard template of the SR500 bridge, you can overlay it and see how it covers the monrail fingers. It would help in deciding if you want to switch out the bridge.

I think that keeping the original monorail bridges would be best to retain the design estetic. It would better retain the value of the bass if that’s important to you.

If all this seems like too much work, consider returning the bass.

 

[agedhorse]

I recall seeing a bridge just like that with adjustment. You might talk with a qualified luthier to see what they might be aware of.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Well, I went ahead and put on a righty string nut and some light gauge strings. I was able to fiddle with the little bit of play in the bridge that the intonation is really barely off, only at the highest note, and I usually don't go there. I bought the bass used from GC for $752 with shipping, and that was a $1299 bass brand new. There's one small mark that could be rubbed out 2000 grit and a small looks like a cigarette burn, but I can get that off with Mr. Clean Magic sponge. That eraser removes just about anything.

I plugged it into my little Ampeg practice amp, and it really is so versatile. I also like the feature that although active, I can turn off the electronics with a switch. The one thing I noticed about the bass is that it is a couple pounds heavier than the SR500. So tonight I'm going to take the bass through it's paces when we rehearse and audition a young lady guitarist.

We live in a small place and my shed isn't that big either. I'm kind of a practical guy, I want all my equipment to work, and if I have multiples, I want stuff rotated and used. I don't collect basses as a hobby, playing is my hobby. Although I envy guys that have a wall of very nice basses, I just like a bass -- even used-- that I can modify and it plays well. If I keep this one I'm going to donate an older Ibanez I got a good deal on to Salvation Army. They are needing donations as they're helping multiple nations and our own country right now. Soooo, GOF's, I'll keep you posted. Again, thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

GOF's roll call! All fingers, toes, thumbs, appendages accounted for? What say ye, GOF's, what are your plans for the weekend?

My friend and guitarist Bob got out of hip surgery Wednesday morning. It's a miracle that they swapped out his old hip and he went home the next day! His disposition is so much brighter now, he was in constant pain as he worked on his feet all the time. Some young lady who's new to Sitka heard about us and is coming by to jam tonight and she's a hard rock lead guitarist who also sings. She's 25 and we like that because she might pull in a younger crowd, although we don't do bad ourselves.

Shadow our dog got real sick from eating some rotten chicken out of a fire ring in the local recreation park. Sheesh, he gets part of my payday steak twice a month, get's a 1/4 cup of fresh ground beef in his food every day, and sometimes scraps from dinners. And he's eating rotten chicken in fire rings in the park?????? I'll tell ya, some dogs.... Have a good weekend ya bunch of GOF's!

 

[Al Kraft]

Sorry to hear about Shadow Will. Out German Shepherd while eating better than most people in the world can't ever seem to pass up anything that is dead and rotting. Tylan and Metronidazole can work well in situations like this.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Sorry to hear about Shadow Will. Out German Shepherd while eating better than most people in the world can't ever seem to pass up anything that is dead and rotting. Tylan and Metronidazole can work well in situations like this.

Thanks @Al Kraft . I'll print those out since we're bringing him back to the vet at 10:00 this morning. He slept well and was on muscle relaxants all afternoon yesterday and last night. They also gave him a bag of saline. Woke up a little more perky! German Shepards are great dogs, a few beautiful ones mixed with Husky in town...

 

[BadExample]

looks like a cigarette burn

I've got those all up and down my arms from my English teacher.

If you do decide to swap the bridge and end up with uncovered holes, there is a paper thin plywood, 3 plies and you have to look very close to see it's plywood. More of a veneer but doesn't crack, so you can easily cut it with an xacto knife or even scissors. Use your wife's good sewing scissors. Anyway, you could trace your new bridge, cut out a hole, cut any shape you want for the outer to cover up those slots. Could even make a pick guard that goes around the bridge. Then leave it as is for a color between the two you have now, or stain darker and you end up with a 3 tone axe. Beautiful grain, but don't recall the type of wood. Available in the home craft and hobby stores by the basswood. It's not bass wood... swirley grain. Here's that would be Hobby Lobby or Michelle's or whatever it is. Paddle to the mainland. IIRC about $10 and the size of a sheet of paper maybe. I can send you one if you can't get to that type of store.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Paddle to the mainland.

Thank you Mr. @BadExample ! Might not make it since the bears swim faster than I do!
I found that there is enough movement in the sliding bridge rails that I almost have the intonation correct. Since I work in government I'm going to say close enough for government work! Hope you're doing something fun this weekend...

 

[BassmanPaul]

Sorry for the worry and whining. All is well and ended well!

Will, if ya can’t whine to your friends who can you whine at? Your enemies probably wouldn’t give a damn!!

 

[BadExample]

GOF's roll call! All fingers, toes, thumbs, appendages accounted for?

I feel like I lost something, but I can't quite remember how many of what I had last Friday.

Hope Shadow feels better soon! And nothing comes out either end on the rug!

 

[BadExample]

Thank you Mr. @BadExample ! Might not make it since the bears swim faster than I do!
I found that there is enough movement in the sliding bridge rails that I almost have the intonation correct. Since I work in government I'm going to say close enough for government work! Hope you're doing something fun this weekend...

Get a Canoe!!!

Will, if ya can’t whine to your friends who can you whine at? Your enemies probably wouldn’t give a damn!!

That implies WE DO!

 

[BassmanPaul]

Had a sad event happen in our city yesterday. A guy, shooting at another, missed him but hit two little sisters aged 5 and 9. Both were rushed to Sick Kids hospital and into surgery. I’m relieved to say that both are now stable and hopefully out of danger. It comes to something when our little children can’t safely play in a playground in a park!

 

[Old P Bass Guy]

GOF's front and center! All fingers, toes, thumbs, appendages accounted for? What say ye, GOF's, what are your plans for the weekend?

My friend and guitarist Bob got out of hip surgery Wednesday morning. It's a miracle that they swapped out his old hip and he went home the next day! His disposition is so much brighter now, he was in constant pain as he worked on his feet all the time. Some young lady who's new to Sitka heard about us and is coming by to jam tonight and she's a hard rock lead guitarist who also sings. She's 25 and we like that because she might pull in a younger crowd, although we don't do bad ourselves.

Shadow our dog got real sick from eating some rotten chicken out of a fire ring in the local recreation park. Sheesh, he gets part of my payday steak twice a month, get's a 1/4 cup of fresh ground beef in his food every day, and sometimes scraps from dinners. And he's eating rotten chicken in fire rings in the park?????? I'll tell ya, some dogs.... Have a good weekend ya bunch of GOF's!

LOL!! They are dogs. People go to considerable trouble to make sure they are healthy. Autofill waterbowls with filters expensive dog feed....then they lick their butt, go out and eat a turd!