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Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

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#17,783
alaskaleftybass said:
Yeah, I heard about the Cougar sightings... he's dating Meg Ryan now... :laugh:

All kidding aside, stay safe-- keep yer animals inside when you hear them nearby sir....
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We don't have any pets Will. My wife fed a succession of semi-feral stray cats for years but I think the owl population has cut down on that noise.

beans-on-toast said:
Do you carry a noise maker of some sort when you go out at night?
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Nope, but some of my friends in more rural areas routinely carry a rifle around on their own property. Cougars within local city limits on this side are a fairly new development, and there haven't been any confirmed ones in my little town just yet.
 
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#17,787
mikeoso said:
Much of the Midwest has been so soaked that we're at least a month behind, and a lot of people are saying they wont be able to plant at all.
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The corn was about 6” high last weekend, I’m being optimistic. It grows about a foot a week under good conditions. Normally, eating corn is ready July 7-14th. This year maybe it’ll be mature enough by early August. Like you said, a month behind. It will be a short season in the north east, depending on the weather to come through September. Last summer was a short season as well.
 
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#17,788
Planted some cat dope here and it's doing brilliantly. Put in three plants about three weeks ago and they've easily doubled in size. Yes I know catnip is a mint and will spread everywhere, but that's the idea.

In other news
and it can only be considered interesting to bassists

The back story is someone waited 39 years to get another bass. Probably not a TB record, but certainly up there. Bass number 2, the bass that is supposed to take the center ring so the old bass can go into semi-retirement, is a year old now. And some days. The paperwork that came with the Chowny CHB-1 shows June 20, 2018 as the day of completion. This is how I came to call this sapphire blue burst Solstice Eve.

And in all the other things that engaged me in this solstice, plumb forgot about the birthday. Not that there wouldn't be payback.

For a couple days ago noticed the neck needs relief. Monday night at bedtime is when surgery commences. Off comes the truss rod cover. Select a key I think will work and gosh picked the right one on first try. Doesn't feel like this truss rod has moved since the bass was set up for shipment. Give it a bit of a turn, it creaks and complies. Eyeball the neck and off to bed.

Awake on a new morning and loose that truss rod one more time. Feels perfect. And say, hey, happy birthday to you, here's a fingerboard conditioner wipe and this the fretboard now:

giphy.gif
 
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#17,790
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#17,793
beans-on-toast said:
When it comes to instrument adjustments, it can take some trial and error to get it just right. Tweak, then see how it turns out in the morning.

View attachment 3456308
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Pretty much it.

For who knows what reason(s), instrument setup and instrument care is engaging for me. It's a good feeling to know my basses are in good running order. The Stingray, though, it's actually roadworn as (I suppose) a 40 year old bass is supposed to be. Unless you're a speculator or another Nigel Tufnel, it doesn't seem reasonable ... BTSOM, my bass got used. The clear coat is yellowed and brittle. And besides all that it's (supposedly) valuable (to somebody besides me) and it seemed right to add a new bass. Oh hey semi-hollowbody is everything the Stingray isn'ts

And this is where we learn to setup a bass with a floating bridge. Seems to me about the same amount of time is required as a "modern" bridge. The only difference is my primary tool for a floating bridge is a tape measure. And it's pretty enjoyable to do, and know it's right.

GonePlaid said:
Too much Pure water can kill ya.
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"Did you talk, Mandrake?"

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​
 
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#17,795
GwenOnBass said:
Pretty much it.

For who knows what reason(s), instrument setup and instrument care is engaging for me. It's a good feeling to know my basses are in good running order. The Stingray, though, it's actually roadworn as (I suppose) a 40 year old bass is supposed to be. Unless you're a speculator or another Nigel Tufnel, it doesn't seem reasonable ... BTSOM, my bass got used. The clear coat is yellowed and brittle. And besides all that it's (supposedly) valuable (to somebody besides me) and it seemed right to add a new bass. Oh hey semi-hollowbody is everything the Stingray isn'ts

And this is where we learn to setup a bass with a floating bridge. Seems to me about the same amount of time is required as a "modern" bridge. The only difference is my primary tool for a floating bridge is a tape measure. And it's pretty enjoyable to do, and know it's right.



"Did you talk, Mandrake?"

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
​
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It’s good when a player can maintain the basics of their instrument. Changing strings, adjusting the truss rod, intonation of the bridge, and pickup adjustments is not something that all want to attempt.

An important thing that I like to remember with a floating bridge is that if you want to raise it, either loosen the strings (and don’t let the bridge base move), then raise the bridge OR use a bridge jack tool to lift the bridge off the base to relieve the downward pressure, then turn the thumb wheels to raise them. Raising the thumb wheels under the full pressure of the strings can strip the threads.
 
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#17,796
beans-on-toast said:
It’s good when a player can maintain the basics of their instrument. Changing strings, adjusting the truss rod, intonation of the bridge, and pickup adjustments is not something that all want to attempt.

An important thing that I like to remember with a floating bridge is that if you want to raise it, either loosen the strings (and don’t let the bridge base move), then raise the bridge OR use a bridge jack tool to lift the bridge off the base to relieve the downward pressure, then turn the thumb wheels to raise them. Raising the thumb wheels under pressure can strip the threads.
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The Chowny came new with everything set up properly. Straight neck, properly cut nut, and properly intonated. Action a bit high for my taste, but certainly no fault in delivery. Off came the original strings, off came the bridge, and this is me wondering how it all goes back together. Turned the screws somewhat arbitrarily and found I'd adjusted the string height to 5/64ths at the 15th fret just by blind luck.

Figured with a 32 inch scale length the neck would be pretty stable, especially with tapes. AIS, this is the first time I needed to take a swing at the truss rod. A little at first, wait until morning and have another gander. Lookin' good.
 
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#17,797
beans-on-toast said:
It’s good when a player can maintain the basics of their instrument. Changing strings, adjusting the truss rod, intonation of the bridge, and pickup adjustments is not something that all want to attempt.

An important thing that I like to remember with a floating bridge is that if you want to raise it, either loosen the strings (and don’t let the bridge base move), then raise the bridge OR use a bridge jack tool to lift the bridge off the base to relieve the downward pressure, then turn the thumb wheels to raise them. Raising the thumb wheels under pressure can strip the threads.
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Hey @beans-on-toast I used to work with a wonderful guitarist that kept my basses in topnotch condition. His only request was that I watch while he did his magic. I must have watched him a hundred times as he patiently got my bass in excellent playing condition. During lean times he would work as a guitar/bass technician in local music stores. Well, sad to say, in 2009 or 2010 he died in a fire. I'm glad he made me watch him because now I can do everything but a floating bridge! Which is why I will never own one LOL.
 
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#17,798
alaskaleftybass said:
Hey @beans-on-toast I used to work with a wonderful guitarist that kept my basses in topnotch condition. His only request was that I watch while he did his magic. I must have watched him a hundred times as he patiently got my bass in excellent playing condition. During lean times he would work as a guitar/bass technician in local music stores. Well, sad to say, in 2009 or 2010 he died in a fire. I'm glad he made me watch him because now I can do everything but a floating bridge! Which is why I will never own one LOL.
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As a kid, I worked in a metal shop. My job was cleaning, passing tools, and watching. The latter experience was absolutely invaluable.
 
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