Nice you got a neck-through one! Yeah, ultra lites do help. I've converted a couple basses with them to reduce neck dive.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
GeoffGould
Commercial User
we didn't have serial numbers on the thru-body basses back in the day. What do you mean by the P being not balanced too well? Have you tried adjusting the pickup height screws?
Yes, Hipshots may help, and Gotoh and Schaller also make low mass tuners these days.
Yes, Hipshots may help, and Gotoh and Schaller also make low mass tuners these days.
Geoff, is there anything I can do to reduce relief on Modulus Pbass neck with no truss rod?
There are a few things that can be done. I read something about a PLEK for fret work to reduce relieve. I usually just take all of my Modulus basses to my luthier and have him do a complete fret job. At that point, he can adjust and compensate for any differences with a bit of shaving the board (maybe), neck shims, nut work, fret height work and all the rest of the things a truly good master luthier can do. With my neck thru Bassstar, it not only needed a complete fret job (the original frets looked to be pulled out with a flat blade screwdriver) the bridge needed to be sunk into the body just a bit and we added a string tree for the E/A and D/G strings to give enough string dive after the nut. I am 100% confident in my luthier though. I don't put my basses in anyone's hands to fix any more. having mine professionally worked on is well worth the cost.
Oh, Geoff, I am thinking I want to change the original Barts in my Bassstar. Without any modifications to the body, do you know any drop in pickups for those old skinny Barts?
For point of reference, my Bassstar is 1-3/4" nut, 2-1/2" at the heal, 34" scale and probably was a 4 string design with 5 strings on it..(maybe..)
For point of reference, my Bassstar is 1-3/4" nut, 2-1/2" at the heal, 34" scale and probably was a 4 string design with 5 strings on it..(maybe..)
GeoffGould
Commercial User
Back in the day, I got EMG and Alembic to make pickups in that shape. Whether this is still possible, I don't know.
GeoffGould
Commercial User
The answer below your question is good. I'd say you can solve a minor bow with fretwork, or a major bow with a refret and fretwork.
You could put lighter strings on it. I think that can make a little difference due to less string tension. I had some back-bow on a fretless 6 string which has no truss rod. I put heavier strings on it, and my luthier flattened (sanded) the neck some. Back-bow no longer noticeable. Not sure how much correction is attributed to strings versus fretboard work.
Geoff could probably comment on how much difference you can get from change in string tension.
There are lower tension strings that you can get. They will not make a major difference, but every bit may help
GeoffGould
Commercial User
in the old days, Markley Blue Steels had an interesting tension. Lighter guages didn't buzz that much. I think you can find some combination of strings and fretwork to make it play right.
So I chanced upon and bought a 4 string neck-thru Bassstar that is painted black, but with the checkerboard carbon-fiber weave exposed on the back of the neck. Fender style headstock. The pickups are a bit of a mystery but they are unbranded. Previous posts by the subject matter experts would indicate either an EMG or Alembic construction and wired into a VVT configuration. Should I get pictures of the pickups out of the cavity, could anyone here determine the manufacturer?
Either way, the previous owner(s) played the hell out of it and the tone more than justifies the marks on it.
May I have a number for that matter?
Either way, the previous owner(s) played the hell out of it and the tone more than justifies the marks on it.
May I have a number for that matter?
GeoffGould
Commercial User
I had designed the basic shape of these pickups, and were first made by Bartolini. These look like they may have been made by EMG, as they look like the shiny molded style, as opposed to the vacuum formed caps Bartolini used to use. I think Alembic made a few sets for us, but I think they had their name on them. Post pictures of the underside when you can.
Wow!! What a great looking Bassstar!!! I have not seen to many neck thru models?I hope it sound and plays as cool as it looks!
GeoffGould
Commercial User
Hey Geoff, any idea on these neck thru's as to how many were made of the Bassstar? Also, with the pattern in the graphite, any idea about what year this one is from? About?
GeoffGould
Commercial User
First, the weave is called a 5 (or 8) harness satin. Here's an explanation of the weaves:
Invalid Link Removed
Second, it's hard to say how many we made. For a while, it was the high end of our line, until the Quantum thru-body models came out. We also modified the peghead to make 2+2, or 3+2 5-strings. I'd say mid-80's in general.
Every bit explains a bunch. I have a 3+2 headstock neck thru, but not at all in that pattern. These are just pretty unique cool basses for sure
GeoffGould
Commercial User
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
Uber Eats class action lawsuit alleges their priority delivery is a scam- Latest: buldog5151bass