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My first bass resurrected (including back-story)

#122
Tempo badge arrived - I'm not certain if it's original (vintage) or a repo. Either way it'll look great.

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#127
Pat doesn't do this unless specifically requested, but Marty Bell would send a pic on his bench when sending out the "finished" word - nothing fancy.., just a 'teaser'. He also did a small stamp in the neck pocket.

He sent me two of this one to show how light effected it. I requested an 'trans-eggplant over sparkle' - nailed it. It almost looks black in low light.
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This is an un-retouched pic of it with sunlight hitting it. Hands down the best Marty Bell sparkle finish I've ever seen. Originally had an '80s vintage fretless Westone neck.
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I designed and sculpted the original (Gildaxe 5-string SuperB) body which was CNC cloned to make a few later iterations - including this maple Super SLX 4-string.
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Stacked V/T and John East 9v mid-sweep controls / Curtis Novak DarkStar pu & Schaller 3-D bridge anchored to an imbedded brass platform ala Bruce Johnson.
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22 fret/34" scale walnut neck (made by SF master luthier Dan Ransom to my specks), ebony fb, rotary tr, etched brass hs tone-plate with Sperzel locking tuners and brass nut.
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Custom etched-brass neck-plate.
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#128
JIO said:
Pat doesn't do this unless specifically requested, but Marty Bell would send a pic on his bench when sending out the "finished" word - nothing fancy.., just a 'teaser'. He also did a small stamp in the neck pocket.

He sent me two of this one to show how light effected it. I requested an 'trans-eggplant over sparkle' - nailed it. It almost looks black in low light.
View attachment 5074136 View attachment 5074138
This is an un-retouched pic of it with sunlight hitting it. Hands down the best Marty Bell sparkle finish I've ever seen. Originally had an '80s vintage fretless Westone neck.
View attachment 5074140
I designed and sculpted the original (Gildaxe 5-string SuperB) body which was CNC cloned to make a few later iterations - including this maple Super SLX 4-string.
View attachment 5074141
Stacked V/T and John East 9v mid-sweep controls / Curtis Novak DarkStar pu & Schaller 3-D bridge anchored to an imbedded brass platform ala Bruce Johnson.
View attachment 5074144
22 fret/34" scale walnut neck (made by SF master luthier Dan Ransom to my specks), ebony fb, rotary tr, etched brass hs tone-plate with Sperzel locking tuners and brass nut.
View attachment 5074145
Custom etched-brass neck-plate.
View attachment 5074147
Click to expand...


Niiiiiiiiice. :drool::thumbsup:
 
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#131
Out for delivery - I just hope it's today and not tomorrow (Sunday) because I won't be home all day. Signature required... let's hope I don't have to go through another FedEx fiasco. Pat said he swore them off after my gilded guitar body was stollen (left unattended on my porch and yes - signature required) having had numerous issues with them - but he's back using them again ~ I very much dislike FedEx. I only ship USPS and UPS but have no control over things shipped to me. A book I ordered was left on my porch by FedEx and it was stollen. The porch-pirate was probably pissed that he ended up with a book as he most likely doesn't read, just like the FedEx delivery guy. And yes - it's a guy... I rarely if ever have seen a female FedEx delivery driver.

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#133
I hate dwelling on f'd up situations... but I have to follow up on the (fortunate) delivery of the body/neck by FedEx. It was scheduled to be delivered today, signature upon delivery, so I put a note on the door saying "I'm home - please ring doorbell. Do not leave delivery unattended". This weekend, my neighborhood in the Mission SF has a Carnival festival going on. Lots of foot traffic in the hood. So I was concerned that the packages could be left on my porch by FedEx and anyone (porch pirate) could casually walk up our stairs and grab them w/o anyone (mostly not from the Mission) caring. I kept checking every time I heard a truck but was on the other side of our house waiting for the doorbell. At 12:30-ish I get a call from my next-door neighbor Eric (good guy) that there are two packages just left by FedEx on my landing. He luckily was unloading his truck outside and saw FedEx drop-off the boxes, turn around and get back in his truck. He called to tell me because he knew the issues I've had w/FedEx, and would have taken the packages in his house next door if he couldn't get in touch with me.

No knock, no doorbell, and most importantly - no signature upon delivery. Pat had to pay extra for that. When I ship UPS - I pay extra for SUD and insurance. I contacted Pat and said I'll pay extra not to ship FedEx. He gets it - he has has numerous issues with FedEx over just this sort of driver negligence. I filed my own complaint - which will go no-where. We're talking' mega corporation here - as in, good luck.

Rant's over - body and neck arrived in good condition (Pat obviously knows how to pack/ship) so .... on with the show!
 
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#134
First step - shield the control & pu cavities. Applied two liberal coats of carbon paint.
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I then applied copper tape to the floors. This gives me something to solder to...
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... for "star-grounding" - each cavity has a soldered ground-wire that goes to the jack ground tang along with the bridge ground wire. Fresh foam pads in the pu cavity. Still can't get over 10 screws to secure the bridge!
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My "work bench du jour" ... pottery by Beth's nephew Greg, left-overs from a recent weekend block 'sellathon'. I needed to find/collect all necessary and matching screws from my parts bins as it came to me with rouge or missing screws. I have a large collection of guitar hardware (screws, washers, bolts etc)
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Assembled it after much 'fussy work' over the Saturday afternoon while listening to music and sipping scotch just in time to take some end-of-day light pics. Pat did a fine job as usual on the finishing. Just the 'look' I was after - and without a doubt looks better than it did when new in the mid-late '60s.

Now that it's assembled, the next step is getting the frets in order. The neck is pretty straight but the frets need leveling. This operation takes a while but I've been there before with worst so it's just a matter of digging in and doing it... Monday. A band I play in (Bond Girl) is performing tomorrow as part of a day of music. "Memorial Maylay" - fun! :bassist:
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Very warm, very traditional.
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Neck into neck pocket was a nice snug fit. These were well made instruments.
upload_2023-5-27_20-19-22.jpeg
 
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#139
Philonius said:
Very cool.

I can't believe how bad fedEx can suck and still stay as successful as they are.
Click to expand...

Thanks - that's the last I have to say about FedEx. They get away with it because they are a mega-corporation. Try personally dealing with them about an issue - and again, good luck.
 
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