Here is why I can't afford new things. I spend my time creating, or altering nice basses to begin with and turn them into other-type-stuffish things. I should be a greeter at my local somewhere store, so I can afford. I'd like to perform self-diagnosis..... OK, I have concluded this: I have "BAD", or Bass Acquisition Disorder.
This started as a GAXB150 (32" medium scale) in fairly decent shape. Everything was there, except someone replaced a tuner with a gold one....well, at least it was the right style and didn't get butchered.
I checked the condition of the neck before proceeding. It was in very nice shape; all I did was slightly round the fretboard edges, remove the fret sprout and do an ever-so-lightly fret dressing/leveling. Turned out great and is very comfortable.
Scuffed the body a bit and painted it with Krylon Metallic black paint. Well, this went on a lot rougher than I expected, but I chose to leave it. It matches quite well with my GE appliances in my kitchen. Maybe if I add a hot plate..........
I got the idea of cutting out a pickguard, similar looking to a Gibson Ripper bass. The black contrast looks great and matches the headstock.
OK, for the electronics: I removed the stock GAXB pickup and ended up using yet another GAXB150 pickup from a previous build, but this particular humbucker has exposed wires, so I decided to wire it V-V-T, just because. That, too, turned out nice. I also like an actual tone knob vs. the original 3-way switch that I have never, ever learned exactly what it does. It definitely did NOT split the coils. I also realized that the 3 GAXB150's I have owned have had 3 different pickups. I'm thinking this model may have been a catch-all for leftover pickups from Ibanez. I know 1 of them was the same as in one of the Ergodyne basses....... anyway.....
So....... there it is, in all it's glory. This plays, sounds and feels excellent. Don't ask me why I took pics of it in my garden, but it prompted me to harvest some dill, garlic and onion whilst down there.
Enjoy the pics. I also included pics of the previous 2 basses.
-Lenny
This started as a GAXB150 (32" medium scale) in fairly decent shape. Everything was there, except someone replaced a tuner with a gold one....well, at least it was the right style and didn't get butchered.
I checked the condition of the neck before proceeding. It was in very nice shape; all I did was slightly round the fretboard edges, remove the fret sprout and do an ever-so-lightly fret dressing/leveling. Turned out great and is very comfortable.
Scuffed the body a bit and painted it with Krylon Metallic black paint. Well, this went on a lot rougher than I expected, but I chose to leave it. It matches quite well with my GE appliances in my kitchen. Maybe if I add a hot plate..........
I got the idea of cutting out a pickguard, similar looking to a Gibson Ripper bass. The black contrast looks great and matches the headstock.
OK, for the electronics: I removed the stock GAXB pickup and ended up using yet another GAXB150 pickup from a previous build, but this particular humbucker has exposed wires, so I decided to wire it V-V-T, just because. That, too, turned out nice. I also like an actual tone knob vs. the original 3-way switch that I have never, ever learned exactly what it does. It definitely did NOT split the coils. I also realized that the 3 GAXB150's I have owned have had 3 different pickups. I'm thinking this model may have been a catch-all for leftover pickups from Ibanez. I know 1 of them was the same as in one of the Ergodyne basses....... anyway.....
So....... there it is, in all it's glory. This plays, sounds and feels excellent. Don't ask me why I took pics of it in my garden, but it prompted me to harvest some dill, garlic and onion whilst down there.
Enjoy the pics. I also included pics of the previous 2 basses.
-Lenny
