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ok i'm building my FIRST custom bass!! :)

B

bajomang

Aug 15, 2005
4
0
#1
ok...um hey! this is my first post i think..anyway haha.i'm building my first custom bass and i'm really excited:eek::hyper: and i cant wait to put it together, i'm really impatient btw so waiting for my body paint job to be done SUUUCKS!!..

ok my bass consists of:
-a 4.5lb swamp ash warmoth p bass body

-a jazz neck, this one to be exact (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=300309906720#ht_839wt_1167)

-i also a got a bad ass bridge II off ebay

-some p quarter pounders

-and i wasn't sure what kind of strings to get but i've heard good things about DR Lo Riders so i got some..

anyways on to my question...i've noticed i need a .05 cap for my pickups according to my quarter pound p bass installation instructions...so i've been researching and heard some stuff about certain caps being muddy or DARK(this sounds cool) or even bright(don't really want bright)..ok..um..i'm sure this type of question has been beaten to a bloody pulp(sorry)..but anyway..i went to radio shack..and they have .47 caps..im guessing these are the same as .05 roger?

also instead of just settling for that cap..i found some in my old Peavey TnT 100 bass amp( these were built circa 85 right? does that count as vintage? lol) i had, it blew out awhile ago so i figgered id raid it for parts(i play through an 4x10 ampeg now:D)..what i see is what i believe to be those "ceramic caps"..theyre round flat and tan.. theres a bunch of em and theres like 1 orangey one:rollno:...
heres what it says on em..

the bigger ones,about the size of a nickel are tan and they have .02m Z5U on em..(what kinda sound can i get..or is there a band or something that would give me a good idea?)

**note** i know the best thing to do would be to sodder and test em out myself right? but you know my situation right? My bass is still getting painted..and i'm impatient which is why i'm on here bugging you guys :hyper: **

ok..theres a smaller tan one in here that says .001k 1kv

and finally theres an orange one the size of a dime that has a 2 in a circle then z5u .01 m and 1kv

would these work??

*****I already have a fender active deluxe jazz bass so keep in my mind...i'm kinda trying to shy away from that hi tinny type of sound.:rolleyes::D**

ok i also had a dan electro "metal" distortion pedal i used to use for my crappy guitar before i just bought one of them all in one effects small amps...so i pried that open and i found a bunch of chiclet type of caps..there are some small brown ones that say f56 473k on em and theres this orange one that kinda looks like those orange drop ones and IT says 0.01 j100....

what do you guys think?? i dont really want to order anything online..or at a guitar place..hopedfully these will be cool...anyways any info is going to be GREATLY appreciated. thank you..

oh another question! is there a certain kind of sodder i should use? like a size? or kind or something?
 
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#3
0.047 will do the job. Or any between 0.033 and 0.1 if you want to cut off more highs. If you use 0.1 or higher you will cut highs too much so you'll lose definition of the pups.

The flat and tan are the ceramic ones, yes. Any brand will do the job, but if you find Elna or MKT will be good (although hardly to hear the difference and these are more expensive, as I can see you're going cheaper for some things for some not, so go with whatever you like).
You can also use Mylar caps (this is type of capacitor like ceramic is, not brand), they look like this: http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50159744/Mylar_Capacitors.jpg

About sodder I think you meant solder. Weller makes good soldering irons, but if you are going to use it only for this then better buy a cheaper one. 25-40 watts is recommended for normal usage. For guitar stuff is better 40W, the less powerful ones are for more sensitive electronics.
 
#7
i dunno man..kinda annoys me..i had to sand it down so it would fit the body..and i dunno of maybe i screwed it up..or i'm just not used to the neck or what...but it feels odd..i dunno if its the strings...but the action seems too high..and i when i try getting it low, it always gives me fret buzz when i play with a pick..i'm trying my hardest to get it just perfect..and man...is it ****ing hard..i dont plan on going to some "pro" or luthier or whatever to fix it..i'm gonna get this neck perfect if its the last thing i do..at the moment i put some cut up index cards in the neck pocket..right now i'm going to try straightening the neck and messing with the bridge saddles..so i am not positive if its the neck angle or what. UGHHHHH:mad:
 
#8
:hmm: sorry to hear that.. but the neck costs barely $100. However you can mess a little with the truss rod to get it in better 'shape'.
I doubt that the frets are installed at same level, so you can level them down too to minimize fret buzz on low action. It doesn't pays off for that neck to go to pro luthier as he might charge you the cost of the neck to set it.
I think you can settle it with a little messing with it.
Be careful with the pocket, any small gap or mistake reflects much bigger after.
 

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