Opening a Can of Worms...

[Matt Liebenau]

Played the Musima last night at a local SF diner-club called The Rite Spot. We (Bond Girl) did 3 sets. Relatively low volume as required for that sort of situation. The bass sounded good and I had no problem dialing it for the room. It had plenty of bass and maybe less top-end that I'm used to but I rolled with it. An original by Cherie has a harmonics accent in the chorus that I couldn't hear, otherwise the overall sound was good. During one of the breaks a fellow bass-player (just met him) commented he has seen/heard us a few times and he felt we sounded best last night. From the stage (and with a very basic PA) you can never tell how it sounds 'out there' so I thanked him for his compliment even if I felt we've sounded better at other past shows.

The other thing I'm noticing is that it stays in tune. The basic/crude 50yr old German tuners leave much to be desired but they lock in. Using flats helps.

View attachment 7491698

I've had a few instruments, both guitar and bass, with what should be crummy tuners but if the strings are wrapped well on the posts, the nut slots are cut right and you always tune up to pitch they work just fine.

 

[flixbass]

Those tuners are interesting. Though i never payed much attention to Bass Guitar tuners, i did not expect that on an Instrument from that time and place.
They aren't as crude as they might look on first sight. The worm gear is globoid (sorry, i'm no native english speaker, hope i expressed it right).
Rubner in Markneukirchen makes Double Bass gears that way. Quite an elaborate design.
On the pictures (further down the linked site) you can see what i mean.

Mechaniken für Streichinstrumente

Stimmmechaniken für Streichinstrumente - Cello, Violine, Viola, Geige, Bass, Kontrabass, Double-Bass

www.rubner-markneukirchen.de

Aside from that, i'd second Matt Liebenau.

 

[JIO]

Those tuners are interesting. Though i never payed much attention to Bass Guitar tuners, i did not expect that on an Instrument from that time and place.
They aren't as crude as they might look on first sight. The worm gear is globoid (sorry, i'm no native english speaker, hope i expressed it right).
Rubner in Markneukirchen makes Double Bass gears that way. Quite an elaborate design.
On the pictures (further down the linked site) you can see what i mean.

Mechaniken für Streichinstrumente

Stimmmechaniken für Streichinstrumente - Cello, Violine, Viola, Geige, Bass, Kontrabass, Double-Bass

www.rubner-markneukirchen.de

Aside from that, i'd second Matt Liebenau.

Those are beautiful tuners - thanks for sharing.

 

[JIO]

Found some thin saved reminent binding material in a filing cabinet drawer so put it to good use. I save a lot of bits & bats ('discards' for most people) thinking I'll use it someday and bingo! Bob's yer' uncle -

My work is holding up - action is still good, no bowing or sinking body... another instrument which was on life support now with a new lease on life. Just takes a little TLC.

 

[Beej]

That looks... chef's kiss!

 

[JIO]

That looks... chef's kiss!

Thanks Beej - I took your suggestion to heart and never forgot about it. I think I like it better than if it would have been the checkered binding. The backside binding is creme and the pearloid control plate is creme so it ties in.

 

[Dark Horse]

I would play that bass PROUDLY !!! What a beautiful restomod!

 

[Reedt2000]

The cream on the sound hole definitely jives with the control plate. The whole thing is super cool, the way the black tolex showcases the funky pickups, pickguard, and tailpiece.

 

[JIO]

I would play that bass PROUDLY !!! What a beautiful restomod!

The cream on the sound hole definitely jives with the control plate. The whole thing is super cool, the way the black tolex showcases the funky pickups, pickguard, and tailpiece.

Thanks to you both - my dealings with all of this is a process that I've learned to allow to develop over time. If you're intent on going adrift to discover uncharted territory, you need to relax and let things evolve organically. Forcing progress is not the best tact. It's a life learning thing, at least it is for me.

I have one more "restromod" (actually more of an ergomod) that I'm contemplating... stay tuned -

 

[2saddleslab]

Found some thin saved reminent binding material in a filing cabinet drawer so put it to good use. I save a lot of bits & bats ('discards' for most people) thinking I'll use it someday and bingo! Bob's yer' uncle -

View attachment 7503141
View attachment 7503142
My work is holding up - action is still good, no bowing or sinking body... another instrument which was on life support now with a new lease on life. Just takes a little TLC.
View attachment 7503143

That looks... chef's kiss!

1st, that took a hell of a lot more than just some TLC!

2nd, gotta agree w/ @Beej. That binding is......

 

[JIO]

1st, that took a hell of a lot more than just some TLC!

2nd, gotta agree w/ @Beej. That binding is......
View attachment 7503457

Thanks! It was a challenging and fun project -

 

[2saddleslab]

Thanks! It was a challenging and fun project -

There are few things more satisfying than rummaging thru a saved parts drawer or box and finding the perfect use for something you saved years ago. It doesn't happen often but when it does it's exhilarating.

 

[Lo-E]

I like that it wears a leather jacket so you don't have to! The F-hole binding is a winner, too.

Very cool restoration. That looks like a lot of fun to play.

I agree that the stock Hofner controls are peculiar on their best day. You could always rewire it to a simple volume and tone with two on/off switches. The third switch could be a series/parallel or just a placebo.

 

[JIO]

I like that it wears a leather jacket so you don't have to! The F-hole binding is a winner, too.

Very cool restoration. That looks like a lot of fun to play.

I agree that the stock Hofner controls are peculiar on their best day. You could always rewire it to a simple volume and tone with two on/off switches. The third switch could be a series/parallel or just a placebo.

I thought of rewiring it, but I'll leave it for now, now that I've figured out best settings for it. I have a few hollow-bodies, they bring another sound/tone to the mix. And they are all light and yes, fun to play.

 

[JIO]

So.., anyone who owns/plays a hollow-body guitar or bass (or Ric) can identify with sore ribs from the un-scalloped/un-beveled edge. Since I've already done extensive modification on this bass I figured I'd address that nagging issue.

I ride my basses at the upper bout which brings 1st position closer and more accessible/comfortable - especially useful for long basses like this one and my '64 T-bird. In fact, I have a permanent sore rib from my T-bird that I've owned/played since '78. So this mod is positioned exactly where my body/ribs meet the bass body and it feels pretty comfy.

 

[2saddleslab]

So.., anyone who owns/plays a hollow-body guitar or bass (or Ric) can identify with sore ribs from the un-scalloped/un-beveled edge. Since I've already done extensive modification on this bass I figured I'd address that nagging issue.

View attachment 7504206
I ride my basses at the upper bout which brings 1st position closer and more accessible/comfortable - especially useful for long basses like this one and my '64 T-bird. In fact, I have a permanent sore rib from my T-bird that I've owned/played since '78. So this mod is positioned exactly where my body/ribs meet the bass body and it feels pretty comfy.
View attachment 7504266
View attachment 7504268

Probably not breaking news that slab bodies don't bother me in the least. Especially since I wear my basses off the hip.

But as usual, like all your other projects, this mod is well executed and I'm sure improves the comfort level. So I say........

 

[JIO]

Probably not breaking news that slab bodies don't bother me in the least. Especially since I wear my basses off the hip.

But as usual, like all your other projects, this mod is well executed and I'm sure improves the comfort level. So I say........
View attachment 7504322

For sure - we all ride our basses differently, wherever it works best. I've used a lower position early on but I'm now at the point where my standing position is the same as my seated position (as in, strap taut when seated) with body contact at the upper bout. My Factorbird fretless was the 1st of my custom basses I designed with an upper scallop.

Steve Klien's K-bass has the best ergo body/bass interface - it wraps around your body.

 

[definenredefine]

Nice! Is it just the tolex or is there wood underneath?

 

[JIO]

Nice! Is it just the tolex or is there wood underneath?

It's a cap made of the same thin wood the table is made of covered w/tolex and glued to the opening using JB Weld. It completely solved the problem providing a soft level spot to snuggle up to!

 

[JIO]

I've used this bass before and just after restoring it live w/Bond Girl in a small dinner-club here in the Mission SF and it worked out great. Earlier I attended a Friday night jam-session and brought it. (through a tc electronics 12", 250w combo amp - a very nice sounding portable rig) It brought a whole different "woody" vibe. It has LaBella flat's and just sounded so good - very pillowy bass finger-style that cut through two dense guitars, keys & drums. With a pick/palm-mute (my favorite 'plunky' sound) helped define notes in a mid-range warmth. Easy to play with its narrow fb and comfy utilizing my back 'scallop'. When the drummer first saw it he said something about a pin-ball machine. (~?~) Half way through the night I realized he was visually referencing the quirky pu positions. Looks like pin-ball 'flippers' or whatever they are called. I then pictured a big bodied bass like the Musima with colourful pin-ball machine graphics and hardware looking as close as possible to bumpers etc on a pin-ball machine! Pinball Wizard bass...?...