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.
Wishbass Club pt. 2
- Thread starter john turner
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club
- Status
I'm going to install one of these on my Wishbass after I get it and finish it. They have several, but I'll probably go with that one for $49.
Thought I'd pass the link along if anyone else wants it.
http://www.has-sound.com/
Thought I'd pass the link along if anyone else wants it.
http://www.has-sound.com/
Regarding the onboard Varitone - I had a chat with 3StringPete about this some time back. He advised that the OD (OrangeDrop caps) version would not fit with a volume pot and output jack in the typical Wish control cavity. The $49 Varitone Plus appears to have standard caps, but there's no photo.
3Str also warns that the Varitones are a little deep for the control cavities as well, and that he had to bore down a little deeper in one instance. Care must be taken not to drill out the opposite side of the bass!
Pete, can you share some of your experience with Varitone mounting?
3Str also warns that the Varitones are a little deep for the control cavities as well, and that he had to bore down a little deeper in one instance. Care must be taken not to drill out the opposite side of the bass!
Pete, can you share some of your experience with Varitone mounting?
I'd be glad to. The HAS-Sound Bass Varitone "OD" has larger Orange Drop-brand capacitors and does require more space in the control cavity. It's not impossible to mount, but you would definitely need to use a smaller, compact volume control. The standard Bass Varitone used green polyester film capacitors. There really isn't a noticeable difference in tone between the "OD" and the standard, IMO...same capacitor values, just a different brand. The standard model is about $10 less and doesn't take up as much space. I would still use a compact volume control along with the Varitone. The depth of the control cavity should be at least 1 3/16 inches. I've only come across a few Wishbasses where the cavity was too shallow. I simply use a chisel to carefully scrape out just enough wood to make it fit. The cavity doesn't have to look pretty; just don't bore through the other side. In most cases a new control cover will need to be created to allow for 3 equally spaced holes. (Almost impossible to do this on a rear mounted control cavity...would have to create a second, smaller cavity with a cover.) I found a round object (plastic cup) that was the same diameter as the control cavity. Taking a blank control cover, I trace the circle on the back of it. Then I take one of the "speed" knobs Wish uses for his volume controls and trace three equally spaced circles within the larger circle and mark the center of each to drill three 3/8" holes for the volume, Varitone (or other tone control), and jack. Wiring is similar to a standard P-Bass without grounding it to the bridge (can't do that with his Corian bridges). The Varitone really provides some nice tone varieties...subtle, but definitely useful. I also find that any of the 5 tone positions greatly reduces any noise from a standard single-coil pickup. I would highly recommend using 500k ohm volume controls to get the best results from your Varitone. If the original tone of the pickup has more treble (high end), the Varitone settings will provide more drastic changes (i.e. pickup mounted very close to the bridge).
Of course, if you didn't want to go through the trouble of adding a Varitone to your Wishbass, you can always get a Wishbox which gives you the freedom to use it with other bass guitars with passive pickups. I use it with my J-Basses, P-Basses and Wishbasses with great results. The sound guy for our band really likes position number 4 for some reason...a nice round Motown tone. I've even used it with my Martin guitar (with K&K Sound passive pickup), making it sound like a jazz box...very cool.
Stan Hinesley (HAS-Sound) offers another tone control option that I think Wishbass owners would enjoy for about $22. It would definitely fit in the cavity with a standard 500k ohm volume control. Here's the description:
Dual Slope Tone Control
This pre-wired control mounted on a Push/Pull Switch Pot replaces your existing tone control, giving you one tone control in the down position and a different tone control in the up position. Easy two wire hookup! Please choose the value of tone capacitors you would like from the drop down menu at right. Please see "Tone Descriptions" at the bottom of this page. To use with solid shaft or set-screw style knobs, see "Brass Pot Sleeves" at the bottom of this page. See LS control below for Les Pauls. Threaded bushing is 3/8".
I would recommend the "standard" and "bass" tones for 2 useful variations.
Dual Slope Tone Control
This pre-wired control mounted on a Push/Pull Switch Pot replaces your existing tone control, giving you one tone control in the down position and a different tone control in the up position. Easy two wire hookup! Please choose the value of tone capacitors you would like from the drop down menu at right. Please see "Tone Descriptions" at the bottom of this page. To use with solid shaft or set-screw style knobs, see "Brass Pot Sleeves" at the bottom of this page. See LS control below for Les Pauls. Threaded bushing is 3/8".
I would recommend the "standard" and "bass" tones for 2 useful variations.
Folks: Perhaps another one of my dumb questions ... What are the proper pronounciations for the 'Lobe' and "Stude' body styles of Wishbass? Is it 'Lobe', like one's earlobe, or "lo-bay" or "lo-bee"? For 'Stude', is the 'e' silent or is it pronounced like the car, Stude-baker', or "Stud-ee"? I now own both styles and still stumble over what the names might actually sound like. Has anyone heard Wish say the names?
Thanx TR, I have been assuming the same as you, but began to wonder since it can go in different directions. By the way, I got the black nylons on the Banana bass and it went just fine. The bass is immediately louder by a bunch - plus it just looks kool! I can't wait to install the K&K pup ... I'll post pix when I get it done.
I think 49sfine should consider offering his brass alloy control covers on eBay. He can provide two (or more) options for general shape (paisley or standard tear drop) and three options for holes (blank or no holes, two holes for volume and jack, and three holes for volume, tone, and jack). Three mounting holes on the perimeter should be standard.
If 49sfine reads this, please post another photo of your Wishbass with the brass control cover. With Wishnevsky stating that he will make up to 1000 Wishbasses before retiring, the idea of Wishbass accessories might be popular...one of the reasons I make Wishboxes.
If 49sfine reads this, please post another photo of your Wishbass with the brass control cover. With Wishnevsky stating that he will make up to 1000 Wishbasses before retiring, the idea of Wishbass accessories might be popular...one of the reasons I make Wishboxes.
3-String: I just read your post - interesting idea. I already have another shape I came up with and along with a nice teardrop, that makes 3 shapes. When I drew these out, I made them slightly bigger than Wish's cover plate to make sure they would cover the existing screw holes and also offer options as to exactly how to orient the cover on the body. For example, my paisley shape is positioned to accent some kool wood grain activity on the Hyper (see part 1 of this tread) as well as flow with the shape of the body. That would/could differ per body style and personal preference. Also, one could choose peened texture, polished or a brushed finish. - Anyway, I am just thinking out loud here. I don't have time to post a pix right now since I have company here, but I will soon. Let me think more about this .. I like the concept though! Thanx, Scott ...
3-String; Well, I went ahead and made space for this pix in spite of the time crunch. Hope this helps. I plan to take some other shots soon and also one of my new small teardrop for the K&K pup going into the Banana. Later on!
Well, My Stude arrived today! Walnut front and back. I must say, this one really looks like Wish was in a big hurry in the finish department! All kinds of chatter marks, incomplete curves and some mismating where the horns meet the body and the fingerboard the neck. - Don't get me wrong, I love it! More for me to do and enjoy. Action seems nice and low and the mechanics seems fine, just a lot (more than most I wager) of rasping and sanding to do. I'll post pix at some point. Wheeee!! Keep 'em coming people ...
TBers; Can anyone advise how to download an avatar like some of you have done (3StringPete, Thunderitter, etc)? Is that considered your signature? Any help would be appreicated! Thanx.
My new purpleheart Hyper #943 is on a Fed Ex truck, somewhere in my vicinity, teasing me............... It's a slow day at work, and an amp is hiding in the machine room. Pics to come.
Oh boy, oh boy, it's BASS Friday.
Oh boy, oh boy, it's BASS Friday.
I believe an avatar is only available to contributing members$$$ and it is not the same thing as your signature.
JBY, still freeloading, for now...........
the same might not be the case if the control plate is on the back as is mine, but I'll consider this when I order one. The control cavity should be bigger than the top mounted ones, NO?
Don't know for a fact but I doubt it. I think wish just uses a door knob drill bit for the circle and a router to hollow it out. He's not the kind of guy that really modifies his technique too much.
That said, when I got 3-string pete's lobe, it had a varitone already installed. I changed the inductor on the device, and added a small 100k pot to vary the depth of the varitone. What I needed to do to get everything to fit was route a little bit of wood away with a dremel. Fortunately, the coverplates are so much larger than the cavity, you can remove a lot before running into problems.
JBY; Thanks a bunch for clearing that up. Makes sense now that you point it out. Gee, I may have to be a contributor!
- Status
