Wishbass Club pt. 2

[duckbutter]

Very nice - just wish the photo was larger! Maybe next time?

I'll take another pic and post it.

 

[49sfine]

Yup! the peanut style is very comfortable... i always would ask steve to give the bottom horn a nice arch so it can balance better while sitting....at one time i had 6 custom wishbasses including a EUB he built for me. I was one of steve's earlier customers but do to tough times i had to let some of them go..so far i only kept 3. A custom 4 as pictured, a seven string peanut and last the show stopper.....which steve nicknamed the beast with a split personality.....pics will be posted soon to unveil the BEAST....to give u a hint...its a custom design by yours truely and its the only one of its kind that steve has ever built...its so usual that i get people ask me what the f*** is that!!! i even get crowds of people whenever i take it in to a music store....ITS A MONSTER!!!!!

dannyssx; Well, I can't wait to see it. Anytime you're ready!

If you want to see a list of what I own, click on my avatar and then go into my profile. My list keeps changing a little bit, but I updated it just a few days ago. Right now the only one I do not have in my possession is a lacewood electric mandolin Steve is making for me. (That should be done soon - it's not a custom build or anything. I just told him to "surprise" me in terms of exactly what woods he might use. He usually likes to use up his smaller scrap pieces, which is kool. One just sold on Ebay a few weeks back.)

 

[49sfine]

I'll take another pic and post it.

Kool! Thanks ...

 

[49sfine]

Thunderitter; Say, my veneer sheet selection just arrived today. These sheets are super thin - not even as thick as the aluminum control plates Wish makes. They should glue up and still not add too much thickness to the overall dimension. I am just not sure how well they will sand out though, being that thin. One of the sheets is walnut that I can use on the Jb. If I can wiggle out some time, I am going to cover the JB's plate and let you know if I was successful or not. Ciao ...

 

[Gubna]

I know it's not a Wishbass, but I thought I heard him say he built it when he was working for Wish

THE SLAB:

 

[49sfine]

Gubna; Say, I saw that this weekend myself. I was down in Austin visiting my wife and since she has DSL for her internet, I can actually watch YouTube! In fact, I looked at all the Wishbass and Wishnevsky stuff - lots of fun. I enjoyed the Wishes I saw very much - it was kool to hear them too. I even saw Wish's hot rods - his quirky design sense is ever-present!

 

[Gubna]

then you probably saw my lame wishbass vids under Bugna19

 

[Thunderitter]

Thunderitter; Say, my veneer sheet selection just arrived today. These sheets are super thin - not even as thick as the aluminum control plates Wish makes. They should glue up and still not add too much thickness to the overall dimension. I am just not sure how well they will sand out though, being that thin. One of the sheets is walnut that I can use on the Jb. If I can wiggle out some time, I am going to cover the JB's plate and let you know if I was successful or not. Ciao ...

I used headstock veneers for my cover - a lot thicker than regular vaneer - giving me something to sand and shape.

 

[49sfine]

then you probably saw my lame wishbass vids under Bugna19

Sure ... hey, they weren't lame! It's really kool that someone is putting something out there - especially since your Wishes have been improved. I just wish we could see more of the whole bass while you play - you know, both hands and also to show off more of the bass (neck, headstock). If I wasn't a beginning bass player I would do something, but heck, there's too much bad playing out there already. Maybe I should do a refinish seqence someday?

Did you check out the newest Lobe? Looks sweet ...

 

[jbybj]

I have gone and uploaded demo vids of my last two wishbasses, Peanut #88, and Fretted Scroll #866. Search user jbybj on youtube. I'm done.

Just got the peanut back from the Luthier. Had the fingerboard leveled and then coated with epoxy. I'll post some pics later.

JBY

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

A question for the more Experienced WishBassers.

What Improvements need to be made to a typical Wishbass, and in what order would you perform them?

Any Must-Have mods that you would suggest?

I'm gearing up for my Spring Projects, and the JB is HIGH on the list...

I would LOVE to get that Bow outta the Neck!

 

[jbybj]

A question for the more Experienced WishBassers.

What Improvements need to be made to a typical Wishbass, and in what order would you perform them?

Any Must-Have mods that you would suggest?

I'm gearing up for my Spring Projects, and the JB is HIGH on the list...

I would LOVE to get that Bow outta the Neck!

My first question is with regards to the neck. Is the neck bowed? has it moved since you first got the bass? (very rare), or is it the fingerboard? Is the fingerboard uneven? (fairly common).

If the neck has developed a significant curve, then I suggest you contact Wish, if it's a matter of leveling the fretboard, this is pretty easy/inexpensive, and will make a HUGE difference in how it plays.

If you are a DIY type, go to Stewmac and you will find devices for leveling and radiusing a fingerboard. If not, you should find a luthier to do it for you. I have paid between $75 and $150 to get this done, depending on how whacked it was.

If you are happy with the feel and sound, than this is the only must do fix. I have been compelled to refinish all my WB's, at the very least, to improve the feel of the neck.

Pups are very subjective, I dislike the EMG selects when only one is installed, too much hum. I have put active EMG's in some, when there is room for a battery or two, and kept some passive, with a hum canceling jazz pickup.

All my other mods are purely cosmetic, new control covers, refinish, etc.

Good luck, and have fun.

JBY

 

[49sfine]

A question for the more Experienced WishBassers.

What Improvements need to be made to a typical Wishbass, and in what order would you perform them?

Any Must-Have mods that you would suggest?

I'm gearing up for my Spring Projects, and the JB is HIGH on the list...

I would LOVE to get that Bow outta the Neck!

MaddAnthony; I agree with JBY's advice. Over the last year I have purchased 10 Wishbasses and kept 5 of them. Some of them have gotten a complete do-over and some have not. One thing I ALWAYS do though, and do it first, is relevel the fingerboard. It's not difficult and requires only a few tools. Once the FB is nice and straight I then sand it out to 2000 grit; 1200 grit if I am really impatient. I then seal the FB with the appropriate oil and I am ready to string 'em up. Second thing would be lowering the action, usually via sanding the bottom of the bridge down. Sometimes the nut needs attention too, but not often. After that I tend to put on flat wound strings, but that is starting to change for me since I discoverd that my JB actually sounds so much better with the stock strings Wish put on over my D'Addario Chromes. (Each bass is different and my JB just seems to like the Dean Markelys.) After that it's all about refinishing the entire bass, or not. I plan to completely re-do ALL my Wishes, but I just don't have the time right now. Like JBY, I want to put in other PUPs that will eliminate hum and have more guts. For my plinking around the house though, the EMG Selects are just fine but I would not use them in a live band setting.

Another thing you might be aware of is string spacing. Wish gets in a hurry sometimes when he drills the string-thru holes at the bridge and 2 of mine have the outer strings too close to the edges of the neck. I control that by either making a new nut and reslotting it, and/or slightly grooving the bridge piece to pull the 2 outer strings in just a bit. My JB suffers from this condition but after working on the bridge, it is cured. Looks like the nut will stay put, for now. (The slight grooving of the bridge did not affect the tone, by the way.)

Everything else is purely elective ... Hope this helps - if not, let us know.

 

[newfuture]

Any Must-Have mods that you would suggest?

hum cancelling PU's are the big one for me, as is running a ground wire from the aluminum cover to the strings. I just use a length of bare copper wire, loop it around the strings once each, and then sandwich it between the top of the bass and the aluminum.

 

[49sfine]

I have gone and uploaded demo vids of my last two wishbasses, Peanut #88, and Fretted Scroll #866. Search user jbybj on youtube. I'm done.

Just got the peanut back from the Luthier. Had the fingerboard leveled and then coated with epoxy. I'll post some pics later.

JBY

James; I want to hear more about the Peanut. That is such a killer Wish, too. Details, we need details!

 

[jbybj]

hum cancelling PU's are the big one for me, as is running a ground wire from the aluminum cover to the strings. I just use a length of bare copper wire, loop it around the strings once each, and then sandwich it between the top of the bass and the aluminum.

I once ran a ground wire in my first Scroll, (while it still had an EMG select) and it went something like this.

Installed string ferrules in the neck through holes, soldered a paperclip to connect all the ferrules, then drilled a small hole from the control cavity to the G string-through hole, and grounded all the strings from the output jack to the ferrule, with no unsightly wires.

JBY

 

[49sfine]

I once ran a ground wire in my first Scroll, (while it still had an EMG select) and it went something like this.

Installed string ferrules in the neck through holes, soldered a paperclip to connect all the ferrules, then drilled a small hole from the control cavity to the G string-through hole, and grounded all the strings from the output jack to the ferrule, with no unsightly wires.

JBY

James; Say, can you talk to me about the metal string-thru ferrules? I like the idea but it kind of goes against Wish's philosphy about 'the less steel the better'. Have you noticed any tonal differences or disadvantages? Where are you getting these - StewMac or LMI? Also, what do you have to do to install them? (How did you solder them without burning the back, etc?)

Anyway, any tips you have about them would be appreciated - I'm thinking of installing some on at least one of my Wishes. Thanks!

 

[MJLuke]

OK. I have to say this WishBass is one of the absolute BEST basses I have ever played. I've played Ibenez, Peavey, Fender, Yamaha, one Warwick(sp?) and a Tobias. I currently own a '94 Yamaha fretless jazz-bass and this WishBass kicks it by far in just about every aspect. The tone is outta this world ---way better than my Yamaha. It feels much more natural to play -I'm able to play faster and smoother on the Wishbass. After playing it for about an hour my Yamaha felt small and brittle and unresponsive to me --and sounded like a some one had shoveled mud into my speaker cabinet after the clear beautiful tone of the WishBass! Wow! Amazing instruments. Mine is a Stude model, zebrawood body, purpleheart/ (I think) walnut neck, and persimmon fingerboard.

I have installed a Gotoh bridge, 1 Joe Barden J-Style pickup, and the Rotosound TruBass nylon-wound strings. It has a volume and a tone controls and sounds gorgeous!!!!

THANKS STEVE!!!! I'm one happy customer!
MJL

 

[49sfine]

OK. I have to say this WishBass is one of the absolute BEST basses I have ever played. I've played Ibenez, Peavey, Fender, Yamaha, one Warwick(sp?) and a Tobias. I currently own a '94 Yamaha fretless jazz-bass and this WishBass kicks it by far in just about every aspect. The tone is outta this world ---way better than my Yamaha. It feels much more natural to play -I'm able to play faster and smoother on the Wishbass. After playing it for about an hour my Yamaha felt small and brittle and unresponsive to me --and sounded like a some one had shoveled mud into my speaker cabinet after the clear beautiful tone of the WishBass! Wow! Amazing instruments. Mine is a Stude model, zebrawood body, purpleheart/ (I think) walnut neck, and persimmon fingerboard.

I have installed a Gotoh bridge, 1 Joe Barden J-Style pickup, and the Rotosound TruBass nylon-wound strings. It has a volume and a tone controls and sounds gorgeous!!!!

THANKS STEVE!!!! I'm one happy customer!
MJL

MJL; Wow, that was quite a kudo! It's great to hear positive feedback about Wish's stuff. Any way we can see your bass? It sounds fantastic. Hopefully you can post some images for us soon? Also, I would like to hear mre about those strings you are using. Thanks!

 

[MJLuke]

Here are some phone-pics of my Stude

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The Rotosound TruBass nylon wound strings are terrific.

From Musician's Friend: "The 'Black Nylon Tru Bass' Strings were originally developed to simulate a double bass sound on an electric bass. These RotoSound strings made their most famous appearance on top of the 'Apple' building while Paul McCartney was playing his Hofner bass. You will note that the tension is low, making this string extremely comfortable to play."

From Rotosound Website:
Tru Bass 88
(Black Nylon Flatwound)
Most famously heard on the Beatles album ‘Abbey Road’. Super smooth with ultra low tension transforms any electric bass into a jazzy upright sound. Works great on fretless. Also works well with any kind of jazz, fusion, dub and reggae styles. Heard on ‘Transformer’ by Lou Reed, courtesy of Herbie Flowers.

They were much brighter than I thought they'd be though, and the tension is actually about the same as the flat wound ernie balls on my Yamaha --but still great sounding...

I also tried the Rotosound Swing 66 (flatwound) strings on my Yamaha when I ordered the strings for the Stude. They seemed a lot less smooth than the Ernie Balls. But the TruBass strings feel like butter and sound AMAZING!
MJL