NEW BASS DAY!!!

[chuckocaster]

i've been fighting it, but finally gave in. i picked up an OLP 5 string musicman stingray copy used for 150. came with a bag, and schaller strap lock buttons. okay shape, plays nice unplugged, but there are some things i need to fiddle on it. i've already pulled the neck and drilled out the mounting holes, i pulled the tuners and seated the bushings also. i restrung it and am now jammin around on it. won't know how it sounds until wednesday when i can play it through my amp. but i think i'm going to order a nordstrand MM5.2 for it, along with a new set of strings. i'm also thinking about trying out some DR's, they seem to get the thumbs up from contemporary players. not going to go active on this baby, but will put in a series/parallel switch, on top of new guts.

[Kap'n]

Sweet. Mrs. Kap'n's nephew has the four string version, and loves it stock. I think with the Chuck-O touch, it'll be fab.

[doc540]

Of all I've ever seen those are best made bass guitars for the money.

congrats

[Stonefreefuzz1]

Score! Congrats!

[Gravity Jim]

Cheap at twice the price. Way to go, way to be.

[NeoFauve]

Cool, chucko.
I was eyeballing a natural finished 4-string OLP w/an oval tortoise guard at Daddy's. Pretty nice, for easy money.

[chuckocaster]

thanks guys, i went ahead and ordered that pup and new strings. should be here monday maybe? plus i'll give it a good cleaning afterwards, but black always gets smudgy with fingerprints.

i think a tort guard might be in order too, the white looks a little plain to me.

[refin]

Great snag!

[FrankJohnson]

that thing has an awful lot of Strangs Chuck.......

Looks like an awful Meaty machine!

How does it like the SVT410HLF?

[chuckocaster]

2 too many strings for me FJ! i could do with an E A & D bass... but that's just me.

won't know how she really sounds til wednesday. i am tempted to take it to my gig tamale night, but i don't want to freak out the guitar player, he's a big worrier.

BUT! wednesday brings on the 6x10, and the GK 700RB. great rig, not creamy like my normal tube rig, but really punchy! sort of fun to change it up. and with this new bass, it's definitely a change of pace. i don't think i can ever bring myself to playing active, but a stingray is the perfect middle ground for me. baby steps.

[redcoats1976]

im a bass NOOB...but this is the second time ive heard you talk about pulling the neck and drilling out the mounting holes.why do you do this?

[Vics]

Nice score!! One of these days I would love to get a 5 string bass.

[chuckocaster]

redcoats, i do this on ALL of my bolt neck guitars. what i do is drill the mounting holes in the body out just big enough to push the neck screws through. this creates to point of contact, and not three. the "Stock" way means you have to screw the screw through the body while also screwing it into the neck. the way i do it you are only screwing into the neck. less friction, better clamping pressure. it makes for a better neck joint and a teeny bit more sustain and resonance.

the pup and strings came today, so i'll put that stuff in tomorrow.

[pseudocat]

Ooh, nice one, Chuck!

I played one of those once, and it was pretty nice. Dunno about the 5-string thing though...

I'll be curious to hear how the series/parallel thing works with it. Should be nice!

[chuckocaster]

new pup in, new guts, series/parallel switch, new jack. i went with DR sunbeams, i'll report more on those. i went ahead and just drilled a hole in the guard for the switch. i have decided to get a new guard, maybe build one. so when that happens i'll change it up on the layout so it looks cleaner. i'm also going to change the knobs, but that's what i had laying around. i realize now that the markings spell POS upside down... too funny!

thanks again everyone!

[phantomman]

They look like Kustom amp knobs, Chuck.

Comin' along nicely, I'd say!

[chuckocaster]

muchisimas gracias compadre! they do look like that don't they? i bought them at rat shack. they actually have some cool knobs, in a cheesy way! it was either those or the all chromes. i might throw the chromies on there and see how that sits.

[chuckocaster]

update:

i've been playing it tonight quite a bit. these DR's feel amazing, super smooth to the touch (like a flatwound) and bright in a nice way. not zingy, just a nice clear attack and top end. and they weren't kidding about not stretching them. we'll see how they translate through the amp, but i'm expecting good things.

the bass feels real solid, and the B isn't flapping around. the guy i bought it from mods guitars like i do, and he set it up before he sent it to me. he did a pretty darn good job, this sucker is in tune all over the neck. more so than some of my other basses, KURAZY!

i brought my nomad and the 4x10 home from my gig on saturday so maybe i can fire it up tomorrow. i do have a BBQ in the afternoon. so i guess i need to wake up before noon? LOL!

peace brothers.

[NeoFauve]

Not bad for $150, chucko.
Leaves budgetary room for . . . upgrades.

[chuckocaster]

i'm only into this thing for 325. talk about a freaking bargain. and that's with a 125 dollar pickup.

[phantomman]

Not bad for $150, chucko.
Leaves budgetary room for . . . upgrades.

I love it when you talk dirty, NF!

[chuckocaster]

gig report:

so yesterday i dialed in the pickup through the nomad and 4x10. didn't play it very loud, but loud enough to hear it nice and clear.

tonight i played it through a GK 700rb and my ampeg 6x10. OH WOW! punchy, growly, phat, clear, balanced tonally. i'm mucho impressed. i even did a little slappin and poppin (which i suck at) but this bass responds really well to playing technique and subtleties. now, i won't say it's on par with a REAL stingray, but i will say that it sure doesn't sound like a cheap bass. i didn't care for the S/P switch, but didn't really have time to fiddle with it too much.

i am just really impressed with this bass, and it's not just me. everyone else in the band commented on it and it's sound. best of all the neck is decently small so my girly hands fit around it.

one day, i'll kick down and get a real stingray, but for now this will do me just fine. it's a delight when something "budget" can make you smile. i don't mean to toot my own horn, but i think the upgrades turned out real well. maybe the stock pup would have sounded fine, but this nordstrand really kicks some ass. and i'm digging the DR's, they feel great and sound great too.

[phantomman]

Sounds like ya done good, Chucko!

[pseudocat]

Nice! Way to go, Chuck!

So... how do you like the series/parallel option?

[chuckocaster]

parallel seemed to thin out the tone too much. yesterday was sort of rushed during sound check and warm up. i'm gonna leave it for awhile but play with it some more. i have a feeling though that i'm just going to pull it out and wire it straight series and connect it to the vol and tone knob. it'll probably end up more like a p bass i guess.

[gooman]

congrats on that sweet bass.... I also had a new bass day,long story but my sons girl friend and my grandbabys momma expressed a desire to play bass.last week end whilst under the influence I gave her my mexically p bass and a hartke p300 lil amp,shes in heaven,well my dumbass needs a replace so I got a new 57vri p bass in blond. It come out of the box in tune set up is next to perfect for me and what a axe.It combined with my new 59bassman ltd is SWEET

[chuckocaster]

very cool! post some pics up .

[Stonefreefuzz1]

very cool! post some pics up .

+1 !!!!

[gooman]

Due to some unforseen expenses and a few minor flaws I sent the great pair back today.I must say that I am totally for a P bass.The bassman amp sounded great too........