1

Guitar Lounge / Re: Frankenstein Bass Question

« on: January 06, 2021, 01:18:19 AM »

So far, and I haven't touched it in a whole because of work, COVID and money, I've got a bass neck, the bass bridge, and bass tuners I need. I just need to fill, drill, shape, sand, and paint the thing before I get my pick ups installed.
I got the ferrules and bridge post taken out, and I'm currently looking at widening the neck slot on the sides a little so I can fit the neck in. I decided to ditch the thru body set up and I'm just going to set it like a normal bass because that's a lot of work for a beginner. 😂

It was probably a good idea to ditch the thru-body setup as it would be a lot easier this way. Although it's not really *THAT* much harder to do.

I don't really know what I'm doing or where to even start with it. I feel a little intimidated. Where would you start if it was your project? I need to patch up some holes in the body, repaint it + paint the back of the neck (ESP does it and I like that a lot), remove and install pups, install neck. What should be the very first thing I need to do?

2

Guitar Lounge / Re: Frankenstein Bass Question

« on: December 04, 2020, 09:19:01 PM »

What does FUBAR mean?

Fucked Up But All Right, Stephan

Hey, everyone,

I just ordered some parts to put together a bass from a guitar with a FUBAR body. This is my first ever guitar-related project.
The seller I ordered the guitar from was selling an ESP V-50. I noticed it's a thru body set up. I saw from the pictures the high E occupies most of that empty space in the holes for the strings.
So, I guess my question is: What kind of work would go into making a thru body guitar work as a thru body bass?

So you want to make a bass from a guitar body? Like a Bass VI-type short-scale deal with 6 strings and guitar spacing, or like a 4-string bass deal? In either case, I'd recommend filling the bridge post and ferrule holes and redrilling for a new bridge much further back, otherwise that neck's gonna dive like a fish. IMO, get a body that'll balance a bit better if you really wanna do that, but if you're really set on that V-50, then:

• get a short-scale neck, Allen Eden sells some
• fill the bridge post and ferrule holes
• redrill for a new bass (or bass VI) bridge as far back on the body as you can for balance reasons
• fit the new neck after shaping the headstock and drilling tuner holes (make sure you measure for the scale length - you might need to make the neck pocket deeper or have the bridge at a specific location to get it to intonate
• add your pickups of choice, string up, and set up
• profit

Pain in the ass, to be honest, but DIY short-scales are really cool and DIY Bass VIs are even cooler IMO. You might genuinely have an easier time with unrouted parts though, just because you don't have to do as much filling to get rid of the pre-existing hardware mounting holes.

So far, and I haven't touched it in a whole because of work, COVID and money, I've got a bass neck, the bass bridge, and bass tuners I need. I just need to fill, drill, shape, sand, and paint the thing before I get my pick ups installed.
I got the ferrules and bridge post taken out, and I'm currently looking at widening the neck slot on the sides a little so I can fit the neck in. I decided to ditch the thru body set up and I'm just going to set it like a normal bass because that's a lot of work for a beginner. 😂

3

Guitar Lounge / Frankenstein Bass Question

« on: September 22, 2020, 02:20:19 PM »

Hey, everyone,

I just ordered some parts to put together a bass from a guitar with a FUBAR body. This is my first ever guitar-related project.
The seller I ordered the guitar from was selling an ESP V-50. I noticed it's a thru body set up. I saw from the pictures the high E occupies most of that empty space in the holes for the strings.
So, I guess my question is: What kind of work would go into making a thru body guitar work as a thru body bass?

4

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / New TOOL

« on: August 08, 2019, 02:48:58 AM »

It's all over the internet and satellite radio now, but yup! New TOOL, folks.
What do you guys and gals think about

And just in case you missed it:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q7DfQMPmJRI

5

Guitar Lounge / Thoughts and Opinions on Yamaha?

« on: July 03, 2019, 01:41:21 AM »

Hi, Everyone,

Just wanted to get a quick opinion from a few people first hand about Yamaha guitars.

The AES 720 and the TBDX Basses caught my eye due to their pretty gnarly body shapes. The raised hourglass body in gunmetal of the 720 looks pretty sweet, but do these instruments really sound as great as they look?

If possible, I love my ESP axes. How would a 350 - 400 range ESP compare to the same price range of Yamaha in make, build quality, playability, and stock sound?

Thanks in advance!

6

The Pickup Place / Re: Pick Ups for Baritone

« on: June 26, 2019, 12:57:02 AM »

Oof. That sounds rough. Is it a bad mix or a bad album?

See, that's interesting. I didn't know I could pull a Hendrix on it. Would the Paf Pro be affected.similarly if I did the same thing with it?

7

Gear Closet / Re: Baritone Amp Suggestions

« on: June 26, 2019, 12:48:52 AM »

Now, is that the Katana combo or just the Katana head? Would I be able to use the head without a cab or would I be better of with the combo?

8

Gear Closet / Re: Baritone Amp Suggestions

« on: June 25, 2019, 05:09:36 AM »

It's not tube, it's not boutique, but the only problem with it IMO is the onboard boosts/drives/distortions (the amp distortion sounds fine, it's just the effects) are kinda noisy if you use them for gain and it really needs a computer and the Sneaky Amps to go from "really good for the money" to "actually pretty good, period", so you'll have to budget in like $5 for a USB cable for it. Also works for direct recording if you're not set up with an interface.

Quick demo: the first bit (kinda loud, sorry) is my Strandberg Classic 6 (stock pickups) straight in to the Brown channel in Drop C, then my Kiesel CL6 with the Kiesel Lithiums in Drop A (same Edguy riff). The bit of fizz on the latter is from the Lithiums, the Katana's already bright and the Liths are a little (a lottle) trebly.
Couldn't get it to attach here so link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1s4P3KjDegr3TzM0KY79l8sNLQg8lXtAo
The cleans are the CL6 in Drop A, first with both humbuckers split for the picky bit, then the neck humbucker full on for my decidedly mediocre off-time rendition of Autumn Leaves.

Good Christ, dude! Your tone is massive! Those cleans are really good, too! Yeahh, that's exactly what I had in my ear for what I wanted to go for as far as my tone goes.

Yeah,  I'm going to save up the cash and do that! You said that was mostly the Katana?

9

Gear Closet / Re: Baritone Amp Suggestions

« on: June 25, 2019, 02:07:02 AM »

These are all really good options and good advice for when I get a little bit more cash, but are there any combo amp options? I know the 6505+ has some, and the Hotrod Deluxe moreorless inspired dudes like Mesa Boogie to improve on that blueprint; if my history is correct.

Like I said, I just don't really have the room or cash for a 2x12 or 4x12 and a grand or more header.

10

The Pickup Place / Re: Pick Ups for Baritone

« on: June 25, 2019, 02:02:08 AM »

I checked out those songs. I just wanted to say you suck, my friend. I don't need feels like that at this time of night, currently observing 1:01am, while I'm at work. Out of Reach is so good. I haven't been moved like that by a song in awhile, not since I heard The Patient by TOOL way back in 2011 when I was exploring their discography. I'm proud to say Out of Reach is the first DT song I can say I like so that's pretty sweet. Maybe my phone is a little on the crappy side, but I could really only hear his guitar when he was playing the higher notes and it was a little overpowered by the piano. It sounded really good though. Not really a fan of the djent sound on Paralyzed, though, but that's more his header settings and distortion than anything. Gotta check out more DT though, for "research."

Moreorless, I think I've decided on the D Sonic and PAF Pro. I like what I've heard of those and they do seem like a really good starting point, and you did say they can be swapped out for a similar set for the same price or in the same line so there's always that.

11

Guitar Lounge / Re: ESP guitars

« on: June 24, 2019, 09:08:07 PM »

From what I remember ESP made a 1:1 conversion Les Paul. They made it better, in fact. Gibson took them to court, sued, won, and ESP had to start making their own stuff. Pre-Sue ESPs are rare to find.
It's worth a Google, at least.

As far as my opinion goes, I love them. Their guitars feel great, the budget models don't sound too great (my EC-256 sounds kind of flat in the clean department), but they do play great. I played on Ibanez gear for a decade, tried out the ESP stuff and fell in love.
I'm poor so I can't really comment on their expensive stuff but I can say I got a killer deal on an F-414FM and that normally went for about 600 USD. I got mine for 350 and it sounds amazing.

Gibson actually sued for the EX/MX shape (copy of the Explorer) which is why you can only get the weird pointy one outside Japan nowadays. IIRC (as I heard from the ESP collector I bought my '03 Eclipse I - the 4-pot LP-contour one - from) they got a cease-and-desist from Gibson over the Eclipse and just stopped shipping the 4-pot Eclipse I to the US, which is why we only get the 3-pot Eclipse II. You can still find non-US 4-pot Eclipse IIs pretty easily though. Same as the old ones, they just don't retail over here.
Who knows though, Gibson might get prissy and decide we can't even have that if their latest ad's got it right.
My '03 Standard 4-pot is straight up the best-sounding, slickest-feeling Les Paul I or any of my friends have ever played so I get why the Big G would want to get rid of the competition.

Somewhat related, even of only by Seven Degrees of Separation.

I see Gibson is going after Dean in a class action lawsuit to sue them for "infringing on their IP" over the shape of the Flying V and Xplorer; aptly titled the Dean V and Dean Z. I knew they were desperate but sheesh. Seems like every so-often Gibson throws a hissy fit and tosses a lawsuit at someone over something stupid.

12

The Pickup Place / Re: Pick Ups for Baritone

« on: June 24, 2019, 09:00:54 PM »

Oh, lel. That's my bad. I'm not big Dream Theater so that's probably why, but I did recognize the name somewhat.

I did check out the pickups though, and man. Those are all pretty damn awesome sounding. I did find one o those shootout videos and the guy comparing the crunch lab to the Illuminator did a good job. The Crunch Lab sounds good on its own but the Illuminator sounds good in a mix. It sounds, to me, like the Liquifire/Crunch Lab are good solo pickups and the Illuminator set sounds better in a mix which leads me to believe that they're pretty good for rhythm players; me. But again, no baritone examples. They both sound killer though.

Is there a pickup rental service? No? Ok... lol.
At least now I have a much clearer idea of what I'm looking for and the Fishman Fluence Modern are out the window for the time being.

Now I just need to figure out if I want to settle on the D Sonic/PAF Pro or the Illuminators. Both are very good options with very reasonable prices.

Decisions, decisions...

13

The Pickup Place / Re: Pick Ups for Baritone

« on: June 21, 2019, 09:00:20 PM »

I checked out some videos and artists using some of the pickups you've been talking about.

For as often as I've seen them recommended, finding actual videos for the D-Sonic/PAF Pro pairing is a real pain. I've seen some videos and they do sound killer. I'm leaning more towards them than anything.

I'm familiar with the Fishman sound from Nurgle (Behemoth), Willy Addler (Lamb of God), and Ken Susi (Unearth) and those are pretty good sounding too, but no one's really tossed them in a baritone from what I've seen. They do sound pretty wicked, but that price tag.

There's not really a whole lot of information regarding the Guitarmory Peacekeepers and it appears as if they're no longer manufactured; unless I missed something, which may have happened.

I'm not at all familiar with the Petrucci sound or brand. In fact, isn't that a legendary blues player? Joe Petucci, I think? You wouldn't mind telling me a little bit more about your preferred Petrucci set, would you?

Overall, I'm leaning more towards the D-Sonic/PAF Pro pairing and the Fishman Fluence Modern. I can't go wrong with either, but now I just need to really think it out and make a decision.
And maybe learn how to solder.

14

The Pickup Place / Re: Pick Ups for Baritone

« on: June 21, 2019, 01:08:53 AM »

That's definitely a lot to take in and consider. I think you are right about the EMGs and SDs I mentioned. They were just an option due to everyone and their grandmother recommending, arguing, and debating.

Having thought more about it, I think the first option is the best. I'm not a huge fan of the djent sound. It works, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't work for me; personally. I think what I'm looking for, and my thought process, is a set that sounds good clean and even better distorted.

Given the low tuning and the baritone just being deeper sounding and heavier although, would it be possible to throw a neck pick up on there with high treble, and medium bass and mid? How would that affect the baritone's sound? There's not a particular arist sound I'm chasing, but in my head I'm trying to go for a heavy, fat, explosive kind of sound.
I know I need a pick up to handle the lower tuning.
Anything that comes to mind?

15

Guitar Lounge / Re: ESP guitars

« on: June 20, 2019, 07:37:34 AM »

hi
what's your opinion about ESP-LTD?
i said that because someone said ESP wanted to be close to Gibson

but it  would never happened lol
is it really true ?

was it about the ec 1000 ?

From what I remember ESP made a 1:1 conversion Les Paul. They made it better, in fact. Gibson took them to court, sued, won, and ESP had to start making their own stuff. Pre-Sue ESPs are rare to find.
It's worth a Google, at least.

As far as my opinion goes, I love them. Their guitars feel great, the budget models don't sound too great (my EC-256 sounds kind of flat in the clean department), but they do play great. I played on Ibanez gear for a decade, tried out the ESP stuff and fell in love.
I'm poor so I can't really comment on their expensive stuff but I can say I got a killer deal on an F-414FM and that normally went for about 600 USD. I got mine for 350 and it sounds amazing.