Been A While...

So...

The home-made bass project is slowly taking shape. FiL just needs to fix his router bench to the garage floor to stop it vibrating too much, then we can do the neck pocket, and pickup & control cavities.

I'll be using a Warman Dominator in the bridge position, a Warman P-bass in the middle/neck position, and the controls will be a fairly simple 2 volume, master tone setup.

I'm also planning to re-wire my Epiphone G-400 custom so it works better (the previous owner's wiring job was massively ham-fisted). Controls planned are: two volume, passive two-band tone controls (one standard treble roll off, and one bass roll off), and coil split (as the switches are there but not wired in I might as well use them!)

Peavey TNT 150

Finally got the £20 non-working TNT 150 on the bench.

Replaced the cap and rectifier (forgot to take photos), chassis back in, speaker reconnected, flick the switch... no loud pop followed by constant hum, which is good! Sound when plucking a string is fizzy, barely audible and when above 1 on power amp volume (regardless of pre level) lights up the speaker protection LED.

So the two options are there's still something wrong with the amp, or the speaker's blown. Given the condition when I got it the latter is more likely, but kind of want the former as that's a cheaper fix (though it takes more effort!).

Playing - Marlin Sidewinder

New strings, bit of Servisol in the pots and pickup switch... and the bridge lifts like a really lifty thing.

Take the backplate off and find the claw holding the crappy, corroded springs has been screwed in as much as it can be... blocked the trem with a bit of scrap wood so I could at least tune and play it.

It's definitely a very good instrument for what it is... plays nicely, okay sound, not too much noise from the single coils. Longer term it would benefit from new electronics but there's no rush for that; first priority is getting new trem springs so I can take the block out and use the full potential of the instrument, figure I might as well get Floyd Rose springs as the bridge is basically a Floyd knock off.

This is now the only instrument I own that's tuned standard E-e... had a fun morning making a complete balls up of classic thrash and NWOBHM riffs!

Freebie - Marlin Sidewinder

Yesterday I got this from my mum, who'd got it from a friend who was giving it
away.

It's a Marlin Sidewinder, mid-80s guitar aimed at wannabe shredders on a tight budget.

The strings need replacing and the electronics need some TLC, but it plays quite nicely and feels comfortable on the strap. This is definitely a keeper.

Thanks mum!

Wizzardry is Afoot

Prototype dual output guitar made from that rubbish LP copy I got a while back. Testing tonight.

Peavey Deuce VT Gutshots

Would have been happier if the innards didn't smell of wee.

FIXED - Carlsbro PA 60

So, that Carlsbro PA 60 I took on from Mr. Foxen all that time ago is finally all fixed.

I got a big new resistor to replace the one that was smoking, wired everything up, put the valves in and tested it with the nearest convenient cab, which was a Peavey Deuce VT combo.

It crackled like Rice Krispies while Snap and Pop are on their hols. That was a shit metaphor but I'm keeping it, okay?

Anyway, fast forward past the eating lunch and doing the weekly shop and I lug the chassis upstairs to test it with my Orange OBC 115. And it appears that the thing actually works. Pots are a bit scratchy, but that's no biggie. It has a nice, warm clean sound and does not appear to drive the preamp by itself so that would need a booster. I ran my Retrovibe RVT-40 into it via my Nine of Swords Burial at Sea and it sounds pretty good running fuzz. I think with the right booster and right fuzz this amp could doom pretty hard.

Once it's been all cleaned up it will be put up for sale.