Columbus EB-3 Copy - Taken to bits...

Took the EB-3 copy to bits today to have a look at the pickups and whether the neck pocket was shimmed.

Firstly it turns out the neck pocked was shimmed with a bit of folded copper.
(in the background can you can see how much I failed to keep the strings in place using a cable tie)
I've taken this out as I want to replace the bridge on this bass at some point (adjustable intonation FTW) and unless I bugger about installing a Tune-O-Matic style thing and have it set stupidly high I need the shim out so the neck sits at a shallower angle.

When I was over at Mr. Foxen's picking up the Woolly Mammoth clone he mentioned that a lot of cheap '60s knock off instruments featured single coil pickups under humbucker covers, which is something I was vaguely aware of as a friend has an LP copy with the same 'feature' So I took the pickups off and had a look at them and surprise surprise, they're both single coils masquerading as humbuckers.


It's not something that's easy to see for the uneducated eye, but compare the above with pics of genuine equivalents.

(Not exactly the same style, but the bridge pickup is based on a Hofner humbucker and this is the closest gut shot I could find)

Woolly Mammoth Clone

Got myself a 'clone' of the Z-Vex Woolly Mammoth bass fuzz pedal. I know some would regard such a thing as depriving V-Vex of money and even try to claim some none-existent copyright infringment, but frankly when the original costs £250 and the clone cost £45 there's no contest really.

Rather pleased with it really, it means that I can now have the nasty buzzsaw type fuzz that I always felt my Bass Big Muff lacks. The EQ, admittedly, doesn't do an awful lot as far as I can tell and the fuzz control only makes a difference in the last 10% of its turn but I still like it.

Columbus EB-3 Switch Replacement

Put the new switch in my Columbus EB-3 today.

Works a treat, actually being able to properly switch pickups makes a lot of difference and the bridge pickup comes through a lot more, suggesting dodgy contact in the original switch (but then it was nearly 40 years old so not surprising really). Also my best soldering job yet, big thanks to Mr. Foxen for the solder recommendation... lead solder really does flow a hell of a lot better.

Next on the list is buggering about with coil splits on the Retrovibe RV4. Have heard that using one of the tone pots as a variable split for the neck pickup and wiring the other as master tone works a treat so I'll have a go at that as it means spending no money (which is good as I'm unemployed. Again.)

Quickie - Columbus EB-3 Thumb Rest

Added a thumb rest to my Columbus EB-3 copy, meaning I can finally play it in my proferred position without having to have my right hand completely 'floating'.




Also got a switch to replace the busted one it has already.

I've Got The Power

Turns out you can get 9v power supplies with tip-positive 3.5mm jack connectors from Maplin. Finally I can use my EHX Bassballs and Dunlop Crybaby without dicking around with batteries.

Hand Wound Pickups

I think I want to have a go at making my own pickups at some point.

That's all for today.

Lestelepaulcaster

Having thought about the design of the guitar me and FiL are going to build I'm leaning heavily in the direction of a Les Paul/Telecaster hybrid... something similar to the Fano Alt de Facto SP6.

I've been mulling the idea around in my brain for a little while and after going to look for it online to see if anyone else had done something similar it not only turned out that they had, but that it actually works.

The major difference between the Fano and my idea is that I'm intending to have a 25.5" scale and a Tele-style headstock (mostly because I get on better with 6-in-a-line tuners). Materials are still a bit of an unknown, apart from knowing that FiL can source maple for the neck. Not sure exactly how I plan on doing the controls yet, but I suspect I'll go down the route of each pickup having its own volume and tone pots for maximum versatility.

I'm feeling rather excited by this.