Author Topic: Further adventures of my Starfire (Read 840 times)

shae · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2011, 01:06:29 PM »

Edwin,

How long until you get the series electronics rebuilt and installed? Can't wait to see it when your done. Good luck with the shielding. I hope my suggestion for the copper box works for you.

edwin · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2011, 01:12:34 PM »

I'm still waiting on some parts from Alembic and I have to get some resistors and wire from a local source. I'm going to try to get the shielding done in the next couple of days. My first step is to further complete the shielding around the pickups (as that seems to be where most of the noise is coming from.). I think the box might work. The only real issue is around the fact that the controls are way past the borders of my access door, so I'm going to have to work out exactly how it will work. The copper I have is pretty thick and stiff, so I think it will extend well into the body. It's going to be pretty much an experiment.

edwin · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2011, 12:02:03 AM »

OK, I put in enough copper to at least cover the f-hole, actually, that whole side. I'm still getting buzzing in my basement, but when I took it to a bar gig this evening, it was dead quiet. I'll do some pix later tomorrow.

It sounded really nice. Very deep, pipe organ-like low end. The bass is now not as crisp on the high end as it had been with other pickups, but it's not lacking in presence. Certainly the punch is there is spades. Tonight was just a drummerless trio. Tomorrow will be the real trial by fire: full band in Denver. I'll see if I can get something recording, although I won't be bringing my full recording rig which takes extra time to set up and break down, due to an early court hearing on Thursday morning.

Hey Guitar Bill! This lawyering stuff is pretty fun!

lbpesq · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2011, 07:06:10 AM »

Not as much fun as this band stuff! Have a great gig.

Bill, tgo

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2011, 11:48:55 AM »

Hey, Edwin, I'll be in Denver to visit a son July 1-4; are you playing in town that weekend?

Peter

edwin · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2011, 11:59:38 AM »

Yup! I'll be at Quixotes on the 1st and 2nd. On the third we'll be at State Bridge, a couple hours west of Denver, if you guys want to take a road trip to an incredibly beautiful place! Get in touch.

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2011, 09:04:54 AM »

OK, folks, I now can report that, even in progress, this is a wonderful instrument, magnificantly played by a really nice guy! Nice to meet meet you, Edwin. Anybody gets a chance to catch Shakedown Street, I recommend it highly. And Fareed Haque sat in 2nd set - it was incredible.
May post more later when I see what's on my daughter-in-law's camera.

Peter

edwin · « **Reply #22 on:** September 09, 2011, 09:47:28 PM »

Update:

First phase of electronics installation has happened. I'm going without filters for now, an SF2 will cover that. Given that the electronics are at least 35 years old I was concerned that there would be issues. However, after I remembered to unmute my amp, all turns out to be well! Even the pots work fine. It's still all hanging out the back and I haven't committed to where the XLR is going yet, but it works and even better, the humcanceller is obviously doing its job. Tomorrow comes the drilling.

slicknickhaas · « **Reply #23 on:** September 15, 2011, 08:21:42 PM »

Edwin! we need those sound clips!

edwin · « **Reply #24 on:** September 15, 2011, 10:27:05 PM »

Yeah, I need to get on that. Ideas for hosting?

elwoodblue · « **Reply #25 on:** September 15, 2011, 10:47:09 PM »

Soundcloud

: )

edwin · « **Reply #26 on:** September 26, 2011, 01:19:47 PM »

Another pic. Audio coming, I recorded this past weekend's gig, so there's got to be some clips I can put up once I have time.

slicknickhaas · « **Reply #27 on:** October 31, 2011, 05:04:21 PM »

searching for the sound!

moonliner · « **Reply #28 on:** December 13, 2011, 03:13:28 PM »

It's really great to see this bass come together. Well done!

edwin · « **Reply #29 on:** December 31, 2011, 02:05:15 PM »

OK, it's finally done. Series II electronics fully installed (although I might add the master volume on the lower horn out from the selector switch). Much thanks and appreciation to Ron for talking me through troubleshooting the filters. It turned out I grabbed the wrong caps and the filters were working in the megahertz range (not even good for bats!). Once I got the humcanceller in the right orientation, the noise levels subsided and it sounded great at last night's gig. The controls are pretty standard: Vol/frequency/Q. I'm thinking about swapping out the passive components for nice Wima caps and Dale/Vishay resistors and maybe building them all onto a circuit board. There's also still some shielding to be done, it's pretty cavernous in there and reaching every spot is pretty challenging! After doing all this wiring, I can see why these seemingly simple circuits command such a price. Getting everything wired up just so in a neat and orderly fashion is a pretty big job. I'm pretty psyched by the Q pots after playing Series I basses for the last 20 years or so. It's really nice to be able to exactly tune in the amount of resonance. I might have to convert my shortie to SII! On the reverse picture you can see the screw holes that hold the PF-6 card. At some point I'm going to make holes for the adjustment pots, but I haven't gotten confident yet that I can drill the holes in just the right place.