78-1286 on the job

[KR]

I received 78-1286 a few weeks ago from Rob, and took it right into Norik Renson in LA for a re-fret with Jescar 55095--a slightly wider 6105. Came out great, and sounds and plays as good as new. Even though it has similar woods as my '77-624, it has a more pronounced midrange. It sounds like a P Bass and an Alembic had a love child---lol. The neck is also shallower front to back than my '77, so I had the taller 6105 type frets put in for my comfort. Gigging with it today playing a varied mix of styles it felt great. I wanted to mention that my hands started acting up on me as I get back to gigging. As the jobs are now trickling in again for myself and others, I've heard that quite a few of us are experiencing re-entry pains and problems in our hands from the layoff. Even though I practice, the middle tendons in my fretting hand middle and ring fingers have started acting up for the first time in my playing life. Occurring after playing 4 hours straight for each of 2 days. You would think, since I'm used to working doubles, often on upright, that my hands would be up for anything, but after almost a year of not really working my hands as normal, they are not in gigging shape like they were. It's going to be a slow build up of gigs and strength building. It's not good for our hands to be off for this long, though the first couple of months were actually good for me considering how much as I was working. I use ice water and ibuprofen for the soreness.   

[edwardofhuncote]

"... nothin' left to do but to smile, smile, smile." 

C'mon Keith, where's the pictures, man?! 

[gtrguy]

Yeah, man! My fingers get more stiff as I get older, too.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'll do another little pitch/plug for Jescar fretwire... both of my Series basses have been refretted with it now, and I opted for the gold-colored EVO wire. It makes such a huge difference in overall playability having them back to new spec.

I think Alembic has been using the Jescar fretwire for a while now too.

*I go with store-brand acetaminophen and Powerade Zero.

[KR]

Greg, here is a pic of the fret job--my Android pics aren't so good. Norik told me he did an extra bit of feathering inward on the fret ends--you can't feel any roundness or edge of the new fret ends at all when playing. Superb fret work. Another fret genius is Mike Tuttle; his fret ends look like little round beads. Noriks frets look like jewelry in person. Jescar is the only fret wire I've used that won't detract from the tone of an instrument. I've had fret wire from another maker that ruined the tone of a vintage Fender bass.

[edwardofhuncote]

Very nice! That fingerboard looks great all dressed up too!


Here's the EVO Gold Jescar frets on #80-1684, (courtesy of Ward Elliott in Riner, Virginia) The bass is currently on Mr. W's workbench getting new pickups, the RF upgrades to her preamp, and some CVQs where the Series I switches were.

[KR]

That gold looks great. You'll have quite a bass when it gets back from Ron and company.

[rv_bass]

Looks great, KR!   

[KR]

Thanks Rob.

[hammer]

Those Gold frets look great. They would definitely look good on my Koa Series I.