Author Topic: Frets and the unhappy bear (Read 1779 times)

rogertvr · « **Reply #30 on:** March 15, 2005, 09:30:07 AM »

Makes perfect sense to me.

As this whole problem with the DW started last weekend and still seems to be underway, at what point should I use the files on it that I've just bought? ASAP or should I leave it another few days / couple of weeks until it really settles down?

bigbadbill · « **Reply #31 on:** March 15, 2005, 09:53:06 AM »

Roger, best of luck. Haven't had it happen to mine luckily, but I feel your pain! Best of luck with getting a new job too! BTW, I was VERY surprised to hear that the Status necks moved too...

Borisspyder(cool name!), congrats on owning one of John's basses! 2 questions though; what sort of action did John use??? I know it's low, but how low is low??? I was recently having a discussion with someone about this very subject. If the bass you own is set up as per John's spec, it seems like you're the perfect person to answer the question! Do you have specs? And the other is what is the Buzzard 2 like? (I assume you mean the bolt-on). I'm thinking of possibly getting a Status in the future and it's a model that interests me (if I could afford a Buzzard 1 I have a feeling I'd be ordering another Alembic instead, although I haven't played one so it's probably not fair to comment, and as I CAN'T afford one it's a moot point anyway).

bigbadbill · « **Reply #32 on:** March 15, 2005, 09:56:48 AM »

BTW Rog, wasn't there a thread on your Buzzard recently? I only scanned it briefly and meant to come back to it, but I can't seem to find it. Probably been archived I guess...

s_wood · « **Reply #33 on:** March 15, 2005, 10:24:40 AM »

I would go ahead and do it now...the thought of an Alembic sitting around unplayed makes me sad. Seriously, the problem probably won't crop up again. I've seen it on more than a few Alembics over the years, but I can't recall ever seeing it twice on the same bass.

So, if ebony boards are prone to shrinkage, why does Alembic use them? Well, Mica or Val can speak with much more authority on this, but to me ebony sounds better than rosewood, and rosewood is much more prone to cracking as it ages.

rogertvr · « **Reply #34 on:** March 15, 2005, 10:24:58 AM »

bigbadbill - it's here...
http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/16250.html?1108260912

(Miscellaneous / Archive Thru 21 February / True Love...)

Incidentally, Rob Green at Status did tell me that the necks would move a little, probably in spring and again in the autumn. That's exactly what they've done. The movement wouldn't be noticeable apart from the fact I run these basses as low as they will go - any lower, and it is physically impossible for the strings to vibrate. Same with the DW.

bigbadbill · « **Reply #35 on:** March 15, 2005, 10:35:49 AM »

Rog, good man, both for the link (many thanks!) and the action! That's how I like mine (I have had SO much grief off some luthiers over this -oh it won't work that low - and yet amazingly (NOT!) my Triple O arrived from the Alembic factory perfectly set up, low, low, LOW. Nice to know SOME people know what they're doing....

rogertvr · « **Reply #36 on:** March 15, 2005, 11:47:11 AM »

Just for the record, I've measured the action on the DW, the Stealth (both at 24th fret) and the Buzzard (at the 26th fret for this one). They're all set-up identically, the necks are virtually flat. The actions are all 0.7mm (0.0275). A friend of mine came over recently, he plays some guitar and I now understand why he stood there and demanded that I play them - I think he thought that they shouldn't play. Mind you, when I saw the way his guitar was set up, I could understand his point of view as the strings on his guitar were - ahem - somewhat higher!

I think they'd all probably go a touch lower, but I am talking A TOUCH!

rogertvr · « **Reply #37 on:** March 15, 2005, 11:56:30 AM »

I've just remembered a story Rob Green told me about the day John came in to collect his first Buzzard. Rob said he'd set the bass up as low as he felt comfortable with it, so that there were no squeaks and rattles. John took one look at it and said It'll go MUCH lower than THAT!. At which point he took the allen keys to it, and Rob said he himself was sitting there thinking There is no way this will play - it's impossible. He said it took John about 20 minutes, and he said he was SO relieved when John fired it up and it played perfectly!

I'd love to know the measurements from BorisSpyder's Buzzard!!!!!!!!!!

Well this thread has certainly metamorphosed into a whole world of information eh? I'm sure a lot of people have learnt a lot of things from this lot, I know I certainly have...

bigbadbill · « **Reply #38 on:** March 15, 2005, 01:14:58 PM »

Ha!That's fabulous!!!Is that on the E or G? If that's the E, that's even lower than I normally have it - in fact it's marginally lower than my G which is around 1mm (I knew I wasn't TOTALLY mad....maybe just a bit)! My Triple O came from Alembic around 1.5 mm at the 24th with a flat neck, I've got an old Rick 4000 which is possibly marginally lower (not at the 24th as it hasn't got one obviously), a '72 4001 and '91 4001CS which are similar, possibly a tad higher, and a Warwick Dolphin which is currently around 2mm at the 26th, but which I'm still tinkering with. I LOVE the story about John. What an absolute star. Actually a friend of mine who has a Status has sent it for electronics tweaks a couple of times and every time it's come back set up pretty high; I haven't been able to play it at all. I don't reckon it's likely John had his action any lower than you though Rog, although I suppose you never know.....I too hope BorisSpyder can give specs, that would be incredible. BTW, one day you'll have to take your basses to Chris May at Overwater; lovely guy and extremely knowledgeable, but he'd faint at your action! He prefers it on the high side...I think I give him nightmares!

BTW, how does your Stealth sound compared to your Buzzard? (Haven't had chance to read the thread yet as just been booking some rehearsals); I will do now though! Am probably signing off for the evening after that, but will check back tomorrow.

rogertvr · « **Reply #39 on:** March 16, 2005, 03:13:26 AM »

Those measurements apply to all four strings - in fact, if anything, the G and the D are slightly lower.

If you go to the Miscellaneous section, you will see a thread entitled 'A bit of comparison fun...' - there you can listen to both my Status basses and the DW. The samples don't tell you what is what, so you'll have to guess :-) If you want to e-mail me off the Club, BigBadBill, I'll happily talk to you about them all.

borisspyder · « **Reply #40 on:** March 16, 2005, 07:44:49 AM »

I'll try to answer all questions but first...
As an advisory board member of the John Entwistle Foundation, I wanted you all to know that we are having a fund raising push to launch the pilot program for Check Out Music at the Atlanta Public Library. This program is to give children the opportunity to learn to play an instrument through the library system. Go to www.johnentwistle.org for details.
I'll be happy to measure the action on John's bass for you, it's pretty low, but yours may be lower!
The Buzzard 2 is a great instrument. A little warmer sounding on the same settings than the 1 since it has a wood body, but tone shaping is so flexible I can make them sound almost identical. Other than the body all hardware & electronics are the same on the two instruments. The buzzard 2 is now my daily driver for rehearsals, gigs, practicing, etc. I pick up John's axe once a week or so just to get the vibe...I don't take it out of the house much.
I really love the Status Buzzards. They're totally bullet proof, sound fantastic and once you get used to the long 26 fret neck and minimal fetboard radius they're amazing to play.

rogertvr · « **Reply #41 on:** March 17, 2005, 11:04:56 AM »

Well - the filing deed is done and the DW is back to full health. It took me about 2.5 hours in total. Holding that file doesn't half focus the mind I can tell you! The temptation is to have a large brandy before starting work to steady the nerves but I managed to resist!

Thanks for everyon'e input to this over the last few days!

Cheers,

Rog

bigbadbill · « **Reply #42 on:** March 17, 2005, 11:32:44 AM »

Congrats Rog! I hope I never have to do the same job, but good on you for taking the bit (file?) between your teeth (although I think I'd definitely have needed the stiff drink!). BTW, you have mail....

Borisspyder, thanks for the info on the Buzzard 2, that's another one for me to consider, although I suspect it may be a tad heavy (back problems unfortunately). But hopefully I'll get to try one. And I look forward to hearing John's spec, although I can't imagine anyone would have lower action than Roger....

borisspyder · « **Reply #43 on:** March 17, 2005, 01:56:21 PM »

I've owned a Warwick buzzard..THAT'S heavy, 12+ pounds or so. The Buzzard 2 feels about the same as my Fender P bass special maybe due to the light graphite neck. I can play it comfortably for hours with a thin guitar strap.

jacko · « **Reply #44 on:** March 17, 2005, 01:58:52 PM »

Way to go roger. Time for that (very) large brandy now.

graeme