Wazkelly Build diary for DIY closing down sale Ash J Bass

[Simon Barden]

Nice basses, Waz, but for me, they just look better with dot markers.

[wazkelly]

New Machine Heads day today
Just about replaced every stock bit on this thing other than the neck plate, scratch plate and front control plate which obviously are the only things left that don't really matter so much.

Progress shots showing old stock tuners compared to Real Parts made in USA replacements. At first glance they look the same but after a more detailed inspection there are some obvious differences......


Apologies for some blurred shots.....in the 2nd last one, high up on the LHS you might see that some of the chrome has started to come off showing a pinkish coppery colour just staring to poke through. The metal base is a little bit thinner but the biggest difference is how the shaft is sealed on the upgrade plus how it engages with the sprocket gear on the back which is also more robust. Bonus is that there appears to be an allen head screw at the bottom of the shaft suggesting some scope for maintenance perhaps or maybe reversing the tuner?

[wazkelly]

These next shots show the progress of fitting them where only a couple of the pre-drilled holes lined up.



Recently installed DB Bone Nut has the action sitting a bit high and will tweak that over the weekend and then tension things up to see how it plays and sounds. Might have do another demo video to replace the last one that had an awkward camera angle.

[Hobastard]

Those Tuners look pretty slick.
I am tempted to order some myself however, I must try to exercise restraint so I can move on to my next project.....

[wazkelly]

They only come in a set of 4 so if you are contemplating some for a fiver I would suggest buying 2 sets or email them to see if they would do a special order as their individual pieces are $9 each and look like the same rubbishy ones that were replaced.

[Hobastard]

Yeah I saw those ones and was not very impressed, pretty much what I have now.
They seem to work OK for now, so I think I'll sit tight. If things change, I know where to go.....

[Andy40]

Those tuners look good Waz

[wazkelly]

Those tuners look good Waz

They feel more solid too.

Just tweaking the new DB Bone Nut at the moment and will then string it back up again.

[wazkelly]

Another demo video after installing new tuners, bone nut and hipshot string retainer.....

[Andy40]

Hey Waz.

Great upgrades, I actually went back to page 9 and viewed your other vids as a comparison (as much as you can anyway). You can tell the difference between the kit original and now. Sounds great now.

Are you glad you build the kit stock and then upgraded?