>> Workshop >> Robert's SX Ursa 3 JR MN 3TS 4-String PJ Bass Guitar Project Robert ordered this bass and this gig bag from Rondo Music on October 27th The typical time period for Kurt at Rondo to ship is next day. The average time for the package to arrive from New Hampshire to Bradenton, Florida is 4 days. Fedex Tracking Number: 604256930546457 ~ Due to arrive Oct 30, 2010 Update: 10-30-10 ~ FedEx only delivered the Gig Bag ~ SEE Extras Update: 10-30-10 ~ FedEx screwup - Redelivery of a 2nd bass ~ Arrived 11-08 Completed: 11-10-10 Shipped UPS Tracking Number 1Z2002W66811080865 Hi Brian, Here's what I'm good with so far: - Partial Fretjob and Setup - Rolling the Fretboard - Neck Deglossing - Nut Work (Bone for medium guage 45 - 105 Flatwound Strings) - Hipshot 3-String Retainer - Copper Foil Shielding - Control Plate Assembly - Body Work (enlarge control cavity) - Bridge Replacement (OEM Deluxe) - Fender Style Jazz Bass Bridge Cover - No "F", chrome - Strap Buttons & Locks (Schaller strap locks) The pricing for some items includes labor and parts, so although I have an idea of the total cost, I'd like you to confirm a number for me (no problem if something needs to change down the line). Your 50% off labor costs offer came just at the right time :-) Let me know and I'll arrange for payment. Thanks, - Robert Follow-up: Friday, November 19, 2010 9:52 PM Hi Brian . . . just a quick update . . . I received my $50 credit refund on Wednesday, thank you. I've played several hours on the bass and I can honestly tell you the feel of the neck is excellent, very fast and comfortable. The balance, even for such an inexpensive instrument, is very good. The thumb rest is very useful, the positioning seems just right for both finger and pick playing. I'm playing through a guitar amp for the moment and the bass sounds good to my ears, but I'm sure a dedicated bass amp will give me an even better sound. No undue hum or buzzing of any kind to report. That's about all for now...I going to arrange a jam through a friends high wattage bass amp and let you know what happens...:-) - Robert.

Do You Have A Project Idea For Your Next Bass? Contact me now zoom

SX Ursa 3 JR Body   Wood Species: Alder     Body Finish: 3-Tone Sunburst ~ Disassembled: Front -|- Rear Update: 11-09: Body completed. Found scuffs and scratches on the rear bottom edge. Will repair rather than return. I'm guessing this was a return at some point as the tape job on the shipping box was very shabby and loose. . . regardless, I applied a few dabs of black lacquer to the area and, while it's not as new, it isn't offensive. Body Cavity Enlargement: I had to rout out the control cavity for the larger pots . . . see below for explanation. Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 Pickguard: Black-White-Black ~ Shielded Bridge: replaced SX 7-holer with chrome OEM Deluxe Bridge: $26.95 Bridge/Pickup Covers: Jazz Bass Bridge Cover - $19.95, chrome Update: 11-10 - The bridge cover is too large for the smaller short scale body. Looking at this photo shows it in place but it is hitting the pickguard and is also off-center by about 1/4 inch. I also tried a P bass bridge cover and it is also too large. I refunded this bridge cover below. Strap Buttons/Locks: replaced buttons with Schaller Strap Locks: $15.95 Finger/Thumb Rests: No     Fingerboard Extension: yes 1) As a standard finger rest? this is at an angle below the strings. 2) As a standard thumbrest? this is at an angle using one of the pickguard screws. 3) As a custom thumbrest. Normal finger style playing has many people resting their thumb on the neck pickup. Whenever I install a thumbrest on my personal basses I run a length of hardwood from the end of the fingerboard to the pickup, at the same elevation as the pickup edge. In essence, your thumb can slide from the fretboard end to the top of the pickup. I think this would be your best choice because I have found a small stock thumbrest to be both too high (1/2" high) as well as too angled. And while the small standard thumbrest can be installed level with the strings between the fretboard and the pickup I personally find it too short in length . . . but that's me. If you'd like, I can send you both : the shorty and my custom TH Rest, which would be about 1/4" high x 1/2" wide x about 3-1/2" long. Maybe I should just make it and show you, unless you want the standard thumb or finger rest. I don't know enough to have a preference -- the only thing I'd like to be sure of is being able to play both finger style and with a pick, so if that's possible, I'd go with your personal experience. I think a custom thumb rest positioned as you described should work well for me too. SX Ursa Short Scale Neck     Maple with Maple FB ~ Front -|- Rear Neck Heel: SX Tuning Machines: The SX tuners will be fine. I remove them when I set the neck in my jig to do the neck work. They get lubed, tightened, and reinstalled after I reassemble the bass. They may not be the smallest increment in tuning key gears, but you shouldn't need to adjust but a very small turn in order to tune up each time you strap on your bass. All instruments go out of tune due to variances in temperature. You'll be fine with the SX tuners. They are 18:1 ratio whereas the finest incremental tuners on the market are only a little less at 21:1 gear ratio . . . Headstock: SX Ursa ~ No reshaping . . . I'd offer a swap to someone that really dislikes the Ursa headstock here but, unfortunately I do not have any short scale necks in my cache . . . and on another note . . . the Ursa headstock shape is not all that bad and it does function just fine; after all, what is it all about really? Is it about making MUSIC or impressions on opinionated people? Neck and Headstock Finish: No refinishing other than deglossing the back. Neck Deglossing: is a personal preference if you want the finish on the rear of the neck reduced to decrease hand drag while playing. This is a very simple job that I do, at no extra charge, with a non-destructive Scotchbrite pad. Sanding the neck with sandpaper and/or steel wool is a no-no. The stickers at the rear of the headstock also get removed, including the adhesive left behind. ~ freebies Partial Fretjob: A partial fretjob reduces the cost of the final setup by 50% Some customers only want a Setup. To this it costs $100.00 plus $35.00 return USA Shipping. But when a Partial Fretjob is being done (recommended) which costs $100.00 by itself, I then reduce the cost of the Setup to $50.00 making the total cost of the Partial Fretjob and Setup at $150.00 ~ however, in this case, the cost of this special 50% off campaign I'm running for the first 10 customers, labor for this partial fretjob with final setup is only $75.00 Rolled Fretboard & Fret Ends: Fret Ends are addresed after crowning and these are also smoothed to remove sharp factory edges. This is included in the price of the Partial Fretjob. Sometimes a person wishes to have their board "rolled". This is a process of radiusing the edges of the board as well as the fret ends to 1/8" radius or more if a more comfortable playing experience is desired, which most do. Rolling the Fretboard and Fret Ends is an extra $50.00 service charge. If you become a repeat customer, this service charge is eliminated ~ however, in this case, the cost of this special 50% off campaign I'm running for the first 10 customers, labor for this is only $25.00 Strings: D'Addario ECB81S Flatwound: .045, .065, .080, .100 ~ $29.95 Most people like their own brand and diameters of their strings and, for this, you'll pay for those strings as an extra in parts. Changes in string diameters usually calls for the making of a new nut. String Nut: Bone Nut Blank: .045, .065, .080, .100 ~ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 Nut Work is determined by the material desired and the size (width) between 4, 5, 6 or more strings. Typically a 4-string bass nut made of bone or brass will cost you $50.00 material and labor. Material other than traditional, such as Mammoth or other exotic bone OR Graph Tech TUSQ are an extra $10.00 in parts cost. And for each additional string slot adds $5.00 in labor. Future bass nut jobs will cost you only parts. ~ however, in this case, the cost of this special 50% off campaign I'm running for the first 10 customers, labor for this is only $25.00 String Guide: Hipshot 3-String Retainer: $12.00 part (free shipping) The $10.00 installation fee is eliminated Neck Plate: SX chrome Truss Rod Cover: No Setup: Any special instructions? Super low action? Medium action?? Typically someone who jams hard, digs in, or otherwise is over-exuberant whilst playing, does not want their action to be so low making the strings slap all over the place. If you play lightly you can get away with very low action. My typical setup has the strings initially set at the bridge as low as they can go without buzzing, and then I crank each saddle screw to raise each string according to customer taste. Electronics: Passive Control Cavity Enlargement: I had to rout out the control cavity for the larger pots . . . see Body up top for photos. Control Cavity Shielding: shielded. Sometimes replacing smaller control pots with larger pots brings the need to enlarge the control cavity. This is determined before installing the copper foil shielding, and is an added $20.00 labor and is performed freehand with a router. Most Fender style basses don't need this, but some might, as in PJ style basses where the tone pot engages the sides where the output jack is normally located. This added $20.00 charge is eliminated on any future bass jobs of existing customers. ~ however, in this case, the cost of this special 50% off campaign I'm running for the first 10 customers, labor for this shielding job is only $25.00 and I'm eliminating any charge for routing. The pickguard also will be shielded for free. Pickups: SX P & J . . . foam rubber padded I always suggest hearing the bass after completion before deciding that a higher costing set of pups is going to make the bass sound like an expensive bass. That's all bullshit people because pickups do not produce sound, they process it~! It's a combination of everything the bass is made of, plus the setup of the pickups and strings, that determines most of the tone. The magnet(s) and poles are nothing more than a magnetic field for the strings to dance around in . . . so before dishing out cash on high-dollar brand names, use your head about what you've just read. Controls: Volume-Volume-Tone Control Harness: Parts & Labor: $30.00 Involves drilling the control plate or pickguard to accept the larger CTS pots, Orange Drop capacitor, Switchcraft jack, and 22 awg WBE PTFE High Temp Teflon Silver Plated Copper Wire. Update: 11-04-10 ~ Harness completed. Update: 11-09: Pickup Harness Assembly completed. Note the added copper foil used for a more positive bridge ground. This also helps to hold the wire from dropping into the hole. The Tally Checklist The List contains items you've agreed to go with . . . indicated with a price. The others in the list without a price indicate the need to make a decision. Customers receiving Service on their bass do not pay full price for parts. Customers receiving Service on their bass do not pay shipping on parts. However, all first-time customers must pay for their parts prior to assembly. BODY Copper Foil Shielding: Cavities & Pickguard: $25.00 OEM Deluxe Bridge: Chrome: $26.95 Aft Bridge Cover: No "F" - Chrome: $19.95 Schaller Strap Locks: Chrome: $15.95 NECK Partial Fretjob & Final Setup: $75.00 Rolled Fretboard & Fret Ends: $25.00 Bone Nutjob: $25.00 D'Addario ECB81S Flatwound Strings: $30.00 Hipshot 3-String Retainer: Chrome: $12.00 ELECTRONICS Control Harness Assembly: Parts & Labor: $30.00 SHIPPING to Montreal, QC, H3C 4P2, Canada Lowest Price UPS Estimate: $50.00 Includes $500.00 Insurance SUB-TOTAL: $334.85 Bank Check Received: 11-08-10 : $335.00 EXTRAS & ADD ONS Update: 10-30-10 The FedEx site states a shipment of two items with the bass being 16 pounds and the other I believe was 2 lbs. The bass did not arrive. Also, there will be another charge, one for an oversize box in order to ship the bass in the gig bag, and the other will be for additional weight. Oversize Shipping Box : $14.00 Added Weight: _____lbs. $00.?? To be determined if it ever arrives~! Anything over $50.00 will be additional Shipping charge. CREDITS - Subtract from Total Update: 10-31-10 Rather than charging additionally for an oversize box to ship the bass in the gig bag, it was decided that I'd buy the bag from Robert. Attitude Gig Bag - : $30.00 Update: 11-10 - The bridge cover is too large Aft Bridge Cover: No "F" - Chrome: $19.95 Total Credits: $49.95 Refund is a postal money order mailed 11-10-10 from USPS Bradenton

Project Parts and Labor Checklist SX SS PJ Body • Cavity: Enlarged • Cavity: Shielding • Finish: fixed scuffs • Bridge: OEM DLX • Bridge Cover: refund • Pickup Cover: no • Pickguard: black • PG Screws: chrome • Thumb Rest: no • Finger Rest: no • FB Extension: yes • Strap Buttons: no • Strap Locks: Schaller • Bridge Setup Fingerboard Extension That's looks good - I can see how convenient that will be in that it allows to rest/play pretty much anywhere from the fret board to the first pickup. ~ Robert SX SS Neck • Degloss: yes • Heel: SX SS • Headstock: Ursa • Neck Refinish: no • Tuners: R & R • Tuners: SX chrome • Tuner Screws: chrome • Fretboard: Yes • Fret Size: Jumbo • FB & Ends: Yes • FB Refinish: Dr. D • STR Guide: Hipshot 3 • Strings: D'Addario • Nut: Bone • Truss Rod Cover: No • Neck Plate: SX • Plate Screws: chrome • Neck Setup Electronics • Standard PJ Wiring • Control Plate: PG • Harness: CTS+ • P'up Harness Assembly • Control Pots: 3 CTS • Knobs: Chrome Dome • Capacitor: OD .047 • Output Jack: SWCFT • Copper Foil Shielding • Pickups: SX P & J • Pickup Screws: chrome • Pickup Springs: 8 • Pickup Foam Pads: yup • Pickup Setup

---

Shipping is paid on the delivery of the completed bass from Bradenton, Florida to wherever the customer is located. An average weight of 15 pounds is used to calculate the shipping charges at UPS. The box size is pre-calculated (when providing estimates) at 48" x 14" x 4" and is re-adjusted upon receipt of the bass. When providing quick estimates to customers, it is standard practice for me to quote a worst case scenario of $35.00 which has been the average cost to ship a bass from the east coast to the west coast. ALL basses shipped must also include INSURANCE for full value of the instrument. I don't want to hear about, "Oh, but it's only a cheap SX bass."   Bullshit~! If that's the way a person feels, chances are good I won't even be servicing their bass. Nine out of ten people who ask about prices never even buy anything, parts or otherwise.

IF you are having your bass delivered to me in anything other than the stock shipping box, such as when you ship it to me in a hardshell case or gig bag, these boxes are usually oversized and will incur much higher shipping charges due to weight and size. The average cost of shipping these oversized containers usually doubles the price and is not usually necessary except for the most valuable bass guitars for protection. In all the years of shipping there has been only one loss due to damage, and that damage occured from the driver at the airport driving over it in a tug~! My point being, yes, take extra precautions when shipping a bass, but lets be reasonable; if you have a value of the bass under $2,000.00, insure it and if it gets destroyed, buy a new bass.

---

>>> The Workshop >> Robert's SX Ursa 3 JR MN 3TS 4-String PJ Bass Guitar Project