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The Reassembler - James May rebuilds old stuff on BBC Four |
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#101 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sussex by the Sea
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The assertion is made at the start of the program that only by taking something apart and putting it back together can you really understand how it works, but I think they're overstating the value of this. For example, there is a belief among a certain sector of electronics hobbyists that you can learn how a circuit works by soldering components onto a board. I spent years at university learning how to design electronic circuits and I can tell you there's a lot of equations involved.
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It shows that certain TV presenters could do the crossword in silence for 30 minutes and people would watch it engrossed .
Gotta be the cheapest 30 minute TV show ever . I'd be interested how the spark was produced, I saw no battery. Also why an engine RPM increases when the butterfly flap allows more air/petrol mixture into the combustion chamber has never been explained to my complete satisfaction. Think of the alternative name for the butterfly valve, the throttle. It's called that for a reason. Closing it restricts air flow through the engine, slowing it down. Opening it allows more air to flow through, speeding it up. At the same time the carburrettor must also supply more fuel to burn with the air which creates more pressure in the cylinder which generates the torque to accelerate the engine. Quote:
In fact, I don't think the boffins know, and like the theory of how fast flowing air going over the leading wing edge makes a plane rise [ HAH ! ], they just make up some half-arsed hypothesis hoping no-one will cotton on.
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Air going over the curved upper surface has to move faster (as its a greater distance) than the air going under the wing. Since the air has to move faster it thus has less density which 'sucks' the wing upwards. See Boyle's law
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But it doesn't though - air going over the top of the wing doesn't arrive at the trailing edge at the same time as air going underneath the wing.
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I s'ppose this programme is fine for those who like this presenter, but he's never been my cup of tea. So I wouldn't watch it.
As for "how to," information, there's thousands of these videos on YouTube, on practically .....everything. Unfortunately, some are more about the person presenting the information, rather than about the detail, but it's often the same with TV programmes. Yes there are many how to videos on youtube and all over the various Discovery channels. Sadly the narrations often aren't up to the job. ===================================================== I just watched the phone and guitar episodes. There was little new to me in the guitar programme though it was interesting watching it reassembled. The phone was a real nostaglia trip for me though. My grandparents had a pre-war bakelite phone. They had a distinctive feel, sound and smell which is very evocative (the phones, not my grandparents). Our own phone was the more modern dual colour plastic handset, but we still had a named exchange which you dialled using the first three letters (this was the reaon for the letters on the dial, they had no other purpose). When the programme ended with the phone ringing I got quite emotional, you just don't hear that sound any more. As they used to say in letters to Points of View: "more please". |
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#102 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
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I didn't spot this series so have only just watched on iplayer. I chose the guitar build to view first. Typical May quips and casual approach it's another excellent series of what May does best.
I liked the informality of recording and camera work too. Just James with a couple of camera operators and a sound recorder guy in what appears to be James shack! I'm not sure but i think May ad-libs the majority of it. Hard to tell as May is always so laid back. Lets have more of this Mr May!!
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#103 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,546
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Fatal mistake in doing the soldering on the pots and PUPs on the underside of the scratchplate and NOT testing the outputs before screwing it down and putting the strings on. Been there, done that , loads of swearies.
Why use that muckle big screwdriver for the tiny mounting screws ? Loved the gag at the end , I was quite impressed with James' mastery of the fretboard till the ruse was revealed. |
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#104 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Just passin' through
Posts: 3,371
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Fatal mistake in doing the soldering on the pots and PUPs on the underside of the scratchplate and NOT testing the outputs before screwing it down and putting the strings on. Been there, done that , loads of swearies.
Why use that muckle big screwdriver for the tiny mounting screws ? Loved the gag at the end , I was quite impressed with James' mastery of the fretboard till the ruse was revealed. |
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#105 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 53,387
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I enjoyed the mower one the most. I think because that involved an engine and he seemed to be more animated during that one.
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#106 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,849
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Fatal mistake in doing the soldering on the pots and PUPs on the underside of the scratchplate and NOT testing the outputs before screwing it down and putting the strings on. Been there, done that , loads of swearies.
Why use that muckle big screwdriver for the tiny mounting screws ? Loved the gag at the end , I was quite impressed with James' mastery of the fretboard till the ruse was revealed. |
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#107 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,546
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Two reasons for the big screwdriver the guitar used Japanese fixings which are not compatible with US/UK tools so James had to make do with his Japanese motorbike tools. He also explained that a longer screwdriver is better for small screws because it is easier to see when you are deviating from true.
I have a liking for that theory, however I can screw in a tiny crosshead screw with a requisite sized screwdriver and not be in danger of over-tightening or stripping the hole [ a common risk when working on old guitars ]. I'm sure the Beeb coud stretch to a real Fender rather than an Asian copy. After decades of bad soldering, I discovered the real reason for grim soldering was not my skill, it was keeping the iron tip at the required temp. Cheap irons just overheat, and the solder gets runny and sets brittle, accept no substitute and invest in a temp adjustable iron. For tinning and large areas set it high , for wire and tag work get the heat down. |
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#108 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,462
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Fatal mistake in doing the soldering on the pots and PUPs on the underside of the scratchplate and NOT testing the outputs before screwing it down and putting the strings on. Been there, done that , loads of swearies.
Why use that muckle big screwdriver for the tiny mounting screws ? Loved the gag at the end , I was quite impressed with James' mastery of the fretboard till the ruse was revealed. |
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#109 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 4,979
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I have a liking for that theory, however I can screw in a tiny crosshead screw with a requisite sized screwdriver and not be in danger of over-tightening or stripping the hole [ a common risk when working on old guitars ]. I'm sure the Beeb could stretch to a real Fender rather than an Asian copy.
![]() ![]() He was right about the reason for longer length drivers though. Why make a job more difficult than need be? |
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#110 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
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I was thinking myself that it was odd that they did not test anything until it was completed.
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#111 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 20,484
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Just watched the lawnmower one.
Superb viewing. Joyous. |
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#112 |
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 8,098
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Loved this show and I well remember that I first learned how to assemble/disassemble engines by doing just that. My BSA Bantam had regular strip downs when I was younger. I then graduated to the four stroke twins and from there to changing the engine in my Anglia 105e.
![]() Needless to say the wife couldn't get her head around why I would want to watch something like this and went off to watch her own stuff. Most women (not all) just don't get it. |
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#113 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Waterford Ireland
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Needless to say the wife couldn't get her head around why I would want to watch something like this and went off to watch her own stuff. Most women (not all) just don't get it.
I suppose it's just as most men wouldn't watch a show about knitting or needlework. Some things are for blokes and some for the ladies.
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#114 |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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Can't say I was too interested in the Guitar one, no gears and that sort of thing.
I only half watched it and we're discussing the Screwdriver thing after he explained his reasoning, why? Fender or some other brand, who cares, it's a Guitar, the re-assembly is the thing I'd have thought. |
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#115 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 4,979
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Quote:
Loved this show and I well remember that I first learned how to assemble/disassemble engines by doing just that. My BSA Bantam had regular strip downs when I was younger. I then graduated to the four stroke twins and from there to changing the engine in my Anglia 105e.
![]() Needless to say the wife couldn't get her head around why I would want to watch something like this and went off to watch her own stuff. Most women (not all) just don't get it. ![]() Quote:
Can't say I was too interested in the Guitar one, no gears and that sort of thing.
I only half watched it and we're discussing the Screwdriver thing after he explained his reasoning, why? Fender or some other brand, who cares, it's a Guitar, the re-assembly is the thing I'd have thought. |
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#116 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 20,484
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watched them all now.
Anyone else old enough to remember Jack Hargreaves making angling flies in Out of Town? |
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#117 |
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,957
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She has Eastenders!
![]() Even if not 'into' guitars BBC4 ran a couple of brilliant documentaries a while back, one on the manufacture of Gibson guitars and the other was about the Marshall amp. The Marshall history and how it's design was pioneered by Jim Marshall is really fascinating. |
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#118 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,482
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I want to see the person who disassembles the stuff and organines the components on the table.
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#119 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sussex by the Sea
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I want to see the person who disassembles the stuff and organines the components on the table.
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#120 |
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I would have liked to see him put the amp together.
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#121 |
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,957
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I'd like to see him reassemble a Hammond organ.
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#122 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 68,698
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The BBC really has to commission another series - three programmes that were interesting, informative, amusing and strangely relaxing. Only next time, make them 40 - 45 mins long.
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#123 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
Posts: 25,847
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She has Eastenders!
![]() Even if not 'into' guitars BBC4 ran a couple of brilliant documentaries a while back, one on the manufacture of Gibson guitars and the other was about the Marshall amp. The Marshall history and how it's design was pioneered by Jim Marshall is really fascinating. This may interest some fellow guitar freaks, an interview with Charlie Watkins, the inventor of the Watkin's Copycat, for those who can remember them or even had one. https://www.namm.org/library/oral-hi...harles-watkins |
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#124 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 4,979
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The Marshall amp documentary was excellent, shows how a British company led the world, in this field.
I enjoyed Mays lawnmower rebuild. Everything is "lawnmowery" which had me laughing and wondering how he'd refer to an amp rebuild. It's beginning to look more "ampery" now?
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#125 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,765
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Quote:
The Marshall amp documentary was excellent, shows how a British company led the world, in this field.
This may interest some fellow guitar freaks, an interview with Charlie Watkins, the inventor of the Watkin's Copycat, for those who can remember them or even had one. https://www.namm.org/library/oral-hi...harles-watkins Today, those valved Copicats sell for several hundred pounds! |
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I suppose it's just as most men wouldn't watch a show about knitting or needlework. Some things are for blokes and some for the ladies.