UK Music Supplies Kit Bass

[Chienmortbb]

I would like to build my own bass eventually but I am thinking of getting a kit bass first to practice on first.

I know some will say buy a project guitar and upgrade it. I have a Peavey Milestone that I could use for the but having seen a video of how Crimson Guitars "pimped" a kit Telecaster, I want to do something similar.

So the kit I like is the [url="http://www.ukmusicsupplies.co.uk/Shop.aspx?id=299&t=diy.kit.bass.al209.great.for.student.and.luthier.projects&r=&rb=0&ret=?p=guitar.diy.kits"]AL209 from UK Music Supplies[/url]. It is a P/J, has a light (Linden or Basswood) body and a 2L2R headstock. I have a neck problem so light weight and no neck dive is important. Basswood body plus 2L2R helps this.

So has anyone built this or any of their other kits. Are there any others that I should consider? They have an ash bodied P and J kit for the same price but I am thinking they would be too heavy.

Any advice on finishing? Basswood is a bit bland, grain and colour wise, so would a solid colour be best?

Further info. The plan is to fit Entwistle Pickups (not sure whether to go ceramic or neo) replace the pots, adding an on board preamp. The Machine heads will be replaced by a set of Gotoh GB 707s unless the stock ones are good enough and light enough. The Gotohs are Cosmo Black (smoked chrome) so I would also need to replace the bridge in that case.

Edited November 28, 2015 by Chienmortbb

[Annoying Twit]

I'm not skilled enough to give advice, but note that the kit looks like many other kits sold by many sources.

Among the commonly available kits, there was at one time a headless bass kit with a small body (but not Steinberger small). Would that be an option for you? I expect that if you search, you'll be able to find one somewhere.

Here's one, but this is more expensive than I remember them being and more expensive than the kit you link to. [url="http://www.diyguitarkits.co.uk/store/item/296/unfinished-headless-electric-bass-guitar-kit-diy-project-"]http://www.diyguitar...it-diy-project-[/url] Additional searching may reveal cheaper places to buy. I thought that diyguitar did a Steinberger style headless bass kit too, but now I look I can't find it. However, there is one on Amazon, but it's even more expensive. Though £150 seems quite a bit of money to pay for a kit which likely has meh hardware. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GBS3QV0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B007OWQVZK&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=029RVJ5MJ4FJRS88ME5D"]http://www.amazon.co...J5MJ4FJRS88ME5D[/url]

As far as the finishing, I'm no expert, but why don't you have a look at the work done by Andyjr1515 in the build section. He's done work on some basses including using veneers to add very fancy tops to previously plain wood. (I've seen his refinished Jaguar in the flesh). That way even plain wood can end up looking very fancy. EDIT: Here's a thread where Andy uses veneer on a headstock, but it includes a picture of a veneer refinished Ibanez. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/269454-veneering-a-hayman-4040-headstock/page__p__2865855__hl__andyjr1515%20veneer__fromsearch__1#entry2865855"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2865855[/url]

Just some ideas. Sorry if I've wasted your time by speaking about things of which I know not.

Edited November 28, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Number6]

I bought a Squier PJ bass in Cash Converters. I then stripped it down to its component parts. Then i replaced the bridge (Gotoh), pups (Entwistle), wiring harness (KiOgon), tuners (Grover) and the knobs (Axesrus).

I kept the original colour.

Virtually the same as a kit build imho.



P.S. the Jazz body is Agathis and is fairly light.

Edited November 28, 2015 by Number6

[Chienmortbb]

I have looked at the headless basses and the ML Kits. Some of those are really nice. Their homepage is [url="http://www.gitarre-bestellen.de"]http://www.gitarre-bestellen.de[/url] Use google translate Most of the headless basses do not have a headstock but have really heavy metalwork and a small body so are still neck heavy. They are also heavier than the standard basses.

Incidentally the UK Supplies kit is also sold by ML but at a higher price. They claim an ash boy but it is basswood. As for buying a squier, I have a Peavey Milestone the has a great neck but a "laminated" body. that is plywood. I did think about pimping it but the neck is not standard Fender width at the body end and it would mean some work to make it fit. I will eventually make my own but for now..