(Non-)Sparkle Precision Project

[tonyf]

Hi All,

After weeks of ummming and arring (is that how you spell it?), I've finally started my Adam Clayton-esque sparkle precision project.

I've been such a fan of sparkle finishes, my Modulus Flea (now gone to Philly) always looked fantastic onstage. After seeing U2 last year, I decided I really wanted either a Jazz or Precision sparkle. Having just got myself a Lakland Joe Osbourn, having a P-Bass is now the obvious choice because the Jazz side of things is covered.

Currently, using these as a visual reference....

[attachment=55186:32050510...e98a3b_b.jpg]
[attachment=55185:Precisio...parkle_2.jpg]
[attachment=55193:pb1if.jpg]

I've just had delivered the body and neck from CH Guitars. After doing lots of digging, they seem to be really great value. Good price but excellent construction and materials.

Pickup wise, think I'm gonna go for a Wizard Area 51. Had one of these before and they're fabulous. Really in your face wide open but with the volume and tone rolled off, they still have that love Precision vintage tone. Besides which, Andy is such a genius, it's nice to purchase something that's been virtually hand- and custom-made.

Bridge and tuner wise, I'm going for Wilkinson, Hipshot or Badass. Already got be a Hipshot Bass Xtender so it makes sense to stick with Hipshot but the Wilkinson stuff is competitively priced and really good.

In terms of the fretboard, I've ordered some block marker stickers. Noticed there's been a couple of basses for sale recently with these fitted and they're an easier alternative to having "proper" binding. Nothing ventured, nothing gained so I've brought a couple of sets.

Finishing wise, still in two minds. I really like the challenge of doing the large metal flake sparkle finish myself but it's not gonna be easy. Need to see what the options are regarding "flakes in a spray can". Perhaps I can hire a spray gun and mix my own paint/colour. Alternatively, rather than making a complete f*ck up, I could just get it professionally done and pay for it. Dunno yet. Need to do some homework. As ever, suggestions are welcomed.

Alternatively, I could just bottle it and go for a block colour. Like the idea of a black with either a black or dark tort scratchplate. But I know I'll then kick myself for not having the sparkle done.

Here's some pics of the neck and body....

[attachment=55187:_DSC5256.jpg]
[attachment=55188:_DSC5258.jpg]
[attachment=55189:_DSC5259.jpg]
[attachment=55190:_DSC5260.jpg]
[attachment=55191:_DSC5262.jpg]
[attachment=55192:_DSC5265.jpg]

Getting quite excited!

Tony

Edited July 8, 2011 by tonyf

[hillbilly deluxe]

Gold sparkle is so tacky............................heres mine.It's currently being modified to fit Precision & Soap bar Pickups and a modified Precision scratch plate.

[tonyf]

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='908359' date='Jul 28 2010, 04:13 PM']Gold sparkle is so tacky............................heres mine.It's currently being modified to fit Precision & Soap bar Pickups and a modified Precision scratch plate.[/quote]

I like "tacky" but "so tacky" is even better because it's more!

Great looking bass with the pearloid scratch plate. Did the body come painted like that or did you get it sprayed?

T

[hillbilly deluxe]

It was like that.The body is pearloid on the back.The front and back screw together.It's an Italia Modulus 3,bought new.

[EBS_freak]

Hows the project looking now tony?

[EdwardHimself]

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='908359' date='Jul 28 2010, 04:13 PM']Gold sparkle is so tacky[/quote]

Well you clearly need to give it a bit more time for the finish to dry then

Nice idea. I liked the first pic as well.

[tonyf]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='923970' date='Aug 13 2010, 03:02 PM']Hows the project looking now tony?[/quote]

Ain't had a lot of time to devote to it over the past couple of weeks.

Have been doing some research though on paint. In terms of getting the large sparkle flake done, seems to be very few sources where i can get the large flake in aerosol because of the practicalities of getting a large enough nozzle on the aerosol can to stop the flakes clogging the tip. May have to compromise on the size of the flake size if i'm going down the rattle can route but hey, that's not a show stopper.

There's these people who seem to do the right colour and a smaller size of flake.
[url="http://www.specialistpaints.com/product.php?p=flakes-canz"]http://www.specialistpaints.com/product.php?p=flakes-canz[/url]

As a plan B, been thinking of bottling it and maybe doing an olympic white block colour with a dark red tort. However, I realise that it's probably not that much of a saving of time and hassle and I know I'll regret not doing the flake finish.

In terms of parts, need to have a think as to what I'm gonna go for. I'll give Andy at Wizard a call when I'm back off my hols and get the pickup organised. Want something really hot and aggressive but with a bit of mid range presence. Did think of looking at one of the East P-Retro things but I'll suck it and see with the traditional straight ahead vol/tone passive first.

Will order the paint over the weekend and make a start on the prepping. As the body is alder, I'm going to grain fill it whether it needs it or not, just to make sure the paint doesn't sink into it. To be honest, the painting isn't the part I dislike, it's all the prep and finish sanding afterwards. Bit of a lazy b*stard I am.

T

[Low End Bee]

I wholly approve of this idea.

I want a red sparkly precision.

[hillbilly deluxe]

Take a trip to your local car re-sprayers for paint ideas ?

[tonyf]

Well, after having the bits kick around for the best part of year, I've got back onto this.

[quote]Alternatively, I could just bottle it and go for a block colour. Like the idea of a black with either a black or dark tort scratchplate. But I know I'll then kick myself for not having the sparkle done.[/quote]

I've reassessed the "sparkle" thing and did indeed "bottle it". I'm now painting it white and it'll be finished with a tort scratchplate.

Finally started the paining. Had a rush of blood and got my rattle cans from Halfords earlier. Roughly prep sanded the body and on went the primer. Then I realised I'd not prepped it as much as I should. Funny how you always realise that once there's a few coats on eh? Oh, well, plenty of time to fix that once the primer is dry and I can wet-and-dry it before the colour coats.

[attachment=83004:photo_9.JPG] [attachment=83006:photo_11.JPG]

Already been thinking about hardware and pickups. Think I'm going down the EMG route as I've got them in virtually everything else I have and actually like them. I'll get myself an EMG P and then run it at 18v (like my Lakland is). There's loads of room in the cavity for the two batteries (see below).

[attachment=83005:photo_13.JPG]

Need to get tuners, then the bridge. Gotoh make some nice high mass bridges as well as tuners. As I've got a Hipshot D-Tuner than I had installed on my old MM Sterling and G&L, will use MM style tuners. I'm really not bothered about the "it's a fender so must have fender-style tuners" thing.

Will crack on tomorrow once the primer is dry.

Tony

[molan]

I love a drop of metal flake on a bass.

I've been lusting after this Alleva Coppolo P at BassGear - the flake isn't huge but the colour looks much funkier in real life than it does in these pics:

[bartelby]

Sparkly basses are the best!

[steve-soar]

I want a sparkly bass too.

[Darkstrike]

Yup, sparkly bassses are awesome!

I got one of the pink sparkle Corts, love it.

[tonyf]

Right, progress update time.

Finally bottled the sparkle paint idea as getting hold of a large flake sparkle in a rattle can was a bit problematic. Doing a block colour seemed to be an easier option so I've gone for a white as I'm planning on either a red tort or white pearloid scratchplate.

Did the initial priming and colour coats a couple of weekends ago, keyed the colour coat back and then the clear coats went on. Put loads of clear coat on as I wanted to make sure it's covered and there's plenty of room for error during the sanding and buffing process.

To be honest, it went FAIRLY well. As the colour started to go on, there's some areas where I thought "erm, coulda sanded that back a bit more" or "perhaps I should have grain-filled" but on the whole, I'm pretty happy so far. If I was doing this for a living, I'd be a lot more rigourous but it's a learning curve and it'll be better the next time. If there is one! ;-)

Waiting for the top coats to harden further. The rattle cans reckon a couple of weeks but because I've got stuff on over the weekend, there's no harm in giving it a little while longer.

[attachment=84220:Funker_E_Bass_2.jpg]

T

[tonyf]

I've started to pull together the parts now.

Got myself an EMG P with all the harness and pots which I'll run at 18v. Love EMG stuff, I know some people trot out the same old "it sounds too clinical" stuff but hey, they've always worked for me.

Got some tuners the other week and a HipShot d-tuner. Not sure at the moment about the tuners, may invest in a better set at some point but they'll do for the moment. Got the neck plate and screws too.

Need to get myself the scratchplate, a suitable bridge and odds and sods like screws and strap buttons etc. Bridgewise, there's some really good Gotoh ones out there.

T

[tonyf]

Last update of today.

Spent FAR TOO LONG last night in Photoshop doing the logo. Decided I wanted something fender'y to keep the vibe of the bass typically precision'y. However, having seen the "fecker" logo's kicking around, decided to experiment a little.

What'dya think?

T

[attachment=84221:Funker_E_Bass_1.jpg]
[attachment=84222:Funker_E_Bass_3.jpg]

Edited July 8, 2011 by tonyf

[EBS_freak]

Likin' it!

[allighatt0r]

You need to clean your keyboard, that's gross!!!

[tonyf]

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='1300916' date='Jul 12 2011, 12:51 PM']You need to clean your keyboard, that's gross!!![/quote]

Oh yeah, only just noticed it.

<BLUSH>

Getting the cleaning thingies out.

Won't happen again. Honest guv'nor!

:-)

[tonyf]

The monster lives!

Yep, the final bits arrived from CH guitars on Thursday but after a lot on over the weekend, finally had chance to get the tool box out and crack on.

Anyway, stepping back a few days, I'll do the "this is what I did and when I did it, in the order I did" thing.

Completed the logo after getting some transfer paper and printing it off. First go went well but I managed to then scratch it as I pulled the backing paper off the headstock. Doh! A quick raid into Mrs F's bathroom cabinet and away it went thanks to nail varnish remover. Second attempt and job's a good un. In order to protect the logo, I then sprayed three thin coats of clear lacquer over the face of the headstock.

[attachment=84984:100_1187.jpg]

I spent a tedious few hours on thursday night sanding and buffing the body. Hateful job. However, as the shine started to come up from the front of the body, guess it all made the hard work worthwhile.

[attachment=84985:100_1186.jpg]

Edited July 17, 2011 by tonyf

[tonyf]

So, that's the paintwork and logo done.

With a deep breath, in I dived earlier and commandeered the kitchen table.

First up, decided to ease myself in by attaching the tuners and hipshot.

[attachment=84986:100_1189.jpg]

Next step was the neck. BIG STRESS. Logically, decided to position the neck plate and drill the holes in the body before positioning the neck and tapping the holes. All seemed to go well but I discovered early on that the scratchplate needed a bit of tweaking and semi-disasterously, I needed to position it in an EXACT position to cover the generous routings for the control cavity. TBH, the CH guitars parts seemed not to come together quite as accurately as I'd hoped and there was a fair bit of tweaking needed. In fact, I needed to dremmel the scratchplate a bit round the neck. If you look closely at the second picture of the scratchplate round the controls, one of the screw holes doesn't touch wood at all :-(

[attachment=84987:100_1192.jpg] [attachment=84988:100_1191.jpg]

[tonyf]

Next step was the shielding. Again, necessary but my, what a phaff!

[attachment=84989:100_1202.jpg]

Then the exciting bit. Installing the controls and electronics. The EMG P pickup I'd brought was the quick connector type, the first time I'd used EMG's with these connectors. I've used EMG's in most of my recent basses and love them, hence the choice, but this was the first time I'd had the quick connector type.

Briefly connected it up, checked the wiring based on a downloaded PDF and it all made sense. Went upstairs to do a quick check before screwing all the scratchplate screws in and NOTHING. Unplugged, checked the jack and fine. Double checked the diagram, all looked fine. Tried again. Nothing. Blinking heck. Finally, decided to check all the connections, pulling everything apart and lo and behold, realised that one of them was back to front. Phew. Checked it and it worked great.

Then, as I screwed the scratchplate down around the controls, the sound disappeared again. Agggggghh. Another ten or so minutes of phaffing and discovered that the volume control was compressing onto the battery in the compartment. Simply turning it 90 degrees fixed it. Odd. But hey, it's done it.

[attachment=84990:100_1205.jpg]

[tonyf]

Measured the scale length based on matching my Lakland JO and then positioned it using string on the E and the G sides of the neck.

[attachment=84991:100_1208.jpg]

[tonyf]

Then, after the bridge was on, the final assembly jobs and then stringing it up.

[attachment=84992:100_1212.jpg]

Gave it a rough (VERY ROUGH!!) setup and it's sounding surprisingly good.

Well chuffed so far but it needs a bit of work....

[attachment=84992:100_1212.jpg] [attachment=84994:100_1216.jpg]

The obligatory sofa pictures....

[attachment=84995:100_1217.jpg] [attachment=84996:100_1220.jpg] [attachment=84997:100_1225.jpg] [attachment=84998:100_1227.jpg]