Bridgehouse

Still currently rinsing and repeating the freezer/airing cupboard cycle at the mo. 

Mrs B is getting annoyed that the big bag of peas don't fit into the chest freezer 

So after much musing, and research, and all that sort of thing...

I've decided to do one myself.

Contacted my fave parts builder and he can do a semi hollow body and neck to my spec. I'll finish it, build it and Part it up so I get pretty much everything I want. Anticipated budget will be around the same £500.

Seems like a no brainer tbh.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1510316749' post='3405532']
Although I don't favour the PJ concept, that's a very attractive bass. Can't wait to see the relic!
[/quote]

Thanks! It was a fun quick build.

Here's hoping the relic starts getting some checking soon!!

Knobs arrived. Knobs are on.

That's one done. Just got the relic to finish now

Thanks for the comments all - it's in the airing cupboard (which is hot!) for a few days, then back into the freezer for some more.

After that process (I will keep passing it between the two) I'll hit it with a freeze spray and heat gun..

The nitro I use is sourced from someone who I know uses formulas that do crack and check - so it's not a "modern" formula as such.

Not tried multiple temp shocks tho. That'll be next on the list

Well. Took the body out of the freezer and liberally applied a good dose of hot air from the hair dryer.

Nary even a tiny crack, check or anything. Gah.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1510134982' post='3404146']


Hopefully that fingerboard will darken a bit with some treatment. Looks like a lovely build, but in my humble opinion, it's the fingerboard letting it down just a tiny bit by being so pale/dry?

Great work on your behalf though, very cool

Si
[/quote]

Not done any ageing to the fingerboard yet - or oiled it, or set it up...

Once it's further on and stopped being slapped in and out of the freezer it will get some treatment to darken it

I really like the look of those Fender A/Es - never heard of them before so much research required!

[quote name='philw' timestamp='1510073067' post='3403776']
Everybody's forgotten my favourite - Yamaha BEX4
[/quote]

You know, if you could get them new I'd be all over one!

Oh, and the Daphne blue body went into the freezer today - let's see if we can start off some lacquer checking...!

The more astute amongst you may have noticed that the bridge screws were wrong - they were in fact screw fix specials!

See, the problem was, it's a 5 hole bridge, and Fender only supplied me with 4. Quick mail to someone I know there and a pack of the right type were winging their way to me.. arrived today, fitted, and now it looks right.

Just need the knobs and it's done

[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1509910967' post='3402561']
[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/hoefner_hctcbsb_clubbass.htm"]Hofner HCT 500/2 Club £486 [/url]

[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/eastwood_guitars_classic_4_orange.htm"]Eastwood Guitars Classic £486[/url]

[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/danelectro_dead_on_58_longhorn_bass_bk.htm"]Danelectro Dead On 58 Longhorn £415[/url]

[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/epiphone_allen_woody_rumble_kat.htm"]Epiphone Allen Woody Rumble kat £419[/url]

[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/danelectro_dc_longscale_bass_bk.htm"]Danelectro DC Longscale Bass £444[/url]

[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/warwick_rb_starbass_4_gold_metallic.htm"]Warwick RB Starbass £461[/url]

[url="https://www.thomannmusic.com/hoefner_verythin_bass_hct_500_8_dc.htm"]Hofner Verythin Bass HCT 500/8 £511[/url]

Loads of choices in that range
[/quote]

There goes my weekend internet browsing

Thanks for that list! I'll be back...

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1509886118' post='3402291']


How does a split coil J work then? I always thought they were single coil.
[/quote]

These are just like a P - two separate coils, next to each other with a connecting wire.

Same shape as a J, same magnet type etc. But essentially they are a J version of a normal humbucking P

[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1509888985' post='3402322']
Some guidance as to your budget would be nice, @Bridgehouse
[/quote]

Not sure. I'd prefer the £500 ish sort of budget so I don't get jumpy when gigging rougher places - but more if more means actually a really big step up, if that makes sense.

Keep the suggestions coming tho - got loads of research to do!

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1509862911' post='3402105']


I've heard it said in this forum that stacked controls are more susceptible to hum than separate ones. I have no experience to confirm or deny this however. Is the cavity shielded?
[/quote]

Not at the moment, but it would be an easy fix to do so. Once I've wielded it in anger a bit I will see how the hum situation is.

Mind you, the Dimarzio DP 126 set has a rather handy split coil J pickup..

As the first of the two PJ builds I have on the go is coming to an end, I find myself wondering if I'm missing something in the collection for gigging/recording.

The sig will give away the fact I'm pretty much firmly in the P camp (2x vintage P's, a MiM Classic Lacquer 50's, a '52 Partscaster, and soon-to-be 2x Partscaster PJ's)

At the moment the '52 P gets gigged a lot - it has a SD Quarterpounder in it and it's great live. One of the PJ's is nearly done, and it has D'Addario DP126's in - also punchy. The MiM gets the odd gig out - but in reality the PJ's will take over from it. I record and write with the vintage P's but they don't get gigged.

The thing that's starting to itch is maybe I should pass on the MiM Classic Lacquer and pick up a semi-acoustic of some description to give me a different sound. The band is americana/singer songwriter rocky/counting crows sort of sound, and some songs would really benefit from a semi-style thump.

The violin body shape doesn't appeal, I tried one in a shop and it all just felt, well, wrong.

The old Harmony H22's appeal - love that old 60's thump, but they are quite spendy and might be a bit too fragile for gigging.. perhaps I'm looking for a modern take on it, or something similar?

Thoughts from the ensembled?

Bit more progress made.

Totally changed my mind on the controls. Went stack knob after a lot of too'ing and fro'ing. Don't really know why either, other than I just think it will be the most adaptable setup for live work.

So. Pots in and Pickups in. All wired up. Plate on.

It awaits some knobs (being delivered) and I need to finish the setup. Then, it's back to the relic..

Good to see some 64 replica Partsocasters on the way

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1509698629' post='3400894']


Hard to say since it's the only one I've played Mark - they don't grow i trees round here I'm afraid to say! I was pretty impressed with the '66 I played in Rudy's on honeymoon in NYC so probably any decent one of that kind of era... Money is the only (rather large) barrier...
[/quote]

Ain't that the truth!

I played a few pre-CBS before getting mine and there was def. variance between them. Mostly it was tonal tho - the necks broadly felt pretty similar.

You considered doing a parts build and having something which is pretty much a 64 spec? The two PJs I'm doing at the mo are exact copies of 64 necks - some well chosen parts and you'd get 80% of the way there...

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1509568379' post='3400021']


Yup. Specifically a refinished 64 P bass belonging to a friend. He's owned it since '68. Chances of it ever being mine are, let's say, slim...

[/quote]

That specific 64 or do you think any 64 would do it for you?

Bridge delivered today - so decided to fit it.

Popped the strings on to check alignment too.

It seems to be okay:

Body and neck source is a tricky one - it's a contact I have from another forum, and he only sells to members over there. I have to say, sourcing good bodies and necks in the UK can be really tricky - especially if you want out of the ordinary..

Don't worry - the Daphne Blue relic PJ will return - I reckon it will be ready for lacquer checking soon.. probably when I've finished this second PJ..!

Put on a final Tru-Oil coat - so I reckon 8 in total, which was satin sheen enough, deep enough, but not too glossy.

Neck was bolted on, and strap buttons fitted:





Next stage will be Bridge, then wiring up once the bits arrive in the week (!) and then on to final fit out and adjust. Total build time will be 2 weeks I reckon (mostly due to Tru-Oil drying)