hooky_lowdown

You may be the first person ever who enjoyed playing a marlin sidewinder. 😉

I think Kim Deal of the Pixies used one of these to record a couple albums. Although if I recall correctly it was her sister's, and was a cheap beater bass, before a producer told her to get a "proper" bass.

Blimey, just use the tone knob. That's what it's there for. 😉

Yup, I understand you want 2x Tone and 2x Volume. I'm struggling to understand why two tone knobs for each P pickup? Because both P pickups will sound very similar, so changing tone on one won't alter the overall sound any different than if you have one tone pot, controlling both pickups.

What flats do you have on your Encore E83? I recall having flats on an old E83 and because of the jumbo frets I kept getting a 'clank' sound every note I played, because of the higher tension of flats against the fatter frets. 😪

I picked up a Yamaha rbx170 a little while ago for peanuts as a backup, put in a fender CS 62 pickup, new electrics, and my strings of choice and it's blinding. I've owned 100+ basses over the years, and the neck is phenomenal, second best I've ever played, plays like butter, sound's awesome, and only weighs 7 lbs. 👍

Why would you want to change the tone of one P pickup over a second P pickup? An alternative would be to use a jazz loom, so VVT and the jack goes in the 4th hole on the front of your Yamaha.

Ooooooh, someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning. 🤔

I don't think the OP was looking for the perfect tone. Instead they were fairly specific - vintage sounding with some bite?!?!

Not sure fleabays 10% fee is hefty considering the large number of people viewing the site.

What strings do you use, and what budget do you have? Many people think they need new pickups when a different set of strings (which has a massive impact on your sound) can give you an entirely different sound. The geezer butler's are a perfect match for the sound you've described, if not a little too hot for a true vintage tone. For a vintage tone with a bit of bite I'd suggest Wilkinson alnico if on a budget (£23). Or as Lozz said, fender custom shop 62 if you have the budget (£100+).

+1 Walshy is a carpenter by trade (I believe), so this is no amateur build.

Neck and body are fender licensed, therefore same as fender parts. The machine heads are better and the pick imho is the best P bass pickup on the market, full stop.

Maybe because the bitsa is higher spec than the mim fender.

Have you looked in the Recommended Luthiers thread in Repairs & Technical?

That's a beast. Bet it'll sound huge! Out of interest, any idea of weight (I know it's not going to be light)? 😁

Grabber and Rickenbacker lovechild. 🤔

Not a high a high end bass but... ibanez gaxb150.

I came across this funk cover of the Radiohead classic Creep the other day. Despite the band being excellent, and the singer a treat for the eyes, it's the bassist in this video who I couldn't take my eyes off. Are there any videos others have seen where the bassist essentially steals the performance?

Don't all drinks taste the same? 🤔

There is no right way or wrong way to have a bass or any instrument set up, if it feels good and right to you, then it's set up RIGHT for you! Everyone's different, not everyone likes the same colour for example, it's all about individual preference. 😁

I agree. 👍

Probably because the HB's use alnico pickups these days (except the very cheapest models), explains why they don't sound thin. Pickups by brands like Wilkinson, Roswell or Toneriders shouldn't be sniffed at because they are a fraction of the cost of Fenders etc.