AndyTravis

Finally scored one of these!

£89.99

Will post my own results as I go...wish i'd remembered the 14lb bit though - sheesh!

Hi Guys,

Spotted a thread last night about working with Acrylic/Plexiglass when making guitars/basses.

There was a really interesting link to a chap who built a Telecaster from this material - Neck too!!!

So I got thinking - Always dangerous, I know...

Since I saw Charlie Jones play with Page and Plant in the late 1990's, I've loved the idea of a Plexiglass Precision.

I think I actually started a thread last year sometime to see if Nightingale guitars who built his original one (Seen in the Ashdown ad) were still in business, sad news - they're not.

He now plays a similar, if not (in my opinion) clumsier looking version by Crimson guitars; no offence to any party, I just really liked the Nightingale one.


I've been searching for ages for an AXL 'Classic Player Deluxe Blah Blah' acrylic Precision bass copy. In my quest I spotted several old sales threads. Think Neephead had one ages ago and sold it through here or another forum; It still shows up on google searches.

Eventually I gave up - They crop up so infrequently I lost enthusiasm.



But, inspired by last nights Basschattery - A bloody dangerous pastime i've noticed after 3 years, I had one last push.

Google - AXL Plexibass.

The same 4/5 results i'd seen before...aprt from Cash Converters Southport have one. £89.99.

Spoke to my girlfriend - 'Andy, you'll only be miffed if you don't - And you can buy other bits as and when you get spare cash'.
(Yes - She's a good'un)

So i've bought it...

I'm sat planning out a spec for the parts i'll change Everything but the body I reckon.

Going to try and get a legit Fender Precision neck - The Stratosphere on eBay always has some.
My Absolute ideal would be a Roadworn as I love the way they feel and look. But i'm also tempted by anything with a big 'TV' logo as a gaudy plastic bodied bass would definately fit a gaudy 70's style neck.

I'll have a new totally transparent Pickguard made, either through WD or See if TheBassDoc fancies it (Howard - Still need a Shell guard doing for my Fretless! Totally my fault, life gets in the way, haven't forgot.)
I do still like the slightly frosted/sparkly one Charlie had on the Nightingale...but i'll decide at the time I have funds to start ordering.

I want it to be reminiscent of the old Strat fender used to take around trade shows - I cannot afford to have a neck Made from Plexiglass, i'm sure it would cost me a fortune, I don't have the patience, time or skill to make one myself.

I'm going to see what the existing BBOT bridge and Machineheads are like quality wise, although Hipshot Lollipops and a badass II or Gotoh 201 are my wishlist items.
I suppose a bridge adding mass to a plexiglass bass body isn't a smart move, nor will it make much, if any tonal difference.

I have seen clear acrylic finger/thumbrests on eBay and will position it accordingly - dependent on which neck style I end up with, Roadworn - under (or 'Tug Bar' position) or TV Logo - Over (or 'Thumbrest' position.)
This is just an idiotic extravagance (As is this entire thing, my back won't allow me to play gigs with basses over 9lbs, but still...)

Pickups - Probably a Duncan vintage something or other, I can get them cheap enough and Want to sweeten the sound as much as possible.

A friend of mine has the Plexi strat AXL made, and it was a bit brash sounding, so i'll see how his is once we've dropped various pickups in it.

Anyhow, once it's arrived i'll post pictures of it, and although i'll update the thread, it won't be every day or even week, as i've promised myself a component each payday - Like one of those build a ship magazines...

Trav x

Any decent passive Jazz type pass with the right level of attack; I think the answer is in your right hand.
Took me years of buying/selling basses to figure that out. Traded a USA standard Jazz for a Warwick and thought I'd done it.
The reality was, my technique/skill caught up in the end.

Not a comment towards my playing being anything special, or anything approaching Mr.P but once I'd figured 'how' he was playing rather than which bass or pickup spacing etc, that was my breakthrough.

Nice to just have a passive jbass knocking about.

Haven't heard that; know the G3 is coming back and reasonably priced.
There are photos of another mostite looking bass knocking about.

Have you got a link to the thread?

The Farida FJB's are the bollocks.

I have 3. One is a FJB-6 which I dropped Seymour Duncan quarter pounders into.

The other 2 I have are a bit special as I started working with them on a bass a few years ago, I have the 2 prototypes.

To be fair I've owned 100's of basses, and my avatar is the best Jazz I've ever owned and played; a £2500 custom shop fender.

But, I've sold that now, my main fretted Farida with SD Classic Stack pickups in is certainly the 2nd best Jazz I've ever played.

If you find an FJB-6 just buy one, and ignore the colour thing, or, of you get it cheap enough get it refinished!

I'm trying to persuade the powers that be to get more FJB basses into the UK.

'trying' isn't doing much though.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1301344082' post='1180085']
Status KingBass - Would love to figure out if the body size/string spacing/32"/bendwell would work for me.

Wal Mk1 Fretted - Think this is my only other 'to buy' bass, I played a Fretless MkII and it was love.

Alembic MK Sig or similar - Have Played LozBass' Short Scale Alembic and it was amazing, but way too small for me, and an Epic, but it played like crap with old strings etc.

NYC Sadowsky - Just to see what the fuss is about.

Fodera Monarch - As Sadowsky.
[/quote]

Tried a King Bass courtesy of MB1 paying me a visit, it was ace, would like one eventually; just a lovely thing!
Also played an NYC Sadowsky, and it was nice but didn't knock my head off to be honest.

Tried a Dingwall or two since my post; love them.

The Wal desire continues...

Would live to try a Mike Lull Jazz and a TB-4

See what happens!

[quote name='lozbass' timestamp='1343985745' post='1758142']

Hi Andy, thought you'd be along for this! Love the TV logo - odd but very cool indeed
[/quote]

Burgundy Mist has overtaken Lake Placid Blue I think...you heard it here first!

Been staring at this bass all day!

Holy shitballs; that's pretty.

I've seen other custom shop '59's' with that big TV style logo, which is odd, but...so so so cool.

Gutted. Terrible news.

Miss mine.

Wow, that's pretty!

One of the best basses I've owned.
Sold in period of skintness.

Held its own easily against the custom shop jazz in my avatar (also now gone...)

Still in period of skintness. Unfortunately.

[quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1340047740' post='1698328']
Not that I know of. Nearest would be their limited editions.
[/quote]

Fair enough, miss my 'cavern' violin bass, but the sunburst made everyone make the Macca connection, I've spotted a few 'contemperary'/'Icon' series in weird and wonderful finishes. May catch one of these used.

Do Hofner have a custom shop?

Holy cow.

If someone paid me £2000 to eat my own head I'd buy this right now...

I was thinking of getting the p, just ordered one for the shop, cocks up my Jack Casady fund, but, if a goodun arrives, I'll drop some CS/Duncan pickups in and covers, and some flats.

I hope people aren't sick on me, it is a bit marmite though...

Had a 'cavern' (one with the pickups up near the neck) then sold it, watched my mates band using it, and good god did I feel like a tit for selling it.
Big, supportive, plummy sounding bass...

Will he sell it back? Nope...

Oof! Classic looking bass, nice.

That's really smart looking mate! Like it.

Aaaaargh! No!

Buy a p/j body and shove the neck on it!

That bass is perfect as it is, regretted selling it since the day I sent it you!!!

Gah!!!!

Totally drawn to this, keep on checking it's here, unfortunately keep checking the bank balance too and that makes the 'family fortunes X' noise.

There was a great looking tune twb in the bass centre when they had a Manchester branch (early 2000's) it was transparent blue with a single MM pickup, and to my at the time inexperienced eyes loads of knobs and switches.
Unfortunately the preamp was goosed, I had the money in my pocket at the time and walked away 'devastated'.
Never seen one since in the flesh, nor online in that finish; such a cool bass!

Would Rob Green not make a new one? The Chrome Pickup versions intrigue me.

Looks ace, prefer Burgundy Mist for my pink Fenders, but this looks lovely!

Gutted.

Massive hero of mine.

"If the sh*t fits; wear it"

RIP Duck