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Custom Telecaster Bass Build


sk8
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Having been gassing for a Telecaster bass for a while after getting my godin and done my research there appeared to be two choices, G&L ASAT or the new Squier VM Telecaster bass. I had mentioned it to mike at Purple Chili before and he said he had made a telecaster shaped bass before so we got down to discussing some specs

[url="http://www.fender.com/basses/telecaster-bass/vintage-modified-telecaster-bass/"]http://www.fender.co...elecaster-bass/[/url]

[url="http://www.fender.com/basses/precision-bass/mike-dirnt-precision-bass/"]http://www.fender.co...precision-bass/[/url]

Basically looking at a hybrid of these really. Will be telecaster guitar shaped.

Specs we have agreed are

4 string 34 inch scale
20 fret
Idigbo body (same as the PJ mike built which is up for sale! )
Rock maple neck with tele headstock and wenge fingerboard
Gotoh bridge and tuners plus hipshot d tuner
Aero split pup in the p position
Butterscotch blond body with tort plate and metal control plate

Simples ;)


Think this will be an awesome bass that looks a bit quirky and unique

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  • 2 weeks later...

Mine has sent through pictures of the templates he has now made

[IMG]http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/spongebob_sqaurepants/97DF718E-9A3D-4088-B5A8-66AC3622B7E9-1304-000001ECDC545980.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/spongebob_sqaurepants/5413E985-D7E4-4E31-BD1D-900E5D75C858-1304-000001ECE0A0ADFA.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/spongebob_sqaurepants/13FE8A77-DF45-4F39-87FF-9C50843E4DD0-1304-000001ECDEA2FF0F.jpg[/IMG]

He scanned in a tele guitar body and then scaled it up to match the bass neck. Then cut templates out of ply.

I think it's looking REALLY good but then I would

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here's a couple of pic's of The neck being carved.

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MikeBirchteleneckcarve1_zps9c1e1c0e.jpg[/IMG]

[B]And a close up.[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MikeBirchteleneckcarve2_zpsb074d071.jpg[/IMG]

All that's left to do now is to hand sand and shape the head and heel ends and get the fingerboard on.

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[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1361568364' post='1987860']
Tell me about Purple Chilli? What made you decide on them for the build?
[/quote]

This is the third build mike has done for me. I got to know of him through another forum. I have more traditional leanings and mike has always been very receptive to what I want. My gigging rig is also built by mike and I was the beta tester for the phat bass head before he released it to other customers.

He is a very skilled builder and he has done me proud each time and when I wanted a Tele bass and couldn't find a production one I liked I knew where I was going plus I like to be a bit different and not have a shuker!

Plus he does easy payment options to :)

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Latest from Mike on my build

The T-rod on This bass is going to be a "Body end adjust" type. Therefore I need to drill a perfect hole for the end of the rod. Here's how I did it using one of my workshop jigs.

[B]The Jig[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MBJigfortrodhole_zpsa727c99f.jpg[/IMG]

[B]The neck in possition[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MBJigfortrodhole3_zps68f90fc5.jpg[/IMG]

[B]Another shot of the neck in the jig[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MBJigfortrodhole2_zpsdba68fbd.jpg[/IMG]

[B]The 7mm hole being drilled in the end of the neck[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MBJigfortrodhole4_zpsf0ac8eea.jpg[/IMG]

[B]The result, a perfect hole in the exact possition needed for the rod.[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MBJigfortrodhole5_zpsec97a28f.jpg[/IMG]

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[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1361704406' post='1989381']
Any pics of the other stuff he's done for you. Interested in seeing the rig.
[/quote]

The PJ http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189853-for-sale-custom-precision-jazz-handmade-in-essex-by-mike-walsh-of-zoot-fame/

The rig http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189267-new-rig-purple-chili-content/page__fromsearch__1

Zoot 5 string http://basschat.co.uk/topic/82578-iceni-zoot-5-special/page__fromsearch__1


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Here's a couple of pic's of The Telebass (Idigbo) body blank being bonded.

[B]In the clamps:[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MikeBirchtelebassbody1_zps9d8bfc9f.jpg[/IMG]

[B]Out of the clamps ready for the next stage:[/B]

[IMG]http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz237/Zootman/MikeBirchtelebassbody12_zps057d5927.jpg[/IMG]

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[quote name='silentbob' timestamp='1362441429' post='1999972']
This looks really interesting, will be keeping an eye on this thread. One question though, why would you choose to have three Gotoh tuners and a Hipshot D-Tuner, why not just have a full set of Hipshots so they all match?
[/quote]

Primarily to keep the build cost down although I'm now thinking hipshots all round would be better :)

Edited by sk8
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[quote name='sk8' timestamp='1362814718' post='2005058']
Primarily to keep the build cost down although I'm now thinking hipshots all round would be better :)
[/quote]
I guess it depends on how "anal" you are about these things. If it's something that's gonna bother you at a later date then probably best to "do it once, do it right", rather than have to mess about with it again further down the line. Me, I'm a bugger for the details, which is why my latest Encore rebuild is taking me so long and costing me an arm and a leg, but in the end, I know I won't have to take it to bits and change anything once it's done.

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[quote name='sk8' timestamp='1362814744' post='2005059']
Why thank you sir :lol:
[/quote]

It's just one of them: i just don't know why "they" haven't made a Tele bass before. ;)

The 51' is a beautiful bass, i wont deny that with owned one but its a Pbass, the closest then is either the Modern Player of the Custom Shop "Lotto" bass but for the same reasons. The next being the Squier Teles but both short scale and one supports a 'baritone' (long scale guitar/short scale 6 string bass) tone feature 0_o although the one with the humbucker/Jazz would be a nice one to own, if full scale :D

Totally going to dig this bass when its done. Subscribed (Y)

BSB

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[quote name='silentbob' timestamp='1362863833' post='2005632']

I guess it depends on how "anal" you are about these things. If it's something that's gonna bother you at a later date then probably best to "do it once, do it right", rather than have to mess about with it again further down the line. Me, I'm a bugger for the details, which is why my latest Encore rebuild is taking me so long and costing me an arm and a leg, but in the end, I know I won't have to take it to bits and change anything once it's done.
[/quote]

Yeah that's a good point. Think I will put hipshots all round

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[quote name='bigsmokebass' timestamp='1362874596' post='2005805']


It's just one of them: i just don't know why "they" haven't made a Tele bass before. ;)

The 51' is a beautiful bass, i wont deny that with owned one but its a Pbass, the closest then is either the Modern Player of the Custom Shop "Lotto" bass but for the same reasons. The next being the Squier Teles but both short scale and one supports a 'baritone' (long scale guitar/short scale 6 string bass) tone feature 0_o although the one with the humbucker/Jazz would be a nice one to own, if full scale :D

Totally going to dig this bass when its done. Subscribed (Y)

BSB
[/quote]

Exactly Why I commissioned this build. Big gap in the market IMO

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[quote name='silentbob' timestamp='1362863833' post='2005632']

I guess it depends on how "anal" you are about these things. If it's something that's gonna bother you at a later date then probably best to "do it once, do it right", rather than have to mess about with it again further down the line. Me, I'm a bugger for the details, which is why my latest Encore rebuild is taking me so long and costing me an arm and a leg, but in the end, I know I won't have to take it to bits and change anything once it's done.
[/quote]

I've gone for all hipshots now

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  • 3 weeks later...

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