Freddy Le Cragg Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Couldn't think of anything original fro my first post proper so I though this would do. I saw this listed on a local selling group on Facebook and had to rescue her. It is a Satellite Precision copy from god knows when but I am guessing a "lawsuit" (sorry) seventies thing. The body looks to be 4 or 5 pieces and was once a redburst colour. The checking and patina look really sweet. The bridge has a Lego brick in lieu of saddle screws and the electrics need a bit of love. Worst of all, a rather savage looking crack has rent the stock asunder. Operation SALVAGE has commenced, brought to you by the twin fun of No Nails wood glue and G-Clamps. Pics The pic from the seller THE CRACK! OOOOOOOOH! Clamp MORE SOON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 It was 15 quid with 8 quids worth of stuff but near enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 There is a real sense of achievement in getting a cheap bass to work well, you can keep your exotic tonewood body, your graphite neck, weapons grade plutonium pickup, dark matter bridge etc - give me wood glue and G clamps any day. This is the real thing, welcome aboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Much obliged. A few more pics The Lego bridge! Surprisingly effective as a solution. Guts. It has 500k pots but the wiring is shot. Time to get the multi-meter out, kids. No ID on the pup. The body looks like it has had a hard life. I will not be doing any cosmetic work on this. Just fix the leccys and the neck and it will be rocked. I plan on gigging this a.s.a.p. More posts to come. And thanks for the welcome. I must admit that the site name containing both "bass" and " .co.uk" were a massive draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Awesome, looks like a great project! Here's hoping the neck turns out ok. Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share Posted August 31, 2013 Well, the neck has bowed one hell of a lot and the electrics are pretty much shot too. This is gonna take longer than I anticipated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Nice one, look forward to the updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Right. Update time. I have tightened the rod as far as it will go but the neck is knackered. I fear a trip to fleabay for a chaepo replacement Got the sparkies working and the pup sounds amazing! The saga rumbles on.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hmmm.... so you're fixing up a bass. List of parts to be replaced: Neck pups cables bridge... Is there much of it that doesn't need replacing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Its only the neck really. The rest is servicable but I aint gonna chuck a load of cash at it. It may even be a nice ornament for the music room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 (edited) Wanna buy a defretted Squier VM P Bass neck that needs attention? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216044-refretting-a-defretted-neck-any-point-hard/page__fromsearch__1 It would be cheap. And it has Wilkinson tuners on it that very nearly mask the burn mark! Edited September 1, 2013 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Sounds tempting... but I have a lead on another 10 quid cheapo which has a cracked body but a decent neck. I will bear it in mind though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 (edited) Satellites were known for warping necks, and are basically firewood, but at the price paid, no real damage done to the wallet. In my limited knowledge, they were built by Kawai Teisco, who built loads of nasty cheap basses for others who put their own names on the headstock. I had a neck thru Satellite P Bass, and would you believe it, that had a warped neck too. They were 80's i think The neck thru P ( exactly the same as my ex ) on ebay in the link below has been on sale there for ages now, as the seller thinks cos its old, some mug is gonna pay his outrageous price. The fact that its been on there for months means that folk may not be the suckers the seller thinks they are [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Satellite-original-fretless-bass-guitar-very-rare-and-with-hardcase-/290829725240?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43b6cd6e38"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item43b6cd6e38[/url] Edited September 1, 2013 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 I was under no illusions that it was a piece of sh*t when I bought it, but not this much . Still, I love the patina on the body and it looks nice sat in the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 ive got a bridge you can have gratis if you want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 (edited) Freddy - hows about junking the neck, keeping the body, and see if you can a find a cheap non Satellite P neck on Evilbay or perhaps on here? I've also got a bag of pots you could use, free gratis. I only live a few miles from you, too Edited September 2, 2013 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 The neck will be going in the skip. I will stick it in a closet until I come across a dirt cheap neck. However I have (against all reason) got another cheapo P-bass copy for thirty quid. It has provenence dating back to 1979 but has no ID marks on it at all. But it plays and sounds rather good. With a bit of a clean up and a change of strings (and peeling the sticker off it....) it sounds very punchy and the neck, whilst chunky, is nice and smooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Ha ha love the Gibson transfer!! Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 It was a bugger to get off but looks better without it. I have given it a spruce up and and I am rather pleased with its sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 [quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1378147715' post='2196313'] Ha ha love the Gibson transfer!! [/quote] Yes! What an absolutely great idea. Better than Fecker Jizz and all the other really amusing headstocks decals you see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 I reckon I'll leave her anonymous. This thing had been sat in a shed since the mid eighties, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earhook Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Nice one there.. Did a bit of a frankenbass P using a knackered old sattelite body myself and its the one I reach for 9 times out of 10 over much more expensive and esteemed basses. I whacked a Mighty Mite neck, Wilkinson tuners, Kent Armstrong pickups, schaller strap locks and a 3 ply tortoize shell pickguard on it. Probably cost me more than its worth but its a top bass and I learnt a lot doing it. Well done you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I've given the pots to someone else now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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