umcoo Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Hi all, I thought it was about time I set up a thread to document me putting together a 70's style Fender Jazz. The idea is to build a bass with a definite nod to the 70's, but with a few tweaks to make it into a bit of a beast! The idea started when I saw an original 1973 Jazz body come up on Talkbass. It's in a 'well-used' condition, but I thought it looked great. Ash body in black, doesn't really feel heavy at all which is always nice. Here's a few pictures. [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0173_zpswgusn6xm.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0172_zps3yyxxtms.jpg.html"][/url] Well used, right? So once this arrived, after paying £100 to good friends at HMRC, my mind got to thinking about what I could do with it. I've always liked the look of the black and maple 70's Jazzes, and despite having owned numerous Jazz basses over the years, I've never had one with a maple neck. So this morning I pulled the trigger on one of the Allparts bound and blocked necks in pearloid. I've heard some mixed reviews ranging from 'best neck I've ever owned', to 'almost sent it back it was too big'. I've got big hands and played P Basses for many years without issue, so I'm hoping it'll be fine. This is just a standard pic, but it'll look like this... [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/KGrHqNHJBME8e-J5BzBPM4tje--60_57_zpsdq3reupm.jpg.html"][/url] Deviating from the 70's, I found a pair of Rio Grande "Muy Grande" Jazz pickups on reverb.com. They are NOS and date to 2007, never been used. I stupidly owned a set of these years ago, never installed them, and sold them on, so never heard them in action, but they're overwound meaty pickups, so I'm hoping they'll go well towards making the beast growl! [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/ts8vqvai8vswe1gnempi_zpsxnykzxhv.jpg.html"][/url] Hardware will be Schaller 3D bridge and I ordered some Schaller BMFL tuners this morning, as well as other bits; black pickguard, screws, nut etc, so they should all be coming in the next week or two, along with the neck. I'll update this thread as bits arrive and I can get started on the build. Cheers all and hope you enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 Few bits starting to arrive now. UPS just dropped off the neck which looks a beauty. It is definitely thicker than 'normal', but I'm sure we'll be fine. Never seen or used any Allparts stuff before, but it looks great quality, superb finish. Looking forward to getting it on the body! [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0179_zpstawdh63i.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0179_zpstawdh63i.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0180_zpsse0l1aim.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0180_zpsse0l1aim.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Schaller tuners came in a couple of days ago too. Nothing too special - great service as usual from Touchstone Tonewoods. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0185_zpsgqyntz2u.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0185_zpsgqyntz2u.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I had the shipping notifiation from Custom World Guitar Parts today for the the odds and sods, so hopefully they'll turn up by next week. Been in touch with KiOgon for a wiring loom as well. I have previously attempted doing them myself, but my soldering skills are something to be desired, so leaving it to the pro! That's all for now. Once everything is here, I can make a start on putting it together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 Cheers Nancy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon. Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) I've got an Allparts neck and Schaller tuners on my Bitsa/pimped-up MIJ Jazz. The neck is the rosewood version of yours, and like you I thought it was a little bit thicker than I would have liked, based on the one I had on my Fender Japan 75 RI. As Chris MacIntyre was doing some routing on the body for me, I got him to very slightly re-profile the neck as well. It's very nicely finished and lovely to play now, but would have been very playable as it was. Interested to see how the Rio Grande's sound! Edited October 9, 2015 by Simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 Cheers Simon. I was reading that JohnK (the guy on Talkbass who builds Fender style basses) uses these necks, strips them, reshapes and nitro's them. Time will tell if I get on with the neck thickness! Yeah, looking forward to the Rio's myself! They seem fairly rare, especially over here, but I've heard nothing but good things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 Ok....so we're back with this! I sent the neck and body off to Jack's Instrument Services in Manchester and they did a great job sorting the nut and sorting out the neck pocket. It's not nice and snug and has bolts as opposed to screws so it's going nowhere. I've ordered some strings for it, so once they arrive I can crack on with finishing this up. Need to install pickups, tuners, string tree, strap buttons, bridge, pickguard and wiring stuff, then it'll be good to go. I'm still undecided on the tuners. I've got the Schallers further up this thread, but also got some Schaller M4S on the way, so I'll see how I feel once they arrive and I can compare the two. Here's a couple of pics of the bass as it currently stands, neck and body finally together! [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0264_zps1ahycstz.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0264_zps1ahycstz.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0266_zpsbkwsl7eq.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0266_zpsbkwsl7eq.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Looking good. Will follow this with interest, as I've got a black Allparts body and maple bound neck waiting to be joined together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 And its done! I took a few pictures along the way, but my photography skills are something to be desired so I'll need to wait until some brighter weather to get some decent shots. From my last post, I drilled and installed the tuners, fit the bridge, fit the pickups and hooked them up to the Ki0gon wiring loom, then bolted everything together. Couple of small issues with fitting the pickguard around the base of the neck, but nothing a bit of filing couldn't sort. In the end, I decided to go with the 70's style Schaller's and not the M4S. They feel nice and solid, and look correct for the period. I've not done any setup bits yet, but it surprisingly plays lovely as it is! Action is nice and low with no fret buzz. The Schaller bridges are great for sorting string spacing on the fly. Currently strung with Ernie Balls and sounds great. I went for 500k CTS pots and the Rio Grandes sound awesome. Thick and bassy, nice bit of growl... Anyway...pictures! Marking out the drilling for the tuners [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0271_zpsgy1mtogl.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0271_zpsgy1mtogl.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Bridge and tuners screwed in [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0272_zpsj7vrtyn0.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0272_zpsj7vrtyn0.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0276_zpsza7nouzg.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0276_zpsza7nouzg.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0278_zpsdb3yxefs.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0278_zpsdb3yxefs.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The wiring loom with excellent soldering skills by Ki0gon! [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0281_zpscppwjp8k.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0281_zpscppwjp8k.jpg[/IMG][/URL] And all bolted together and strung up... [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0292_zpsg2msiotu.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0292_zpsg2msiotu.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0293_zpsxa7fznfu.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0293_zpsxa7fznfu.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0295_zpsk4cvqyyp.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0295_zpsk4cvqyyp.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0296_zpshhldnzjx.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0296_zpshhldnzjx.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/goat_punisher/media/DSC_0297_zpsefbc2gnv.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/goat_punisher/DSC_0297_zpsefbc2gnv.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Excellent job. It looks great. I rather like the subtlety of the white on maple fret markers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Thanks Norris. Yeah, the markers are cool. I was a bit apprehensive the neck would feel too thick which seems to be a common complaint of these Allparts necks, but it feels great. Not cheap, but well recommended and great quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 Looks great . I bet it sounds it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 Cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikki_Sixx Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 Looks fantastic! I love how you left the body looking pretty worn - it looks rugged without looking cheap or nasty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 Thanks Rikki. The paint is hardly held on there...it seems to come off pretty easily so I'd imagine I'll add my own wear and tear over the coming months! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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