paulnb57 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]I really like the Dusty Hill signature bass, its a Fender Custom Shoppe and the RRP is about £3.5k, to be fair as much as I like it and guitar boutiques sell em for about £2.5k, I wouldn't part with that many Red Wine/pie/cake tokens, I have a figure to maintain, in fact I think £350 would do, but I digress...[/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]I could build one, not a slavish replica, but something INSPIRED by the bearded one......so, I started searching for parts, a reverse head bass neck is a rare beast indeed, in fact Unicorn horn, secured with unobtainium would be easier......especially as I have a penchant for the narrower Jazz neck.......[/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]OK so I put out feelers for a Left hand Jass Bass neck and eventually am offered a Southpaw neck from a Harley Benton Jazzer here on Basschat......woohoo! I'm in business![/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]A 51 P Bass body from an ebay manufacturer in Italy is puchased...[/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]A 2 saddle bridge and chrome control plate from across the pond......[/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]Tuners are in the parts box, along with a Jack plate[/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]A hand wound vintage stylee pickup from Spain.....[/size][/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Times][size=4]Some parts arrived today and tonight the pink one is on night shifts.... cue Hammer House of Horror sound effects, the kitchen will be a bomb site![/size][/font][/color] [font=Arial][size=3]This is the Dusty Hill Signature Bass[/size][/font] [url="http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpskua8fpsz.png.html"][/url] [font=Arial][size=3]This is as far as I got tonight, a dry run fit of parts after modding the headstock to Tele shape, sealing the sanded area with satin water based varnish (!) and applying a moody "F" decal.......the Body is outstandigly good quality, the Harley Benton neck really isnt bad at all but although the tuners fit, they were crooked and needed all the screw holes filling and redrilling, however the neck to body holes lined up perfectly.......I did have to square off the heel of the neck though to match the pocket.....heres close of play......[/size][/font] [url="http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpsjufxrdac.jpeg.html"][/url] [url="http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpsownqg3n8.jpeg.html"][/url] [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zps8bvcdesa.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zps8bvcdesa.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [font=Arial][size=3]Black paint tomorrow!..........[/size][/font] Edited January 15, 2016 by paulnb57 Quote
discreet Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 I like it already! But what's that hairy vase all about..? Quote
Bigwan Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Do you have a link to the ebay seller you bought the body from? Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281862561200?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT The "hairy vase" is a leftover flower arrangement sent to the pink one at Xmas.....get in touch with your female side (or a consenting females side) maaaan! Edited January 15, 2016 by paulnb57 Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 I like that, Paul! I particularly like the reverse neck and block inlay combination Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) [color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]Anyroadup, more progress today, left the body on a clothes airer near a radiator overnight so it would warm up a bit when the heating kicked in, stuck half a can of Halfords Satin Black in a sink of warm water, then at 0700 dressed only in a dressing gown, I stepped onto the deck, 5 mins later the body was sprayed, and I was bloody cold, back into the warm (Bass) body back near the radiator to bake the paint. Cup o tea, then relic-ed the neck. Later gave all the chrome a going over with wet n dry and wire wool to dull it down a bit. After tea reassembled.....need to open up the holes in the control plate tomorrow then fit the pots and wire everything ready for the pup when it gets here from Spain.....[/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]Happy Days![/font][/color] [url="http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpseewhm72o.jpeg.html"][/url] [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpsprvtnojc.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsprvtnojc.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpsabu7kbul.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsabu7kbul.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] Edited January 15, 2016 by paulnb57 Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 [color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]Oh, and relic the body, not everyones cup o tea, but it's mine, with potential for really screwing it up...….I poured a glass o red and cracked on………not too bad for a first attempt…..[/font][/color] [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/IMG_2231_zpska4uq4ts.jpg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/IMG_2231_zpska4uq4ts.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/IMG_2232_zpsf6m6b80w.jpg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/IMG_2232_zpsf6m6b80w.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/IMG_2233_zpsfzhspcsf.jpg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/IMG_2233_zpsfzhspcsf.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Blimey, Paul - that's quick work. Looking good . I look forward to seeing it fully reassembled! Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 The Pink one is working nights, it's just me n the hound, I don't really do telly……... Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) Link to the pup...a bit of a punt........ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172057438540?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Edited January 15, 2016 by paulnb57 Quote
discreet Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) I hope the pup sounds as good as it looks. Can't wait to see the finished article. Edited January 15, 2016 by discreet Quote
scojack Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Looking good, although that dining table would have a suspiciously Fendery looking hole in it when the missus got back from nightsift if it wiz me Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 16, 2016 Author Posted January 16, 2016 That dining table is Oak, looks great but heavy man! and I'm rather attached to my man bits! Quote
PlungerModerno Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 Real sweet - Were it mine I'd be considering either a 4 saddle bridge - or a set of these however: Strange - I could have sworn they made them for bass too - can't seem to find them. In any case if you find intonation an issue you can look into it... Otherwise - Enjoy! Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 16, 2016 Author Posted January 16, 2016 There is a 4 saddle bridge amde by Fender thats a straight swap, that also gives the choice of through strung or top strung.....however I have a Bronco Bass that is 2 saddle and that intonates near enough, sometimes I think folk get a bit too fussy about intonation being spot on to the nearest micro cent, in the days when things were only i black and white they did it by ear and it sounded OK.....anyroadup, time will tell amd ther s a solution if I need one So today I screened the cavities and wired up as much as I could, tested with an old Strat pup, bored now! Waiting for strings and the pup..... bored..... I'll have to build something else! Anyone got a lightweight P Bass body going cheap! I've got a neck!..... [URL=http://s260.photobucket.com/user/paulnb57/media/image_zpsnjbvfhau.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsnjbvfhau.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] Quote
paulnb57 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) Pickup arrived from Spain, at last, I've had stuff from the States quicker! Anyroadup, anyone who gives a rats will notice I sprayed the head satin black as it seems to suit the vibe………not everyones cup-o-tea, but I achieved the look I wanted….. All done sounds and plays great!……… Edited January 29, 2016 by paulnb57 1 Quote
Beedster Posted January 29, 2016 Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) Outstanding work, well done Edited January 29, 2016 by Beedster Quote
PlungerModerno Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 WOW! Very nice - and somehow the block inlays work with the body and matching headstock. Won't have quite the resale value of a fender custom shop of course - but it's yours, and it didn't cost the earth in the first place. Enjoy your very cool "51" P. Quote
bartelby Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Good to see another cut down and reversed HB neck is out there! Quote
paul h Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 That looks absolutely awesome. Great job. Quote
StraightSix Posted March 20, 2016 Posted March 20, 2016 Very nice job. Incidentally, Haynes Guitars in the UK (near Banbury) can supply a large variety of bass bodies at very reasonable rates. (I'm not affiliated with them in any way...I just thought some may prefer to buy a body closer to home.) Quote
tommorichards Posted March 25, 2016 Posted March 25, 2016 [quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1452937466' post='2954815'] Real sweet - Were it mine I'd be considering either a 4 saddle bridge - or a set of these however: Strange - I could have sworn they made them for bass too - can't seem to find them. In any case if you find intonation an issue you can look into it... Otherwise - Enjoy! [/quote] Im sure if you got a file on some brass ones, you could diy it. Quote
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