Funky Dunky Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) This merits a thread, and I welcome everyone's input. I'll begin with a small anecdote.... On the 12th of September, 2012, my bass journey began. A girl at my work and I were chatting and she mentioned that she used to play bass. I told her that I'd played guitar, but bass was always the instrument I'd felt drawn to - the rhythm/groove aspect really matched my musical style and sensibilities. She offered me the old bass, I gleefully accepted and the next night she brought in a filthy old pink Jim Deacon Precision copy, covered in stickers. It was love at first plunk, fellas. Within half an hour I felt like I'd met the woman of my dreams, as even my earliest fumblings brought me an incredible new kind of joy. I was determined to get good, and quick. Anyway...every year around the 12th of September, on my annibassary, I buy myself a piece of gear as a present. This year money's a little tight, so instead I'm going to begin work on a project, and that project is to turn the old Deacon into a Motown Monster - my very own funk machine. I'm not going to do much to the looks of it - it's pink, and believe it or not, I like it. So what do I want to change? Well..... The tuners are loose The tone knob is loose The bridge is crappy The pickup is surprisingly usable, but I fancy dropping a corker of a vintage P-Style pup in there. I fancy a Fender Custom Shop 62, but I'm open to suggestions. Looking for an authentic vintage P-with-flats sound. Open to any suggestions to help turn this sow's ear into a silk purse....or, polish a turd, if you'd rather. So, what do you all recommend? Anything else? What has worked for you, or what would you do if it was your project? I tried to post pics of the ol' girl but I'm having trouble - I just keep getting an error message Edited August 19, 2016 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Got good pots from this eBayer. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-200-500-K-M-Ohm-Potentiometers-Lin-Log-Switched-Single-Dual-/110857852314?var=&hash=item5f7c1832d4 Well it's a start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzoid Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Wilkinson brand hardware is generally a pretty safe and cheapish bet for upgrades from stuff that is usually worse. They do a Precision bass bridge with brass saddles which is pretty solid. The tuners are also decent enough quality. Anyway, worth a look if budget is a little tight. You can get most of their kit on eBay - around £12 for the bridge and £30ish for a set of tuners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzoid Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Oh yeah, additional thought - if you use eBay I've found Black Dog Music Supplies to be very helpful and reliable - their stock does seem to change quite a lot though... so would be a matter of timing to get the bits you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 If it were mine... I'd get a new wiring loom from our very own KiOgon, the pickup you have your eye on or (my favourite for vintage tone) a Fender Original, Wilkinson tuners and a Gotoh 201 bridge, which I find more comfortable than a BBOT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1471555728' post='3114051'] ... even my earliest fumblings brought me an incredible new kind of joy... [/quote] Let's just hope Discreet doesn't find this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 Thanks guys, I'll do some surfing and check some prices. Now....what else is there to know? Any considerations when it comes to a bridge, or tuners etc? "Ah you don't want one of those because xxxxx" etc. I see a lot of talk about Badass bridges, but are they hard to come by now? What else is good for sustain? Bear in mind this bass will be strung with flats for the rest of its life, if it makes any difference. I'd also considered a Hipshot D-tuner, but this is a Jim Deacon bass, so not sure if they do one which would fit without additional jiggery-pokery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) I've set a budget for the project, and I'm thinking of saving money on the bridge in order to allow me a better pickup. To that end, I think it'll be a Wilkinson bridge, and this here pickup, which is about £30 more expensive than the Fender I had considered - but when I heard this beast in action I knew right away I had found the sound I'm after: http://youtu.be/Bd1vBVU5suU Edited August 19, 2016 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Wilkinson Vintage bridges are cracking and great value for money. Have used them on a few basses. They are very well made, substantial and the brass saddles do it for me. Wilkinson tuners are also great. There is an online site in China, www.eyguitarmusic.com, that I tend to use for hardware. Good prices, (well pre the Brexit vote they were), and quick delivery Changing the Pots/Jack to CTS/Switchcraft will make a big difference for not much money. If you aren't handy with a soldering iron, then Ki0gon is your man. Will a standard pickup fit? If not what about speaking to Aaron Armstrong. the UK arm of Kent Armstrong, who could re-build your existing pickup to sound however you want or if standard size, look at what he can do for you. Prices are more than reasonable. This guy can also make whatever you want in a pickup and is apparently the man. http://jlguitars.eu/shop/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted August 20, 2016 Author Share Posted August 20, 2016 [quote name='BassBunny' timestamp='1471686264' post='3114995'] Wilkinson Vintage bridges are cracking and great value for money. Have used them on a few basses. They are very well made, substantial and the brass saddles do it for me. Wilkinson tuners are also great. There is an online site in China, www.eyguitarmusic.com, that I tend to use for hardware. Good prices, (well pre the Brexit vote they were), and quick delivery Changing the Pots/Jack to CTS/Switchcraft will make a big difference for not much money. If you aren't handy with a soldering iron, then Ki0gon is your man. Will a standard pickup fit? If not what about speaking to Aaron Armstrong. the UK arm of Kent Armstrong, who could re-build your existing pickup to sound however you want or if standard size, look at what he can do for you. Prices are more than reasonable. This guy can also make whatever you want in a pickup and is apparently the man. http://jlguitars.eu/shop/index.php [/quote] Thank you, this is exactly the type of input I've been craving. Soldering isn't my thing, and I spoke to Ki0gon a while back about his kits and it's my best option I think. I foolishly assumed a standard P-replacement pickup would fit, this is something I'll need to investigate. I'll have a good look at that site and see if there's anything I could use. Pots and caps? Well sir.....I know nothing, so I had better get studying! Many thanks for this, very very helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Ask Kiogon for a solderless kit and you can just screw the pickup and bridge earth in place without having to solder a thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1471702451' post='3115198'] Pots and caps? Well sir.....I know nothing, so I had better get studying! [/quote] Happy to help. If you are going the KI0gon route then you needn't worry about Pots/Caps/Jacks, that's all taken care of in his looms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1471702731' post='3115200'] Ask Kiogon for a solderless kit and you can just screw the pickup and bridge earth in place without having to solder a thing! [/quote] I swear I don't even have the ability to do this without ruining something I've just learned that I'm receiving a tidy sum in vouchers for the music store of my choice. I will use these towards getting the work done. Looks like I'm going with Wilkinson bridge and tuners, the pickup is still very much up in the air. I fancied a Bareknuckle but I just heard Andy Irvine's 1976 Stagg P with a Nordstrand in it and wet my pants. Unfortunately that would put me over budget, so it's back to the drawing board in a bid to find a vintage sounding Precision pickup under £80. New or used doesn't matter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 The Tonerider TRP1 is supposed to be exactly the same as the pickups fitted to the Squier Classic Vibe P basses https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tonerider-TRP1-Precision-Plus-Pickup/dp/B0050YRJXW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Jim Deacon is essentially the same as SX... great instruments for the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 For a vintage sounding Precision pickup I`d recommend the Fender Custom Shop 62, which comes as standard in US models. Within budget, just, and worth it imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1471600913' post='3114320'] Let's just hope Discreet doesn't find this thread [/quote] Too late! *Emerges from wardrobe wearing Batman costume* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1473278674' post='3128700'] The Tonerider TRP1 is supposed to be exactly the same as the pickups fitted to the Squier Classic Vibe P basses https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tonerider-TRP1-Precision-Plus-Pickup/dp/B0050YRJXW [/quote] I've written to them twice and asked them to make a demo vid with this pickup but they're totally blanking me. They only have videos of the guitar pickups. The pickup in the CV Precision sounds reeeeally good - the general consensus is that the Squier CV Precison is a fabulous bass and the demos of that bass certainly back that up. It sounds better than some Fenders! I can't get verification that it is the Tonerider pup, but yes, that pickup is on my shortlist. It's crazy cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1473283640' post='3128772'] For a vintage sounding Precision pickup I`d recommend the Fender Custom Shop 62, which comes as standard in US models. Within budget, just, and worth it imo. [/quote] I have Custom Shop pickups in my Jazz and I'm very impressed. The 62 was the leading candidate until I heard the Bareknuckle, but I would have absolutely no qualms about putting the CS 62 in my bass. Talk about a Rolls Royce engine in a Kia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 I also need to get someone in the know to look at/measure my Jim Deacon and tell me if a standard Fender Precision style bridge, pots, tuners etc will just plop straight in nicely or whether additional jiggery pokery will be required. I hopes not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1473290570' post='3128856'] I've written to them twice and asked them to make a demo vid with this pickup but they're totally blanking me. They only have videos of the guitar pickups. The pickup in the CV Precision sounds reeeeally good - the general consensus is that the Squier CV Precison is a fabulous bass and the demos of that bass certainly back that up. It sounds better than some Fenders! I can't get verification that it is the Tonerider pup, but yes, that pickup is on my shortlist. It's crazy cheap. [/quote] Tonerider refuse to confirm they make the pickups in CV guitars and basses... most probably due to a non-disclosure agreement with Fender but many others have confirmed that they even use the same part numbers for the units. Apparently the only difference is the Toneriders have vintage cloth cable, the CV only have plastic covered cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyg42 Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1471600913' post='3114320'] Let's just hope Discreet doesn't find this thread [/quote] The loose knob worries me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 8, 2016 Author Share Posted September 8, 2016 (edited) [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1473323132' post='3128989'] Tonerider refuse to confirm they make the pickups in CV guitars and basses... most probably due to a non-disclosure agreement with Fender but many others have confirmed that they even use the same part numbers for the units. Apparently the only difference is the Toneriders have vintage cloth cable, the CV only have plastic covered cable. [/quote] Aha! That is quite telling. £35 for that pickup is a damn bargain. They do a really nice, authentic-sounding Precision tone - some will question the balance etc but for £35 it wipes out a few competitors at double the price imo. Edited September 8, 2016 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1473325130' post='3129026'] Aha! That is quite telling. £35 for that pickup is a damn bargain. They do a really nice, authentic-sounding Precision tone - some will question the balance etc but for £35 it wipes out a few competitors at double the price imo. [/quote] If it's any reassurance, I put a Tonerider Jazz pickup in one of my own projects and was amazed by how good it sounded for just thirty bob! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 8, 2016 Author Share Posted September 8, 2016 Leaning towards the TR now, purely as it would open up m'budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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