AndyTravis Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 So, I sold a p/j bitsa I made (to find a bass I thought I needed when I didn't) I made it on a budget. The entire thing owed me £300 ish. I scored a used limelight neck, which was ace. That now lives in the midlands with a nice chap who still tells me how well it plays. I've decided that I want to do the same again but broaden the budget a little without going over £500-£600. I had a pair of P/J bodies in Candy Apple Red to choose from (I bought some basses from my wife’s work which weren’t being used...) I'll be doing a subtle aging job on the body. The basses are ex school instruments and as such are dinged and pranged as it is so I'm not doing the belt sander job on them. Just taking the shine off and sharp edges of prangs. I wanted a neck - Ideally a jazz width, but not opposed to P. Maple board. My options were... Allparts (expensive but great reputation) Mighty Mite (hard to find in UK?!) Northwest Guitars (well priced and local to me) Stratosphere (Roadworn 50's neck, actually pretty expensive) Limelight quoted £360 which means I wouldn't be able to buy other bits, a shame as their necks are lovely. The plan is a replica of the Fender Duck Dunn, but as a P/J and with EMG pickups. I’ve wanted the DD since I started in 1997 when I saw one in a magazine. The bass will be used as a gigging/rehearsing bass for venues where I don't feel my CS jazz should go. The major deviations from the original Fender will be P/J which is always my favourite setup, the fact it will be active because I have Passive sorted twice over and I’m partial to lollipop tuners so will wear some of those. So, I eventually settled on the NW guitars neck, arrived today and I’m bowled over. https://instagram.com/p/BbU0ncvjuTV/ The two basses, my brother had the second as it was in better nick. He loves it as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 Picked the more dented body, a genuine roadworn. 3 years of useage in a Rochdale high school made for very convincing relic job. So, I just took the shine off the finish. And got a Fender Gold anodised Pickguard. https://instagram.com/p/Ba7cFOyDU4K/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 It was close to where I wanted it, but I added very subtle wear on top of the actual wear... https://instagram.com/p/BbHOnwwD4NE/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 And the neck has arrived. Definitely on par with the MIJ fenders I’ve owned... https://instagram.com/p/BbUmSj-jSqY/ Clamped for now, I’ve no neck plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 Well, the neck is on! A very lovely 7.7lbs without pickups and machine heads. Loving the fact I can upload from my phone again!!! Woooooohooo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Looking very nice!!! I’m doing a P bass build at the mo as well but I’m doing mine ‘51 style with split coils in instead of single, I hope mine comes out looking as good as yours!?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 13, 2017 Author Share Posted November 13, 2017 Machine heads arrive tomorrow. Stuck on pickups now though...debating the EMG GZR set to keep the classic look. All the sound demos I’ve heard though have drive on them which is a pain in the crack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDaBass Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Hi Andy, For PUPs think about DiMazio Split P and a KiOgon loom with old stock Spragg cap. Really great range of tones with warm, lush lows. The DiMarzio Jazz PUP is really well matched as it is a split coil and removes some of the output loss associated with single coil Jazz PUPs in P/J configurations . Great project the bass looks handsome, Well Done! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 13, 2017 Author Share Posted November 13, 2017 Machine heads on, strings on, string tree on. should be able to get a very low action or so it seems. exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 So...yes I’ve done a decal, but I’ve also written “deffo not a fender” on the heel of the neck. its for me, i’ll not be selling it all being well, so before anyone has a moan... and ive sourced some EMG’s need to sort pots and wiring 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 9 hours ago, AndyTravis said: So...yes I’ve done a decal, but I’ve also written “deffo not a fender” on the heel of the neck. its for me, i’ll not be selling it all being well, so before anyone has a moan... and ive sourced some EMG’s need to sort pots and wiring Hahahahahaha. I understand why you'd want to be defensive about the decal. That topic brought out some surprisingly strong feelings here and there. On the decal itself; when you say that you did one, how was it done? Is there a special printer paper that you can get or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 34 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: Hahahahahaha. I understand why you'd want to be defensive about the decal. That topic brought out some surprisingly strong feelings here and there. On the decal itself; when you say that you did one, how was it done? Is there a special printer paper that you can get or what? I was researching making my own, and then came across a guy who makes them which made my decision as the special water slide paper was as dear as the decal itself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 4 hours ago, AndyTravis said: I was researching making my own, and then came across a guy who makes them which made my decision as the special water slide paper was as dear as the decal itself. So you didn’t fancy going down the laser printer and sellotape method then? They don’t come out too bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 8 hours ago, Jimothey said: So you didn’t fancy going down the laser printer and sellotape method then? They don’t come out too bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 54 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: Is that your WTF face?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 10 minutes ago, Jimothey said: Is that your WTF face?? I can’t believe that was actually achieved using sellotape?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 38 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: I can’t believe that was actually achieved using sellotape?! Yeah it’s really simple you just print out you logo on normal printer paper stick sellotape over it then I use the handle of a pair of scissors and rub the logo to make sure all the ink sticks then cut it out and put it in water for about 5-10mins then you carefully rub the paper off and it just leaves the ink on the sellotape then you just stick it on and when it dries the glue reactivates and then it stays The logo in the picture is put on bare wood and has been on there for about 6months without any problems if you want you can lacquer over the top of it as well and it doesn’t crinkle or anything There’s a few videos on YouTube that explain it better than I probably have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 That’s amazing... i might do that trick with a photo of Duck Dunn with his pipe for between the bridge and pickup... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 If you can get the extra clear sellotape because I used a really cheap one and it came out a bit cloudy But these were just tester if going to do them again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 Debating this Duck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 (edited) That would be cool! If you’ve got a colour laser printer you could do it quite easily and cheaply Edited November 18, 2017 by Jimothey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 Cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 I was thinking of doing something on my P bass And maybe this on my Mike Dirnt ‘51 PBass instead of just a normal star but I don’t know yet!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 I bought some label paper for printing, making stickers for the kids and labels for folders etc. think the duck is likely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 I think that the duck will look really good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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