roblpm Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Following a conversation with Beedster in the for sale forum here are my thoughts..... Any suggestions? I am just about to change career (again) so am going to go from OK to poor! So this needs to be on a budget of less than £500 which is impossible! I am one of those people who don't like brands! So here we go: I already have a passive jazz. So gasing for something that sounds different but doesn't have a massive neck. Spec would be: No labels. Anonymous. Jazz style neck. Pj config (or I suppose like a Stingray one humbucker) Excellent pickups. Active. Maybe John East. Badass or other good bridge Olympic white Mint green pick guard Lightish weight So obviously I could buy a Sire P7. But that's no fun...... What can I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) Great stuff! Keep your eyes on eBay and Basschat, and prepare yourself for a few weeks at least, sometimes months, of trial and error. But it’s great fun and really satisfying. Putting together a bitsa is also very easy if you’re sticking to Fender-type instruments because 9 times out of 10 things fit, or can be made to fit with a little tweaking. It allows a lot of customisation. For example, I love the sound of Jazz Basses but hate the skinny necks. I have two bitsa Jazzes with Precision necks, and love them both. I have also built my perfect bass, a P/J fretless that feels like a Wal to play, and even looks a little Wal-sequel! Some necks resonate beautifully on one body and not on another, sometimes a high-mass bridge improves a bass, sometimes not. The list of combinations that can influence either tone and/or playability is pretty long. Possibly the best bass I have at present has a huge gap at the heel/pocket, a crap lightweight bridge, cheap PUPs, and a couple of misplaced bits of hardware, but it just works, certainly as well as instruments costing 3-4 times as much. Trial and error is king, and there are many surprises to be had from relatively unpromising sources. Have fun mate, give me a shout if you need parts Chris Edited January 22, 2019 by Beedster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Are you talking about buying off the shelf or having your no name bass built by someone. ? JE active pre... £200 - ish Excellent pups .. £180 - £200 Your budget is nearly finished by then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 4 minutes ago, fleabag said: Are you talking about buying off the shelf or having your no name bass built by someone. ? JE active pre... £200 - ish Excellent pups .. £180 - £200 Your budget is nearly finished by then I’d recommend buying all parts used, you’d be amazed at what you can find 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) I thought our man was going for new, but yes, used will certainly cut down on those prices. Probably doable for the budget, if rob is patient Not always easy to get those pre's and pups used - and Rich is right about used prices for JE pre's and decent pups. But, ya never know Edited January 22, 2019 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 1 minute ago, fleabag said: I thought our man was going for new, but yes, used will certainly cut down on those prices. probably doable for the budget, if rob is patient I concur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-East-J-Retro1-Active-Bass-Preamp/323658142530?hash=item4b5b875342:g:nPkAAOSwgb1cRHRb:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true I very much doubt it will stay at this price though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 The last J Retro sold on Basschat was £75. Bargain if that ebay one goes for that Also, ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEDDY-LEE-REPLICA-JAZZ-BASS-MAPLE-NECK-FULLY-LOADED-READY-TO-FIT-GO/392219800491?hash=item5b521f33ab:g:gIoAAOSwTxJcRJaS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 There's also a no name neck , but only because the seller has covered it up with a bit of tape https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jazz-bass-style-neck/143097971842?hash=item21514dc482:g:4IYAAOSwuytcRNSe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 At this rate the bass will be done by Friday and cost about £300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Indeed ! And a bargain of a jazz body here - Sapele is a lovely wood https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Body-Jazz-Sapele-2pc-3-12kg-MG108/113021067599?hash=item1a5094a14f:g:rK8AAOSwPGpbCszS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 And for the whole kit and caboodle, minus decent pickups and decent active pre.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GD309-Electric-Bass-Jazz-DIY-Guitar-Kit-ASH-BODY-Kits-for-Luthier-Projects-Great/162615031576?epid=2156519805&hash=item25dc9c7718:g:0roAAOSwGzxZglMX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan63 Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Got a white Squier P bass body in basswood in good condition that I'll be selling soon, 2015 ICS build Chris Aiken 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 How about spending £200 quid on a Sadowsky Preamp DI or similar? Makes your passive jazz into an active monster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I started with a green (sic!) tinted Status MM neck (satin finish, no dots; thank you folks out there). I had an extra Q-tuner pick-up. Went to a store to buy 4 single bridge pieces. Called a luthier that I know. He built a body from local wood (Finnish birch) and put the set together. Now I have a rock solid dark bass with no adjustments or pots. Works like a dream. Did NOT cost £3 000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 4 hours ago, Beedster said: I’d recommend buying all parts used, you’d be amazed at what you can find On here recently I've bought a pair of Nordstrand 5 string pups and a set of 5 Schaller tuners for the combined total of £120, there's been East preamps selling for under £100 and a Gotoh bridge on here at the moment for £40. No reason you can't put together a monster spec bass for £500-600 if you're patient, even less if you just want a basic Squier level neck and body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblpm Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 4 hours ago, fleabag said: Are you talking about buying off the shelf or having your no name bass built by someone. ? JE active pre... £200 - ish Excellent pups .. £180 - £200 Your budget is nearly finished by then I know that..... So maybe start with something.... And improve over time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblpm Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 2 hours ago, therealting said: How about spending £200 quid on a Sadowsky Preamp DI or similar? Makes your passive jazz into an active monster. Aha. Yes. I can do that. But I don't think that's as much fun. I fancy a frankenstein bass..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblpm Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 22 minutes ago, lemmywinks said: On here recently I've bought a pair of Nordstrand 5 string pups and a set of 5 Schaller tuners for the combined total of £120, there's been East preamps selling for under £100 and a Gotoh bridge on here at the moment for £40. No reason you can't put together a monster spec bass for £500-600 if you're patient, even less if you just want a basic Squier level neck and body. Wow that's great. I need to look at the other forum. I tend to just browse the bass one at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 A set of USA Hipshot Ultralites has just sold for £50 too, plenty of bargains knocking around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, lemmywinks said: A set of USA Hipshot Ultralites has just sold for £50 too, plenty of bargains knocking around. Those looked like licensed tuners to me not USA. No "USA", different Hipshot logo, a shorter cover, less bevel on the teeth. Bargain if so, not so much if not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, KK Jale said: Those looked like licensed tuners to me not USA. No "USA", different Hipshot logo, a shorter cover, less bevel on the teeth. Bargain if so, not so much if not. Ah right, the seller said they were £110 so I assumed they were USA. Can get the licensed ones for about £15 each and they ended up selling for £68 posted which is a bit naughty if they're licensed. The licensed ones are great btw, mentioning just in case the OP is put off them by this slight derail! Had a set on a Cort and they were rock solid for an entire gig as well as being light as a feather (as the name would suggest). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) I put together most of the below basses, all high spec by factory built comparison models (Fender etc), for around or under the O/Ps budget. Most are Warmoth or Allparts necks/bodies, which are generally a step up from standard Fender quality (IMO of course). All are outstanding players and solid as a rock. You'll see a theme...... Edited January 22, 2019 by Beedster 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblpm Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 13 minutes ago, Beedster said: I put together most of the below basses, all high spec by factory built comparison models (Fender etc), for around or under the O/Ps budget. Most are Warmoth or Allparts necks/bodies, which are generally a step up from standard Fender quality (IMO of course). All are outstanding players and solid as a rock. You'll see a theme...... Love them. Except mine will be white! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 7 minutes ago, roblpm said: Love them. Except mine will be white! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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