Wilson_51_ Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 (edited) Disclaimer: yes i could have sold this bass and got something more suitable, yes it could turn out to be a terrible decision! But i like to tinker, this bass doesn't owe me anything and its (mostly) reversible. So after my previous thread of refinishing a Harley Benton PB-50. It got me in the mood to do a bit more modifying. I bought an Ibanez ATK300 a few years ago for very cheap. At the time i was playing a Musicman Stingray in a Stoner band and wanted something that could mimic it well, as a back up. This fitted the criteria perfectly and the same model was used by Scott Reeder (Kyuss) which was also a big plus in my book. I changed up my set up last year to using Rickenbacker and sold the Stingray. The ATK has fallen to the wayside as i find it doesn't suit the sound I'm going for. So Active preamp out, MM pickups out. Passive and single coil in! Browsing through Facebook i came across somebody selling a pair of single coil Zombie Dust pickups housed in MM size cases. The idea struck me to turn the ATK into a passive, double single coil pickup monster. After Some thought I wanted to try and make this easily reversible. The first thing to do once the pickups arrived was to make sure i could fit the neck pickup where the pickguard is so if i don't like it i can cover the rout with the original pickguard. Edited March 16, 2019 by simon88wilson 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Sounds interesting. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 I carefully took out the electronics , so I could put them back in when/if necessary. I contacted Gig.ink to get a custom pickguard made up. I just scanned in the original and asked for a mm rout in it. he sent me a pdf to check it fits and will be making and sending out this week coming. Then i set about routing out the pickup hole, luckily being covered by i pickguard all i needed to do was cut a rectangle out. I don't own a router and have considered buying one for a while but funds would not permit, so i gave it a go with a drill,chisel and dremel with router attachment. Disaster struck early on. I noticed a small hairline crack in the neck pocket but thought it was a mark. the first use of the dremel and out came a hunk of wood. luckily it isn't too deep and will be covered by the pickguard and hasn't effected the neck pocket by what i can gather after refitting the neck. I know its not a clean straight rout and i should have used a template but its functional and i'm happy enough. I pooped myself when drilling the pickup wire hole to the cavity but it went absolutely fine. i sprayed the pickups with a black paint i had hanging around as they were finished in a weird silver that wasn't appealing for this project. I refitted the bridge and the new single coil bridge pickup. i popped the old pickguard over the rout just to make sure it'll be covered and added a dummy switch, which i might use for something when wiring it up. so whats left to do? fit the new pickguard when it arrives, add inn the neck pickup. Then it's on to wiring it up, i think ill use the same wiring as in the rickenbacker but potentially without the pickup selector or maybe use the small dummy switch as a pickup selector. I'll update later this week when the bits arrive! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 So pickguard arrived from gig.ink yesterday. Fitted it and the neck pickup. All fits it’s on the first attempt which is lovely! Now all that’s left to do is the wiring. I am am considering a complete colour change. I already have a black and maple bass. So I’m tempted to change this to something else. Possibly British racing green? Does anyone one have any colour suggestions? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I've got a BRG guitar and I think it looks dandy. It's got black hardware with zebra pickups, but I think that you may lose the scratch plate if you make it too dark. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 thanks i was thinking of this combination (excuse it being on a guitar) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Sorry, I hadn't seen that the pickguard had a white line on it. Carry on 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 1 minute ago, Si600 said: Sorry, I hadn't seen that the pickguard had a white line on it. Carry on 👍 the new pickguard doesn't have a white line. you've got me thinking now that british racing green wouldn't be the best choice. time to think of a different colour! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Gun metal grey, Lake placid blue (metallic), muted gold? Not all at once, obvs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Looking good ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 Gun metal grey might be the answer! Thanks 15 hours ago, Pea Turgh said: Gun metal grey, Lake placid blue (metallic), muted gold? Not all at once, obvs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacopo San Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 On 20/03/2019 at 09:05, simon88wilson said: Does anyone one have any colour suggestions? Don't know why, but I can see this really well in Buttercream or similar yellow! https://www.andertons.co.uk/fender-player-jazzmaster-buttercream-pau-ferro-fretboard-0146903534?LGWCODE=0146903534;56375;6335&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj9LkBRDnARIsAGQ-hUdVaNBzuY1FScV1P0O5uEAibYi7sRYbsVkwIoahYOB3x1Uw7queeIoaAuZ4EALw_wcB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 Here's my Squier P-bass Special in gun metal grey with black plate, if it gives you any inspiration. Metallic may not be the easiest finish to apply though 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 (edited) just a quick update on this! It is now all back together (haven't bothered to refinish it but it might get one later this year) sound file is a quick rendition of the start of warpigs because i was listening to it at the time. It has brand new rotosounds on it at the moment. ill add some pictures when its light enough to take some decent ones! Edited April 6, 2019 by simon88wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_51_ Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share Posted April 7, 2019 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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