'51(ish) P bass build

[Jimothey]

This build is going to be a Pine slab bodied '51 style P bass

I'm going to stain the body black with either a White or Mirrored pickguard and Chrome Hardware I'm going to go for a Maple fretboard with perhaps a matching headstock 

I'm thinking 2 soapbar pickups on stacked pots with independent Tone and Volume controls for each pickup................ 😀 

Edited July 9, 2019 by Jimothey

[SpondonBassed]

Pining for a pee eh?

[Jimothey]

I thought I'd do a bit of a test stain on the back still probably needs 1 more coat then Danish oil.......... 

And I made my pickguard out of 3mm ply and stained it to see how it will look as I'm toying with the idea of black pickguard with white binding on the body but I might do the pickguard white I haven't decided yet?........ 😀 

 

[SpondonBassed]

What about black binding on a natural top with the black pickguard, natural sides and the blackened back?

[Jimothey]

42 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

What about black binding on a natural top with the black pickguard, natural sides and the blackened back?

I could do natural top with blackened back and sides?? It might look a bit random with just the back black?? 

Or I could do it natural all over with black binding top and bottom with black pickguard?? 🤔 

Edited May 13, 2019 by Jimothey

[SpondonBassed]

2 minutes ago, Jimothey said:

I could do natural top with blackened back and sides?? It might look a bit random with just the back black?? 

Or I could do it natural all over with black binding top and bottom with black pickguard?? 🤔 

Of the two I'd choose the latter.

[Jimothey]

15 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

Of the two I'd choose the latter.

I think your on to a winner there mate! That should look nice?, I'll just finish it with Danish Oil, I should be able to sand the stain off the back quite easily............. 😀 

[Jimothey]

I sanded the black stain off the back today and then sanded to top nice and flat, I'm trying to source a 1.5mm binding router bit but they all seem to be £50 and above so I might have to come up with another way of routing the rebate round the top and bottom?? 🤔 

[Pea Turgh]

Paint one on?

[Jimothey]

19 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

Paint one on?

I was thinking of doing a fake binding I've seen it done where you do 3 coats of Danish oil all over then scrape back to bare wood the depth of the binding then do the same on top then stain it whatever colour you want and supposedly the stain only goes on the bare wood and not the Danish oil?? I spose it might be worth a test piece?? 🤔 

[Cuzzie]

Looking good and defo worth that test piece. I often to my test bits under the pickguard or neck plate area

Looking forward to this.

The more the mind changes - the lighter the bass becomes!

[Jimothey]

I've been messing about with faux bindings and I found the best way is with car twin pin striping 4mm on the side and 2mm on top, it even stands up to being oiled over.............. 😀 

[Jimothey]

I decided to give it a go on the body to see how it looks??................. 😀 

[Cuzzie]

I bloody like that

[SpondonBassed]

Well... they can't do you for it.

I suppose it speeds up production somewhat doing it that way too.  How does it stand up to scrutiny in the close-up stills from performances that you've had done for promotional material?  Time will tell.

Ignore me.  I'm still a bit Mondayish.  It's a great way to prove a concept while avoiding the tricky routing and bonding process.

Edited May 20, 2019 by SpondonBassed

[Jimothey]

1 hour ago, SpondonBassed said:

Well... they can't do you for it.

I suppose it speeds up production somewhat doing it that way too.  How does it stand up to scrutiny in the close-up stills from performances that you've had done for promotional material?  Time will tell.

Ignore me.  I'm still a bit Mondayish.  It's a great way to prove a concept while avoiding the tricky routing and bonding process.

I never take photos too close up anyway you might notice some inconsistencies or things that aren't quite right!! my basses are like water colour paintings they look better from a distance!! 😁 

Also if I decide I don't like the look of the bindings I can easily change it....... 

 

[SpondonBassed]

1 hour ago, Jimothey said:

I never take photos too close up anyway you might notice some inconsistencies or things that aren't quite right!! my basses are like water colour paintings they look better from a distance!! 😁 

Also if I decide I don't like the look of the bindings I can easily change it....... 

 

I kinda got that.

It wouldn't really be a criticism to say so either.  Your quick turn-arounds must surely provide inspiration for that special bass build you're going to do one day.  You know, the one where you spec for hot pups and pramps.  I see plenty of others here getting inspired.

No shortage of ideas and proof of concept builds with your build pages.  Good man!

[Jimothey]

5 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

It wouldn't really be a criticism to say so either.  Your quick turn-arounds must surely provide inspiration for that special bass build you're going to do one day.  You know, the one where you spec for hot pups and pramps.  I see plenty of others here getting inspired.

Thats why my neck thru build has been going on for a long time because I want to be completely sure what I want to do on it so I don't change my mind and so I can save up some money so I can do it properly and not on the cheap like most of my other builds........... 😀 

Edited May 21, 2019 by Jimothey

[Jimothey]

I'm thinking of making this a 4 string instead of a 5er as I've been given a neck (which is in quite good nick it needs refinishing as it's been painted black badly!!) and some soapbar pups!!

I'll probably reshape the headstock to proper tele style but the fella who gave me the parts said the headstock has been filled lots so I might make a black capping for it (matt finish to match the pickguard) because the pickguard is matt I'm rethinking the faux binding as that's gloss so I might try and paint it instead?? 

If I remember correctly @SpondonBassed have you strung a bass with rotosound 88's if so what do you think of the them?............ 😀 

 

Edited May 21, 2019 by Jimothey

[SpondonBassed]

1 hour ago, Jimothey said:

 have you strung a bass with rotosound 88's if so what do you think of the them?............ 😀 

I have them on my fretless Vantage.  They sound warm and thumpy.

They're a vast improvement on the roundwounds that were on  before.  Also, they're easier on the fingerboard.  It is finished in black and has worn in a few spots already.  Being black with gold tails they look smart on the all black Vantage.

[Jimothey]

Binding take 2...........

The little mark at the start of the lower horn has be rectified now............... 😀 

[SpondonBassed]

 

[Jimothey]

@SpondonBassed Almost right! I tried finding a song video called 'Draw it on with a sharpie!!' to reply with but bizarrely I couldn't find anything.......... 😀 

Edited May 23, 2019 by Jimothey

[Jimothey]

Just a quick pic with the temporary pickguard......... 😀 

[Jimothey]

This build has stalled a bit due to a stupidly heavy workload at the mo but hopefully I'll be able to push it on a bit next week?? 

I still can't decide whether to do this as a 4 or a 5 string tho??........... 🤔