New ‘83 Precision Elite recreation

[Chopthebass]

My buddy had an ‘83 Élite years ago and regrets ever selling it! So I’m having a go at making him one. 
I’m going to use Lindy Fralins pickups overwound 10%, and 3-Leaf Audio Blue preamp running 18v. Should be a monster!

Edited May 22, 2020 by Chopthebass

[Chopthebass]

Deliveries are slow from the states, but first piece arrived today. White pickups. Bridge overwound 10% and neck 5%

[Cuzzie]

Looking forward to this.

i nearly tried one and was going to get Jaime at Creamery to wind me a match at the bridge for a 58 at the neck

[rubis]

Now this is interesting, good luck with your project Chopthebass

[AndyTravis]

Oooooh!

body and neck from scratch or allparts?

Edited June 27, 2020 by AndyTravis

[Chopthebass]

3 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Oooooh!

body and neck from scratch or allparts?

All from scratch Andy. Quite a lot of routing is needed under the pickguard to accommodate the preamp and 18v. 

[Cuzzie]

Keeping it classic or considering reversing each P?

[Chopthebass]

4 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Keeping it classic or considering reversing each P?

I’m building for a friend who totally regrets selling the Elite he had in the 80’s, and he wants to replicate it, but take it to the next level. The 3 Leaf preamps are something else! 
personally I would reverse each pickup. 

[Chopthebass]

I finally made a start on the Élite. The body is two piece lightweight ash and neck is 4A quartersawn maple with Birdseye top. 
preamp choice is now Noll 4 band, three stacked knobs. 

[wateroftyne]

Foot stuff! Are the pickups going to have closed tops? Such a distinctive part of the Elite look...

[Chopthebass]

9 hours ago, wateroftyne said:

Foot stuff! Are the pickups going to have closed tops? Such a distinctive part of the Elite look...

Unfortunately not! I think the Lindys only come with exposed poles. See pic above. That’s what my buddy wants. 

[Chopthebass]

Pickguard made, and I couldn’t resist mocking it up! Liking it so far. 

[funkle]

This looks great. Subbed. I'd love to do something similar sometime. 

[Chopthebass]

Neck lacquered ready for fretting. Body sealed and grain filled. I’ll start spraying that tomorrow. 

[SpondonBassed]

Have you posted a topic for the headless bass in the background?  That looks interesting too.

[Chopthebass]

29 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

Have you posted a topic for the headless bass in the background?  That looks interesting too.

Not yet. Wasn’t planning too as it is a prototype idea.

[SpondonBassed]

15 minutes ago, Chopthebass said:

Not yet. Wasn’t planning too as it is a prototype idea.

Aw.

[Chopthebass]

Body lacquer finished. I did a couple of tinted coats to get to a suitable amber colour. 
Same for neck. My buddy didn’t want the flames super accentuated, else I would have stained dark and sanded back. 

[Jabba_the_gut]

That really is lovely. The quality of the routing that really shows the quality of the build. I like to see things being done well even though they will be hidden in the final assembly. The neck pickup route on this is just such an example - many builders will just route a big hole for the pickup to go in, not a nice tidy job like this. Proper craftmanship. 

[Chopthebass]

40 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

That really is lovely. The quality of the routing that really shows the quality of the build. I like to see things being done well even though they will be hidden in the final assembly. The neck pickup route on this is just such an example - many builders will just route a big hole for the pickup to go in, not a nice tidy job like this. Proper craftmanship. 

Thanks JTG. I do get a lot of satisfaction making sure hidden stuff is neat.

[funkle]

This is a real beauty. Your work is a real pleasure to see. Can’t wait to see more pics! And sound clips....

I’m planning to make a dual pickup P, but modify an old MIM to do it. Get the bridge pickup centred around a 70’s Jazz pickup line, so it will end up just a little closer overall to the neck than this recreation, I think? Same pickup orientation as here though.......But a hotter wound pickup at the bridge with less highs, to get less ‘plink’, hopefully. Can’t quite face reversing the bridge P pickup...I want to leave the neck P as non-reversed....

[Chopthebass]

7 minutes ago, funkle said:

This is a real beauty. Your work is a real pleasure to see. Can’t wait to see more pics! And sound clips....

I’m planning to make a dual pickup P, but modify an old MIM to do it. Get the bridge pickup centred around a 70’s Jazz pickup line, so it will end up just a little closer overall to the neck than this recreation, I think? Same pickup orientation as here though.......But a hotter wound pickup at the bridge with less highs, to get less ‘plink’, hopefully. Can’t quite face reversing the bridge P pickup...I want to leave the neck P as non-reversed....

If this re-creation was my bass I would reverse the pickup orientation at both locations. I'm not totally sure if the 70's jazz location will put your pickup any closer to the neck. There are probably jazz bass experts here who know more than me! You'll need to make a custom pickguard if the neck pickup is different location to stock. All good fun though!

[funkle]

I’ve done a lot of measuring. And checking of a lot of different photos of dual P basses. Pickup placement varies hugely between different makers, models, etc. 

I’m keeping the standard P placement and orientation in mine. The EA coil in standard placement is very close to the front Jazz bass pickup placement. I just don’t feel a reversed P at the standard location sounds quite the same as a the standard layout.

The Precision Elite has the DG coil right next to the bridge, just about. Many people sticking in a second pickup get the pickup closer to the neck than that - EA coil lined up just about where the 60s Jazz Bass rear coil sits - almost. So the line between the split coils ends up sitting on the centerline of the 70s Jazz Bass coils.

Probably easier to draw than explain in words. But the original Elites suffered another drawback - or benefit, depending on your point of view - the preamp was very trebly. So the rear pickup could really get a lot of ‘plink’ on the DG strings with the coil so bear the bridge.

 

[Chopthebass]

19 hours ago, funkle said:

I’ve done a lot of measuring. And checking of a lot of different photos of dual P basses. Pickup placement varies hugely between different makers, models, etc. 

I’m keeping the standard P placement and orientation in mine. The EA coil in standard placement is very close to the front Jazz bass pickup placement. I just don’t feel a reversed P at the standard location sounds quite the same as a the standard layout.

The Precision Elite has the DG coil right next to the bridge, just about. Many people sticking in a second pickup get the pickup closer to the neck than that - EA coil lined up just about where the 60s Jazz Bass rear coil sits - almost. So the line between the split coils ends up sitting on the centerline of the 70s Jazz Bass coils.

Probably easier to draw than explain in words. But the original Elites suffered another drawback - or benefit, depending on your point of view - the preamp was very trebly. So the rear pickup could really get a lot of ‘plink’ on the DG strings with the coil so bear the bridge.

 

Yup I know exactly what you mean. Maybe reversing the bridge pickup would have less plink. I think I’ve seen BC Rich do that. But this is what my buddy wants. Maybe he likes plink! Is that even a word 😆

[Chopthebass]

Update on the 83 Elite inspired bass. 
lacquer has been on for 5 weeks. Sanded and buffed last night. I just need to run over with swirl remover and wax then I’m calling it done! 
I couldn’t resist mocking it up. 

Assembly will be very soon...