Chopthebass Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 (edited) 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 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 Deliveries are slow from the states, but first piece arrived today. White pickups. Bridge overwound 10% and neck 5% 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubis Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 Now this is interesting, good luck with your project Chopthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 (edited) Oooooh! body and neck from scratch or allparts? Edited June 27, 2020 by AndyTravis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 Keeping it classic or considering reversing each P? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 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. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Foot stuff! Are the pickups going to have closed tops? Such a distinctive part of the Elite look... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 Pickguard made, and I couldn’t resist mocking it up! Liking it so far. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 This looks great. Subbed. I'd love to do something similar sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 Neck lacquered ready for fretting. Body sealed and grain filled. I’ll start spraying that tomorrow. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 Have you posted a topic for the headless bass in the background? That looks interesting too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 15 minutes ago, Chopthebass said: Not yet. Wasn’t planning too as it is a prototype idea. Aw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 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. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 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.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 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 😆 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 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... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.