Merton Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 (edited) Well, I’ve got gigs coming out of my ears and talent for days, so why not commission another bass... 🧐 I’ve fancied a black/maple Fender P for ages but just don’t get on with 34” scales anymore. So following some egging on from @eude I started talking to @Cosmicrain about a mad idea for a 32” P-alike and he didn’t tell me to bog off... 😄 The main inspiration for this is the 70s Fender P played by Rick Savage up to around the Pyromania-era tour but of course Roger Waters has his famous signature P which is very similar. No pictures yet because we only hit the go button a couple of weeks ago, but we’ll keep this thread updated as progress occurs Full specs: 32” Zoot Precision with 10% smaller body to suit the shorter scale Ash body Maple neck fitted with titanium rods, 40mm nut width, P-alike neck profile Maple board with black dots Lightly aged/roadworn black finish Neck and board finished with a vintage tint Black/white/black scratchplate Lindy Fralin 5% overwound P pickup Passive electronics Vol / Tone Chrome Hipshot hardware with their Vintage bridge Schaller straplock buttons Of course Mike is renowned for using some of the sexiest maple you can find for necks (see my Funkmeister for example) but I’ve specifically told him not to worry about that here because (in my head at least) 70s Fenders didn’t go for highly figured lumps of wood. He’s also known for his stunning finishes (see the recent Funky 5 he built for @MattW here https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/429761-5-string-zoot-bass-build/?do=findComment&comment=4374720) but again, I’m making him deviate from that for the mildly aged look. It’s a wonder he still talks to me really 🤪 Edited April 10, 2021 by Merton 4 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou24d53 Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Superb...followed...👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 You're sure to be in for a treat! @Cosmicrain's workshop is like an Aladdin's cave - looking forward to seeing what he creates for you! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I like the sound of this, @Merton Will be watching with great interest. And somehow, I'd missed @MattW 's build. It's lovely 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 (edited) Er. Well. This never quite got out of the starting blocks due to various reasons. This was a blessing though, because last year Mike shared some photos of a bass he’d built for a guy in Japan and I got a bit over excited about how lovely it was. So on Mike’s suggestion we paused this idea and switched. I popped over to Essex today to catch up with him and finalise “my” version of that spec. It’s going to be tasty: Zoot Funkmeister 5 string, 32” scale (slimmed down standard Funkmeister 5 body to suit) 3-piece maple neck with black stringers, stolen unashamedly by me from @GreeneKing’s recent Zoot Maple fingerboard with dots along the top side (rather than middle of the fingerboard) Aguilar AG 5P 60CL pickup Passive, volume/tone plus series/parallel switch Chrome hardware Badass bridge from Mike’s stock, cut for ~17.5mm ish string spacing Hipshot ultralite tuners High gloss “Arctic White” finish on body and headstock front Tort scratchplate Edited February 14, 2022 by Merton 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 I should mention, we would have gone with the Lindy Fralin still but they don’t do 5 string P pickups 😕 Mike recommended the Aguilar as the closest thing available without going a bit crazy special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 (edited) Sounds like its going to be another lovely bass.......👍🏻 Edited February 15, 2022 by Jimothey 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Culture Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 8 hours ago, Jimothey said: Sounds like its going to be another lovely bass.......👍🏻 I think Mike's incapable of making anything else, to be honest. (says me - fully paid up member of 'Zoot Addicts'. 😀) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 Sounding all very luscious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted April 1, 2022 Author Share Posted April 1, 2022 Mike’s been busy making a bass shape from bits of wood. I think the fingerboard is going to be pretty special in an understated but classy way…: 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 5, 2022 Author Share Posted August 5, 2022 Had a great catch up on the phone with @Cosmicrain yesterday (mostly to do with graphite necks and broken feet, don’t ask!), but the progress of this baby was mentioned and Mike has kindly sent across some photos this morning. Have to say it’s looking pretty damn fine. “Just” the painting and final assembly/set up to go now (essentially a creamy white is how it’ll end up, I think Mike can explain it better than I) - we all know Mike’s finishing is top notch so it’s going to be a cracker. Love the scratchplate, all those tort haters can shush 😀 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 Nice. I don't hate tort.... Just tort and sunburst together 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 5, 2022 Author Share Posted August 5, 2022 10 minutes ago, Si600 said: Nice. I don't hate tort.... Just tort and sunburst together Oh you see I like that too. It has to be a brown tort though, not a fan of red tort… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted November 9, 2022 Author Share Posted November 9, 2022 On 05/08/2022 at 15:00, Si600 said: Nice. I don't hate tort.... Just tort and sunburst together Here’s a non-sunburst and tort bass for your delectation 😎 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 That's looking great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 Kinda wonderful 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 I can see that looking good with black strings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted November 10, 2022 Author Share Posted November 10, 2022 Oooh now there’s a thought! The first set are stainless Newtones but maybe in the future… 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted November 12, 2022 Author Share Posted November 12, 2022 Flying to Finland stupid o’clock Monday morning so yet to work out when I can collect but… I would like my business trip to go by quite fast please 😀 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted November 23, 2022 Author Share Posted November 23, 2022 Booked in for a visit to Zoot Towers on Friday 2nd December - whoop 😎 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share Posted December 2, 2022 Collected it today. My word it is a beauty. First gig tonight, then more pics and words 😎 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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