Edenburgh Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 Ok here's what a want to build : the last version of the John Deacon Precision : the black precision, rosewood neck, black pickguard, tv logo, gold hardware. My question for you people : what's the best place to start as the donor bass? I've thought about... My own '74 P. (Currently sunburst). Fook, that £2.5k of bass that's gonna get an unsolicited respray. Might be a pricey folly. Then add gold HW. Or A MIM Nate Mendel and strip the C.A.R and respray black. Then add gold HW. Any other options? I'm looking to be as accurate as possible so although I'm open to buying even a squier and putting on a new logo, I'd have truss rod adjuster at the wrong end and that would really bug me... Price for the project, let's not go custom shop silly but I'd like to do it for less than £1500. I intend to gig it. Any ideas? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 I’d go allparts body and neck, probably pickguard too. the bridge was a Schaller 3d Roller in gold, and then some hipshot hb2 in gold (unless you find gold fender ones, pretty unlikely). a 62 reissue fender pickup and Kiogon loom… and then someone will have a good decal maker - be mindful a lot of the “tv logo” decals have some weird distortion as if it’s been scanned wrong… Looking forward to seeing this. A Nate neck would be a winner. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplumber Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 Buy a Westfield....£60! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 Limelight built mine, which is the same bass before it was refinished in black. They'll get it done for less than your budget, but if you want to do it yourself, @AndyTravis's post is where I would go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edenburgh Posted February 9, 2022 Author Share Posted February 9, 2022 Thanks chaps for the guidance. Will report back in due course. As ever a picture speaks a thousand words so here's what I'm aiming for... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 I would look at the MIJ Squier in the classifieds (400 quid) and use that as your starting point. Importantly, the nut width is correct. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 I'm doing a similar build atm. I've used 2nd hand Northwest Guitar parts body and neck (£200 ). 62 custon shop fender pickup (£70) 2nd hand schaller 3D bridge (£45), Kiogon loom (cant remember), ebay scratchplate (£10) Got my usual luthier putting it together, this is a tribute to my first ever P bass. Approx 1980, black with a maple board. I found a video of my band from 1988, with me playing the black bass. It looked superb and sounded great, so I thought I would recreate it I just to go and collect it, as it's made now 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 If you search in the Build Diary bit of the forum a few people have made one. I think @Dood has done 2 of them! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 23 hours ago, fretmeister said: If you search in the Build Diary bit of the forum a few people have made one. I think @Dood has done 2 of them! Ok, here's what you need! @bassman_feb_64 will also want to read this too. Sorry Alan I meant to be in touch! You're best option is to source a Fender non-export CIJ PB70-70US BK. This was actually a limited edition colour of the usual olympic white PB70 (US) available from Fender Japan. The non-export models have a few things about them that makes them better in my opinion too. The bass is black and may come with a mirror scratch guard (very Phil Lynott) but I have seen the odd version that comes with black. Possibly an after market upgrade. Mine I had to source the correct 70's scratch guard. These basses come with chrome hardware, John Deacon's upgrades (that came with his black respray around 1985) includes a Schaller 3D bridge and very likely Schaller tuning keys, though I much prefer Gotoh's FB30 (Or the Wilkinson equivalent) simply because I find the longer key shafts more appealing on a 70's P - think pre '76 nickel tuners and you'll know what I am talking about. Bass Player Magazine did a whole thing on John Deacon that I helped write, if it helps. Funnily, the Nate Mendel is an option as it's the next best thing, but the PB70-US is just a far better bass, I only wish it came with an Ash body. - On the subject of Ash body, if you wanted to capture John Deacon's early years, then I'd recommend the Fender non-export PB70-70US Ash RW which came with a sunburst finish, as his two precision basses were, stock (the TV script version and the silver spaghetti logo bass) For my own basses, I am lucky enough to have a natural 76 Precision, which is just delicious and my next Deacon build is going to be a black version. I think this will be number 4, I can't remember! I sold my first black P to a lovely chap here on BassChat and miss it dearly! Such is life and bills eh! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 23 hours ago, fretmeister said: If you search in the Build Diary bit of the forum a few people have made one. I think @Dood has done 2 of them! Thank you for tagging me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 3 minutes ago, Dood said: Ok, here's what you need! @bassman_feb_64 will also want to read this too. Sorry Alan I meant to be in touch! You're best option is to source a Fender non-export CIJ PB70-70US BK. This was actually a limited edition colour of the usual olympic white PB70 (US) available from Fender Japan. The non-export models have a few things about them that makes them better in my opinion too. The bass is black and may come with a mirror scratch guard (very Phil Lynott) but I have seen the odd version that comes with black. Possibly an after market upgrade. Mine I had to source the correct 70's scratch guard. These basses come with chrome hardware, John Deacon's upgrades (that came with his black respray around 1985) includes a Schaller 3D bridge and very likely Schaller tuning keys, though I much prefer Gotoh's FB30 (Or the Wilkinson equivalent) simply because I find the longer key shafts more appealing on a 70's P - think pre '76 nickel tuners and you'll know what I am talking about. Bass Player Magazine did a whole thing on John Deacon that I helped write, if it helps. Funnily, the Nate Mendel is an option as it's the next best thing, but the PB70-US is just a far better bass, I only wish it came with an Ash body. - On the subject of Ash body, if you wanted to capture John Deacon's early years, then I'd recommend the Fender non-export PB70-70US Ash RW which came with a sunburst finish, as his two precision basses were, stock (the TV script version and the silver spaghetti logo bass) For my own basses, I am lucky enough to have a natural 76 Precision, which is just delicious and my next Deacon build is going to be a black version. I think this will be number 4, I can't remember! I sold my first black P to a lovely chap here on BassChat and miss it dearly! Such is life and bills eh! @bassman_feb_64 @Edenburgh - thank me later https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384722735901?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D171f99b4d9184258a38c72fd118d9ad8%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D384722735901%26itm%3D384722735901%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DFender+Japan&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A10d368a3-8b1f-11ec-812d-12674ee53e80|parentrq%3Ae82a876c17e0a4d34c26b0f6ffec77ff|iid%3A1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 my wife has the white PB70 US in white and I can vouch for it being a fabulous bass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 There's even a gold schaller 3D bridge for sale on here, in other items for sale. £55 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 How much does a refinish cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 1 hour ago, fretmeister said: How much does a refinish cost? It depends on where you go I suppose. £200ish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 58 minutes ago, fretmeister said: How much does a refinish cost? https://rexterguitars.co.uk/pages/refinishing just googled this. No idea who they are but it's a start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 You need a mij fsr midnight precision. I had one when I was in the queen tribute. It's all there in one bass, everything black and gold. I regret selling it. You can still find them, they're only a few years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edenburgh Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 Folks, thanks for all your input, will report back in due course. Although I initially ruled it out, I am still toying with the idea of respraying my (all original apart from the tone pot) '74 Precision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 5 minutes ago, Edenburgh said: I am still toying with the idea of respraying my (all original apart from the tone pot) '74 Precision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I wouldn’t 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edenburgh Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 42 minutes ago, la bam said: Yes! but natural headstock and tv logo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 On 12/02/2022 at 12:40, Edenburgh said: Yes! but natural headstock and tv logo Might be cheaper to have the headstock refinished than the body of another bass! Looks like a good donor! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 (edited) On 12/02/2022 at 10:18, Edenburgh said: Although I initially ruled it out, I am still toying with the idea of respraying my (all original apart from the tone pot) '74 Precision. 😱 NO! Back away from the cliff edge! Edited February 14, 2022 by ezbass 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edenburgh Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 Update : taking stock of the "don't defile the family heirloom" vibe from you good people, I've sourced the donor bass elsewhere! A Highway One Precision - currently sunburst but hopefully won't cause too much consternation here with a black respray.l! Still now to get all the gold bits but it's a TV logo with the truss adjustment at the body end. Also I'm never going to be passing it off as something it isnt (e.g an Encore with a Fender Logo) - something that never sat well with me. Further updates to follow... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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