Another P Bass

[BassApprentice]

Found this slightly beat up body when going through things the other day. 

 

I currently don't have a P Bass so I'm going put one together. 

 

Going to have a go at aging the hardware and neck to suit the chips and dents on the body. 

 

Anybody with spare P bass parts feel free to drop me a message! 

[Pea Turgh]

I love a P-bass build!  There’s a neck in the classifieds that might work…

 

 

[ezbass]

That body already looks nicely tatty, I doubt you’d need much more in the way of dinks for an authentic look, just a little ‘de-glossing’. Looking forward to the updates on this one.

[Pea Turgh]

I have two scratch plates not selling on the market place - b/w/b and a white single ply that’s going a bit creamy.  You are welcome to either.

[BassApprentice]

So a bit of progress today. 

 

Stuck up a wanted ad looking for parts and think I've for an aged looking bridge on the way courtesy of @Rumple and have just organised getting that HB neck from @hooky_lowdown

 

Going to get some sandpaper and strip back the arm rest section a bit more across the next few days. 

 

After hardware it's next onto pickup choice, not sure which direction I want to go. Cheap and classic Tonerider or maybe something a bit more modern sounding like Aguilar? Have to listen to some samples and see what appeals 

[ezbass]

53 minutes ago, BassApprentice said:

So a bit of progress today. 

 

Stuck up a wanted ad looking for parts and think I've for an aged looking bridge on the way courtesy of @Rumple and have just organised getting that HB neck from @hooky_lowdown

 

Going to get some sandpaper and strip back the arm rest section a bit more across the next few days. 

 

After hardware it's next onto pickup choice, not sure which direction I want to go. Cheap and classic Tonerider or maybe something a bit more modern sounding like Aguilar? Have to listen to some samples and see what appeals 

I hope I’m not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but I think the best way to achieve a natural(ish) look to forearm wear, would be to to attach a piece of fine grade sandpaper to the forearm and pretend to play it. Otherwise, it can look all a bit ‘belt sander’ relic.

[Velarian]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

I hope I’m not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but I think the best way to achieve a natural(ish) look to forearm wear, would be to to attach a piece of fine grade sandpaper to the forearm and pretend to play it. Otherwise, it can look all a bit ‘belt sander’ relic.

Either that or just play it at sweaty gigs. About 5 years should produce the desired effect. 😂

[Geek99]

4 hours ago, BassApprentice said:

So a bit of progress today. 

 

Stuck up a wanted ad looking for parts and think I've for an aged looking bridge on the way courtesy of @Rumple and have just organised getting that HB neck from @hooky_lowdown

 

Going to get some sandpaper and strip back the arm rest section a bit more across the next few days. 

 

After hardware it's next onto pickup choice, not sure which direction I want to go. Cheap and classic Tonerider or maybe something a bit more modern sounding like Aguilar? Have to listen to some samples and see what appeals 

See my “relic refuge” thread for ideas ?

[BassApprentice]

Whilst waiting on parts to arrive I've been thinking more about pickups (can you tell I'm on annual leave 🤔😅) 

 

Think I've narrowed it down to either Dimarzio or picking up a G&l MFD. Very different tonally but think I would be happy with either, I guess the Dimarzio is a bit more traditional sounding with the G&L being very modern and less P bass

[Guest]

10 hours ago, BassApprentice said:

Think I've narrowed it down to either Dimarzio or picking up a G&l MFD. Very different tonally but think I would be happy with either, I guess the Dimarzio is a bit more traditional sounding with the G&L being very modern and less P bass

 

In case you're not aware, G&L place their MFD split pickups slightly closer to the bridge than is the standard P spot, ⅜" / 9½mm iirc

[BassApprentice]

1 hour ago, Ricky Rioli said:

 

In case you're not aware, G&L place their MFD split pickups slightly closer to the bridge than is the standard P spot, ⅜" / 9½mm iirc

Interesting, so if I went down this route it wouldn't quite sound like the SB-2. I'm a huge fan of G&L and I like the passive on steroids idea so might go with it anyway. Thanks for the info though! 

[BassApprentice]

The bridge arrived today and its exactly what I was looking for! Wee bit of rust and matte finish. Looks the part. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, BassApprentice said:

Interesting, so if I went down this route it wouldn't quite sound like the SB-2. I'm a huge fan of G&L and I like the passive on steroids idea so might go with it anyway. Thanks for the info though! 

Here's a video of four different splits being demoed on the same bass inc. a G&L MFD, a Fender alnico, and a Dimarzio I think I read they made for Ibanez

 

[JBoman]

Beaten up P-basses, my soft spot.

[BassApprentice]

So neck arrived today, lovely harley benton number and I almost feel bad messing with it. 

 

But let the homebrew relic commence! 😁 

[Geek99]

Consider rolling the fingerboard edges - I used an old tremolo bar - then rub some old tea or coffee into the rounded off sections 

[BassApprentice]

So the neck has been relicd. Not quite sure about Danish oil I used on the headstock, bit uneven so might sand it back and do the sides and back again. I'm pleased with the rest of it though! 

[BassApprentice]

It's been a while. Not much progress as I've been doing other bits.

 

Decided I didn't like the neck finish so changed it a wee bit. Still happy with the worn patches but the Cedar varnish I used didn't work so used a Pine colour and think it looks much more natural now.

 

[PaulThePlug]

pickups... just keep an eye on the FS... something interesting might just pop up...

[BassApprentice]

In keeping with the vintage theme, I was waiting for a set of older tuners with a bit of patina on them as I know ageing modern chrome tuners is difficult.

 

@ead had the perfect set from his Greco, just old enough to have lost the shine which is perfect. Just a couple of bits left now!

[BassApprentice]

A whole year on and I've finally mustered up the enthusiasm to finish this.

 

All remaining parts are purchased from here and are due in the post. Hopefully get it all together in the next week or so!

[BassApprentice]

And it is done (almost), very pleased with how it looks.

 

Think the machineheads need a wee tweak as they aren't all at the same resistance. Never put together a p bass, so how important is a string tree for the D and G strings? Will order one anyways since the hole is there. Strung up with Chromes for now, will let them settle overnight and see what I need to do tomorrow 

[Reggaebass]

Nice job, I do like a worn P bass too, are they D'Addario Chromes on there 

[BassApprentice]

@Reggaebass yup, although without the string tree, the G is under some real tension, more so than the other strings which is is a bit off.

[Reggaebass]

6 minutes ago, BassApprentice said:

@Reggaebass yup, although without the string tree, the G is under some real tension, more so than the other strings which is is a bit off.

Looks great and I imagine it sounds good too , I might have a string tree in my workshop but I’m not there till Friday, you can have it if I have