yepmop

A good starting one I think is Weather Report's (Jaco) - A Remark You Made, just love this song.

[quote name='Al Heeley' timestamp='1337601376' post='1662483'] If your pickups don't line up and you knew the bridge is out, then maybe you need to shim the neck one side to bring it all back into alignment. It would be easier than having to widen the pickup routs. [/quote] Thanks Al. When I was alighning the bridge I had a nagging thought "Install the pickups to check everything" but didn't listen to myself, but will add them tonight and check. I'll shim the neck if they are out and hopefully they will then line up. All part of the learning curve.

Well, I've re-aligned the bridge and not a bad job for my first build attempt. I just need to add the string retainer on the headstock and then install the pickups. I'm now convinced that this squire body was a Friday special as not only did 2 Precision scratchplates not fit, the original bridge was out of centre by 3 mm, also not sure what the original bridge looked like but I had to move the new bridge forward to get the 34" mark in the middle of the saddle travel screw. here's what I have so far [url="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060593.jpg"]http://i303.photobuc...98/P1060593.jpg[/url] Close up of the new bridge position (bad angled shot makes the bridge look at an angle), also have to drill the remaining screw holes. [url="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060594.jpg"]http://i303.photobuc...98/P1060594.jpg[/url] The next problem arising (don't think the pickups are going to align ) [url="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060595.jpg"]http://i303.photobuc...98/P1060595.jpg[/url] I Have learnt a lot so far and it's more involved than I thought it would be, but it's sort of been fun !!! Thanks to Al for 2 bits of advice. Cheers

[quote name='Al Heeley' timestamp='1337472884' post='1660671'] best bet is set the saddles mid point in their adjustable travel and use that as the 34" point when you fix the bridge plate to the body. Then you know you have a bit of adjustment space back or forwards to nail the intonation. [/quote] Many thanks Al is was thinking along those lines but just needed confirmation Just got to "steal" some sowing cotton from the other half so I can centre it correctly. Thanks again

The neck is now attached securely, the only problem I have now is that I need to re-align the Wilkinson bridge by moving forward 5mm and upwards (towards the player) by 5 mm, reason being the new neck was about 1mm too big and I sanded both sides of the body equally. Now am I right in thinking the 34" point should be at the "saddle" (which are currently extended by about an inch from the end of the bridge), the 12th fret is exactly 17" form the fretboard facing side of the nut. Should I then add extra onto the length so it's just over 34" or should it be exact? Any help much appreciated. Cheers Tony

Welcome bassicman

Got the replacement Machine Heads and these fit a treat although they are just ordinary chromes ones as a opposed to the "Black Nickel" ones. I've also put some pilot holes on the neck heel, I'll leave the scary part of drilling the holes to the weekend. I'm going to get it all set up and if all looks and sounds good I will them dismantle and re-spray the body.

Feel sorry for the person with the winning bid. I looked at his other items for sale to see if he was flogging an unused bridge centering tool, but no

thanks for the link Always thought Andy Fraser was a very underated bass player.

Good thread. A couple that spring to mind for me would be; Hit me with you rhythm stick - Ian Dury My Baby just cares for me - Nina Simone Will have to think other the others.

Welcome Chris Yep, agree with everyone else, nylon tapewound strings are the way to go, but as Len suggests one step at a time I'd leave the de-ftetting to later or even trade in for a fretless squire or equivelent. Tony

Well the next failure and one of the simpler jobs was the Black Nickel Machine Heads, they looked really cool until I found out the Machine Head barrels don't physically go through the ferrule aaaahhhh!!! Contacted the seller on ebay and they micro metered their stock of these and they have the same problem (they're not happy at all), They are sending me chrome replacements that do fit, so happy they are getting replaced but miffed I 'll have to wait a couple of days.

Yes very nice, good job!

Well have now complete the headstock decal. This neck was just to practice on as if this project turns out okay I will start another using genuine fender body and neck, overall I think I done a fare job. Please note this guitar will never be sold and I will probably end up giving it to my 9 year old son who is hinting he'd like to learn to play bass rather than 6 string. The process of adding a decal is more time consuming and quite a delicate process than I thought (took a week to complete), but I'm happy, by the way the Serial Number is my date of birth :-) The next scary bit is aligning the neck to the body and marking out the drill holes, as to the drilling (any advise on this much appreciated) I've measure the maximum depth I need to go and will subtract 3 mm, as to the drill size I was thinking as I haven't a drill stand, I will use a very fine drill to make the holes then use a half size drill to make the hole bigger (with a small spirit level attached to the drill) and then use a slightly smaller than the screw diameter to make the final holes. [url="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060586.jpg"]http://i303.photobuc...98/P1060586.jpg[/url]

[size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Got the Scratchplate from Pappa D's the following day! unfortunately, the holes don't match up to what's on the bass?? not the end of the world but it's almost swaying me now to strip back and re-spray. [/font][/size] [size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Also, found that the pots did not fit the holes either, but a bit of sand paper on a pencil solved that.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]I've attached a few pictures, the kit consists of;[/font][/size] [size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Squire Precision body[/font][/size] [size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Dr Parts 20 fret maple Precision neck[/font][/size] [size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Wilkinson Precision/Jazz bridge.[/font][/size] [left][size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Axesrus P Bass Pickups (as recommended by a few people on here).[/font][/size][/left] [left][size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive][color=#464646]Some "Smokey Shadow" coloured Machine heads (not painted ones) and string guide.[/color][/font][/size][/left] [left][size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive][color=#464646]Fender neck plate.[/color][/font][/size][/left] [left][size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive][color=#464646]Scratchplate.[/color][/font][/size][/left] [left][size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive][color=#464646]1 of John's excellent wiring harnesses and knobs.[/color][/font][/size][/left] [left][size=4][font=comic sans ms,cursive][color=#464646]Copper shielding.[/color][/font][/size][/left] [left][font="'comic sans ms"][color="#464646"][url="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060585.jpg"]http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060585.jpg[/url][/color][/font][/left] [color=#464646]A picture of the pickups temporarily installed for scratchplate alignment.[/color] [url="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060587.jpg"][color=#464646]http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn138/yepmop1898/P1060587.jpg[/color][/url] [color=#464646]Cheers[/color]

Well got my Cheapo scratchplate from China today and although of quite a good quality, it doesn't fit (it's about half inch too small!!!!) well that my lesson taught for being a tight arse git! I've now ordered one from Pappa Ds, sometimes it just doesn't pay to cut corners.

Hi All I've just started my first build and doing it with a mixture of high/low/mid range quality bits to see how I fare before going for the big boy stuff. Was originally going to re-spary the Squire P-Bass body I got from flea bay but it's in better shape than I thought it would be and quite like the colour (dark Blue), but may change my mind later as I really want to spray it bright yellow!!! So far I've sanded and chiseled the body to accommodate the all maple Dr parts neck. I've added a decal to the neck and in the final stages of sanding and buffing the headstock. Just waiting for the 3 ply scratch plate to arrive from China (well for £4 can't complain at the time it's taking) before doing the electrics. Really enjoying what I've done so far and really like seeing what others are doing. Has anyone used the bodies available here [url="http://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/product.php?prodId=82&category=&secondary=&keywords"]http://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/product.php?prodId=82&category=&secondary=&keywords[/url]= Will get some photos once the neck is completed. Cheers

Absolutely stunning, a job well done.

Welcome

Wow - looks stunning, I've only ever heard the 6 string versions of Electra guitars, what does it sound like? Had a look around the net but can't find any, what's it like to play.

As an update I sanded the pocket and had to also do a litlle chiselling around the corners of the pocket as the neck heel did not quite reach home. Not a bad job all in all I have about a quater/half a MM movement on the neck in the pocket when I attach the neck (but not bolted on), I'm hoping this will be okay once the neck is bolted on, I may as insurance put a peice of business card down one side as a shim to make it more sucure. Have got all my other bits to proceed with the built so may start over the weekend. Thanks for all the advice Tony

Excellent lesson, Thank You

Hi John Welcome from another 50+ newbie

[font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]Bought a P Bass wiring harness from John, excellent piece of workmanship, would highly recommend to anyone.[/color][/font] [font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]Tony[/color][/font]

[b]Stunning, would love to hear how it sounds.[/b]