Mod_Machine

Hi, Ive changed the neck (electrics, paint work, pickups, etc etc) on an old jedson to make it something else entirely.(photos going up on build thread soon) I played it last night for a few hours and have a real prob with longer term playing. The neck ive used is a short scale from an epiphone eb0. Its lovely to play BUT ive retained the large elephant ear tuning pegs and they weigh a ton. Look lovely, but weigh a ton. This is obviously resulting in neck dive which the old epiphone EB0 also suffered from. So other than replacing the tuning pegs for a lighter set (which i dont want to do based on purely on looks!) what else can i do? I was contemplating couter balancing the bass by adding some sort of weights to the other end of the bass which may increase the weight of the bass but ultimately make it more playable? Any advice about doing that and best way to achieve a nicer balance to save my fretting hand from substantial cramp?

not a bad idea - think ill try that first - failing that drill it out with a huge drill piece and if the pick up screw guide cracks so be it. Only cost me £1.25 off of ebay anyway! I would take a hammer to it (usual approach) but im afraid of damaging the bass.

Ive tried pushing the pickup down but i appear to have tightened it to the point where the pickup is as far down as it would go as the pickup screws we sitting on little ledges rather than flush against void floor (which in hindsight may explain how ive rounded the heads off!) Im not sure i have a drill piece small enough to go down the screw without cracking the surrounding plastic as its absolutely thin. No matter as the pickup is only off an 80s cort so ill give it a go and see what happens!

Hi - im doing some work to one of my basses and have discovered at some point i have rounded the head off of 2 of the screws holding in the p bass style pick up. Any advice on how to get the screws out without killing the pick up casing?

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1286344' date='Jun 29 2011, 12:59 PM']I take it you mean that the scale length is too short for you? Otherwise if it is just the frets themselves that you don't like why not get a re-fret.[/quote] Yep neck length (and width) is really short/little-basically its just a guitar neck size and by fitting a standard 3/4 length neck it will at least be the same as what i normally play and prove to be a usuable rehearsal or backup instrument.

Hi, I modified/rectified an old 70s Jedson telecaster style bass earlier in the year. I used it to gig with aswell (once) but ultimately the frets/neck size is just TOO small. From what i can tell its the same as the telecaster guitar in shape and size but with Bass strings on and 22 frets!) [attachment=83684:comparrison_shot.jpg] I would like it to be a little more 'reliable' and comfortable so intend to put a proper short scale bass neck on there - maybe something like the squier bronco neck. I know this will mean removing and re-locating the bridge (actually id replace with a bulkier unit similar to that on the ibanez jet king above), and im guessing it may need the channel widening where the neck meets the body as the current neck is titchy. Anyone attempted a similar mod and anything to watch out for?

Hi all - nothing major build wise and will all be covered in one post so i dont bore you into giving yourself chinese burns. Ive always wanted a mustang bass - simple as....but cant afford one.... simple as! Had a little fun doing a Jedson Telecaster project so decided to look into building a mustang! Quickly found a couple of people doing conversions to the squire broncos and thought why not...deadline was yesterday as needed to decide if good enough to play when we headline O2 acad this weekend. Actually finished a week early and got to use in two rehearsals to even out any flaws. BEST THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT EVERY PART WAS SOURCED USING BASSCHAT AND ALL FUNDS WERE RAISED THROUGH SELLING ON BASSCHAT - now that surely proves what a useful resource this is! Whether its your cup of tea or not im really chuffed with the final outcome and as thats most important i especially want to really thank the following B'Chatters who have all done much more than expected in sourcing and producing parts :- Tazza1 - Really affable fella and a good chat BassDoc - Genius, flexible and patient. And did i say a genius? 2 X 18 - Cheers for pandering to my weird requests for measurements! Spaz91 - popped up just when i was about to change my plans and responded to everything quicker than i breathe. So plan was for an all black mustang influenced project (rather than copy) to contrast with the all white Jedson short scale. I knew there would be some difficulty sorting out some mustang pickups for it without importing from usa (ive lost too much stuff on import and taxes push prices up pointlessly - finally i hate waiting!) So plan WAS to get some p bass style ones. Fit a mustang pickguard. Change the bridge for an over sized style one similar to those used on the Ibanez jet king and some large elephant ear tuners. A quick wanted message and a black bronco with single ply white guard was found... [attachment=75683:squire_bronco.jpg] Everything worked well and the neck and intonation were good. Already decided to keep the bridge and tuners at this point as 'if it aint broke why try to fix it'. So decided to fit a large bridge cover instead. Put out a wanted message for a mustang pickguard and control plate. Got a response for the control plate, which was bagged and got pretty much the next day! On the off chance i asked the seller if he had any other parts and low and behold - he had mustang pickup sitting around so flogged that to me at a very good price. I was beaming all day! As there was no come back on the pickguard i looked at getting one sent over from USA. If i was fitting a standard pickguard i would have to drop it down from the neck about 5mm, thus exposing the body between the end of the pickguard and the start of the neck, and angle the control plate slightly to ensure that the cavity was covered. In turn this would cover all the existing screw holes from the previous scratch plate. It wasnt ideal and if you do a google search on how it looks you will see it can look a bit naff - but what else could i do...... Low and behold a pm arrives from Bass Doc offereing to make me one up. I sent over what can only be described as mad ramblings of what i was after and he agreed to do the work. Even though he didnt have access to my bass he would try and make the adjustments necessary to accomodate the drop away below the neck so it all fitted nicely. These changes were compounded when the template pickguard was found to be greatly 'deformed'. Yet when i got it only the most minor filing was required to fit like a glove - amazing piece of work. At this point i now seemed to be going down the route of a straight 'look a likey'. All that was left then was the large F engraved bridge cover which again was going to be a US import - when i stumbled accross a B'Chatter selling a full bass who had decided to let some of the bits go indivdually...including an F bridge cover. He also threw in a black thumb rest and low and behold everything was in place. Stuck it all together and this is how she looks.... [attachment=75684:mustang_full_body.jpg][attachment=75685:mustang_body.jpg] I know the oversized bridge cover may be a matter of taste, but i like chrome and its my bass! Ultimately this isnt for me to sell on but becasue I want one! The only thing not from basschat was the new set of Fender short scale XLs. Used it last night for rehearsal and lovely, middy and constant accross the fretboard. The Tone knob actually changes the tone! Ive found that im actually bybassing my hartke bass attack entirely to get my ideal sound all im using is a marshal compressor (more about my playing style i think!) edged more towards the HIs and the hartke amp eq flat/central with a little of the lows backed off and the highs slightly upped. Its solid and i prefer it to my Jedson (of course) and the ibanez in looks, comfort and sound. Chuffed and cant wait for the O2 acad to really get into it.

I rebuilt a jedson telecaster with the hope my little girl will play it in a few years. Its 26" scale (!!), and is basically a telecaster guitar in shape and size but with bass strings on (even short scale strings are too long!) and 22 frets! But with the added bonus of a lighter, less 'girthy' body. Mind you i used it for a gig and to get it to that point meant sorting out the traditional intonation issues with a standard, thus :- new machine heads, replacement bridge, replacement bridge pick up, new electrics and a complete re-spray. Finally gave it its own headstock badge jedson 'Avalon' and turn the part number into her date of birth. However it only took a couple of months, came to about £100 in total (including the bass, parts etc) and worth it as its for her and whatever happens she'll know a piece of me will always be in it - mainly due to some ruddy rough edges ripping out my nuckles!

Bought some parts for a project mustang. Originaly contacted me off a WANTED thread and went on to have other parts required and offered a fair price. Was happy to answer all my queries...even going so far as to measure parts with digi calipers! Parts were well packaged and delivered extremely quickly with confirmation PMs sent all the way so i was always well informed of what was happening. Cheers Mod

I was after a bronco so posted on the wanted section. He is a top guy who originally contacted me following my thread. I bought as a good price with a clear description. THEN he also showed real flexibility in meeting with me to save on the p+p and so i could see before buying. Had a good chat and has to be said he is a genuine, freindly, sincere and most importantly honest fella. Definately a trustworthy seller and a good representative for Basschat members. Cheers Karl

HI, All sorted now as managed to get some new fender Mustang pickups, from UK. All happy - basschat can be such a useful resource!