tredders Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 After coming close to closing a couple of deals on basses for sale recently, I started thinking about what I'd really want out of a new bass, and came up with the following vague list of requirements: - Traditional P bass body in a 'different-but-not-too-wacky' colour Jazz neck (rosewood board with blocks) John East P-Retro The obvious solution would be a Lakland Duck Dunn with a retro-fitted P-Retro, but I'd previously owned a stock model, and didn't really get on with it (despite the fact I love my Bob Glaub), so that was out. I'd never really seriously thought about a custom build, since I thought they'd be too expensive, and also couldn't stomach the thought of waiting 6 months to get a new bass, but thought I'd look anyway, and dropped Jon Shuker a (fairly vague) email. I was pleasantly surprised to get a very prompt friendly reply from him, and today we've exchanged several emails about what I really want. He definitely knows what to ask in order to fathom out what you're really after - I guess that's part of the skill of a custom guitar builder. To cut a long story short, John sent me pics & detailed specs of a number of ready to go (or nearly finished) basses. One P bass was close to perfect - right weight, right pickups, right colour (very important!), and already had an East P-Retro in it. Only down side was the neck - it was a standard P bass, without blocks. One further email to Jon and after a "no problem - I can fit a Jazz neck with blocks to your exact dimensions" reply, my bass is ordered It'll look something like this (click for bigger pics): [attachment=96325:stocbluepbassfull.jpg] [attachment=96324:stocbluepbassbod.jpg] With this neck on: [attachment=96323:p5bobluefull.jpg] [attachment=96322:p5bobluebod.jpg] Best thing is, it'll be ready in a month! So today, has I've discovered: - 1. Jon Shuker is a really nice bloke, and knows how to work out what you want by asking the right questions. 2. Custom bass prices are nowhere near as high as I thought. Really. 3. The wait time (because I lucked out on a nearly-ready bass being close to what I wanted, I guess) is minimal Pictures will obviously follow when the bass arrives, but I'm very excited, and the drudge of going back to work tomorrow has been somewhat offset by ordering this! Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyratm Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Congrats dude! I really the colour of that purple... Hmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Hi Mark The blue P bass with the block neck is my old bass I had Jon make for me. It currently resides with OBBM (yet another one of my regrets!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 [quote name='woodyratm' timestamp='1325544157' post='1484336'] Congrats dude! I really the colour of that purple... Hmmm [/quote] Cheers - can't wait! Just checked out your build diary - that purple looks wicked! Is yours ready yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyratm Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 [quote name='tredders' timestamp='1325544514' post='1484341'] Cheers - can't wait! Just checked out your build diary - that purple looks wicked! Is yours ready yet? [/quote] Not yet sadly. I just text Rich tonight. Hopefully be ready for the bass bash in febuary. fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Old Horse Murphy' timestamp='1325544507' post='1484340'] Hi Mark The blue P bass with the block neck is my old bass I had Jon make for me. It currently resides with OBBM (yet another one of my regrets!) [/quote] I always said you had great taste in basses, which is why I bought your '51 P ;-) Only problem now is Jon is working on an orange Jazz, which I know is (1) going to look spectacular, and (2) I'm going to want! Edited January 2, 2012 by tredders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Nice one Tredders, am very envious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Congrats on the Shuker order. My six string fretless P will be ready this week and I will post pictures as soon as it arrives. Unfortunately I had to wait ten months...... But it's worth the wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Can't go wrong with a Shuker bass! Never bought one personally, but it's only a matter of time! I have spoken to Jon in person on a few occasions and he's a great guy. He really does build beautiful instruments at a very reasonable price. I fancy an Uber Long Horn 5 string! (that sounds so wrong when I say it back to myself!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 John is a great guy, I hope all your dreams come true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Here's the progress on the neck so far.... nice bit of Indian rosewood, eh? [attachment=97032:markneck1.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Here's a pic of the finished neck, which I think looks pretty damned nice. [attachment=100232:marksneck.jpg] In actual fact, the bass is finished, and should be with me on Tuesday of next week. So that'll be a 'work from home' day, and me running to the window every time I hear a car or van outside then! I intend to do a proper "New Bass Day" posting in Gear Porn when it arrives.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 It's arrived! http://basschat.co.uk/topic/169068-nbd-shuker-precision-with-jazz-neck/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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