peteb Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 (edited) Dunno if it’s nostalgia or just getting old but I find myself thinking about getting a Fender ‘P’ bass again, years after selling the last of the ones that I used to own and swearing blind that I would never buy another one! This could partly be because the leader of the last band I was in seemed to continually want me to get my really nice ‘super jazz’ bass to sound like a precision or because they just look so cool but I have been thinking about putting a lowball offer on a CIJ precision on eBay or putting together a bitsa ‘P’ bass To my way if thinking, it has to look like an old Fender; i.e. sunburst or natural wood, with a tort scratchplate and preferably looking a bit knocked about ! Of course, I would put a badass bridge (or similar) and an EMG on it, just like I always used to do whenever I’ve had a Fender P bass in the past….. Has anyone got any ideas about how to put together a ‘bitsa’ P bass and how much it would cost? Unfortunately I’ve spent a small fortune on gear in the last couple of years, so I would want to put together a bass that looks, plays and sounds like Fender (preferably better), but not cost a fortune Any advice / ideas?? Edited March 11, 2012 by peteb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Any old body you like the look of, it's all going to be about the neck pocket - if it's at or very close to the fender dimensions you can put a MM neck on there and it should be a decent fit. I've had a couple of good ones with MM necks and SX bodies, tho not sunburst. Tuners whatever you've got lying about, cheapos are usually OK. Bridge, I'd use a Gotoh 201 or a Schaller 3D, then a Wizard Thumper and CTS pots. All done bar the scratch plate and strings, both to taste. Shouldn't be much more than 250 all in, and you'll have a bespoke P which you'll feel quite attached to; well, I do to mine. If you've got more money and want to go upmarket past the usual Fender quality, have a look at the Warmoth site: it's P and J bass porntastic... I'd still go with the Thumper, tho. Be warned, though; once you start putting basses together from bits, you might never want a standard off-the-shelf one again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I did a Bitsa P that ended up a PJ. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/96658-non-sparkle-precision-project/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/96658-non-sparkle-precision-project/[/url] Got the body, neck, bridge, scratchplate and bits off eBay from CH Guitars. Really good quality for not a lot of cash. Tuners, pickup and other bits I got off here. I went with EMGs as a lot of my other basses have those. Cost? It's relatively cheap when you consider you're getting everything that you want to your spec. Mine cost me around £350 ish, maybe a bit more. The labour is where it comes in expensive if you were to cost the project properly. There was A LOT of hours on the paintwork, sanding and putting together. If I was being hyper critical, all in all, not my best sounding and playing bass but something that more than holds it's own and has given me a lot of pleasure and satisfaction putting together. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 It's entirely possible to put together a playable bitsa for well under a hundred quid. The components will be a bit iffy but it can be done. Thereafter, you can progress up the scale until you realise you've become your own 'custom shop'. If you don't want to get into refinishing, you need no more than a soldering iron, a couple of screwdrivers, a drill and a suitable allen key. You won't make your money back compared to buying the CIJ, but it's more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 (edited) [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1331506955' post='1574054'] It's entirely possible to put together a playable bitsa for well under a hundred quid. The components will be a bit iffy but it can be done. Thereafter, you can progress up the scale until you realise you've become your own 'custom shop'. If you don't want to get into refinishing, you need no more than a soldering iron, a couple of screwdrivers, a drill and a suitable allen key. You won't make your money back compared to buying the CIJ, but it's more fun. [/quote] I have put a low offer in for the CIJ - if I get it (a bit unlikely but you never know) I will upgrade it with a Badass bridge and some black schaller hardware I have hanging around and buy an EMG & a tort scratchplate, which should leave me with change from £350 for a giggable bass! Assuming I don't get it then I'll start searching thru ebay for a decent body and maybe a Warmouth neck (no rush) - it's got to be giggable, so I'm afraid £100 ain't really gonna cut it but I'm certainly not going to put a fortune into it Of course, there is always the problem that I might be creating a rod for my own back - turn up for a gig with a Fender P and certain band leaders are then not going to want to hear anything else, no matter how good my other basses are, such is the power and appeal of the image of the P bass ...!! Edited March 11, 2012 by peteb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1331510132' post='1574093'] I have put a low offer in for the CIJ - if I get it (a bit unlikely but you never know) I will upgrade it with a Badass bridge and some black schaller hardware I have hanging around and buy an EMG & a tort scratchplate, which should leave me with change from £350 for a giggable bass! ....[/quote] It might be worth noting that there will be little to none actual benefit of fitting a BA bridge ... unless of course you are addressing a known issue of spacing or alignment for example. Therefore a basic no-name alternative (equally high mass bridges are available for £10-15) will afford you a better budget for the more essential items - neck, pups, strings etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1331512240' post='1574110'] It might be worth noting that there will be little to none actual benefit of fitting a BA bridge ... unless of course you are addressing a known issue of spacing or alignment for example. Therefore a basic no-name alternative (equally high mass bridges are available for £10-15) will afford you a better budget for the more essential items - neck, pups, strings etc. [/quote] Won't cost me a penny - I have an old Badass bridge in my spares box!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1331538614' post='1574205'] Won't cost me a penny - I have an old Badass bridge in my spares box!! [/quote] Ah. Those are the best ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Go for it,I did and mine is a cracker. Musicman style maple neck,schaller tuners,high mass bridge and a wizard thumper. Sounds and plays great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I've got a P-Bass body for sale on here for £27.50 if you're interested. *shameless plug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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