Possible project parts...?

[Dom in Dorset]

I've been thinking of building a tele bass for a while now when this came my way:

It's off a Mexican Fender and seems to be solid maple. It's big enough to make a bass but it has routings in unsuitable places. I could:
Make a scratch plate/ bridge that covers up the holes.
Fill everything up and re-finish.
Just use it as a template , make a body from scratch and give this one to my brother to make himself a guitar.
Discuss...

[Rumple]

I kinda like the worn black and red pattern it would make a nice looking guitar.

[nugget]

tele body is very short so it would neck dive like crazy as a bass,
How about

32" scale to help neck dive
Cut 5mm off the top and stick a nice piece of wood on the top
Stick a 50's single coil P pickup in the bridge jazz position and make it look like a telecaster esquire

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='nugget' timestamp='1360169565' post='1966068']
tele body is very short so it would neck dive like crazy as a bass,
How about

32" scale to help neck dive
Cut 5mm off the top and stick a nice piece of wood on the top
Stick a 50's single coil P pickup in the bridge jazz position and make it look like a telecaster esquire
[/quote]
Some good points:
Re: neck dive, I'd prefer a 34" if poss , so I'll check it with a spare neck before I commit to anything.
Re pickups , I was thinking a single coil neck and possibly an uncovered standard P at the bridge. something like this only I'll round off the bobbin to look like a single pickup like you find on a tele guitar.

[apa]

Baritone?

That red, black, natural does look pretty cool actually!

A

[Dom in Dorset]

I had a baritone to set up for a friend, didn't do anything for me.
I have an acoustic bass with 32" and it is certainly a tempting idea. With the 32" I could but the bridge further along the body and probably use the original routing (or at least cover it with tele style bride)