mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I love the sound of the Jazz. I don't like the huge body or the thin neck. So I'm going to take my lovely yet redundant Matt Freeman Precision and add a J pickup to the bridge and change the P for a J. This requires a new pickguard routed for a J type pickup at the right spot. Now that BassDoc is no longer doing this, what is the best place to get this done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 The same person that is going to route the body for the pups maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Warmoth do these. http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/PBassPickguard.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 SIMS... not the cheapest but will cut the shape to order. If you can't get the bass there... then scan it for them. They don't use crappy pickguard material either... If the bass is worth it, then SIMS are worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Also try Jacks Instrument Services in Manchester. Nice chaps and don't use cheap stuff either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon. Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Seeing as you are in Edinburgh, Chris McIntyre is worth a shout. Quality work, and reasonable prices. [url="http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/"]http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/[/url] He did the reverse process on my Jazz - routed it out for a P-pick up and cut a new scratch-plate to hid the old J route underneath.. We also added plug & play connectors to the pick-up leads so you can swap it from a PJ back to a straight Jazz in less than 10 mins. Edited July 18, 2016 by Simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1468834108' post='3093575'] The same person that is going to route the body for the pups maybe? [/quote] well, that was going to be me... I'm handier with a chisel than what;s required to make a nice pickguard with bevelled edges etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1468837542' post='3093608'] Warmoth do these. [url="http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/PBassPickguard.aspx"]http://www.warmoth.c...sPickguard.aspx[/url] [/quote] very interesting! postage is criminal but... this could be a good option if I do the routing on the body myself, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1468846607' post='3093712'] SIMS... not the cheapest but will cut the shape to order. If you can't get the bass there... then scan it for them. They don't use crappy pickguard material either... If the bass is worth it, then SIMS are worth it. [/quote] I had SIMS do a pickguard for me in the past, it was very good. Thanks for reminding me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='Simon.' timestamp='1468849525' post='3093739'] Seeing as you are in Edinburgh, Chris McIntyre is worth a shout. Quality work, and reasonable prices. [url="http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/"]http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/[/url] He did the reverse process on my Jazz - routed it out for a P-pick up and cut a new scratch-plate to hid the old J route underneath.. We also added plug & play connectors to the pick-up leads so you can swap it from a PJ back to a straight Jazz in less than 10 mins. [/quote] we've got a winner. I haven't met Chris yet but all I hear is excellent. He's at the same place where my previous go-to guy used to work: Rory Dowling, Taran Guitars... very talented but he's no longer in Edinburgh. I still meet him sometimes but it's more complicated as it takes me a good 90min to get to him. I think I'll email Chris and see if I get the whole thing done by him, as I tend to be a little impatient with a chisel and that's not a good thing Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 Chris got back to me. Pretty fast! He doesn't mince his words, does he? I think I like him. Cost is fair. I'm going to have a chat on the phone with him tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 Chris is the man! I picked up a fretless 4 string Jazz Bass he made for me a week ago - fantastic hsnd-made instrument. Plays and sounds fantastic. [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/FB_IMG_1468189770216.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/FB_IMG_1468189770216.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_193428.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_193428.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 [quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1468901797' post='3094136'] Chris is the man! I picked up a fretless 4 string Jazz Bass he made for me a week ago - fantastic hsnd-made instrument. Plays and sounds fantastic. [url="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/FB_IMG_1468189770216.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_193428.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] That's great! I can't wait to meet the man. I've seen a refinish done by him and was excellent. That fretless looks sweet. But what caught my attention was the pink early 50s type Precision... what a beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 The scratchplate on my fretless was hand made by Chris the night before I collected it! He didn't have a template, so it was all done on the fly. Incredible fit all round. [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_123529.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_123529.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_123534.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_123534.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_123508.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_123508.jpg[/IMG][/URL] And, here's something that 99.9% of folk wouldn't notice on his basses. He's forever having to repair stripped wooden threads on client's instruments after numerous removal / refitting of scratchplates, etc. In order to avoid this, he's used brass inserts for every screw on my bass - no more stripped threads for the lifetime of the instrument! [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_121823.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20Smooth%20Mint%20fretless%204/20160710_121823.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 That's beautifully made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 I started out just wanting a pickguard... but I've just left the bass with Chris McIntyre. He'll do the whole thing. He knows what he's doing, and I liked him a lot. Spent nearly an hour and a half chatting about anything and everything music. Uf, he has a couple of beautiful basses on that wall too. If I want another bass made, in the future, I'll have to come and talk to this guy. Simon and Kevin, thank you for recommending him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Glad you had a good visit with Chris. He's a star. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon. Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Good to hear you are happy with Chris and getting him to do the work. I've had nothing but excellent results from him. I did like your comment that "[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]He doesn't mince his words[/font][/color]"! So spot on. He knows what he's doing, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Simon.' timestamp='1469183810' post='3096372'] Good to hear you are happy with Chris and getting him to do the work. I've had nothing but excellent results from him. I did like your comment that "[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]He doesn't mince his words[/font][/color]"! So spot on. He knows what he's doing, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. [/quote] His initial response, although positive, contained one thing that made me go "excuse me? who do you think you are?" for a second ... but it was clear in what spirit it was said. Then when you meet him in person it makes a lot of sense, and it's an attitude I really like. That, coupled with the standard of the work I've seen makes it a no-brainer for any instrument work. We seemed to have similar views about many things, but we disagreed about a few others and I enjoyed his attitude . He's passionate. His purple 50s style Precision-like bass was a real beauty and felt fantastic. It put bad thoughts in my mind... maybe I should start saving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 Done! Superb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 That looks superb! Lovely colour. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Glad it worked out. Looks really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 [quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1470746419' post='3108088'] Glad it worked out. Looks really good. [/quote] It does I'm also remembering why I removed those pickups from the Jazz bass it was originally on so there will be a pickup change in the future, but it's not bad, it's not bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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