The bitsa thread

[Beedster]

15 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Can any of you fine people suggest where I might be able to get a paulownia body?

 

In an ideal world it would be EBMM Sterling shaped, but a J shape without pickup routs would do if I can't find a Sterling one.

 

ta

There's a load of UK sites offering custom bass bodies, I've seen Paulownia offered on a couple (can't recall which), but I think given you want quite a niche model you'd be best off dropping each of them a message 

[PaulThePlug]

Couple of years back i got a Custom P Body made...

Enjoyed the whole Bitsa Experience, so got a custom J Body made...

Both are Paulowina for cost, it is a soft wood for dinks.

 

Now defunct or rebranded Luthiers Warehouse / Luthiers Crafts, via the Bay. Got a Jazz Neck from Twin--Cam on the bay.

 

There is a company Wild Rainbow Music on the bay, might be worth dropping them a line.

[Geek99]

Be careful with paulownia - I found that it it drinks paint and is very soft as stated above 

[kodiakblair]

47 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Got a Jazz Neck from Twin--Cam on the bay.

 

There is a company Wild Rainbow Music on the bay, might be worth dropping them a line.

Both the same bloke, Willie Mac 🙂

 

 

[PaulThePlug]

What sort of cost are you thinking?

How about one of these

https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_bass_guitar_kit_mb_style.htm

 

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

Be careful with paulownia - I found that it it drinks paint and is very soft as stated above 

 

I have 2 paulownia basses already. I don't mind dinks.

 

I now fancy a ray / sterling type without the weight!

[HeadlessBassist]

The OP had it right in that some of these bitsa basses are like custom shop creations. I picked up this one a few days ago and have worked on it a little. Done a nice setup with lighter Elixirs, and added some better foam on the bridge pickup, as it was sinking too far away from the strings. Just been out and done some new outdoor pictures, too.

 

The constituent parts are; Fender MIM roasted maple neck, Schaller tuners, 'Guitar & Bass Build' high polish Alder body, Hipshot bridge (only bridge I've ever seen that needs a 0.05" Alun Key!) and active EMGs with a 9v battery under the gold tort scratch plate. A very lively and snarly sounding bass  - think of it as a non-pink Betsy. 

[JoeEvans]

There are some gorgeous basses in this thread! I don't know why but I find a nice bitsa bass much more appealing than an equally nice off the shelf one...

[Beedster]

32 minutes ago, JoeEvans said:

There are some gorgeous basses in this thread! I don't know why but I find a nice bitsa bass much more appealing than an equally nice off the shelf one...

Completely agree Joe, I have this rather weak part of my brain that believes that a bass built while the Beatles were still together has some magic, but every time I own one it goes, and my old bitsas stay, simply because theyr are better instruments in nearly every respect. OK, they don't have the mojo (although they do if people think they do of course), but they make me feel much better when I play them, and that feeling's a big part of why I play 👍

[JoeEvans]

30 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Completely agree Joe, I have this rather weak part of my brain that believes that a bass built while the Beatles were still together has some magic, but every time I own one it goes, and my old bitsas stay, simply because theyr are better instruments in nearly every respect. OK, they don't have the mojo (although they do if people think they do of course), but they make me feel much better when I play them, and that feeling's a big part of why I play 👍

I think a unique bass that someone has carefully assembled has another kind of mojo.

[Beedster]

On 22/04/2025 at 16:07, Beedster said:

There's been a whole lot of experimentation with Fender-alike bitsas recently, the Bitsa Box is now oversubscribed - two having to slum it in another box at present - and due a clearout. Keep your eyes open on the FS thread folks 👍

 

 

First up, maple FL Precision, Shuker neck that is rather wonderful, 70's Daion MIJ body that has that 'I'm genuinely old and not reliced' vibe, EMG Geezers, and yes, LOLLIPOPS

 

It's not a responder so the Badass is coming off to be replaced by a nice 70's RI BBOT

 

 

 

 

[HeadlessBassist]

Beedster, what's that dark coloured 'bitsa in the middle of the box with the very flamed neck? (Third from left.)

[Beedster]

Just now, HeadlessBassist said:

Beedster, what's that dark coloured 'bitsa in the middle of the box with the very flamed neck? (Third from left.)

All in good time my friend.........., all going well all nine should be in the public domain by close of play tomorrow 👍 

[Jono Bolton]

6 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

First up, maple FL Precision, Shuker neck that is rather wonderful, 70's Daion MIJ body that has that 'I'm genuinely old and not reliced' vibe, EMG Geezers, and yes, LOLLIPOPS

 

It's not a responder so the Badass is coming off to be replaced by a nice 70's RI BBOT

 

 

 

 

That's a cracker 

[Beedster]

1 minute ago, HeadlessBassist said:

Beedster, what's that dark coloured 'bitsa in the middle of the box with the very flamed neck? (Third from left.)

....although what I will tell you is that it is a Warmoth Precision that is so ludicrously underweight that it has a contract with a Paris model agency for the Autumn catwalk season  

 

 

[Beedster]

Next up....

 

 

I'm not really a Jazz kinda guy, but I can forgiven them when they are sporting a maple fretless Precision neck. This combination works very well, neck and body seem to suit each other 👍

[Beedster]

So, I made a terrible mistake on Sunday, I started tinkering, "Mmm, wonder what that neck would sound like on that body with those PUPs and that bridge.....?'. Long story short, of the nine bitsas I have (had), three are staying, all rather interesting fretless mongrels, and the rest are going, albeit as projects/parts, as the time required to get each of them up to the standard that I could describe them hand on heart as ready to go quality instruments is a luxury I don't have at present. So, if you fancy doing you're own Fender-alike bitsa, or upgrading a bass with a Warmoth, Mighty Mite, Shuker, or Fender neck or body, as well as a load of bridges, PUPs, and tuners, keep an eye of the Accessories For Sale forum.

 

I'll tease y'all with this pic again......

 

[Beedster]

This bitsa is 100% staying however.......

 

 

[Beedster]

[Beedster]

Couple of rescue fretlii for your perusal folks

 

Both rather nice in their own way, the Jazz is VERY jazz in an upright kinda way, the other thing is rather Wal-esque, surprisingly so in fact. Nordy PUPs are OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

[Jackroadkill]

 

This is my bitsa Jazz; it has an unknown body which was previously a manky brown sunburst, a CV neck and tuners, Limelight pickups and a big green Russian tone capacitor.  I painted the body in CAR using rattle cans and it turned out pretty well.  Although it's a bit heavy it plays well and sounds awesome, so overall I'm well happy.  I could have just bought a CV, I suppose, but I had way much more fun doing this.

[JazzyJ]

Must make an effort to finish this winter project. (rubbish photo)

 

[Shaggy]

On 17/01/2026 at 16:31, Beedster said:

Couple of rescue fretlii for your perusal folks

 

Both rather nice in their own way, the Jazz is VERY jazz in an upright kinda way, the other thing is rather Wal-esque, surprisingly so in fact. Nordy PUPs are OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

Loving both of those bitsas Chris, but that natural ash Jaguar-eque P/MM fretless really is a thing of beauty   Agree about the pickups - IMHO the Nordstrand Bigman is the best sounding MM pickup out there - I put one in my Warwick Streamer Jazzman LX (J p/up is a Bartolini B-axis)

 

 

Edited 15 minutes ago by Shaggy

[Shaggy]

Some really great recent bitsas on this thread! 

 

There was a time around 15 years ago I was building a bitsa pretty much every year, but lately been winding the bass playing down, got too many basses altogether, and spending time and money on other things.......

 

However, I realised last year that I had enough parts lying around to build probably at least 2 complete bitsas - so thought I'd make the effort to make a final pair.

 

The first, a fairly conventional Jazz-type, was really just a matter of putting the parts together; most of the work was in finishing the body.   All parts previously used (mainly from here and eBay) except for circuit, control knobs, and neck plate.

• Ash G&B jazz body with rear-routed controls, slab top with tort binding (NB: top is not a separate facing / cap but the front of the body wood).   Sealed with French polish- which nicely accentuated previous wear - and top coated with clear nitrocellulose lacquer.
• Squier (Indonesian) Jazz neck and tuners - surprisingly nice
• Passive Cellinder Jazz pickups, VVT passive circuit (CTS / Switchcraft)
• Badass II bridge
• Schaller strap-locks

You'll notice it's not finished; I haven't cut out a rear control cavity cover - mainly as my garage has been too bloomin' cold! 🥶   But already using it as my home practice bass; it plays nicely, and as you'd expect the Armstrong-made  Cellinder pickups sound sublime

 

 

[Shaggy]

A sneak peek at the next one that I've so far only done some body preparation on:

• custom single piece mahogany body
• Warmoth solid wenge custom neck with Hipshot Ultralite tuners
• 1990's active Seymour Duncan dual J pickups (3 built in microswitches to select voicing)
• Darkglass active 3-band circuit
• NOS Kahler brass bridge

A bit more work needed with this one as the neck heel routed/ drilled for some custom neck whereas the Warmoth neck is Fender fit, and wiring will be more complex, but it'll be a nice little winter / spring project