BassApprentice Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Found this slightly beat up body when going through things the other day. I currently don't have a P Bass so I'm going put one together. Going to have a go at aging the hardware and neck to suit the chips and dents on the body. Anybody with spare P bass parts feel free to drop me a message! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 I love a P-bass build! There’s a neck in the classifieds that might work… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 That body already looks nicely tatty, I doubt you’d need much more in the way of dinks for an authentic look, just a little ‘de-glossing’. Looking forward to the updates on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 I have two scratch plates not selling on the market place - b/w/b and a white single ply that’s going a bit creamy. You are welcome to either. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 So a bit of progress today. Stuck up a wanted ad looking for parts and think I've for an aged looking bridge on the way courtesy of @Rumple and have just organised getting that HB neck from @hooky_lowdown Going to get some sandpaper and strip back the arm rest section a bit more across the next few days. After hardware it's next onto pickup choice, not sure which direction I want to go. Cheap and classic Tonerider or maybe something a bit more modern sounding like Aguilar? Have to listen to some samples and see what appeals 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 53 minutes ago, BassApprentice said: So a bit of progress today. Stuck up a wanted ad looking for parts and think I've for an aged looking bridge on the way courtesy of @Rumple and have just organised getting that HB neck from @hooky_lowdown Going to get some sandpaper and strip back the arm rest section a bit more across the next few days. After hardware it's next onto pickup choice, not sure which direction I want to go. Cheap and classic Tonerider or maybe something a bit more modern sounding like Aguilar? Have to listen to some samples and see what appeals I hope I’m not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but I think the best way to achieve a natural(ish) look to forearm wear, would be to to attach a piece of fine grade sandpaper to the forearm and pretend to play it. Otherwise, it can look all a bit ‘belt sander’ relic. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velarian Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 3 hours ago, ezbass said: I hope I’m not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but I think the best way to achieve a natural(ish) look to forearm wear, would be to to attach a piece of fine grade sandpaper to the forearm and pretend to play it. Otherwise, it can look all a bit ‘belt sander’ relic. Either that or just play it at sweaty gigs. About 5 years should produce the desired effect. 😂 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 4 hours ago, BassApprentice said: So a bit of progress today. Stuck up a wanted ad looking for parts and think I've for an aged looking bridge on the way courtesy of @Rumple and have just organised getting that HB neck from @hooky_lowdown Going to get some sandpaper and strip back the arm rest section a bit more across the next few days. After hardware it's next onto pickup choice, not sure which direction I want to go. Cheap and classic Tonerider or maybe something a bit more modern sounding like Aguilar? Have to listen to some samples and see what appeals See my “relic refuge” thread for ideas ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 Whilst waiting on parts to arrive I've been thinking more about pickups (can you tell I'm on annual leave 🤔😅) Think I've narrowed it down to either Dimarzio or picking up a G&l MFD. Very different tonally but think I would be happy with either, I guess the Dimarzio is a bit more traditional sounding with the G&L being very modern and less P bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 10 hours ago, BassApprentice said: Think I've narrowed it down to either Dimarzio or picking up a G&l MFD. Very different tonally but think I would be happy with either, I guess the Dimarzio is a bit more traditional sounding with the G&L being very modern and less P bass In case you're not aware, G&L place their MFD split pickups slightly closer to the bridge than is the standard P spot, ⅜" / 9½mm iirc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Ricky Rioli said: In case you're not aware, G&L place their MFD split pickups slightly closer to the bridge than is the standard P spot, ⅜" / 9½mm iirc Interesting, so if I went down this route it wouldn't quite sound like the SB-2. I'm a huge fan of G&L and I like the passive on steroids idea so might go with it anyway. Thanks for the info though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 The bridge arrived today and its exactly what I was looking for! Wee bit of rust and matte finish. Looks the part. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 1 hour ago, BassApprentice said: Interesting, so if I went down this route it wouldn't quite sound like the SB-2. I'm a huge fan of G&L and I like the passive on steroids idea so might go with it anyway. Thanks for the info though! Here's a video of four different splits being demoed on the same bass inc. a G&L MFD, a Fender alnico, and a Dimarzio I think I read they made for Ibanez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBoman Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 Beaten up P-basses, my soft spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 So neck arrived today, lovely harley benton number and I almost feel bad messing with it. But let the homebrew relic commence! 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 Consider rolling the fingerboard edges - I used an old tremolo bar - then rub some old tea or coffee into the rounded off sections Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 So the neck has been relicd. Not quite sure about Danish oil I used on the headstock, bit uneven so might sand it back and do the sides and back again. I'm pleased with the rest of it though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted May 4, 2022 Author Share Posted May 4, 2022 It's been a while. Not much progress as I've been doing other bits. Decided I didn't like the neck finish so changed it a wee bit. Still happy with the worn patches but the Cedar varnish I used didn't work so used a Pine colour and think it looks much more natural now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 pickups... just keep an eye on the FS... something interesting might just pop up... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted May 27, 2022 Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 In keeping with the vintage theme, I was waiting for a set of older tuners with a bit of patina on them as I know ageing modern chrome tuners is difficult. @ead had the perfect set from his Greco, just old enough to have lost the shine which is perfect. Just a couple of bits left now! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted May 12, 2023 Author Share Posted May 12, 2023 A whole year on and I've finally mustered up the enthusiasm to finish this. All remaining parts are purchased from here and are due in the post. Hopefully get it all together in the next week or so! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted May 24, 2023 Author Share Posted May 24, 2023 And it is done (almost), very pleased with how it looks. Think the machineheads need a wee tweak as they aren't all at the same resistance. Never put together a p bass, so how important is a string tree for the D and G strings? Will order one anyways since the hole is there. Strung up with Chromes for now, will let them settle overnight and see what I need to do tomorrow 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Nice job, I do like a worn P bass too, are they D'Addario Chromes on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted May 24, 2023 Author Share Posted May 24, 2023 @Reggaebass yup, although without the string tree, the G is under some real tension, more so than the other strings which is is a bit off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 6 minutes ago, BassApprentice said: @Reggaebass yup, although without the string tree, the G is under some real tension, more so than the other strings which is is a bit off. Looks great and I imagine it sounds good too , I might have a string tree in my workshop but I’m not there till Friday, you can have it if I have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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