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Heavy mod project kicking off today


lidl e
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I'm excited. This is a long time coming,  and im probably spending way too much on this,  but it's sentimental and i think (am hoping) the result will be killer.

 

20 years ago a buddy helped me put this together. Basically we bought the walnut planks, did all the laminations and then i vought the schematic for a 60s SG and took it to a cabinet maker to shape for me. He did a great job.

 

The neck is handbuilt by another old friend.

 

What wasnt great is the way I laid everything  out. I put the bridge too far up the body so the Neck hangs off too long and it feels loke you're playing a super long scale. I just never took to it. I love the look and its all high end parts, sounds amazing but just feels odd.

 

So i brought it to a luthier to do a bunch of mods.

 

First thing is i am having him drop the neck and bridge towards the heel about 5cm. 

 

Im putting a Dimarzio DP120 into the neck position and moving the bart jazz right above the bart MM so it will be a three pickup bass.

 

I'm having him put in a 5 way switch with a chicken head  for pickup selection (basically wired like a strat) 

 

And i got one of these for the tone pot

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/261049973/guitar-bass-guitar-tone-control-the-v12?click_key=835b7012994af975477b5e225ba334f58557d849%3A261049973&click_sum=34a5cb54&ref=shop_home_feat_1&frs=1

 

Two chicken head knobs! I got matching ones and a mini one so not sure which I'll use yet.

 

All passive. Will likely do volume for Dimarzio and stacked volume for the two barts with switch for split coils.

 

I also 3D printed a pickup ring for the MM pickup.

 

It took me a while to get all the bits together.

 

the bridge is an original badass I (not II) so it is countersunk a bit.

 

Here is what it looks like currently. I estimate about 2-3 weeks to completion

 

20221105_165416.thumb.jpg.2ac5bf8cc05d24949b3080762ef4d602.jpg20230123_213145.thumb.jpg.abe97adb7bb8662144fb1abc19a02b43.jpg20221223_193443.thumb.jpg.23d9edfd7509f69864c4b839108bab40.jpg

 

 

Edited by lidl e
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Got some more bits today

 

Tone pot arrived and the chicken head knobs.

 

Also picked up primer and paint for the pickup rings. I sanded out the guidelines today and they came out great!

 

20230126_220528.thumb.jpg.eb4fe8d6973f9103f96eb72f468113c7.jpg

 

at this point, i feel like fitzcarraldo with this bass!

Edited by lidl e
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1 hour ago, fleabag said:

so cool. this fella was the first guy i saw and his products are great. 

 

i think it's a trick of the light. i'll put final shots when done and let me know what you think!

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  • 1 month later...

This fella is taking his time...

 

Initially he said 2-4 weeks, but its been 6 now.

 

I dont want to complain, becaue i want him to do a good job, but he's kind of taking the fosters if you ask me.

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  • 2 weeks later...

So I'm going to het a double bat wing pickguard made loke an old SG.

 

But firs phase of mods done. I wsnted to use it in studio tjis weekend so i picked it up. 

 

Hopefully will have some clips after the weekend

 

I need to find the right knobs.

 

20230331_222316.thumb.jpg.8b87748f9876b32baf4ff8df9ce9ddc6.jpg20230331_222326.thumb.jpg.4118537faf84506954a45894106e20ac.jpg

 

 

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Brought the ToneMonster into the studio this weekend. Got 4 tracks recorded. That alone is worth the work i put into it.

 

sounded absolutely unreal. Played so well it was inspiring.

 

It's not going to win any beauty contests and it's too heavy to play a full show with, but as a studio tool it is just amazing...

 

I took a break and recorded a 10 minute effects wankathon with it.

 

Will i post it or too indulgent? You dont really get the tone as it's mostly heavy effects.

Edited by lidl e
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Was in studio all weekend laying down tracks.

 

Used it almost exclusively. Did one trackwith my jazz.

 

Producer loved it. 

 

Used mainly the mudbucker but dialled in the MM/j combo on a track or two.

 

20230401_200454.thumb.jpg.d9bffc709d745d2e33935c40ca99624e.jpg

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...
On 13/06/2023 at 10:18, Col the Plunker said:

That is a thing of beauty mate.

Great work. I would be tempted in your shoes to leave off the scratch plate, and yes... black the pup surround.  

Cheers, bud! I wish you could all try it it is so good!

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On 12/04/2023 at 14:10, lidl e said:

Oddly enough i found a brass jazz surround locally. 

 

I think it looks cool gold, but should i paint it to match the others?

 

 

20230412_140043.jpg

 

No, get a bit of brass sheet and make a surround up for the bridge pickup, assuming it's just a flat rectangular plate with holes in it.

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