I have two junkers... Should I make 'em into one?

[tZer]

The could possibly go in the Luthier's corner, however I don't think it really rises to that level - yet.

I have two beater basses that have fallen into my lap recently.

One is an Electra MPC Outlaw x610. This bass has a compartment in the back for plugging in effects modules and a whole array of knobs and switches on the front to control the effects, tone, and volume. It is one solid chunk of wood - not neck-thru, not bolt on... one solid chunk...


(Click for lots more images of this bass)


The other is a real mystery. My guitar player had it leaning in his storate shed - headstock broken. I took it off his hands, repaired the headstock and strung it up. It has a really nice sound - P-style pickups - but the action is so high it is practically unplayable. The bridge saddles are as low as they can go. The neck is 'neck thru/glued' - not bolt-on. It has a truss rod, but I am not sure if it can be wrenched enough to make up for this action.


(Click for lots more images of this bass)

So I am wondering if any of you clever bass frankensteiner's out there can offer your thoughts and suggestions about what I could possibly do with these instruments. Maybe I could take the best of each and make one, half-way worthwhile instrument. Maybe both can be salvaged and made useful.

One though I had was taking the pups out of the mystery bass and putting them in the bridge position of the Outlaw - and ignoring the 'effects module' feature altoghther.

Anyhow - any thoughts you guys may have are much appreciated!

--tz

[superbassman2000]

just for fun, do you have any pics of the back of that electra, i'm interestedin seeing what kind of connection the electra made with the effect modules

[XansNiceSweater]

I'll buy one or both from you. I'm working on my guitar repair skills.

PM me with prices.

[morf]

I really like the second one, looks great

[tZer]

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

just for fun, do you have any pics of the back of that electra, i'm interestedin seeing what kind of connection the electra made with the effect modules

Here ya go. I actually found a site that sells the modules that plug into this cavity - http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/modules.php


As for selling them - not at this time. I want to get my fingers dirty and see what can be done without any additional investment. I have done quite a lot with the second one already (repairing the headstock) - but I am just not sure if I can get that neck into playable shape. I have no experience with truss rod adjustments and the saddles are as low as they can be. So I don't know, but it seems that the truss is more for the relief/flatness of the neck and the saddles are for the string height... And since the saddles are kissing the plate now...

But the pickups sound really good on it. So it seems viable that I could take the pups from the no-name one and put them in the neck position on the Electra and clean it up (a lot!) - maybe completely refinish it.

Another tidbit of info - the Electra, as I understand it, was one they used at SLM (Makers of AMPEG) to test amps. I was told it was screwed to a board or on the wall or something like that. I pulled a small sticker off of it that said "Test 5' on it... I am sure Jerrold could verify that one...

So - any thoughts of putting the pups from the no-name into the Electra?

[BassChuck]

The electronics of the first one seem very interesting. I'd do whatever it takes to make it playable and have fun with the FX units. The red one looks like a Gibson knockoff. Since the headstock damage might be the source of the setup problem, why not make it a headless and see where that project takes you?

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by tZer

Here ya go. I actually found a site that sells the modules that plug into this cavity - http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/x610.php

thats cool
actually i was just at that one site in my own search for what it looks like in the back...i have heard about basses with built-in effects, and have been quite intregued by them

that one would be a fun project to figure out that effects part out
if you end up scrapping that bass, take out that cavity and all the pots that go with it and send it to me

if i were you, i'd fix up the electra

EDIT: i see that site actually knows the pin config http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/sh_wire.php

[morf]

Keep the second one intact, I think it could be a good player once you clean it up well... IMHO of course

[tZer]

Originally Posted by morf

Keep the second one intact, I think it could be a good player once you clean it up well... IMHO of course

I could be... but I am just not so sure about that neck - getting the action down. Does anyone here have any info?

My questions; If the saddles are all the way down and the neck is flat/has relatively reasonable relief, can the action be lowered?

It seems that if I cannot pull the neck off and shim it (it is glued not bolted) and cranking the truss to lower the action would conceivable over-bow the neck and thusly not have the proper relief - buzz city is what I am thinking - or worse, most of the neck would be unplayable...

That would certainly be the easiest one to get into shape if the action issue can be resolved.

[morf]

How about a new bridge? Wouldnt that solve the action problem?

[jive1]

I say glue the two basses together and be the Michael Angelo Batio of bass.

[morf]

lol, yeah michael angelo batio ownz

[tZer]

Originally Posted by jive1

I say glue the two basses together and be the Michael Angelo Batio of bass.

Creative! that is something to think about. Imagine the case...

Originally Posted by morf

How about a new bridge? Wouldnt that solve the action problem?

Well - I am thinking that recessing the bridge might be a way to go. I essentially need to get that end of the instrument lower - but again, my lack of familiarity with what can be done adjusting the truss has me pausing on this.

[truckin88]

electra has a big fan base, do not mess with it, you will mess with the rarity and the value

the second bass, try the trus a few times, mayeb 1/4 turn a day over a week, see where u end up, try a new nut.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by tZer

Well - I am thinking that recessing the bridge might be a way to go. I essentially need to get that end of the instrument lower - but again, my lack of familiarity with what can be done adjusting the truss has me pausing on this.

Before you do that, check the relief on the neck!
It's much easier to tweak the truss rod than it is to recess the bridge, and once you recess the bridge it will be difficult to reverse.

You can check the relief of the neck by doing the following:
1) Fret the E string at the first fret
2) While holding down the E-string with your left hand, hold down the E-string at the fret where the neck joins the body (approx 16th-20th) with your right hand.
3) While you're holding down the strings, take a look at the space between the string and the 7th fret. If the gap is too wide, tighten the trussrod about a quarter turn. Give the neck a little time to adjust (10 mins or longer), and then repeat this process until the relief is where you like it.

There's other ways of doing this, and the Setup and Repair forum is a great place to find info.

[morf]

I've never tried adjusting a truss rod - so I cant be of much help there, however on my MIM Fender P I've played around alot with the bridge saddles to get the action as low as possible without any buzz, and so far so good.

[morf]

Originally Posted by jive1

Before you do that, check the relief on the neck!
It's much easier to tweak the truss rod than it is to recess the bridge, and once you recess the bridge it will be difficult to reverse.

You can check the relief of the neck by doing the following:
1) Fret the E string at the first fret
2) While holding down the E-string with your left hand, hold down the E-string at the fret where the neck joins the body (approx 16th-20th) with your right hand.
3) While you're holding down the strings, take a look at the space between the string and the 7th fret. If the gap is too wide, tighten the trussrod about a quarter turn. Give the neck a little time to adjust (10 mins or longer), and then repeat this process until the relief is where you like it.

There's other ways of doing this, and the Setup and Repair forum is a great place to find info.

Hmm, I've never tried doing something like this, I will give this a shot on my MIM later on, thanks for the info, it'll prove to be helpful. I didnt know you could adjust the action by adjusting the truss rod, guess I'm still a newbie

[BassikLee]

If the neck is straight on the red one, and the action is as high as it seems, you have no choice but to sink the bridge. How tall are the saddles?? Can you shave them down a bit??? That may work, if they are tall enough to give you the drop you need. As for the Electra, does it need the modules in order to work?? If not, I say string it up and play it. I would not hack up the Electra, as there is probably some "electra freak" out there somewhere who would buy it for at least enough $$ for a decent bass, if it is un hacked.

HTH

[jive1]

Originally Posted by morf

Hmm, I've never tried doing something like this, I will give this a shot on my MIM later on, thanks for the info, it'll prove to be helpful. I didnt know you could adjust the action by adjusting the truss rod, guess I'm still a newbie

String height at the bridge and nut, along with relief at the neck contribute to the overall "action" of the strings.

[morf]

Yes that makes total sense, but I had no idea you could actually adjust the truss rod like this. I thought it was just there to keep the neck straight.