Custom Performer/Supersonic bass

[Hopkins]

I love this bass, but the white pickups do nothing for me at all. That bass with black pickups and a black pick guard would be absolutely sexy.

I know its JMHO, but I think you should should seriously consider saving those white pickups for a different bass.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Hopkins

I love this bass, but the white pickups do nothing for me at all. That bass with black pickups and a black pick guard would be absolutely sexy.

I know its JMHO, but I think you should should seriously consider saving those white pickups for a different bass.

It's the first time I tried rockin' white pu's and absolutely sexy is what I'm after so what you say is food for thought. I like exploring the path less traveled sometimes and since the Performer was from '85 I thought white pu's were a potentially suitable addition. As chance would have it I have a black EMG J set from a past build sitting in a box. A good aspect of EMG's is that they can be switched out so easily (no soldering) so I will definitely AB them to see which sounds the best. Maybe white pu's w/the brn tort and black pu's on black? And if push comes to shove and I like the sound of the JAX's better they could always be painted black. Whichever way it ends up - the Supersonic will rock!

[pilotjones]

Working with a body color like that, I think the only way the white pups might work is with a plain white PG. Otherwise I'd go with black and black, as Hopkins suggested.


Or even though I am not generally a tortoiseshell fan, I think this could look killer with that body and neck: tort PG, black pups, black bridge and tuners.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Working with a body color like that, I think the only way the white pups might work is with a plain white PG. Otherwise I'd go with black and black, as Hopkins suggested.


Or even though I am not generally a tortoiseshell fan, I think this could look killer with that body and neck: tort PG, black pups, black bridge and tuners.

I have enough plain white and wht/blk/wht pg material w/either white or black pu's... so many options! (but I'm solidly sold on the chrome/silver bridge, knobs and tuners...)

[Hopkins]

Originally Posted by JIO

It's the first time I tried rockin' white pu's and absolutely sexy is what I'm after so what you say is food for thought. I like exploring the path less traveled sometimes and since the Performer was from '85 I thought white pu's were a potentially suitable addition. As chance would have it I have a black EMG J set from a past build sitting in a box. A good aspect of EMG's is that they can be switched out so easily (no soldering) so I will definitely AB them to see which sounds the best. Maybe white pu's w/the brn tort and black pu's on black? And if push comes to shove and I like the sound of the JAX's better they could always be painted black. Whichever way it ends up - the Supersonic will rock!

Please don't put tort on that color haha,

The white pickups with a white pick guard would look pretty good, but I think that bass is just begging for a black guard and black pickups.

[wraub]

Look at the pic of the car, the inspirado for your whole deal here. The dominant colors are gold, black, and chrome. Not a lot of white goin' on.
The 'guard and pu covers almost have to be black.
Or chrome...

wraub

[JIO]

Originally Posted by wraub

Look at the pic of the car, the inspirado for your whole deal here. The dominant colors are gold, black, and chrome. Not a lot of white goin' on.
The 'guard and pu covers almost have to be black.
Or chrome...

wraub

That's my current take on it as well, but it's funny because every time I say this or that is out, I reevaluate and see it as an option. Take the plain white guard option, which was my original intent - gotta admit it looks super clean and cool. I don't even mind the whites being slightly different. The wt/blk/wht blank I have is a much cooler white and would probably work w/the black pu's but not the white ones.



And here's w/black pu's. More traditional and ok looking but I think (today) it should be all white or all black. Tort is still on the table, but probably not chrome...

[suraj]

I really like the white white combo, my vote goes for that. Apart from the knob skirts, the build is really cool

[JIO]

Originally Posted by suraj

I really like the white white combo, my vote goes for that. Apart from the knob skirts, the build is really cool

thank you suraj! For sure wht on wht works. The skirts are keepers. They will be recessed into the guard (whichever colour it ends up) and so far I'm diggin' the mix. I think they will also look good on black (relating to the GTO concept).
As with any aesthetic choice, there is no one way of seeing something. That what keeps the world diverse and interesting right?

[roberthabraken]

White on white looks so clean and futuristic on this gold finish. Cool! So I'd vote for that. Most unique too.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by roberthabraken

White on white looks so clean and futuristic on this gold finish. Cool! So I'd vote for that. Most unique too.

futuristic - one of my Supersonic trigger-words for sure!

So for now it's (blk/blk) muscle-car vs (wht/wht) spaceship!

[daveman50]

White on white = my vote as well. A black p/g would take it in a ... weird design direction, IMO.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by daveman50

White on white = my vote as well. A black p/g would take it in a ... weird design direction, IMO.

I'm liken' the wht/wht tally! - just got back from cutting a new plain white (like the botched one) plate on the band-saw so after some refining of the edges I will do the routing etc during the weekend.

I had to send the neck back for some fine tuning so won't be able to assemble it right away, but can get the body ready in the meantime.

[Hopkins]

I'm still feeling the all black, but the all white is growing on me. My vote is still black but either way is going to look great.

It has to be white pickups with white guard or black on black. Mixing dosent work so well

[charlie monroe]

So i downloaded Gimp the other day. I can see what JIO was going for here:



Having said that, I like the white on white.

[charlie monroe]

Anyone down with the Chicken? They're a little big, but I had to cover the existing witch's hats.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by charlie monroe

So i downloaded Gimp the other day. I can see what JIO was going for here:

Having said that, I like the white on white.

Thank you so much CM! I'm starting to feel I have special powers because I was thinking earlier today it would be great if some tech-savvy person could do a photo-shop of the tort pg so I wouldn't have to actually cut one to see it. >>> And now that I see it I can officially rule it out as an option!

[JIO]

... however, the 'chicken beak' knobs start making it look like an old white oven!

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Hopkins

I'm still feeling the all black, but the all white is growing on me. My vote is still black but either way is going to look great.

It has to be white pickups with white guard or black on black. Mixing dosent work so well

I may cut a black guard eventually as a change-up. I have a Tele bass w/2 pg's that I swap out occasionally. Like when your wife/so/gf gets her hair cut and tinted... it keeps life interesting!

[charlie monroe]

Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you do one of your custom finishes under a clear acrylic pickguard?

You could match or contrast your colors to a controlled degree.

And it would be fun.

My $0.02