New project - my take on a '51 Precision Bass

SDB Guitars · #1 05-09-2011, 12:55 PM

So, there's been some noise on the LC lately about early-to-mid-'50's Precision Basses, and it's piqued my interest. I decided that I might like one. I was initially feeling kinda lazy and impatient about it, and was going to just order a body through Warmoth, but as I looked through their online catalog at the price for a custom body (didn't want one of the ones they already have made up), and also the wait time, I decided to make my own.

We have the technology. We can build it. Better, stronger, fas - wait a minute. So, I decided on a few specs:

One-piece maple neck, stock J-bass neck (in this case, a licensed Fender neck on which I have modified the headstock), sealed and then finished in Waterlox Red Label. Schaller Fender bass machines (clover leaf).

Mahogany body, two-piece center-joined, 1.75" thick. Probably going to make a pickguard out of some flatsawn bloodwood I have. It's nice and wide, about 12.5", so I think it'll work . Nordstrand split-coil '51 Precision pickup. Looks like a stock '51 P-bass pickup, but no hum.

Bridge TBD... considering a Babicz Full Contact bridge, a Leo Quan Badass bridge, or possibly a Hipshot... Not super-concerned with going "stock" in this area, more concerned with stability and saddle contact. Not planning to do string-through-body on this one...

Because this is a one-off, I don't plan to make a full MDF or plywood template for this instrument. I'll just use my single-coil pickup template and my neck template (both purchased years ago from Stew-Mac). I started out with a full-scale tracing made from a set of plans. I'll use this to transfer the body outline and the location of the hardware onto the body blank:

I started with an 8/4" mahogany board ~54" long, and 7.5" wide. I transferred the outline of the body to the blank, lined everything up, and then glued the two pieces of mahogany together:

I'm already digging the look, and I'm itching to get this puppy together. I'm considering actually inlaying the pickguard into the body as opposed to just parking it on top of the wood. We'll have to see how things go.

Thoughts?

SDB Guitars · #2 05-16-2011, 01:06 PM

Wow... Not one comment? LOL. That's a first.

At any stretch, here I am routing for the neck pocket:

...and for the pickup:

Test-fitting the neck - it's pretty snug, had to press it in with one of the quick-clamps:

Cut the body out on the bandsaw, cleaned up the edge, and again fitted the neck - it's a nice fit. Seems I can now press it in with the heel of my hand. Still working on a template for the "pickguard". as I'm planning to make one out of bloodwood and inlay it into the body.

Haven't decided if I'll make a wooden "control plate" also, or whether I'll just use a stock metal one...

Thoughts?

Anomalous Bass · #3 05-16-2011, 01:20 PM

Nice, the inlayed pickgaurd is a neat touch. Id have to see both options as far as the plate goes. Im not usually a fan of regular pickgaurds or plates so ill say go without one. You arent going for the original look anyway, right? Of course maybe top route is what you prefer and it is your bass after all.

Musiclogic · #4 05-16-2011, 01:21 PM

Just my thought, a wooden frame for the control plate with a metal center section. similar to your cover/cavity drawing with a 3/4" rout for the control plate, or just buy a common replacement control plate, and affix a wood frame around it. No matter, it's going to look cool for a P-bass(as stated many times, not a big F fan...LOL)

**TheDude007** · #5 05-16-2011, 01:36 PM

Looks great! I like the idea of inlaying the pickguard. I also like Musiclogic's idea of making a frame for the control plate. If you don't do that, my vote is for a stock metal one. However, it may look kind of weird if you do inlay the pickguard. Best of luck, I'm sub'd. I want to do a first build soon (gotta get the shop set up in the new house first) and I was thinking about doing a 50's P for my first. I figure it's probably about as basic as one could get.

Anomalous Bass · #6 05-16-2011, 01:44 PM

Agreed, the wood framed control plate sounds like a good option. I also agree that just a metal plate would look odd with the inset pickguard.

SDB Guitars · #7 05-16-2011, 01:49 PM

If I inlay the pickguard, and were to use a metal plate, I'd recess it flush so it didn't look awkward...

I'm also considering fabricating/inlaying the cover plate out of a contrasting wood... maybe bloodwood for the pickguard, and wenge for the plate?

**TheDude007** · #8 05-16-2011, 01:54 PM

I like that too. Or, what if you did the control plate and pickguard out of the same wood, then made knobs out of mahogany like you did for the body so it's like a black & white contrasting theme through-out? Just an idea.

SDB Guitars · #9 05-16-2011, 02:17 PM

I would want the "cover plate" portion to contrast with the pickguard, I think... otherwise I'd just make a pickguard extended down to the cavity. I like the contrasting look of the '51 style pickguared with a plate, as opposed to the later style P-bass pickguard.

Musiclogic · #10 05-16-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDB Guitars

If I inlay the pickguard, and were to use a metal plate, I'd recess it flush so it didn't look awkward...

yep, that's what I meant by framing

Quote:

I'm also considering fabricating/inlaying the cover plate out of a contrasting wood... maybe bloodwood for the pickguard, and wenge for the plate?

Probably would look cool depending on how busy the piece of bloodwood you used for the PG was, as opposed to how busy the wenge piece was. Using 3 different types of wood can draw attention away from the total instrument and to the details, it's a tough balancing act...LOL

SDB Guitars · #11 05-16-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

...Probably would look cool depending on how busy the piece of bloodwood you used for the PG was, as opposed to how busy the wenge piece was. Using 3 different types of wood can draw attention away from the total instrument and to the details, it's a tough balancing act...LOL

Yeah, it's a balancing act... The bloodwood is actually very light, looks almost like bubinga in places. I might be better server to stick with the chrome control plate, and just recessing it...

Corey Y · #12 05-16-2011, 03:53 PM

Cool, love the concept, can't wait to see how it turns out. I'd like to see a similar take on a modern Precision shape, with an inset wood "pickguard" like that.

I would just use the metal control plate and set it in flush with the body, personally. Just because I can't picture what species would be a good balance against the other two, off the top of my head. I'm sure you could figure something out that would look killer with a little thought and a couple test runs.

SDB Guitars · #13 05-16-2011, 04:11 PM

My biggest issue is that I would need the plate by the end of the week, to get this out, and I don't think I can source one locally. I'd rather not pay for expedited shipping on a $15 part.

Corey Y · #14 05-16-2011, 04:18 PM

If that's the case I'd just make one then, try out the wenge. What else do you have around? I'm guessing you could probably use drop off from a headstock, top veneer or something else laying around for a piece that size.

SDB Guitars · #15 05-16-2011, 04:51 PM

I have a several small, thin scraps of wenge (1/8" or so) that I could use for the control plate. I'll just make one to spec size, and if I don't like it, I'll order a replacement chrome plate later on. I just have to get this wrapped up, as a friend of mine will be playing it at a show in 10 days. I could *probably* get the part in that amount of time, but I want to have it together for a couple of days to make sure there are no issues before sending it out into the world, however briefly. This will be my own personal bass, and so I don't mind tinkering with it at a later time.

craigb43 · #16 05-17-2011, 05:36 AM

that is going to be real nice

Thumpin_P · #17 05-17-2011, 05:56 AM

Cool! Subbed!

Legattabass · #18 05-17-2011, 01:06 PM

Fender body style, in mahogany? I think I'm going to faint.

SDB Guitars · #19 05-17-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legattabass

Fender body style, in mahogany? I think I'm going to faint.

Eh, it's what I had laying around.

My first choice would probably have been black limba, but I don't have any in the shop at the moment.

That having been said, I played an early '80's G&L L-2000 with a mahogany body, and really liked it. I built myself a J-style in mahogany, and liked it. I'm seeing a trend here.

chuck norriss · #20 05-17-2011, 02:43 PM

Looking forward to your finished instrument. Any photos of the J in mahogany?