Not as much a build as a retrofit

[oldrookie]

A friend gave me a cheap Chinese P-bass with a messed up neck. Truss rod messed up.

I like the transparent orange finish, so decided to fit another neck to it.

The plan will be to add an SX neck later this spring when they become available, but in the meantime another friend gave me a beat up Cort P-bass neck.

The neck is too narrow for the pocket, but I'll screw that up later.

For now, pictures from today:

The headstock:


The reverse with holes filled and CA (first round) on. It appears that the neck has had at least two other sets of tuners on it:


Each dark spot represents a ding in the neck. I sanded the neck and filled dings with CA.


After letting the CA dried I used a small plane and sand paper to work down the high spots created by the CA.


Second round of CA on the back of the headstock:


I drilled out the screw holes to 1/4 and used oak dowels and wood glue to plug them in preparation to drilling new to fit the existing holes in the bass body.


I clamped it up and set it aside to dry. I'll update as I move through this process (if anybody cares.)

[poomwah]

Id like to see more.
Especially pics of the body, I love orange

[oldrookie]

Meant to include a couple of pix of the body and forgot.





Nothing special, but I figured it was worth trying to save. So far I'm about $3.00 into it. It does look really good with a maple neck on it.

[jarrod cunningham]

sub'd

[oldrookie]

Not much too exciting just yet, but cut the pegs I installed at the base of the neck...and managed to put a small gouge in the underside. Created a dam out of duct tape and filled it with CA.



Spent some time sanding the headstock and put a third round of CA in any small dents left over from the second round. Probably not necessary as I plan to replace the neck later anyway, but might as well do it right.




Did the same with a few minor flaws I spotted.


Really very happy with the feel of the neck at this point.

Next I'll start adding some veneer to the neck heel and start trying to fit it the pocket.

[oldrookie]

Here's a quick shoot of what the final work will look like. The maple and orange look really good together, IMHO.


This shot shows the neck moved all the way to one side so the gap I need to deal with is obvious.


Note that the very end has a different shape than the pocket. Not sure how I'm going to deal with it. A new pickguard would hide it, but not sure I want the expense.

[oldrookie]

The Cort neck has the truss rod adjustment in the heel, which means I either have to take the neck off to set the truss rod each time, or I have to pull the pickguard off and route access under it for the allen wrench so I can adjust it on the bass.

Don't want to route the pickguard in case I want to go with a different neck later with the truss adjustment at the headstock.

[oldrookie]

So I used 1/8" veneer strips with adhesive already applied. Put it in place, cover it with foil and hit it with a hot iron. Adhesive melts...hold in place until cools and done.



Not real pretty, but tight enough to hold the neck in place without screws.


Next I took the tuners off the bad neck (and the string tree) and installed them.


I put the neck back on (here's what the side gap looks like now) and drilled the holes for the back plate screws.


Here's the gap at the heel.


But I strung it up and didn't even have to adjust the truss rod. Sounds like a cheap Chinese knock-off P-bass. So success!

Family portrait.

[oldrookie]

I'm betting I did about everything wrong and all you guys who know what you are doing are rolling your eyes, but I have a P-bass to play with a grand expenditure of about $9.00.

You may notice that I accidently sanded the "electric bass" wording off, but I often remember what it is when I look at it anyway, so no real harm done.

Thanks for reading along.

[scottbass]

Nice job! I agree, the trans orange finish is quite nice looking considering the lineage (or lack thereof). A nicer neck will make it even better. And hey, you only spent $9 - that's even a little bit cheaper than a brand new SX!

[JACKSIXPACK]

nice post

[oldrookie]

Thanks guys!

May end up shimming the neck. Seems pretty straight, but strings are a little higher than I like. Assumed I have some monkeying around to do, but fun little junker to play.

[1954bassman]

Hey Joel,

Looking good. Chalk one up for exprience.

[irishpride28]

Very resourceful! I enjoyed it.