Teej's 57-esque P Build

teej · #1 07-14-2010, 06:26 PM

I've actually been working on this for a couple of months now. I built this as a replacement for my recently sold green jazz bass, dubbed the "Fusion." Well, I guess you could call this the "Fusion II" or perhaps just the "Classic." I know it's not a jazz bass, but after owning one, I came to discover that I prefer the P shape, so that's what I went with.

- Chambered alder body with poplar top
- Maple neck with maple fingerboard, aluminum nut, and dot inlays only on the 12th fret
- Hipshot Ultralight tuners
- USA Fender bridge (string-thru)
- Pickup from Fender '51 Reissue
- White pickguard (may go pearl)

mikeyswood · #2 07-14-2010, 07:11 PM

Have you been to a doctor?

Beej · #3 07-14-2010, 07:17 PM

You need to elevate that...

Stealth · #4 07-15-2010, 02:15 AM

Love the look of it, though I hate the pun hell that ensued.

Also, interesting headstock shape, looks a bit Valenti-ish.

teej · #5 07-15-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

... I hate the pun hell that ensued.

You're not the only one.

Quote:

Also, interesting headstock shape, looks a bit Valenti-ish.

The headstock was actually a direct tracing of a J. Reynolds P (my first bass), and then I refined it to be sleeker, but I wanted to do something more to it, so I tried to do what I did with my Serenade (cut a notch out of the headstock - see photo below) and ended up with something resembling Valenti's shape.

**Joshua** · #6 07-15-2010, 09:58 AM

Let's not make the mods decipher intent or meaning over the internet.

I am available via pm to discuss...

Stealth · #7 07-15-2010, 10:23 AM

Also, I didn't even notice till re-reading: I actually like the minimalist fretboard.

teej · #8 07-15-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

Also, I didn't even notice till re-reading: I actually like the minimalist fretboard.

Yeah, I've done that with a few other builds, such as the travel bass, Serenade, and now this one. I just think dots all over the fretboard clutter things and detract from natural aesthetics of the wood. What can I say, I like things simple and clean. I may add side dots, though.

mikeyswood · #9 07-15-2010, 11:28 AM

Completely agree TJ. I do one simple inlay and rarely do side dots. The G doesn't move. Anyone playing one of my instruments will know where the G is.

teej · #10 07-15-2010, 11:44 AM

Just sprayed what will hopefully be the last coat. I tend to have a heavy hand when it comes to polishing, though. Here's hoping I don't rub through the paint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Completely agree TJ. I do one simple inlay and rarely do side dots. The G doesn't move. Anyone playing one of my instruments will know where the G is.

I was going to do an abalone inlay at the 12th fret of my "J" logo, but I already had the dots on hand, so I went with that instead.

Ruckus_Instrmts · #11 07-15-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teej

I tend to have a heavy hand when it comes to polishing, though. Here's hoping I don't rub through the paint.

Ugh. Glad I'm not the only one. Damn edges always get me.

teej · #12 07-15-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruckus_Instrmts

Ugh. Glad I'm not the only one. Damn edges always get me.

Yeah, I was polishing the headstock last night and rubbed right through the top bass-side edge. I've learned to never let the cloth go dry, even if you have to slather polishing compound all over the thing.

mikeyswood · #13 07-15-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teej

I was going to do an abalone inlay at the 12th fret of my "J" logo, but I already had the dots on hand, so I went with that instead.

I do one piece of shell inlayed:

...and that makes three of us with the buffing issues.

teej · #14 07-15-2010, 01:04 PM

The paints hard enough to handle (lightly), so I couldn't resist a mock-up.

I was going to do a white pearl pickguard, but I think the plain white compliments the simple/clean look of the fingerboard. And yes, I'm aware that I only have one tuner. I can't find the other three. Or maybe I'm just being innovative. It'll catch on one day.

Yakob · #15 07-15-2010, 05:11 PM

Looks nice, good build.

BassCycle · #16 07-15-2010, 06:09 PM

Me like

blendermassacre · #17 07-15-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruckus_Instrmts

Ugh. Glad I'm not the only one. Damn edges always get me.

I purposely give the edges plenty of paint and clear for this reason. My hands do not help the issue...

although the headstock is valenti ish, I love the look of the bass. After playing a squire CV 51, I love the sound of that tele pickup...

teej · #18 07-31-2010, 09:39 PM

After letting it sit for a couple of weeks in this Alabama heat (thermometer read 108 when I got in the car today), I hit it with what I hope will be the last coat of color. I may not do a clear coat. When polished, the color by itself comes out deep and vivid with a high gloss.

teej · #19 02-01-2013, 08:18 AM

It's been a while, but I've been a very busy guy! I graduated college (BFA Digital Media), got married to the lovely lady in my avatar - her name is Katie and I love her to death - and am working full-time (Graphic Designer at SAS Printing) with bills and everything.

As for this project, it's finished. Sadly, I don't have any other progress shots. I'd work on little things here and there with other things on my mind than "oh, I need to photograph this!" I completed it back in December and have been working on setting it up since then. Frets need to be leveled and I've got to clear coat over my headstock logo (well, I don't HAVE to, but for durability's sake...). Aside from that, it's strung and playable. Balances well and is very light! Tone is pretty good, too, but honestly, I'm not a fan of the single coil hum. Down the road, I may look into the split single-coil pickup Fralin makes.

I'll take some shots tonight and post them here.

ctmullins · #20 02-01-2013, 11:16 AM

Teej! Love your stuff. Thought you were gone forever. Glad you're not.