Custom telecaster bass idea: 51' precision + '72 telecaster bass, anyone done this?

[ishouldbeking]

Someone had a thread on '70s tele basses yesterday and it got me thinking... has anyone ever built a '51 precision or '72 telecaster bass and added the other type of pickup? So basically you'd have a Seth Lover humbucker at the neck, and the single-coil precision pickup in its normal spot.

I'm actually considering it, not because I necessarily want the two sounds blended (though, who knows, it might be cool), but because I'd like to own both a '51 P and '72 tele, and I figure if you put a vol/vol/tone/tone with concentric knobs you'd effectively have both basses in one. Anyone done this? Any potential issues to be wary of? If you've got pics, post that stuff! (intrepid photoshoppers are welcome too)

and just so everyone knows exactly what i'm talking about:

'51 precision


+

'72 telecaster bass

[PunkRocker33133]

it would be even better with a 3rd pickup added in a bridge plate like a telecaster custom guitar

[ishouldbeking]

I was thinking a jazz pup at the bridge or an MM in the sweet spot would be a ridiculous amount of versatility.

[PunkRocker33133]

very true, but I just keep imagining how awesome it would be to have a bass tele, complete with bridge plate/ashtray bridge, angled single coil, and mudbucker at the neck

[Din Of Win]

Like this? YouTube - Fender 1951 Precision Reissue (Telecaster Bass) Review by Beto Kupper



Yeah... i wanna make one... and how effing sexy is that Orfeo bass?!

[PunkRocker33133]

That video was pretty awesome, but I still think I'd want it like the tele guitar with the angled pickup at the bridge.

[pjmuck]

I don't really dig the tone of that guy in the YouTube video with the '51 Telecaster bass SC in the sweet spot and the Lover mudbucker in the neck.

I've seen more than a few mudbucker Tele basses with an added PUP at the bridge, since many players tried to give those basses some additional clarity and top end. I can attest to this combo working very well, since I own a modified '75 Tele bass. Here's mine, though my PUP is a Seymour Duncan QP P PUP not a single coil, and it's not quite in the bridge position or sweet spot. (That's how it came to me). Regardless, the combination of PUPs is incredible. HUGE deep fat bass with much needed top end attack and bite now.

[jumbodbassman]

like this




killed the value but did it in 85 when tele's had no value....

i had to go with a hotter spb (3) to try and balance the volume better. individually great , together pretty good considering a hb and single coil. Might be great with a fralin dual coil with extra windings....

[jumbodbassman]

personally i like this one better for a few reasons including less valuble and a better neck. all warmoth. quarter pounders...



I recently got the bug and got some tele mudbuckers off ebay and will be building a lotto bass. but i am thinking about adding a spb in the middle and some switches for series/single/parallel. should be a tone monster

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by pjmuck

I've seen more than a few mudbucker Tele basses with an added PUP at the bridge, since many players tried to give those basses some additional clarity and top end.

Yup same here....over the years I've seen alot of modified mudbucker Teles with the sc pickup closer to the bridge.

I think Mike Watt had a real 50's SCPB he did exactly that to, but the bucker is not a sound I've ever dug at all.

[bassvi]

Traded my 71 Tele bass in many years ago on a Thunderbird. I loved (and still love) the necks on these basses, but I just got tired of the muddy boom. Wish I had known then to add another PU. the combination in that vid sounds amazing. I miss that bass.

[Din Of Win]

There's always Billy Sheehan's bass:






Fender Japan's version:





I dig this Fender Customshop Tele, too:

[change-jug]

That Fender MIJ is pretty sweet,I didn`t know that they even made that. The Custom shop one is really nice too,but isn`t that one like,$4,000? A bit much,I`d say.
I would like to get a modded Tele bass with a few pick ups in it some day. That short scale one that dude plays in the youtube clip is pretty cool.

[jumbodbassman]

yes that is the lotto bass i am GASing for. imagine that with a single coil in the middle...

[Kinetic Shadow]

Asked this in another thread last night, but didn't get a definitive answer. Building a 51 and need to know what is used for height adjustment on the single coils? If it's foam, how thick is it? Thanks for any help and sorry to briefly segue the thread.

[jumbodbassman]

Originally Posted by Kinetic Shadow

Asked this in another thread last night, but didn't get a definitive answer. Building a 51 and need to know what is used for height adjustment on the single coils? If it's foam, how thick is it? Thanks for any help and sorry to briefly segue the thread.

i tend to use very soft foam and lots of it to give it some strength angainst the screws and weight. 1 to 1 1/2 inch works for me....

[jumbodbassman]

here is a video of the lotto bass for anyone that hasn't seen it.

YouTube - Vivi Rama w/November 2nd & Janet Robin at Fender Custom Shop

[Kinetic Shadow]

Originally Posted by jumbodbassman

i tend to use very soft foam and lots of it to give it some strength angainst the screws and weight. 1 to 1 1/2 inch works for me....

Thanks for this. Now back to topic. Cheers.

[ishouldbeking]

Originally Posted by jumbodbassman

like this




killed the value but did it in 85 when tele's had no value....

i had to go with a hotter spb (3) to try and balance the volume better. individually great , together pretty good considering a hb and single coil. Might be great with a fralin dual coil with extra windings....

Oh, awesome. I knew someone would have one! Out of curiosity, is there enough room to put a single coil in its traditional spot and still squeeze a HB at the neck? It looks like it'd be tight... but maybe doable?

[superbassman2000]

it'd be weird, but I think it'd be cool to replace the bridge with an ATK bridge, and then put a triple coil humbucker in with it--it'd be similar to the looks of a tele guitar