NBD: '61 FrankenFender

the art guy · #1 02-03-2013, 07:58 PM

I've always had a thing for vintage "player's" Fender P's. Been wanting to work my way up (or back) to a pre-CBS neck for a while, and finally made it happen. Here she is, at least for now: '61 neck w/original tuners, etc., on a '65 refin body. Fralins. Enough said. Can't wait to put some miles on her!

Gecko 5 · #2 02-03-2013, 08:59 PM

Wow!! Nice!! Congrats!!

A-Step-Towards · #3 02-03-2013, 11:50 PM

Thats sweet , glad to see it all came together.

basmicke · #4 02-04-2013, 12:20 AM

Great. Congratulations!
Are these the original frets? Almost looks fretless. That period of Fenders has my absolute favorite necks.
Enjoy

GreaserMatt · #5 02-04-2013, 12:20 AM

Very jealous... LOL

the art guy · #6 03-14-2013, 01:48 PM

Just dropping back in on my thread to show version 2.0. I've never been a red bass guy, so this is where the '61 neck resides now. Sonic Blue FTW.

gurensan · #7 03-14-2013, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basmicke

Great. Congratulations!
Are these the original frets? Almost looks fretless. That period of Fenders has my absolute favorite necks.
Enjoy

I don't get to play them too often, but when I do, I dig them like mad. I'd LOVE a pre-CBS neck on just about anything. Those tiny frets are just cool.

gurensan · #8 03-14-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the art guy

Just dropping back in on my thread to show version 2.0. I've never been a red bass guy, so this is where the '61 neck resides now. Sonic Blue FTW.

Either way, awesome.

Figjam · #9 03-14-2013, 06:40 PM

Looks awesome on the sonic blue. What kind of body is that?

the art guy · #10 03-14-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Figjam

Looks awesome on the sonic blue. What kind of body is that?

I've got a friend who has a small business building custom guitars, so he got the body from his supplier (it's not one of the big makers), and my friend did the nitro finish.

Moosehead1966 · #11 03-14-2013, 08:01 PM

Hi Aaron,

Looks wonderful and I'm sure plays great.

Could you please describe the neck, adding as many subjective descriptors as possible. Some of us have to live vicariously through your experiences

P.S. Still lovin' the Atkinson P I bought (one that used to be in your avatar).. Must be the 1.5" neck (small french Canadian hands..). It gets more time than my U.S. Spector....

Take care, Marc

the art guy · #12 03-14-2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moosehead1966

Could you please describe the neck, adding as many subjective descriptors as possible. Some of us have to live vicariously through your experiences

P.S. Still lovin' the Atkinson P you sold me..

Haha. Hey Marc - glad to hear that Atkinson still has a good home.

I've always found it difficult to describe necks...but this one is SO comfortable. It's a 1 3/4" nut of course, but pretty thin front to back. My hands are not large, but I find this easier to play than a typical Jazz neck with a narrower nut.

The best part about the neck is just that true 50-year-old worn-in feel...there's no way to reproduce that.

ejaggers · #13 03-14-2013, 08:35 PM

You're going to love that Fralin, I've got one on my Tricked P.

057912

Moosehead1966 · #14 03-14-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the art guy

Haha. Hey Marc - glad to hear that Atkinson still has a good home.

I've always found it difficult to describe necks...but this one is SO comfortable. It's a 1 3/4" nut of course, but pretty thin front to back. My hands are not large, but I find this easier to play than a typical Jazz neck with a narrower nut.

The best part about the neck is just that true 50-year-old worn-in feel...there's no way to reproduce that.

Aaron, interesting that you find in easier than a Jazz. The fact that it's a 50 year old neck is the main point. If that neck could talk. Well done sir!

P.S. I put a Fralin split coil in the 51 P I bought from you. Great pickups!

Marc

miles'tone · #15 03-14-2013, 09:02 PM

Lovely bass! Another bitsa P guy and Fralin lover here. How did you source the neck? My fave neck shape ever. Being thin front to back makes that wide old fingerboard easier to play than some would think. Plus, after 50 years(!) you know it's going to be rock solid and stable. Well done!

jim777 · #16 03-14-2013, 09:20 PM

A '61, just like me

Looks great now, looked great in red, too

**mjac28** · #17 03-14-2013, 09:25 PM

Beautiful bass and that ain't no Frankenfender nice bass congrats.

the art guy · #18 03-15-2013, 07:37 AM

Thanks everyone! I know the "look at my cool bass" threads can get old, but sometimes it's hard not to post one.

I only ever have a few basses at a time; usually around three. And for a couple years now, I've had "the keeper" (a Fullerton-era '57 RI), while the other slots have been rotating things in and out. But I think I just may have two slots filled semi-permanently now. Only one rotating spot left!

bassbully · #19 03-15-2013, 08:15 AM

Sweet lookin P basses guys.

jbiscuti · #20 03-15-2013, 08:35 AM