Getting beautiful custom 5-string '51 P-bass built

About a year ago I saw images here of a very cool 5-string 1951 Tele P-bass that was created for TB user 'Chef'. I'm an adamant 5-string player and have always been caught between the cool vibe of vintage 4-string traditional instruments and the modern aspects of new basses like 5+ strings, active/passive electronics, non-standard pickups, etc.

Finally I started talking to the builder of that bass of Chef's about a potential build for myself. A month or so later and here we go...

The builder I chose will be Rod at Regenerate Guitar Works (aka Rodent here on TB)

Below is my mockup I created from the original photo of Chef's much more vintage appearing bass... and of course the bass-nerd details of my build that's now in progress.

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BODY
- '51P style body with 5-string neck pocket
- Alder 2-piece construction, rear routed
- No forearm contour ( homage to original '51 P-basses)
- Rear tummy contour
- Truss-rod adjust slot
- Drilled for Hipshot Type B 5-string 18mm bridge
- Dual battery box cavity
- Finished in "blinding hurt your eyes" gloss white metal flake

NECK
- 5-string 34" scale, 21 frets plus zero-fret
- 1-3/4" nut width
- .800" C contour
- Birdseye Maple w/ Birdseye Maple Fretboard
- 16" fretboard radius
- 1/8" flat bottom nut slot
- Custom Regenerate headstock retaining vintage Tele vibe
- White pearloid blocked neck
- 6125 frets
- 5 in-line Hipshot BG7 styled tuners
- Rolled fretboard edges
- Clear satin finish with Regenerate Guitar Works logo

ELECTRONICS / HARDWARE
- Nordstrand split-coil 5-string SCPB + Fat Stack combo (with Split switch for Fat Stack)
- Nordstrand 3-band with V/V + Tone (pull passive) + Mid (pull freq) + Treble/Bass (active)
- Custom Pearloid White/Black/White pickguard
- Hipshot Ultralight Tuners
- Hipshot Type B 18mm bridge
- Chrome Hardware
- Dunlop strap-locks
- Active/Passive with 250k passive tone pot w/Sprague Orange Drop .047uf cap
- Copper foil shielding, all seams soldered

I'm very excited to have finally decided on spec's, model and appearance and to have the build under way. Honestly, I never thought I'd be getting something like this built that meets my goals and personal visual preferences. I've always been pretty much a low/mid priced modern bass kind of guy and also being an artist designer has always put me into a spot where every bass I've owned has been lacking something visually as well as build wise.

I'll update this thread with details and photo's as the build progresses.


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Oh, and for continuity's sake... here's Chef's that Rodent built for him.

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We're still hammering out details of the knob config. It's dependent on sources for the metal plate and it's size. I'm comfortable with a 3-way switch for pickups, but am leaving it up to Rodent whether to use a switch or Blend knob. I'm fine with Vol / Switch/ Tone or Vol / Blend / Tone.


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Cool seeing this other modern instruments with vintage vibe.

Body's in progress. Birdseye for neck and fretboard have been picked out and neck is in progress.

Progress has begun.

I believe Rod at Regenerate is making the 4 or 5-string TeleP style one of his models he offers.