30" scale Telecaster/ Esquire bass build (pics)

[PDGood]

It needs to be elongated to get that top horn near the 12th fret for balance. The guitar version of the tele wouldn't have potential neck dive issues.

That's a gorgeous bass in my opinion. I drove down to my local GC after seeing this post, but they didn't have one in stock.

 

[Basstovsky]

I love 32" scale myself, not too short that it hurts tension on the E-string, but easier reach especially getting some funky chording. Really wanna check out one of these Squiers actually, maybe get one put on a babicz bridge in place of that flimsy looking thing and then get an overwound pickup...maybe nordstrand...

MMmmmm nice

 

[Bass-Babe]

Going to bring back the dead here since it's halloween.

Question: Do you know the final weight of the bass. I am planning doing the style build and can't decide between alder or something lighter like basswood etc.

I posted this elsewhere but thought is should be here too.

Winter project time is past winding down and I have to get moving on this thing. It’s going to be a short scale (30") Telecaster/ Esquire bass. I was inspired by some pics I saw of a bass Rhomco built that was laid out similar to this so I thought I would give it a go.

It will use an off the shelf 3 piece Alder Tele body from Rondo that was routed for standard Telecaster bridge and neck pickups but not drilled for the guitar string through bridge locating holes. To keep the overall length close to that of a guitar I am going to seat the neck deeper into the body by knocking through to the space routed for the Tele neck pickup.

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For the neck I am using a 20 fret Maple donor neck from a Squire Bronco. Its is a 30" scale that I picked up for $75.00. It was well worth that just for the neck. It's straight with well dressed frets The headstock will be re-profiled to the Telecaster style peghead.

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Anyway... because the neck is maple the "theme" is going to be a cross between a 51 Fender Precision Bass and a early 50's Telecaster. There is no neck pickup so I guess this makes it an Esquire Bass ( if Fender had built a 30" scale in 1951 or 52). It will have black Bakelite pickguard and a Butterscotch or Blond body. The bridge is a string through body Fender Musicmaster bridge with individual saddles. I will have to rout a little room for a Lindy Fralin Split Coil 51 Precision pickup in what is now the Tele bridge position. Moving the bridge back to make it a bass means the bridge position hole is a great spot for the 51 P pickup.


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I started this in January and am quite a bit further along than this I just wanted to keep the posts in some order resembling a timeline.

JR

 

[trifase]

Thank you for the inspiration!

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Thank you for the inspiration!View attachment 7250693

Very cool, 30" Bronco neck?

Great necks, used one on my Tele project too.