My vote is make them control something external like a generic power plug. Then you can control lights, a fan, a drumming monkey....
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Dude! Great idea! A drumming monkey would be awesome! Well except for the poop throwing, but then I could just press the button and give him a little shock. That would put a stop to poop throwing!
Not usually anyhow, but a little jolt might keep their attitudes in check, or was that for the guitar player, I forget...Plus, when they start speeding up, you could just tap the switch at tempo and get 'em right back on track.
Got me some tuners in the mail yesterday, Thanks to EBay! They were pretty much a perfect fit. I swapped out the base plates with the original ones, and they work like a charm!
I strung her up with some TI flats (because I had them, and didn't like them on my Mike Lull P-Bass) and she sounds pretty good. I can go from bright, jazz bass tone to deep reggae bass with the turn of a couple of knobs and changing my plucking hand position. It's pretty great.
Next, I gotta find just the right knobs and work on an on-board fuzz.
I strung her up with some TI flats (because I had them, and didn't like them on my Mike Lull P-Bass) and she sounds pretty good. I can go from bright, jazz bass tone to deep reggae bass with the turn of a couple of knobs and changing my plucking hand position. It's pretty great.
Next, I gotta find just the right knobs and work on an on-board fuzz.
My disclaimer first: I don't particularly like something this bad off as a project.
At my age, I have to keep any new time-sucking projects to a minimum and this looks like a time-leach to me. But - that's just my thought.
If you don't decide to call me out for my snooty attitude, I would offer the following idea(s) which you will no doubt NOT do, and I don't hold you as personally non-congruent!:
I'd strip it down to bare wood, refinish it to original patina and color/blend/fade, etc. To get the dings out of the headstock, I'd vernier it with a very closely matching wood and of course, back to original color and pattern. I'm pretty sure I'd use many coats of a high gloss lacquer for the final finish too.
The hardware is another thing. I don't like any RW finish at all, and if I could, I'd get that PG re-chromed as a minimum. Again - that's just me, so please don't get angry.
That 'tug bar' doesn't look Kosher to me and that's another reason why I'd really consider having a new chromed PG created without that way-huge square hole in it too.
The last (overboard) project bass I restored was on that I found in an upright canoe, in a very leaky garage - the body had pretty much melted and was disassembled when I got it and the neck was a disaster.
That was one of those: "Hold-my-beer-and-watch-me-do-my-thing" projects, and I decided it needed to be rebuilt. (Ahem! I was younger and stu-u-pider. )
I digress: Would you be so kind to tell me the thickness of the body and the overall weight of the bass?
Yeah, that black bridge is pretty out of place with all that chrome. That falls into the category of how much money do I want to throw at it for how much return. It also kind of all depends on if it's a keeper for me, or if I sell it to someone. We'll have to wait and see what happens...
I love it surferjoe! I could very easily go down that rabbit hole too! I've done it before rebuilding a 1984 Honda CB700S. Not my wisest investment, but I think of it as an education. If this bass were to be a keeper, which means a player, I'd be pretty inclined to do a more full on restoration, or if it would be worth more than $250.
That big ugly tug-bar is actually an original. I quite like it and believe it or not, it's an item I was specifically looking for. Don't worry, no offense taken.
I've been wanting a bass with a tug bar as I explore playing with a pick (or the side of my thumb) more. I kinda like the shape. It's different. And I like that it's made of Rosewood.
Yeah, I've been tossing around a few ideas about that empty square hole. It's probably not going to be original switches, probably some kind of on-board fuzz. Maybe a Crack-Potz Mr. Fuzzy, or modded Bazz Fuss or something similar...I don't know, but whatever I choose to do, it'll definitly be fun doing it!
Cheers!
On the bathroom scale, a whopping 10.6lbs! The body is about 1 1/4" thick. Weight would be the main reason is sell it.
Well, this project head come to an end, sadly. The neck at this point is pretty much totally gooched, to work Dave's World of Fun Stuff.
The truss rod seemed to be maxed out, so I was going to pull off the truss rod nut to put some washers in. As I loosened the nut, the end of the fretboard cracks, and the nut pops off. I tried to glue the fretboard back, but it just wouldn't sit right. At that point I knew the neck was toast, so I started to work the fretboard off. Underneath, I found a gooched metal piece with some screws that had been pulled out of the dry rotted neck. I had my concerns about the neck for awhile. Oh well. I had fun with it, I had fun reading your comments. It kept me of the streets for a little while.
What's next? Part it out? Put the pickups in something else? They sound really great actually! Find a light body and a neck that I like better?
Who knows...
The truss rod seemed to be maxed out, so I was going to pull off the truss rod nut to put some washers in. As I loosened the nut, the end of the fretboard cracks, and the nut pops off. I tried to glue the fretboard back, but it just wouldn't sit right. At that point I knew the neck was toast, so I started to work the fretboard off. Underneath, I found a gooched metal piece with some screws that had been pulled out of the dry rotted neck. I had my concerns about the neck for awhile. Oh well. I had fun with it, I had fun reading your comments. It kept me of the streets for a little while.
What's next? Part it out? Put the pickups in something else? They sound really great actually! Find a light body and a neck that I like better?
Who knows...
Hi Bailey
ooohhh
!!!
...kinda like putting new cromes and hubcaps on a vintage car
... and when you finally wanna drive her you find out...
...that there is no motor inside
It was a lot of fun reading the thread
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
ooohhh
!!!...kinda like putting new cromes and hubcaps on a vintage car
... and when you finally wanna drive her you find out......that there is no motor inside
It was a lot of fun reading the thread
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
Sorry hear that it was rolling right along, since you already did the electronics and it is not a set neck correct buy a neck and throw it on the body, the body is still a very unique shape and you have already invested all this time and effort it to it. just a thought
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
It's been over a year, and the bass has been sitting under my work bench waiting for the next thing. I decided on an Allen Eden neck. It's on a big brown truck coming from Texas. It's one of those unfinished paddle headstocks. I went with 32" scale because I've been wanting a medium scale bass, and lots of vintage basses were shorter scale, even though these were not.
The neck is maple with a rosewood fretboard. I'd love to finish the back of the neck to match the original, but that sounds really hard to do right.
I have to decide on the headstock. I could copy the shape from the original, or do something different, maybe a 2+2 headstock? I like this Conrad headstock shape and I kinda like the tort on it too. Looks cool, and would be easier than painting it to match the body. I'd have to find just the right tort though.
I'm also back to deciding on tuners. I could shave off at least a half pound by going with some type of ultralight tuners, but the originals would look so much better!
Will update as progress continues...
The neck is maple with a rosewood fretboard. I'd love to finish the back of the neck to match the original, but that sounds really hard to do right.
I have to decide on the headstock. I could copy the shape from the original, or do something different, maybe a 2+2 headstock? I like this Conrad headstock shape and I kinda like the tort on it too. Looks cool, and would be easier than painting it to match the body. I'd have to find just the right tort though.
I'm also back to deciding on tuners. I could shave off at least a half pound by going with some type of ultralight tuners, but the originals would look so much better!
Will update as progress continues...
Just me here.....but I love way huge tuners like the lollipops on Fenders.
I mean...... it's a BASS and therefore requires that it shouts out that it isn't a wimpy guitar! I even up-scaled a Fender-ish headstock about 12% just to let it proudly proclaim that it's a bass!
That +12% headstock is also a +12% body and neck.
A really big guy had me make it for him. He's 300+ lbs., and didn't want it to make him look fat. His next-best option was to put a strap on a 3/4 cello.
I kinda wish I had some pixs of the complete bass. I may have a few of the head and neck somewhere.
I mean...... it's a BASS and therefore requires that it shouts out that it isn't a wimpy guitar! I even up-scaled a Fender-ish headstock about 12% just to let it proudly proclaim that it's a bass!
That +12% headstock is also a +12% body and neck.
A really big guy had me make it for him. He's 300+ lbs., and didn't want it to make him look fat. His next-best option was to put a strap on a 3/4 cello.
I kinda wish I had some pixs of the complete bass. I may have a few of the head and neck somewhere.
What you are describing as truss rod "gooch" is factory spec. I have a P-bass shaped one of these (single pu) on which the fretboard popped off due to glue failure. In addition to the industrial-grade truss rod there are smaller steel rods running parallel to either side of the truss. That's where the weight is, along with bridge, ashtray, tuners, and that metal pickguard. The square hole is for rocker switches, which should not be *that* hard to find online.
In terms of look and sound, I almost prefer these faux-Ps to real Fenders. It's the wretched weight that is the deal breaker. If you are considering neck exchanges and don't mind 34", I think the Electra Westone headstock would be a good match.
In terms of look and sound, I almost prefer these faux-Ps to real Fenders. It's the wretched weight that is the deal breaker. If you are considering neck exchanges and don't mind 34", I think the Electra Westone headstock would be a good match.
There was a lot wrong with the original neck. I was suspicious of its condition from the start. I've tossed a few ideas around about those rocker switches. I'm sure I could find something that would work and maintain the vintage look. I've been leaning towards wiring in an on board fuzz in that square space. Maybe a push-pull off/on gain knob, or on/off switch and separate gain.
The weight is something that I'm thinking about for sure, as I put this thing back together. I'll check out that electra headstock you mentioned.
