5 String Precision

[mapleglo]

So I've been thinking about taking a break from the pedal steel build, and building a bass. I was very happy with the way my recent Stratocaster build came out.

So I thought I'd build a matching 5 string precision. I ordered a loaded Squier 5 string precision neck, which should arrive next week, which I may or may not use. And I found a couple of nice pieces of ash at the woodstore today.

That wide piece is 12 3/8" wide, just short of a full body width, which I measure to be about 12 3/4". Of course, I'm guessing because I can't find a reliable 5 string precision bass body template. What I do have is a 4 string precision template, and a line drawing of a 5 string which I downloaded from the Fender website.

One overlaid over the other yields this:

With the red lines showing the 4 string and the green lines showing the 5 string line art. They both look right by themselves, but it appears they differ significantly when compared. I may just go with the 4 string shape and widen the neck pocket. But I'm still thinking about it.

I also have this neck blank I made a while back, with 2 walnut stringers.

I could do the same to that wide piece of ash, as I have enough walnut around, and make a body to match, which would make that piece wide enough. Then the neck would match the body, which may be pretty cool. And I can certainly use the experience of attempting another neck build. None so far have yielded satisfactory results, but I've only done a few attempts. And I can use the Squier neck as a template.

I've played around with other hardware I may use; either a Babicz or Schaller bridge, and I really like those Lace Alumitone pickups, so I may use one or two of those. I'm not interested in using a 5 string P pickup - those just look too non-symmetrical to me, and I swore I'd never use another jazz shaped pickup again. As I've said before, that was not one of Leo's better ideas.

Of course, I'll be doing a clear finish, just like the Strat, and if I use a pick guard, which I'm tending away from, it'll be white. I'd like to avoid controls on the body, which will be especially easy to do if I go with one pickup - just a volume on a side mounted plate, next to a side mounted jack. I've come to dislike the standard pick guard mounted output jack. And I'll just drill a hole for the control cavity, avoiding both a rear control cover, and pick guard. I had played with the idea of using a Strat output jack, and still may, but I'also tending away from that as well.

If anyone has a reliable 5 string precision body pdf, or a tracing of their (or someone else's) 5 string precision, and would like to spread the wealth, I'd be most appreciative. I'd hate to have to buy a 5 string body just to get a tracing.

 

[mapleglo]

So I did a little more research into the body shape of the 5 string. I grabbed a couple of images from the Sweetwater site. Their photography appears to be the most consistent.

I laid them out in Illustrator, sized them to match, and traced each one.

Then I overlaid one on top of the other.

Green is the 5 string, red is the 4 string. Close enough for a match, taking into account my less than perfect tracing skills, along with the slight variations in the photographs. So I'll go with the 4 string template, edited with a wider neck pocket.

 

[makaspar]

I have a 4 and 5 string p-bass, and can confirm - the only difference is the neck pocket. Well - that and pickup route, but that depends on the pickup. I put a reversed Delano p-pickup into my 5 string, and ordered a standard 4-string warmoth p-bass pickguard-sans-pup-route, and all I had to do was match the neck pocket.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

Considering the added weight of a 5 string neck and tuners, you might consider either extending the upper horn a touch, or deepening the pocket to move the neck inwards and bridge closer to end of the body.

Doing the latter benefits from a shorter lower horn and slightly deeper cutaway, like your first drawing in green... the only real drawback is getting a custom pickguard made, but you're probably doing this anyways.

 

[mapleglo]

Good idea. I may deepen the neck pocket a tad. There seems to be enough room toward the bottom of the body to lower the bridge slightly. I don't think I'm going with a pickguard, so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[wraub]

Watching this like a guy... um... watching this?
Even with the maple 'board.

That Strat came out nicely.

Even with the maple 'board.

 

[mapleglo]

Cut up some of the body pieces.

And glued them up. Or "epoxied" them up, as the case may be.

 

[Scoops]

Hey Map,

I got a 5 string P in the drying stages. >>>>>> Koa P.
The piece of Koa was only 12.5 wide, so I used the templates from the guy down in Florida to redesign it to be @12.25 wide. I also set the neck deeper into the body as Marko suggested. As you can see, it still looks like a P bass

If interested, I could cut you a template for both the body and neck. PM me if interested.

 

[mapleglo]

Hey Map,

I got a 5 string P in the drying stages. >>>>>> Koa P.
The piece of Koa was only 12.5 wide, so I used the templates from the guy down in Florida to redesign it to be @12.25 wide. I also set the neck deeper into the body as Marko suggested. As you can see, it still looks like a P bass

If interested, I could cut you a template for both the body and neck. PM me if interested.

I am following that beautiful build. That Koa wood is just spectacular. They have quite a bit of it at the wood store I frequent, but it is so outrageously expensive, that I just never could bring myself to buy any. Thanks for the template offer, but I think I'm going to be ok. The neck should be here soon, and I got the body covered.

 

[mapleglo]

Out of the clamps and rough sanded.

I may just wait for the neck to arrive before I start cutting out the body shape. I want to make sure I get the neck pocket area right.

 

[JIO]

Winter is when us woodchucks get down to business! subbed!

 

[mapleglo]

The neck came in last night.

I'm seriously thinking about sanding off the Squier Logo and just leaving it blank. After all, even though I may never sell this, if I do, we wouldn't want people to think that this is an actual Squier. It wouldn't be right

 

[mapleglo]

Template adjusted with the 5 string neck shape, and taped down to the body.

I'll make a pattern template for the neck pocket, rout that out, and then start cutting the body. But first, I have to check my center line again, looking at the picture now, it seems I'm a little off. With the center walnut stingers, it has to be exact, or it'll look funny.

 

[mapleglo]

This spindle sander is a pleasure to use.

 

[Jisch]

I love that tool! It takes a bit of practice to get a smooth finish around outside corners or on straight lines - but I use it a lot on my builds, specifically to shape bodies.

 

[bobdabilder]

So, what's the plan? 5 string p shape with different pickups and subtle changes?
subbed.

 

[mapleglo]

So, what's the plan? 5 string p shape with different pickups and subtle changes?
subbed.

Yes, that's pretty much spot on. Right now, I'm still tending toward the Lace Alumitone pickup. I'd love to do 2 of them, but finances are a little tight, so I'll likely go with one for now. I'm thinking positioning it just slightly lower than the standard precision location, for a little more high end response.

The Babicz bridge is also at the top of my list, but I'm tossing around options.

 

[JIO]

I'm seriously thinking about sanding off the Squier Logo and just leaving it blank. After all, even though I may never sell this, if I do, we wouldn't want people to think that this is an actual Squier. It wouldn't be right

This is completely objective conjecture, I'm not implying a course of action; it would be completely understandable if you wanted it blank if that's what you chose to do, for whatever reason. However, I for one feel that it is in fact a Fender/Squier neck and regardless of what anyone thinks it will remain so. And Squier necks are (to me) just as legit as a Fender neck, just to get that out there. Maybe because Fender is so copied and it's such a ubiquitous design that it's resulted in such stigma's over branding issues. I also understand that the hs logo/badge designates the brand of instrument and referencing my prior sentence, your build could be looked at as being a Squier bass. (if it quacks like a duck…) If you want it to remain unbadged because you want it to be considered your bass, or a bass you attached a Squier neck to - your call.

I'm currently working on a fretless that has a neck made by Westone, and the body is my design. As far as I'm concerned, I consider it my (designed) bass coupled with a Westone fretless neck, as in - I chose to incorporate it and not to fool anyone into believing it's a Westone bass. I could remove or cover up the lettering on the hs, but I like the lettering and the shape of it is characteristically Westone.
And just for fun, there is a precedence that John Entwhistle set a while ago, which is the "Fenderbird" (Thunderbird body/Fender neck) Any Epi or Gibson T-bird body with any Fender/Squier or Fender-esk neck is known as a Fenderbird.

Sorry for the large print - this site has formatting glitch issues now and then and it will shrink type size mid-sentance. (~!~) The adjustment options in the bar are either bigger or smaller but not the same - go figure.

 

[mapleglo]

This is completely objective conjecture, I'm not implying a course of action; it would be completely understandable if you wanted it blank if that's what you chose to do, for whatever reason. However, I for one feel that it is in fact a Fender/Squier neck and regardless of what anyone thinks it will remain so. And Squier necks are (to me) just as legit as a Fender neck, just to get that out there. Maybe because Fender is so copied and it's such a ubiquitous design that it's resulted in such stigma's over branding issues. I also understand that the hs logo/badge designates the brand of instrument and referencing my prior sentence, your build could be looked at as being a Squier bass. (if it quacks like a duck…) If you want it to remain unbadged because you want it to be considered your bass, or a bass you attached a Squier neck to - your call.

I'm currently working on a fretless that has a neck made by Westone, and the body is my design. As far as I'm concerned, I consider it my (designed) bass coupled with a Westone fretless neck, as in - I chose to incorporate it and not to fool anyone into believing it's a Westone bass. I could remove or cover up the lettering on the hs, but I like the lettering and the shape of it is characteristically Westone.
And just for fun, there is a precedence that John Entwhistle set a while ago, which is the "Fenderbird" (Thunderbird body/Fender neck) Any Epi or Gibson T-bird body with any Fender/Squier or Fender-esk neck is known as a Fenderbird.

Sorry for the large print - this site has formatting glitch issues now and then and it will shrink type size mid-sentance. (~!~) The adjustment options in the bar are either bigger or smaller but not the same - go figure.

If you go through the bass forum, you'll find many, many "discussions" regarding the use of Fender logos on non-Fender basses - I was poking fun. Truth is, I don't know if I want a Squier logo on the bass. But I haven't taken sandpaper to it yet...

And I've experienced that weird font issue myself. I think that happens every time someone somewhere mixes a 4x10 speaker cabinet with a 1x15 speaker cabinet.

 

[bobdabilder]

what brand name decals did those cabs have on them?