70's Telecaster bass build?

[EdwardofHuncote]

I keep thinking about this...

Nobody really likes 'em. Nobody really wants 'em. Hence, nobody has any bodies or necks available for a 'parts' build.

It can't be that hard to build what I want here; an updated improvement on the 70's Fender Telecaster bass.

Anyone here done it? I'd appreciate any pointers to sources.

 

[Jefenator]

If you can do the rout for the mudbucker, you could order this style neck, body & pickguard from Warmoth:

 

[Jefenator]

I'm not aware of anyone that offers a true "baseball bat" one-piece maple neck like the '72 Tele neck I used to have. I really loved that ultra-chunky profile but I know most other people hate that sort of thing.
The construction with the Warmoth makes for a good consolation prize. (Rosewood option, stronger truss rod, no dead spots: all good things!)

 

[REV]

Musikraft will build you just about anything you want.

Home

Guitar Mill builds bodies like this all the time.

Home | Guitar Mill Luthier Shop & Vintage-Correct Guitar Parts

 

[2saddleslab]

Single coil or hum bucker Tele build? Slab makes a great platform.

These Warmoth builds were single coil versions from the 90's that were both retrofitted w/ TV Jones ThunderBlades in mid 2010's.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Thanks all, I've been sidetracked by work this month, but still thinking on this project. Getting ready to have some surgery, and will be off-duty for an extended period. Once I can get around, might be therapeutic to whittle a little...

 

[2saddleslab]

Thanks all, I've been sidetracked by work this month, but still thinking on this project. Getting ready to have some surgery, and will be off-duty for an extended period. Once I can get around, might be therapeutic to whittle a little...

Speedy recovery!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I'm leaning towards leaving the pickup being in the neck position, but I may look into an alternate to the Fender humbucker. I have one of these in a Squier Precision VM which is basically a rethinking of the 70's Telecaster bass. Here's my Squier;

I'd like to do something a little different, but stay close to this platform. I may do a mahogany body, and paint a solid color, Candy Apple or Dakota red. Rosewood fingerboard on a maple neck, black guard.

I'm wondering about a DiMarzio Model One, or if I can find one, an old Model G. One of these;

There's a possibility I may want a bridge pickup too. Think of a modded-up 70's Telecaster bass... that's what happened to a lot of them.

Here's one for inspiration... John McVie played one until about 1974.

 

[Water buffalo]

I'm leaning towards leaving the pickup being in the neck position, but I may look into an alternate to the Fender humbucker. I have one of these in a Squier Precision VM which is basically a rethinking of the 70's Telecaster bass. Here's my Squier; View attachment 5070904

I'd like to do something a little different, but stay close to this platform. I may do a mahogany body, and paint a solid color, Candy Apple or Dakota red. Rosewood fingerboard on a maple neck, black guard.

I'm wondering about a DiMarzio Model One, or if I can find one, an old Model G. One of these; View attachment 5070900 View attachment 5070902

There's a possibility I may want a bridge pickup too. Think of a modded-up 70's Telecaster bass... that's what happened to a lot of them.

Here's one for inspiration... John McVie played one until about 1974. View attachment 5070910

I had one of the Squier VM Precisions, I put a Peavey T40 pickup in the nek position.

It sounded great, I never should of sold it.

 

[2saddleslab]

I'm leaning towards leaving the pickup being in the neck position, but I may look into an alternate to the Fender humbucker. I have one of these in a Squier Precision VM which is basically a rethinking of the 70's Telecaster bass. Here's my Squier; View attachment 5070904

I'd like to do something a little different, but stay close to this platform. I may do a mahogany body, and paint a solid color, Candy Apple or Dakota red. Rosewood fingerboard on a maple neck, black guard.

I'm wondering about a DiMarzio Model One, or if I can find one, an old Model G. One of these; View attachment 5070900 View attachment 5070902

There's a possibility I may want a bridge pickup too. Think of a modded-up 70's Telecaster bass... that's what happened to a lot of them.

Here's one for inspiration... John McVie played one until about 1974. View attachment 5070910

I bought a modded 1975 Tele bass from a pawn shop in the early 80's. It had a DiMarzio pickup [my dad made a chrome cover for it] and bad a$$ bridge. Sounded great and wish I still had it.

Might want to consider a TV Jones ThunderBlade. They sound as good as they look.