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Advice on building a '50 Precision Replica please

J

JohnnyNoStars

Jun 25, 2012
9
2
London, UK
www.junkmaleclothing.com
#1
Hi there, I'm new to the forum (so please be gentle... I bruise easily). I've enjoyed 'lurking' for ages now, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the valuable insight here - so thanks everyone.

I'd really appreciate some advice and help here:

Although I've been playing bass for over 30 years now, I'm a novice on building them, but that hasn't stopped me trying out a few builds and projects. My next one, is to build a replica 1950's Fender Precision. I'd like it to look visually as authentic as possible, so will be attempting some relic work, with the help of YouTube, etc.

My two immediate questions are:

1. Is there anywhere I can buy an authentic-looking (and good quality) replica of the two-saddle bridge employed on '51-'57 single coil P-Basses (other than those flimsy looking Squire/Vibe jobs)? I doubt I'd get something stamped with a Fender logo and a serial number - and don't worry, I'm not looking to build a fake to pass off as the real thing! This is a bass to keep for life, and a way of testing whether I have any relic skills... especially as I'll never be able to afford the genuine article.

2. I really love that classic P-Bass sound: plenty and plenty of low end, but with a distinct bit of grit, growl and a dirty edge. Is there any internal circuitry I can instal into the tone and volume cavity of a bass; that accentuates and enhances this 'attacking and dirty' tone, without it sounding too distorted or over-driven?

I want it to remain passive, and am aware of ceramic tone caps and Paper In Oil capacitors, but I wondered whether there was some neat circuitry that could add that tonal dimension to my project? Perhaps even with the ability to be switched on and off?

Finally, I'm currently torn between using Lindy Fralin, Lollar or Bare Knuckle single coil pick ups, so any general feedback or advice - on anything - would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.
 
#2
Warmoth makes '51 style bodies and necks with the early headstock shape. The neck pocket and neck butt are rounded like the neck end on a split-coil P, however, and they don't offer the squared-off version.

Other parts are available all over. I have a CIJ '51 RI, and I think it's a great bass. Good luck.
 
#4
You can source everything you need relatively easy on ebay or on the classifieds here.

May I suggest a custom Seymour Duncan single coil stack. Great tone and pretty quiet.

Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress.

I have a somewhat similar project that is in for finishing. Can't wait to get it back to assemble and enjoy.
 
#9
The Squier Classic Vibe 50's actually has a modern high mass bridge with 4 brass saddles.

The original you're trying to replicate had a "flimsy" bent steel, 2-saddle bridge (and the original saddles were phenolic, iirc) that was string-through only.

Classic Vibe:
fe0303080550-xl-02.jpg


Original Style (with metal saddles)
51P-bass002.jpg
 
#10
I have a Wilkinson string-thru bridge on my '55 Sting Tribute P bass. It's the same style as the original bridge, but the saddles swivel to allow better intonation (same bridge as the pic above).

I have a SD 1/4 Pounder SCPB-3 in it and I highly recommend it. It sounds way better than the '51 reissue P/Us IMO.

The neck is Allparts, not sure about the body. MJT did the relic work. I bought the bass used a while back here on TB.

2013-02-28_21-07-00_677_zps98671bcb.jpg

2013-02-28_21-12-00_174_zps9bfdb19d.jpg

2013-02-28_21-10-54_386_zpsa70067a2.jpg


One of my favorite basses to play. I have a white pickguard an chrome covers for it, but I think it looks better w/o them. This bass weighs under 8 lbs. too!
 
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#13
#16
My 51 RI has an American Deluxe 4-saddle bridge. I could not get the two-saddle to intonate properly with the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats I use. Mine also has a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound and I love it. It emphasizes the personality of the original without adding anything. Finally, I installed an Electrosocket in place of the standard jack cup after the original worked loose.

If I could I would contour the body; as George Mann pointed out, the slab is uncomfortable, especially hanging on a strap.

You may have noticed that I'm not a purist. I love the character of the '51 single-coil, I just wanted to improve it where it was necessary.

And, as mentioned earlier, the "flimsy" bent-metal bridge is part of the Fender sound. A lot of guys who have substituted heavier bridges have learned that it can diminish the personality of the bass. The 51 P shines as the Thump King: quick attack, short sustain, and percussive sound. Trying to mix in "modern" sounds doesn't work, in my personal opinion.
 
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#18
lpdeluxe said:
Warmoth makes '51 style bodies and necks with the early headstock shape. The neck pocket and neck butt are rounded like the neck end on a split-coil P, however, and they don't offer the squared-off version.

Other parts are available all over. I have a CIJ '51 RI, and I think it's a great bass. Good luck.
Click to expand...

B.Hefner is Fender-authorized and makes the square heel. Warmoth won't make them, I asked, and I don't see the proper headstock shape @ Allparts (though I might have just missed it), so I'm thinking that if you really want to put together a parts bass, these guys are probably your closest option.

They also have the option for graphite rods, which while they don't show up outwardly, make for a more stable neck. Good for a player-bass. Get the "Tele Bass Neck" and the "Tele Bass Body." Make sure you have the square option checked on the neck heel and the single-coil pickup route selected and you'll have very close replica parts to a '51. They won't be a perfect copy, however, because no one but Fender uses the old screwed-up templates that I'm aware of. See the "bump" on every old P-Bass's heel block on the body in the lower cutout - it's not on new basses and I doubt it's on any replacement bodies, either.

Doing a parts bass isn't your most cost-effective way of doing it. It would be a TON cheaper to get a 50's CV Squier bass and replace a few parts. I haven't looked under the pickguard. If there's extra routing under it I wouldn't know. I don't own one... yet.

Edit: zOmg, they added new options! Bullet rod! I can replica-build my old '74 Tele now! I guess I'll be ordering as soon as my wife says I can :D
 
#19
allparts makes a square heel body (swamp ash) and a square heel tele bass neck and they both are very nice. the body has a route under the pickguard like the 68 tele basses, but other than that, it's just like a 50's p bass.

....and BTW, Bernie Hefner's p bass bodies do have the router hump on the treble side of the neck pocket.
 
#20
johnk_10 said:
allparts makes a square heel body (swamp ash) and a square heel tele bass neck and they both are very nice. the body has a route under the pickguard like the 68 tele basses, but other than that, it's just like a 50's p bass.

....and BTW, Bernie Hefner's p bass bodies do have the router hump on the treble side of the neck pocket.
Click to expand...

will a normal (rounded heel) P neck fit on the Allparts body?
 

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