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Affinity Body Franken-Pbass

T

thobie

Guest
Sep 4, 2011
43
2
#1
I want to build a custom p bass from parts, so I've been scouring the internet for cheap parts, and I came across an affinity P for $50 on my local craigslist. I looked it up, and both the Affinity's and Mexicans use Alder bodies.

Assuming the body isn't completely shaged up, do yall think its worth picking up to scavenge for parts? I would already be planning on changing out most, if not all of the parts anyways, so what it comes down to is whether or not the body is worth the $50. On ebay, bodies seem to go for at least $100-200, so I'm inclined to think it would be a good deal.

Thoughts?
 
#3
thobie said:
Assuming the body isn't completely shaged up, do yall think its worth picking up to scavenge for parts? I would already be planning on changing out most, if not all of the parts anyways, so what it comes down to is whether or not the body is worth the $50. On ebay, bodies seem to go for at least $100-200, so I'm inclined to think it would be a good deal.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I did. ;)

Unveiling IV: Squier "No-Guilt Jazz V" Parts-Bass

The only difference is the pickups and hardware on mine was surprisingly solid. So, in keeping with my "low-budget/no-guilt" goal, I kept it all stock…all save for the VM neck, which was also part of the goal for that build project.
 
#4
It's good news/bad news

Affinity bodies are thinner (front to back) than the higher-end Squiers, MIM's, or MIA's.

Good news: Affinity bodies are usually Alder and the thinner profile means they weigh less.

Bad news: The thinner profile means the bodies weigh less and neck dive is far more likely.

Last item... Some of the low end Affinity basses that come with the bass/amp/gig bag combo (Stop Dreaming, Start Playing) are made of plywood. The thick poly coating can make it hard to tell what you have until you remove the neck.

I routinely see complete Affinity basses in pawn shops in the Nashville area for $60, sometimes a bit less if the cosmetics are not great. YMMV.
 
#5
Malak the Mad said:
That's pretty much what I did. ;)

Unveiling IV: Squier "No-Guilt Jazz V" Parts-Bass

The only difference is the pickups and hardware on mine was surprisingly solid. So, in keeping with my "low-budget/no-guilt" goal, I kept it all stock…all save for the VM neck, which was also part of the goal for that build project.
Click to expand...

What are your thoughts on it a few weeks down the line? That thing is a beauty by the way, I'm going for that same black and maple look on this parts bass of mine, minus the blocks.
 
#6
Olde Axeman said:
It's good news/bad news

Affinity bodies are thinner (front to back) than the higher-end Squiers, MIM's, or MIA's.

Good news: Affinity bodies are usually Alder and the thinner profile means they weigh less.

Bad news: The thinner profile means the bodies weigh less and neck dive is far more likely.

Last item... Some of the low end Affinity basses that come with the bass/amp/gig bag combo (Stop Dreaming, Start Playing) are made of plywood. The thick poly coating can make it hard to tell what you have until you remove the neck.

I routinely see complete Affinity basses in pawn shops in the Nashville area for $60, sometimes a bit less if the cosmetics are not great. YMMV.
Click to expand...

Assuming neck dive isn't an issue, do you think the weight affects tone compared to a regular body? Hmm... I wonder what the odds of the plywood vs alder situation are...
 
#9
thobie said:
This one appears to be a 4... So a fender neck would not be a direct replacement to the stock neck?
Click to expand...
Not without some hard work sanding it down to fit.
But also it may create neck dive, those necks on that model also have the rectangular tuners and are alot lighter than the standard neck sizes.
I would suggest finding a newer model Affinity body to do mods.
 
#10
thobie said:
What are your thoughts on it a few weeks down the line? That thing is a beauty by the way, I'm going for that same black and maple look on this parts bass of mine, minus the blocks.
Click to expand...

It works just fine. The only problem is that I don't practice on it as much as I should. :facepalm:

shawshank72 said:
Not without some hard work sanding it down to fit.
But also it may create neck dive, those necks on that model also have the rectangular tuners and are alot lighter than the standard neck sizes.
I would suggest finding a newer model Affinity body to do mods.
Click to expand...

Shawshank may be on to something here. For example, the Chinese-made Affinity I used in my build was dated at 2015 and the Indonesian-made VM I harvested the neck from was from 2013. All the parts fit together just fine, but if one or the other had been much, much older, there's no telling how compatible they'd be. :unsure:
 
#11
thobie said:
Assuming neck dive isn't an issue, do you think the weight affects tone compared to a regular body? Hmm... I wonder what the odds of the plywood vs alder situation are...
Click to expand...

My experience has been that string choice affects tone more than weight or wood type. I know for a fact that at my age, for me, increased weight negatively affects my back and shoulder much more than it improves tone. Both these statements are somewhat controversial topics that have both fans and detractors. I can only say YMMV so as not to appear bombastic.

My preference is to buy a (lighter) higher end bass with good wood and good electronics from the git-go, but I have noticed more than once that some people sound better on my basses with the same settings I use than I do. There's something to be said for that old "tone is in the fingers" adage.

I used to have a Fender Jazz bass that I really liked but it weighed 12 pounds and it just killed me to play it for more than 15 minutes or so, even with a 3.5" strap. Pretty Olympic White w/tort as well, but it had to go.
 

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