Ben Lindsey Hot Rod Jazz Build

[Scott McArron]

earlier in this thread you stated:


from my experience, that would mean that it would've had to have a 3lb 4.oz to a 3lb 8oz body, since most (standard fender type j bass necks weigh 1lb 8 oz to 1 lb 12oz.


and after you received it:



IME, then it seems that the body must weigh more than 3 1/2 lbs since with a standard neck & hardware that would make for a 7 3/4lb bass max (a featherweight for a j bass). generally, a 5lb bodied j bass will end up coming in at 9-9 1/4 lbs, unless it has a 3 lb neck!
one of my recent builds has a 4lb 5oz body and came in at 8lbs 5 oz AUW (all up weight) and that's almost exactly to the ounce of how every j bass i've ever built works out (i.e. the neck and all the pickups and hardware add almost exactly 4 lbs).

if you're going to have Ben correct the issues, to me, it seems that he's going to have to completely start over.




+1.
and IMO, the 'details' were major ones too.

I agree. I was really surprised when I first pulled it out of the box. The way he described it, it sounded like it would be a feather-weight 6.5 - 7.5 lb bass, which I though might even be too light! If that body really was around 3.5 lbs (and the body does feel light) I would expect to end up closer to 8 lbs when said and done. When I weighed her at 9 lbs, the pickup covers were NOT installed, BTW.

We thought the Vintage 70's tuners along with the Hipshot Xtender key may have added some significant weight, but I've had those installed on several of my jazzes without affecting the balance. When you pick it up, you can actually feel the weight of the neck.

If I balance the bass on 1 finger, it balances right between the 15th and 16th frets, whereas my Fender 75 RI balances right on the 17th fret. Even so, my 75 RI isn't the best balancing bass either, though it's certainly not bad at all for a 9lb jazz bass. My Lakland 55-02, although it's 10lbs, sits perfectly with the headstock angled up at playing position naturally. It's a bit heavy, but the balance makes it feel lighter since it's not burying into my shoulder. For a 4 stringer, I'd like to get at least close to that kind of balance at 9 lbs or less. I've had it with my Lulls and Sadowsky Metros (the lighter ones), and definitely want that on my dream jazz bass for sure. I'm sure Ben can make that happen.

 

[Scott McArron]

IMO, duncan's sj1's are the closest you can get to a vintage jazz bass pickup. i've found them to sound exactly like 'em. IMO, fender's '62 AV reissues are super nice too. for a slightly more modern sound with no noise (hum), i have a set of dimarzio ultrajazz's in one of my basses and i dig them. i've never been an EMG fan in the past, but i have a set of their JV's in one of my jazz basses and they awesome too. they're nowhere near as sterile/bright as the older emgs that i used to hear.

Nice to hear about the SD pups! I've used the Ultra Jazzes before and wasn't impressed, but that may just be because I like single coils pickups better, although I did like the Sadowsky hum-cancelling pups just fine, which is funny since the Sadowsky HC's are basically slightly modded UJ's. Who knows...

I've stayed away from the Fender RI pups since I've had several pairs of the 75 RI's and was not impressed. But since the 62's are a different beast, I'll take your word for it. I'm leaning towards the Duncans right now, because I'd really like to try something different than the Nords. I love the Nordies, but they may be too warm when paired with my already very warm TC Electronics rig (that I will not be parting with, since it's so amazing to gig with and is one of the very few rigs out there that will fit in the trunk of my 06 Mustang ).

 

[johnk_10]

IMO, if you like the sound of a genuine 60's jazz bass, then you'll love the duncans. the fender '62's sound nearly identical to them. i don't care for any other fender jazz bass pickup, including the CS ones.

 

[Spencer!]

Both Mike and Sadowsky believe that the better sounding basses are the ones that are as light as you can get without affecting the balance, so about 7-8.5 is ideal. 8 - 8.5 just feels spot on for me.

Both of them know how to make a great bass, but I'm having my basses made by someone else now FWIW.

 

[Scott McArron]

Both of them know how to make a great bass, but I'm having my basses made by someone else now FWIW.

Right on. Would love to hear about those sometime. NY builder?

 

[Spencer!]

Right on. Would love to hear about those sometime. NY builder?

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All of his models are amazing, but he is truly the master of the jazz bass. He specs really dense neck woods and targets 8.5-9 pounds. I don't know if neck weight makes a difference, but I trust his opinion over anyone else's.

 

[SJLee]

Those colors were the ones I've been looking at the most. None are true to the early to mid 70's though, at least not that I could find in my research.

Really?

 

[Scott McArron]

Really?

Not sure what you're trying to say, because there's still no Dakota red in that chart. And is this the color chart for basses or guitars? It doesn't say.

 

[lx_night]

maybe he means the candy apple red?

 

[SJLee]

John had answered:

i'd go dakota red (or fiesta, or CAR) since those are 'real' vintage fender colors. IMO, hot rod red makes it look like a child's (beginner) bass.

In post #12. CAR in a 70's color.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1971-VINTAGE-FE...E-/260730592729?pt=Guitar&hash=item3cb4c11dd9

 

[Scott McArron]

John had answered:

i'd go dakota red (or fiesta, or CAR) since those are 'real' vintage fender colors. IMO, hot rod red makes it look like a child's (beginner) bass.

In post #12. CAR in a 70's color.

I guess 1 out of 3 ain't bad, but Dakota is still the one I'm most interested in. So is that a mid-70's bass color chart from Fender or what? And can you site the source of the chart?

 

[SJLee]

It's 70-71. There's a wealth of info on the Fender Community site.

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[Scott McArron]

It's 70-71. There's a wealth of info on the Fender Community site.

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Sweet, man. Thanks for the info!!

 

[Scott McArron]

I just noticed that Greg75's bass has the same off-kilter control plate as mine did. I thought it was just the 70's style bodies Ben was using, but I think Greg's is a 60's style. I didn't catch that before. From comparing my 75 RI to my Lindsey bass, it seems the difference is in the body shape rather than the control plate route. I stacked them on top of each other and looked at the contour; they're definitely different. The difference can even be felt on the leg when sitting in the playing position. Not better or worse, just different.

 

[johnk_10]

IMO,it isn't just alignment. i think the whole body is just a bit too small. compare that one to the pic below:

 

[Spencer!]

My Lindsey seems to have a normal control plate rout.

 

[lx_night]

I just noticed that Greg75's bass has the same off-kilter control plate as mine did. I thought it was just the 70's style bodies Ben was using, but I think Greg's is a 60's style. I didn't catch that before.

+1

 

[Scott McArron]

My Lindsey seems to have a normal control plate rout.

In that case, he probably used the 70's body style on Greg's bass, which would make sense since opted for the 70's p'up spacing. 70's body template + 60's neck. The 60's body looks good, though. I may have to go that route depending on what we decide once he gets the bass back.

 

[Spencer!]

In that case, he probably used the 70's body style on Greg's bass, which would make sense since opted for the 70's p'up spacing. 70's body template + 60's neck. The 60's body looks good, though. I may have to go that route depending on what we decide once he gets the bass back.

Yeah, I think my entire bass is 60s spec. I wasn't even aware that they changed the body contours in the 70s.

 

[johnk_10]

My Lindsey seems to have a normal control plate rout.

from that pic, i'd say it's not just the control plate route. your body is larger and looks correct to me. AFAIK, the 70's are the same body, but with a different bridge pickup location.