black & blond P makeover (etc)

[JIO]

Thinking about adding this in the mud-bucker position… maybe even doing the Billy Sheehan bi-amping thing (I do run an 18" cab & a 4x10" cab together for my power trio…) and I don't own a 3 pu bass - wait.., I take that back...

2 pu's and a piezo… (for sale - a Gildaxe product, so not 'mine' really…)

 

[AGH]

So the pg is done. Instead of paint, I went a different route. I had a sheet of gold sparkle craft paper and cut it to the pg shape. (easy!) It's textured looking and goldish but the matte top surface cuts down on the 'twinkle' of sparkle - so it's not sparkly, if you follow. Looks very close to the brushed gold pg's on the RI's of the anodized aluminum pg's on late 50's P basses - but w/texture. (which similarly are plastic, but with added depth) All and all, I like it - it helps balance the RED so it's less in your face and should go nicely with the maple neck, which I plan on only sealing with wipe-on poly. (so leaning toward natural - not the "vintage" amber coating)

You can see how the matte surface subdues the sparkle. Edges are steeply beveled as the material is a bit thick - gives it a nice physical transition.

That big empty space between the neck-pocket and pu is begging for a mud-bucker.

Again Jio, you've found a way to make a bass "pop" more under stage lights. Awesome.

 

[JIO]

Again Jio, you've found a way to make a bass "pop" more under stage lights. Awesome.

Thanks! This one pops in any light!

 

[JIO]

Looked on eBay for a bridge. Was thinking either the standard threaded-saddle Fender or Schaller 3D, but then saw this new Hipshot "KickAss" (cute) bridge - their answer to the Badass and Fender clone, but with their proprietary saddles, which are nice. I've shied away from BA bridges for a few reasons, but like Hipshot's take on this popular bridge style. I also like that it doesn't have "KickAss" embossed into the string stop top. (one reason I'm not fond of BA bridges) It's a clean machine.

 

[mapleglo]

Looked on eBay for a bridge. Was thinking either the standard threaded-saddle Fender or Schaller 3D, but then saw this new Hipshot "KickAss" (cute) bridge - their answer to the Badass and Fender clone, but with their proprietary saddles, which are nice. I've shied away from BA bridges for a few reasons, but like Hipshot's take on this popular bridge style. I also like that it doesn't have "KickAss" embossed into the string stop top. (one reason I'm not fond of BA bridges) It's a clean machine.

If I ever bought a bass that had a "Badass" bridge, I'd have to replace it. I'm usually ok with logos - in fact, my Precision has a Babicz bridge with its brazen logo - but somehow, the "Badass" logo crosses the line for me. I'd like to try that Hipshot bridge at some point - if you end up using it, I'd be interested in your impressions of it.

 

[JIO]

If I ever bought a bass that had a "Badass" bridge, I'd have to replace it. I'm usually ok with logos - in fact, my Precision has a Babicz bridge with its brazen logo - but somehow, the "Badass" logo crosses the line for me. I'd like to try that Hipshot bridge at some point - if you end up using it, I'd be interested in your impressions of it.

The etched Babicz logo is ok, but I'm with you, BadAss… ah, no. Aside from branding, I like/respect words too much. I think it will be good - a big platform brass bridge that's a drop-in. (5 parallel screws) The price ($67.95 shipped) was fair - only a bit more than what a Schaller 3D bridge costs, which is still my go-to bridge.

 

[JIO]

I was going to buy another Santellan Sounds Elek-Trix series/parallel/passive boost harness for this bass like I have in my '66 trib J (Bond bass) and discovered he sold the company to another company and they only offer guitar harnesses ~ so I'm searching for something similar and come across this Kellingsound harness w/push-pull mid-sweep 500k tone pot. The Elek-Trix harness has the push-pull on the middle (V) knob - parallel boost when lifted and I'm not sure if it is 250 or 500k. Anyone familiar with these hand-wired harnesses? I've found some tb posts from 2002, (and a few more recent) so he's been around a while. May try him out with this one. The blue units glued to the V pot tops are solder-less wire ports. Keepin' it simple but also am a big fan of mid-sweeps. (just ordered one)

Speaking of keeping it simple - I've decided to not add a 3rd pu... at least for now.

 

[JIO]

The Hipshot bridge just arrived (from PA - that was quick!) Looks very nice. It weighs 8oz and came with 2 extra brass saddle inserts & hex wrench. Apparently stainless steel inserts are available for a brighter tone. In the instruction sheet, they give saddle dimensions/specs so if you want to make your own - out of carrots… you can! It's funny how the BA bridge became such a cult item as its squared-off chunkiness clashes visually with the curvy lines of a Jazz bass. Even a trad Fender bent-plate has rounded edges! Prepared to have it help sonically/tonally which is probably more the reason it was so popular. Side-to-side saddle adjustment is achieved by loosening the pu-side screw (on the saddle unit) and sliding the brass insert either direction to dial it in and then re-tightening it in place. Good simple clean design!

Yes, salt & pepper pu's/knobs and inset strap-lok buttons. On this particular WD body - both body pu routs are for bridge-sized J's (some MIM Fenders/MII Squiers are 2 neck-sized J's) so... I had a split-coil Dimarzio (cream) bridge pu (post #65, page 4 - where it started out) and paired it with the Fender Super 55 (split-coil) neck pu. J pu's vary in output, the bridge usually higher to compensate for less string movement there to balance the set. These two paired should be a good match sonically.

 

[JIO]

Waiting for the neck (tomorrow?) Boiled some old strings to use on this bass for the time being… need to assess it's character before I choose the (new) set to string it up with. Each bass is different.

 

[Mvilmany]

Leo would've been proud of that blonde P Bass with the G&L electronics.

 

[JIO]

Leo would've been proud of that blonde P Bass with the G&L electronics.

Thanks man! My intent exactly!

Used it last August for an outdoor Bond Girl gig - (it was hot that day so we shed our formal jackets!)

 

[Hopkins]

Waiting for the neck (tomorrow?) Boiled some old strings to use on this bass for the time being… need to assess it's character before I choose the (new) set to string it up with. Each bass is different.

While they may all have their own character, my basses all get the same strings DR stainless Lo Riders. Great tension, not as bright as typical stainless, but brighter than nickle, and most importantly, no silks.

 

[JIO]

While they may all have their own character, my basses all get the same strings DR stainless Lo Riders. Great tension, not as bright as typical stainless, but brighter than nickle, and most importantly, no silks.

I hear you - the ones I cleaned were on a bass I bought used and still have life in them (no wraps and gold spools/ends), no idea what brand they are. I like the new NYXL's and have them on a couple basses now. I used to use GHS exclusively but lately have been liking the D'Addario XL's (nickel)

 

[wraub]

JIO- I believe I have made clear my feelings regarding both red and pickguards... That said, that body/PG/knob combo is quite appealing.
Alluring, even...

I dig.
But I fear a maple fingerboard looms...

 

[Hopkins]

I hear you - the ones I cleaned were on a bass I bought used and still have life in them (no wraps and gold spools/ends), no idea what brand they are. I like the new NYXL's and have them on a couple basses now. I used to use GHS exclusively but lately have been liking the D'Addario XL's (nickel)

The XL nickels are my fall back in case I have to use something other than Lo Riders.

 

[JIO]

JIO- I believe I have made clear my feelings regarding both red and pickguards... That said, that body/PG/knob combo is quite appealing.
Alluring, even...

I dig.
But I fear a maple fingerboard looms...

Yes, your red & pg aversions are on file. Being allured by this combo of said red/pg/knobs is promising but your fears are justified as the maple P neck should arrive today.

 

[wraub]

Yes, your red & pg aversions are on file. Being allured by this combo of said red/pg/knobs is promising but your fears are justified as the maple P neck should arrive today.

I am both embiggened and saddened by this news...
It is decided- I shall remain somewhat fearful of said neck, while remaining somewhat allured.
This is both manageable and decided.

At least it's a P neck...

 

[JIO]

I am both embiggened and saddened by this news...
It is decided- I shall remain somewhat fearful of said neck, while remaining somewhat allured.
This is both manageable and decided.

At least it's a P neck...

What can I say.., life is kind of a push-pull affair. (in Tom Waits voice)

Although primarily a J player, I like/play the P neck, both of original and modern widths. This one will be my only J body/pu's with a P neck bass.

 

[Mvilmany]

I also like that it doesn't have "KickAss" embossed into the string stop top. (one reason I'm not fond of BA bridges)

[/QUOTE
That's the best part of a BadAss bridge. My P Bass is truly bad ass, and i know that because it says so right on the bridge!

 

[JIO]

In that regard, a bass is only as BA as it's player