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black & blond P makeover (etc)

#601
JIO said:
The tuner post is 9/16" and the hs hole is 5/8" - I bought black plastic washers this morning but just got home and they are not going to work. I'll need to revisit the hw store tomorrow morning, return these and hope to find ones that work. I figured I would stack them to the thickness of the hs and epoxy them in place. I still may be able to do this if I find the right plastic washers (either black or white) They had copper & aluminum tubing & spacers - just nothing those dimensions. Once I find something - it will be an ideal adaptor for such. Just may have to order it via catalogue (McMaster-Carr)
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Something like this may work. You would have to hone the ID out slightly to get it to 9/16"

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#602
Hopkins said:
Something like this may work. You would have to hone the ID out slightly to get it to 9/16"

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Thanks - if I come up empty handed at the HW store - I'll look into this and possibly a nylon version if one exists. Nylon may be better than metal - a bit softer, more like wood and easier to cut. Just needs to center the hole - the top tuner skirt/ring will act as the more stable part.
 
#603
JIO said:
Thanks - if I come up empty handed at the HW store - I'll look into this and possibly a nylon version if one exists. Nylon may be better than metal - a bit softer, more like wood and easier to cut. Just needs to center the hole - the top tuner skirt/ring will act as the more stable part.
Click to expand...

Vinyl or Poly tubing is going to have a thicker wall than the aluminum stuff so you will have to ream it out more.
 
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#604
Got these nylon washers which should suffice - 4 to a slot. Will use a step drill bit and hope for the best. Details tomorrow -

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#605
Hey JIO,

I read through this whole thread, you've built some awesome basses here. I especially dig the Darkstar P with the Jazz neck. That's a combo that is on my list, but I may shoot for a lightweight build. The brass bridge block is neat too, I missed that discussion before.

In the past I've used a flanged bronze bushing from my local hardware store to mount the smaller sealed tuners into the fender sized holes. Worked well with the black and gold look of the bass.

Keep it up!
Jake
 
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#606
RBS_Johnson said:
Hey JIO,

I read through this whole thread, you've built some awesome basses here. I especially dig the Darkstar P with the Jazz neck. That's a combo that is on my list, but I may shoot for a lightweight build. The brass bridge block is neat too, I missed that discussion before.

In the past I've used a flanged bronze bushing from my local hardware store to mount the smaller sealed tuners into the fender sized holes. Worked well with the black and gold look of the bass.

Keep it up!
Jake
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:) Thanks for the kind words Jake! (and advice on the bronze bushings) - I'll see what my nylon washers accomplish (or not!) tomorrow and go from there.

My Darkstar P is a bit heavy but it sounds amazing! If I could make one like it that weighed 2 lbs lighter I'd put Fender out of business! :bassist:

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#608
Well… as Fonzi coined - I "jumped the shark" and went ahead with the reaming. (sets in an hr, cures overnight) Did a little heal filing/shaving/sanding for a tight fit, installed and removed the tuners and threw a coat of alkyd poly on it. I decided I was going to use whatever I had on hand - so it's ZAR gloss golden oak poly. Very minimal tint and once cured I'll probably 400 sand/steel wool - done. I mean, nothing to write home about.., another Fender-style bass. I weighed it - 9lbs/4oz - about average. I do have to buy some neck screws - only had 1. I continually haunt my local Ace for 'something close' as most of these guitar parts are specialty items. (a screw is a screw, by any other name…) So… no 2-mar-O as 2 (different band) rehearsals will suck up most of the day, so probably Monday before it makes noise.

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#609
Neck is still curing (poly) - and screws tomorrow morning… I've been noticing that this colour (bright tomato red) is a pretty contemporary car colour. New BMW's, and various other brands sport something very close to Fiesta red. All levels of cost too. Wild how fashion comes and goes over and over again. What's cool/hip/chic, whatever today was at least that at a certain other point in time - (and will be again eventually!) food for thought...
 
#610
Assembled, bridge in-tuned, and playable - so far, sounds good/plays well! I had a few steps back before I got there - the gloss poly on the neck never set as it should have so I sanded it off. It was a light coat so it came off easily. The neck does has a finish - I burned through it on a small section and it was even whiter/paler than it looks now. I used some teak-oil to wipe it down and it feels super satiny. Initial set-up is done with further tweaking as it starts its life as a bass. The electronics are cool - I can get some nice fine-tuning as far as tone goes. It will take time learning to dial it and know it's perimeters - but I feel it was a worthwhile investment. May need to work on the brass nut a bit. Every bass/instrument has its character and even as I had this body built up once - the parts were all different, so this combo has a character I will need to be introduced to over time. Once again you have to hand it to Leo Fender, who pioneered the 'parts bass'. (bolt-on neck) Today, anyone can assemble a 'Fender bass' from readily accessible parts into a decent instrument. The 'every-mans bass', not too dissimilar from the original Volkswagon Beetle in terms of an industrial design landmark. Done right, it comes out good every time - like baking a cake from a box.

So this Killer Tomato J/P joins my J family (6 Fender and Fender-style J's - and a couple with J electronics/pu's) The cool thing so far about this one, is already it does a pretty nice impersonation of a P-bass!

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#611
Well... as someone who loves modding, I've just popped for possibly the last Fender TEB-101 (70's Tele bass neck-bucker) pu available for my Fiesta Red J/P. It does mid-treble well but lacks a bit of thick low-end mud. I've always wanted to try mounting one of these (Squier) RI's in a bass but never had one that was suitable. So I thought, let's look for one. A search resulted in an original 70's example from the Netherlands ($$$) and zip otherwise. It has been a number of years ago when these Squiers were produced, and the pu's available but they are no longer made. Found this one which I think is the last (NOS) one available. I could have put a Gibson EB mud-bucker in like so many players did in the 70's, but I wanted to stay Fender. It's a Squier but is stamped Fender. Will post the install when it arrives.

Squier Tele Bass Humbucker
 
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#613
Maybe not… so can anyone help me understand what this is about?

Please note that this is a Special Order item. Fender requires that you supply us with a valid and relevant Serial Number to order this item.

I saw it in the sale ad but after ordering and receiving confirmation of the sale I was sent the same thing - ??? - The serial # of what? I simply want (and did because my transaction was completed) to purchase a pu. I'm waiting for a reply from them asking the same question.
 
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#614
Best laid plans etc… so after asking for clarification from Steve M. at Angela Instruments, I received this reply;

Apparently you did not understand the clearly stated terms of sale for this item. I'll give you a refund.

…and my money was refunded. Great PR skills at work there - I'm now pretty happy I didn't purchase anything from them after all. (and never will again for that matter)



I guess I'll keep my eyes open for one of the vintage 70's WRHB ones if at a similar price ...
 
#619
Double E said:
I don't blame you... I did a quick search it looks like that may have been the last one after all.
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Yah well, whatever at this point - I specifically recall nearly buying one years ago when they 1st started reissuing them from a Fender rep (with no strings attached) but decided against it at the last minute. I just don't understand this sort of logic - Fender sells pu's of all types all day, every day through various sources and this one needs authorization? I'm baffled.
 
#620
JIO said:
Yah well, whatever at this point - I specifically recall nearly buying one years ago when they 1st started reissuing them from a Fender rep (with no strings attached) but decided against it at the last minute. I just don't understand this sort of logic - Fender sells pu's of all types all day, every day through various sources and this one needs authorization? I'm baffled.
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Perhaps because it has a Fender logo on it?
 

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