BassHappy
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black & blond P makeover (etc)
- Thread starter JIO
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Swiss roasted alder - just in time for the holidays! I'm waiting for classictonewoods to list the piece I requested (1/2" maple blank) and once I get it I will continue the fun. I'm now thinking about the salmon version of Fiesta Red. Just ordered an Allparts maple J neck for it (unfinished). I've never had one I didn't like.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
"Right now, right now, right now it's time to kick out the yams mf!"
That's sweet! If you haven't routed for it yet, I suggest keeping it without binding, mainly just a personal preference, but the body is made for pure playability and binding may inhibit that.
Or you could do what I did to my hofner when I was in chile, I contoured the binding where my arm rests, I used an razor blade to scrape it down to a contour then buffed it up with sandpaper and wax. (I didn't have many materials) It's undetectable actually, but noticeably more comfortable on the arm.
Or you could do what I did to my hofner when I was in chile, I contoured the binding where my arm rests, I used an razor blade to scrape it down to a contour then buffed it up with sandpaper and wax. (I didn't have many materials) It's undetectable actually, but noticeably more comfortable on the arm.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
BassHappy
Supporting Member
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
While waiting on the maple, I filled the string-thru holes and drilled/filled the neck-plate holes for inserts. (no neck plate) May re-drill for string-thru but have a couple nice top-load bridges so not sure if I will or not. When I bought the NOS body years ago, it had a Fender style bent-plate bridge w/string-thru holes. I like string-thru basses for a couple of reasons even if some say it makes no sonic difference. I replaced it w/a Hipshot bridge which if holes were aligned, positioned it too high.(toward the neck) So since I'm starting fresh, it would be best to position the string-thru holes according to whichever bridge I install. (like if using individual units)
As I like to title/name my projects to help keep them straight from each other, this body/bass will be know as the Sig J Mk III or SJM3 from here on in. I've just never been one to refer to my basses as "Betty" or "Wanda" or (your name choice here). Not that there's anything wrong w/that…
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/what-did-you-name-your-bass.929211/
And finally, I was thinking about all the time & energy I'm putting into this lowly piece of wood. It is 25 years old, but other than that it's nothing special. (and like I need another bass)
I guess I'm just drawn to the project (physically working on it) and what it may offer when done. And.., I don't currently have a maple necked P/J bass w/a chambered alder/maple body… so I guess I do need it after all! 
(now I feel better)
As I like to title/name my projects to help keep them straight from each other, this body/bass will be know as the Sig J Mk III or SJM3 from here on in. I've just never been one to refer to my basses as "Betty" or "Wanda" or (your name choice here). Not that there's anything wrong w/that…
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/what-did-you-name-your-bass.929211/And finally, I was thinking about all the time & energy I'm putting into this lowly piece of wood. It is 25 years old, but other than that it's nothing special. (and like I need another bass)
I guess I'm just drawn to the project (physically working on it) and what it may offer when done. And.., I don't currently have a maple necked P/J bass w/a chambered alder/maple body… so I guess I do need it after all! (now I feel better)
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I just bought these (never installed) 70's style Fender tuners on ebay for $30! (score! - it's all about timing) They are my default choice for Fender necks. I have 2 sets converted into lollypop's and one set of unaltered clovers on my basses. These will stay clovers. I like the large straight barrels, larger fluted paddles and simple plate - a very clean industrial re-design and one of the CBS era's better moves in the late 60's to 'modernize' Fender.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
I just bought these (never installed) 70's style Fender tuners on ebay for $30! (score! - it's all about timing) They are my default choice for Fender necks. I have 2 sets converted into lollypop's and one set of unaltered clovers on my basses. These will stay clovers. I like the large straight barrels, larger fluted paddles and simple plate - a very clean industrial re-design and one of the CBS era's better moves in the late 60's to 'modernize' Fender.
Wow, nice score on the tuners!
And I love the no neckplate/insert idea! Did that have a micro tilt neck?
Last edited:
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Yes, it came with micro tilt. I removed it for finishing but will reinstall it after. Signature was a late 80's start-up company that went out of biz supposedly due to Fender taking legal action against their Fender copy basses.("lawsuit Fender copy") A guy on the east coast bought their entire stock and has a site called buildabass on ebay where he sells Signature bodies, necks and assembled basses. The hs's aren't especially Fender copies so that's why I wonder. That phrase gets used a lot and I'm sure not always backed by facts as Fender usually doesn't go after clones other than their patented hs shapes. Maybe they just hit a biz operating wall and folded the company. Ric on the other and…
Being from the late 80's, it had the details of basses from that time; string-thru holes/ferrules, micro-tilt, and 70's bridge spacing. (and heavy!) The neck pocket is slightly larger than a standard Fender also, which I'll permanently address when the maple neck arrives. It had a loose wood shim when my ebony board neck was attached. I think quality control issues were more likely a cause of biz failure as the bridge & neck pocket were off when I got it (NOS). The finish (trans wine) was supposedly done by an ex-Fender finisher, but it had flaws also. Compared to the invisible 'blemishes' on my Fiesta red J body, they were very apparent. It was my first DIY project bass (about 8 years ago) and was before the availability of quality bass parts you can readily get now for great prices.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It came 'loaded' with a tort pg, standard J pu's/electronics & bridge - I cut this one, installed brass saddles, Lindy Fralin split-coils, an Audere JZ3 pre and a defretted Tele/'51P maple neck w/'66 Mustang pops. Funny - it will be going back to a maple neck in it's new life!
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BassHappy
Supporting Member
Hey Jio
Duh, I didn't realize "Signature" was a separate bass company, I mistakenly thought it was a weird Fender moment/model, as so many of them are. Other than the early days of Fender US and some in-between moments that i considered interesting - I don't pay much attention to what Fender US does; most of it doesn't apply to me as a dedicated medium scaler!
I must say for your first DIY project that baby is sharp! How do you like the Lindy's? I have one in my '51 P Bass but never played around with his Jazz versions. From what I know they have to be GREAT!
But, I do understand how you might want to do a remake of it also. Basses when worn in can get to be like a restaurant - you hit it full speed for a number of full blast years and when things slow down you renovate - maybe change the name, hire a new chef, new staff, maybe a new ownership group and keep on going!
Am glued to the thread with substantial interest.
Roasted swiss cheese alder indeed!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Yep, Signature (the company) represents the early days of what we're all part of now. I have a super nice "vintage " P-style neck on a Fenderbird made by another same time builder named Saunders. Supposedly made at the newly formed FCS in the late 80's by the heavyweights back then. It was NOS when I got it for $65 and it's FCS quality. Mods were happening in the late sixties, with players pushing boundaries to achieve their sound. For bass players, the P/J was born, the P/P, active electronics (Alembic), Baddass bridges, "natural" finishes, DIY fretless.., and then pushed through the "block and chromed" 70's and was hummin' in the 80's (the decade of the bass/player) where bass went to the front of the stage. It's because its about the human pulse, the heart-beat and groove and rumble and being elastic and being bombastic and laying it down and being the solid tenacious tug-boat that channels huge tankers into shore - that's what bass is all about! …where was I?...
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Originally, I liked it ok and it was recorded back then so documented.., but it always fell short for me. Mk II is when I fell in love w/it; stripped to natural and with a nice fretted J neck. (but heavy!) The Lindy's I love (same from the beginning). Only one on the Fiesta Red J (neck now, from bridge) as the pu routes are equal for both. (2 bridge-sized J pu's) The DiMarzio Ultra is a nice stand-in and gave the tone a bit more wood. My red boner J has passive NJ's which sound great, and I may look into a P/J set from them for this bass. Yes, one bass that morphs into 2 - like Peet's and Starbucks… both good depending on preference!
