Danger, New Bass pics Inside!!!

Well here she is - my new PJ, I guess you could call is Bassjunkie PJ4 #001









Specs:

Warmoth 2 piece (center joined) Alder body

USA Custom Guitars 1/4" sawn maple neck, 9.5" radius, 20 frets, truss rod at headstock, tusq nut, 1.625" nut width, custom back contour (standard with a bit more beef .830" depth at nut) Finished in Satin Nitro from guitar reranch.

Bill Lawrence P-J set (500K volumes with 22k resistors between hot leads and volume pots, 250K .047mf Angela foil in oil cap with Series/ Parallel switch on pot - electrosocket side jack)

Hipshot Brass B-style bridge with 5 hole fender mounting.
Hipshot Ultralite tuners with 1/2" posts.
Hipshot three string retainer.

Thomstik Infeld Powerbass strings (my Fav!)

Thanks to warmoth, Tommy aty USACG, the guys at BassNW, the folks at Hipshot, guitar reranch, Becky and Bill Lawrence, and Evan Gluck at ww.newyorkguitarrepair.com who cut the best damn nut I've seen after gouging with hand with a chisel, and still had it to me the next day - that's dedication.

Rehearsal tonight and then a gig at Rothko on monday. Anybody want to check her out with the T-Funk/ Bag end rig in action?
Come down to the club. haVe Blue goes on at 11pm.

What do you guys think about my first bass project? I guess I'll have to bring this one to a GTG in NYC soon.

~M

 

The final price (this includes the nut) before my labor (Neck finishing, wiring, assembly) is $1067.40

I did get some deals which probably shaved off $50, so I'll say that parts topped out at a solid $1100

But mind you I used THE best for that type of bass on the market today IMO. If I was going to take it further but still keep it passive, I would put nordies in it but that would jack the price up another $100.

My next bass may have that sweet Nordstrand NP4. Jury is still out.

I have to say the neck joint on that PJ is the tightest I've ever encountered. In fact I posted pics with me carrying around the body and neck attached with no screws holding parallel to the ground, it never budged even when I shook it. This contributes to the basses super solid feel. It also has no dead spots - I checked last night. This is amazing considering that the body and neck were made by different companies...well almost different .

In all honesty I built this thing to go head to head with a Lakland USA Bob Glaub.
The bass has a clear ringing sound - not zingy - but also not too low middy (which is where the series switch can bring them back)
I dig meaty basses- ones that feel really solid. Which is why I had tommy thicken the back of the bass neck contour just a tad. Overall resulting in a better osunding and most importantly - a more stable bass ~ROCK!!

the one thing I wish was a bit more pronounced is the overall volume of the J pickup. I deviated from Bill's schematic because the blend pot I had was bogus. Using two 500K volume pots was also a deviation. I may up the resistance between the P pickup and it's volume to fine tune the overall balance of the pickups.
Then again - I'm a P man and I'm not used to a j pickup - so maybe is sounds quiet because it's naturally not as full as the P. I'll give a full report after my gig on monday.

It's PJ Friday here on TB.

Sweet!