Fender Frankensteins

[God's Favorite Bass]

MIJ 70s Classic body, finish by Marty Bell with 50s bits and tuners, Duncan SCPB2's and an AO50's neck.

MIM Standard body (3TSB), 50's bits and tuners, CS59's out of a RW Dirnt, and AO50's neck. My poor guys '59.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Had this together about a month and it's working out marvy. It's a RW50's neck and tuners with 50's bits, MIM Standard body, and PV64s. It's my AVRI58's stunt double.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Meet Leo. A 1970 Fender Jazz that got it's neck broken by a truck. Resurrected in 1983 View attachment 4432242 View attachment 4432244 View attachment 4432246 View attachment 4432248 View attachment 4432249 View attachment 4432251 View attachment 4432253 with a G&L L-1000 crazy maple neck, EMG active pick-ups, with a P pup in the rear, and a Kahler wah-wah bridge. The neck got cut away due to damage sustained and then repainted the original Lake Placid Blue. I new custom pickguard and Bartolini HR3.3 918 preamp will soon be added. But here's Leo in current form. Definitely a true FrankenFender.

I want to play that. Really curious. The neck is really wow.

 

[bassclef112]

It's my favorite pickup. It's very hot, clean, and accurate. I feel it adds nothing in the way of color to the tone of the bass, just what goes into it. Some people might say it's "hifi", but I find it is very full range and pure. I have one on this bass too:

View attachment 4432636

Thanks for that. Now you went ahead and relit the fire. The original plan was to put them into my Gibson LPB3. Looks like now I will have to follow through!

 

[shade_1313]

Neck, tuners, bridge, neck plate, screws from my first bass (MiM J I bought in '93), Squier Affinity body I found on eBay, pickguard, strap buttons, wiring, volume pots, jack, knobs from…maybe Warmoth? Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups, and a Nordstrand Tone Drop for the tone control.

 

[Grinderman]

Fender AO '60s neck, Warmoth jazz body, Gotoh Res-O-Lite GBR640 tuning machines, Lindy Fralin split coil jazz pickups, Fender vintage bridge, misc. Fender hardware, CTS 500K/250K stacked concentric audio pots, orange drop caps; .047 @ neck and bridge, Switchcraft #11 input jack.

 

[Malak the Mad]

MIM Standard body (3TSB), 50's bits and tuners, CS59's out of a RW Dirnt, and AO50's neck. My poor guys '59.View attachment 4432728

Given the costs attached to the American Original series, I'd hardly call it a "Poor Man's" anything. That aside, that looks to be quite a re-representation of late-Fifties Precision you've cobbled together there.

 

[Malak the Mad]

…and since I haven't posted anything to here in <searches thread> three years, I should rectify that sorry state of affairs.

My "2020 Pandemic Lockdown Projekt";
Unveiling IX: The Sienna Projekt (Special Edition Build-Off)

• Fender MIM Siennaburst Jazz body
• 2nd-gen Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz neck
• Hipshot licensed Ultralite tuners with a Drop-D tuner
• Bartolini B-Axis pickups
• Fender American Standard/Professional bridge
• CTS 250k pots & .047 Orange Drop capacitor wired for parallel and series modes (crappily wired together by yours truly )
• Planet Waves elliptical strap pins
• Custom cut pickguard made from a David Bowie "Blackstar" LP, courtesy of Adam at Goshen Guitar Works (Goshen Guitar Works - Home)

 

[Malak the Mad]

I should also include my Fender Blacktop Jazz's current incarnation. For such a "METAL" sounding bass, I figured I'd make it look the part for a while.

• Fender Blacktop Jazz body
• Fender Aerodyne neck
• GHS Infinity Steels coated bass strings
  
• Blacktop stock pickguard worked over with my own "DIY Sharpie Tint Technique™"

However, after a bit of deliberation, I plan on returning it to this look, with an un-tinted guard and a Fender MIM Classic '70s Jazz neck. The "METAL" look is great and all, but I'm leaning more towards a look that shouts "Classy!". Besides, a bass that punches this hard, all while looking like something one might take to a snoozy Jazz affair, would definitely have a "wolf in sheep's clothing" element of surprise, no?

 

[Rod Barchetta]

…and since I haven't posted anything to here in <searches thread> three years, I should rectify that sorry state of affairs.

My "2020 Pandemic Lockdown Projekt";
Unveiling IX: The Sienna Projekt (Special Edition Build-Off)

• Fender MIM Siennaburst Jazz body
• 2nd-gen Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz neck
• Hipshot licensed Ultralite tuners with a Drop-D tuner
• Bartolini B-Axis pickups
• Fender American Standard/Professional bridge
• CTS 250k pots & .047 Orange Drop capacitor wired for parallel and series modes (crappily wired together by yours truly )
• Planet Waves elliptical strap pins
• Custom cut pickguard made from a David Bowie "Blackstar" LP, courtesy of Adam at Goshen Guitar Works (Goshen Guitar Works - Home)

View attachment 4432967

This is cool beyond words. Just freaking gorgeous! And great photo as well.

 

[Rod Barchetta]

I should also include my Fender Blacktop Jazz's current incarnation. For such a "METAL" sounding bass, I figured I'd make it look the part for a while. View attachment 4432973

• Fender Blacktop Jazz body
• Fender Aerodyne neck
• GHS Infinity Steels coated bass strings
  
• Blacktop stock pickguard worked over with my own "DIY Sharpie Tint Technique™"

View attachment 4432974
View attachment 4432975

However, after a bit of deliberation, I plan on returning it to this look, with an un-tinted guard and a Fender MIM Classic '70s Jazz neck. The "METAL" look is great and all, but I'm leaning more towards a look that shouts "Classy!". Besides, a bass that punches this hard, all while looking like something one might take to a snoozy Jazz affair, would definitely have a "wolf in sheep's clothing" element of surprise, no?

View attachment 4432976

I agree with the return to the classic color. But nice work with that sharpie. They come in handy!

 

[Rod Barchetta]

I want to play that. Really curious. The neck is really wow.

Thanks. It is really WOW. It is incredibly thin and the action is as good as it gets. I've been playing Leo quite a bit lately. When I rocked him in the '80's on stage, he was in his element. That's him in my profile photo at an outdoor gig from when I had hair.

I think once I add the Bart preamp, it will really broaden the tone horizon. This bass deserves to be all it can be.

 

[roccobass]

Can't believe I haven't posted mine yet!

Haven't checked, but do we have member numbers?
@buldog5151bass

Here they both are:

Fretted…
My main axe is a Jazz bass. She's 37 years old with passive Bartolini 94J pickups and a BadAss bridge. The Fender rosewood on maple neck and alder body came separately brand new. Body stained walnut. All circa 1984. I've been the sole owner and my old girl seems to knock out all contenders to her throne. She gets a sound that is all her own and just can't be beat.

Fretless:
A 2006 MIM Jazz spliced to All-Parts Jazz neck. Pickups are a pair of passive Bartolini B-Axis with a Gotoh bridge holding it down. Man, it gets such a deep sound with the Barts. It so much fun to play.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Can't believe I haven't posted mine yet!

Haven't checked, but do we have member numbers?
@buldog5151bass

Here they both are:

Fretted…
My main axe is a Jazz bass. She's 37 years old with passive Bartolini 94J pickups and a BadAss bridge. The Fender rosewood on maple neck and alder body came separately brand new. Body stained walnut. All circa 1984. I've been the sole owner and my old girl seems to knock out all contenders to her throne. She gets a sound that is all her own and just can't be beat.

View attachment 4433108

Fretless:
A 2006 MIM Jazz spliced to All-Parts Jazz neck. Pickups are a pair of passive Bartolini B-Axis with a Gotoh bridge holding it down. Man, it gets such a deep sound with the Barts. It so much fun to play.

View attachment 4433109

Haven't assigned numbers in years. Pick your favorite.

 

[roccobass]

Haven't assigned numbers in years. Pick your favorite.

Naw! Lol! It's all good.
We're all Number #1 here!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

My contribution:

Am. Pro. P body with EMG passive control electronics (passive) and SD SPB-1 pickup with added distressed aluminium pickguard and thumbrest plus bridge ashtray cover.
Am. Std. J neck with last gen. Fender light-weight tuners and A-string string-retainer.
TI JF344 strings.

View attachment 3728137

The bass recently received an Arty's Custom Guitars solderless harness and a pair of Klein Epic '58 pickups .. with a set of TI JF344 this is the most vintage-sounding P-bass I've ever had the pleasure to play ..

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

…and since I haven't posted anything to here in <searches thread> three years, I should rectify that sorry state of affairs.

My "2020 Pandemic Lockdown Projekt";
Unveiling IX: The Sienna Projekt (Special Edition Build-Off)

• Fender MIM Siennaburst Jazz body
• 2nd-gen Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz neck
• Hipshot licensed Ultralite tuners with a Drop-D tuner
• Bartolini B-Axis pickups
• Fender American Standard/Professional bridge
• CTS 250k pots & .047 Orange Drop capacitor wired for parallel and series modes (crappily wired together by yours truly )
• Planet Waves elliptical strap pins
• Custom cut pickguard made from a David Bowie "Blackstar" LP, courtesy of Adam at Goshen Guitar Works (Goshen Guitar Works - Home)

View attachment 4432967

That top is to die for...that's a lovely Jazz right there. And I'm usually not a 'bursty guy to some degree. That's special.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

View attachment 4432888 View attachment 4432889

Fender AO '60s neck, Warmoth jazz body, Gotoh Res-O-Lite GBR640 tuning machines, Lindy Fralin split coil jazz pickups, Fender vintage bridge, misc. Fender hardware, CTS 500K/250K stacked concentric audio pots, orange drop caps; .047 @ neck and bridge, Switchcraft #11 input jack.

That's sexy all day.

 

[Grinderman]

That's sexy all day.

Thank you. Marty Bell did that body, BTW.

I like your collection of Ps. That had me lustfully running specs and numbers in my head, thinking about possible sweet P parts builds.

 

[aigman]

This is mostly eBay parts.

Fender j body I presume made in Ensineda in the 2000's— midnight wine color, listed as "dark red," I think it looks black cherry metallic. Just a sweet color no matter what it's called.

Never skimp on the neck, that's where the money goes, so Allparts got some business and I'm a happy camper. It's basically seventies styling with a custom color and standard non-70's pickup spacing.

But the neck plate, man, she was beckoning me at the Trading Musician counter for a song. What a sexy, non-pc doll!