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Fender Frankensteins

#121
Skirted Knobs.jpg
Here's mine...I bought this bass Brand new in 1977 after trading in my Natural Jazz with maple fingerboard. It immediately got the brass nut , Schaller gold machines and Hipshot D tuner. In keeping the Gold and Black theme I added the Badass II Gold Bridge ,Brass plated control plate and limited addition Fender Limited Edition Brass accessories (Skirted start style knobs and string retainer). I also have the solid brass thumb rest which I removed because it was always in my way. I think these accessories were only available for a short time in the late 70's, not sure when , but I bought them new and never was able to find them again.
I had various pick up set ups in the bass , the Alembics with Alembic pre-amp I installed in 1988. Thinking about changing it soon...maybe.
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#125
Sorry Nik, you all look the same to me. Keep your original number - Phalex gets 38.

38 Phalex
39 Walfretless5
40 AADUNTOV
41 huckleberry1

47 Crusher47

I'm starting on a new build (first in 30 years) on a '51P. Unfortunately, right now all the pieces are aftermarket, so it won't qualify. Trying to get something cheap from an original (back plate or something) that I can add to make it officially an FF. Any thoughts/donations?
 
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#126
Some wonderful creations on this thread! I am as attached to my "Franken Fenders" as I am to my "Official Fenders" and love putting about in the lab on them. Here are the ones I have right now and the main components: My Lake Placid Blue '51 CV P-Bass with an MIM Cabronita neck/reverse tuners, an Olympic White/gold hardware Chris Aiken sig P-Bass with a Blacktop Precision neck, A Candy Apple Red P-Bass with a Blacktop Jazz neck, a Vintage White Matt Freeman sig P-Bass with a MIM Precision neck, an early Squier Standard P-Bass that got the old Matt Freeman P-Bass neck, a VM P-Bass TB that got the old '51 CV P-Bass's neck, and a 70's Classic P-Bass with a 70's FSR Jazz neck. There are other parts mods and stuff but those are the big chunks.

I apologize for the grainy photos...with flash they look poopie and no flash makes tort/pearl all blurry?!?!? I have really enjoyed seeing everyone's creations so far and look forward to many more!

May I have a number please?

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#127
buldog5151bass said:
Sorry Nik, you all look the same to me. Keep your original number - Phalex gets 38.

38 Phalex
39 Walfretless5
40 AADUNTOV
41 huckleberry1

47 Crusher47

I'm starting on a new build (first in 30 years) on a '51P. Unfortunately, right now all the pieces are aftermarket, so it won't qualify. Trying to get something cheap from an original (back plate or something) that I can add to make it officially an FF. Any thoughts/donations?
Click to expand...

I have several '51 pickguards...a couple white and a parchment, all factory issue, probably some bits like knobs, thumb rests, a bridge, etc I would dontate if that helps?
 
#131
Bergerman said:
My Franken-P:

Mid eighties E series neck, newer Electron Blue MIM body, fifties gold guard and thumb rest, Bartolini 8S pickup and the obligatory Badass II. Made my own "custom color" '57 Re-issue!

View attachment 414949
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NICE! I want another set of Barts for one of mine too...and oddly for the one I have that is similar to yours but in Vintage White. I love those pickups. Nice build man, I saved it in my Bass Porn pics:bassist:.
 
#133
Bergerman said:
Yeah...I love the Bart 8S pups. Highly underrated P replacement...they're my favorite. I also have one in this fretless build: MIM body with an eighties Fender USA Elite Walnut neck with ebony fingerboard...also with the usual Badass II.

View attachment 414963
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Nice! I had a walnut P along time ago. I wished I had kept it now. I remember the neck being thin and had no board, frets were pressed into the walnut like they've done with some maples. That's a cool fretless, but one thing I don't like...it's not mine.:thumbsup:
 
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#134
HELP?!? Does ANYONE have a "kosher" pick guard for this little fella? It's an '83 Squire Bullet I got a long time ago, it's been a keeper, plays and sounds great, but it had this pick guard on it which is pretty much some 12 year old kids failed shop project :rollno:. Black, white, tort, ANYTHING but THIS. I will try Tricked Out Squire Club too...suggestions?

Please message me if you do.
grunt.jpg
 
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#135
Updated numbers:

42 God's Favorite Bass
42 Street Scenes
43 Bergerman

God's Favorite Bass was gracious enough to donate a few parts for my build so it will qualify as a "Fender", as opposed to a totally aftermarket build. My suggestion is this - if anyone needs something, post it here, and if someone can help, so much the better (you can PM to make arrangements). Let's try to help each other out.
 
#137
Hi gents,
I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on a jazz neck I bought with the numbers 80283 on the edge of the heal.? Also has a black J inked in on the bottom of the heal. The headstock was sanded clean .has the truss rod at the head stock. The body that came with seems to be a Mexican and has the extra pickguard hole in front of the bridge pickup so maybe a 62 reissue ? Tons of questions but thought someone here might be able to enlighten me.Thanks for your time. I am using the neck on a custom build , because I like the way it feels. Just wondering,
 
#138
wolfmancharlie said:
Hi gents,
I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on a jazz neck I bought with the numbers 80283 on the edge of the heal.? Also has a black J inked in on the bottom of the heal. The headstock was sanded clean .has the truss rod at the head stock. The body that came with seems to be a Mexican and has the extra pickguard hole in front of the bridge pickup so maybe a 62 reissue ? Tons of questions but thought someone here might be able to enlighten me.Thanks for your time. I am using the neck on a custom build , because I like the way it feels. Just wondering,
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I would say it's an 80's (E Series) neck, truss rod would be on that end, the J for Jazz, profiles were/are often marked on the neck blank, and if you look at the screen capture I got from WD you will see the pick guard with the hole ahead of the front pickup makes it a 70's-80's pick guard. the older ones' (60's) didn't have that screw hole and would warp up in between the heel and the front pickup when they would shrink...I have some with that bubble, in a drawer where they belong LOL. My 60's Classic does NOT have this hole, nor has any re-issue I've owned. Then again it (the body) could be Mex, not as old as neck as you suspect and someone put an aftermarket guard on it. Is the finish around that particular hole on the body more disturbed/distressed than the others like the previous owner put that hole there vs. the factory? Is there a date stamp or other markings in the neck pocket?
 

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#139
buldog5151bass said:
Updated numbers:

42 God's Favorite Bass
42 Street Scenes
43 Bergerman

God's Favorite Bass was gracious enough to donate a few parts for my build so it will qualify as a "Fender", as opposed to a totally aftermarket build. My suggestion is this - if anyone needs something, post it here, and if someone can help, so much the better (you can PM to make arrangements). Let's try to help each other out.
Click to expand...
LOL, hey bud, Street Scenes and I are BOTH #42. Should I be 41 or is he 43??
 
#140
God's Favorite Bass said:
I would say it's an 80's (E Series) neck, truss rod would be on that end, the J for Jazz, profiles were/are often marked on the neck blank, and if you look at the screen capture I got from WD you will see the pick guard with the hole ahead of the front pickup makes it a 70's-80's pick guard. the older ones' (60's) didn't have that screw hole and would warp up in between the heel and the front pickup when they would shrink...I have some with that bubble, in a drawer where they belong LOL. My 60's Classic does NOT have this hole, nor has any re-issue I've owned. Then again it (the body) could be Mex, not as old as neck as you suspect and someone put an aftermarket guard on it. Is the finish around that particular hole on the body more disturbed/distressed than the others like the previous owner put that hole there vs. the factory? Is there a date stamp or other markings in the neck pocket?
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the info on the neck.
The body is from Sept. 5, 1998. You are so right , the pickguard is aftermarket. I had never taken it off before. Guard is from all parts. Holes didn't match too well so we have a lot of different holes now. I appreciate the info. I bought this at a local music store for next to nothing, because it had brand new Schaller tunners, new EMG active pups and pots ,wiring and a badass II bridge , so I figured that since I liked the bass,as it was, I could also use the parts on a custom build. The build is coming along well now. I'll post a pic after she is done since she has a Fender neck just to let you see how it came out. Again Thanks.
 

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