• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

First time assembly Franken P

matrok

matrok

Jan 10, 2005
3,617
43
Ferndale, Michigan
#1
I've been wanting to do my own assembly for quite some time. In the last few months all the pieces came together.

First up was an SX J neck, then I posted an ad looking for a P body. The first offer I got was for a "vintage pink", unknown origin body with a bridge. I thought "what the heck" and took it. Wasn't quite the shade I'd hoped for in person, so I decided to try a relic job. Steel wool and sandpaper got me closer to vintage looking. :eek:

The neck had pearl blocks, so I went for a white pearloid guard from Chopper's Music on eBay. Got the tuners from them as well. No name on them, clover keys, but smooth and do the job.

A set of Reverend P pups were necessary. My Reverend is one of the hottest passive basses I've ever heard, so I needed something to line up in output. A set of D'Addario Chromes complete the vintage package.

I had hoped to do all the assembly myself, but I ended up needing a "little help from my friends". The neck pocket was too wide for the neck, so my tech put in some shims, and drilled the neck holes. He also mounted the pups. Dan1099 did the soldering and initial set up while I watched and took notes. I did some more tweaking and my tech did the final tweak.

She had her debut this past weekend, and sounded great. We do classic rock and blues and she really nailed it.

So now I give you "Ugly Betty"

P1010003.jpg


P1010002.jpg


P1010004.jpg


betty.jpg


with my defretted/modded 78 P

p-basses.jpg
 
#7
Dude, it's pink....
Doesn't mean anything tho, I'm sure you're still all masculine and stuff.

My first "homebrew" used a 10kohm Rev P-pup.
 
#8
Cool, I can't wait to hear it with the Reverend pickups. Did your kids help with the relic job? I have a friend whose wife likes relic'd furniture. He bought some new bar stools and literally had his kids throw them down the stairs a couple of times to get some dings in them. I'm sure K would be glad to let you relic his A/C.:D
 
#10
Looks awesome, Matt. Congratulations.

Did you get that nut problem on the A string worked out? I'd like to know what it was, I'm hoping my suspicions were correct.

This thing definitely doesn't play like the reverend, and it doesn't sound like the reverend (how could it, flats, no bridge pickup, etc.) but I'll tell you, I was pretty impressed when we got it up and running! It gives my P a run for the money, and mine cost several times more. It's got a hell of a sound to it!

I'm glad I was able to help, Matt, and I hope it works out for you. Remember, my amateur, no-cost wiring jobs come with a lifetime warranty. If it quits working, give me a holler and I'll be glad to fix it up for you. :D

And remember, at the next hang, you owe me a beer. :ninja:
 
#11
Also, in that picture next to your fender, I think it actually looks more like a fender than the real thing! Was the body on the old one sanded down or something? The upper horn looks small.
 
#15
Damn' that looks incredible, I really like the pink,pearl, blocks and binding. The green is sweet too!:)

Dan1099 said:
Also, in that picture next to your fender, I think it actually looks more like a fender than the real thing! Was the body on the old one sanded down or something? The upper horn looks small.
Click to expand...

I think its just the light, the pink one, you can't see the bevelling, as you can on the metallic green.
 
#16
Darkstrike said:
Damn' that looks incredible, I really like the pink,pearl, blocks and binding. The green is sweet too!:)



I think its just the light, the pink one, you can't see the bevelling, as you can on the metallic green.
Click to expand...

I think you're right(too lazy to dig them back out of their cases), but with that no name body on Betty, anything's possible.

The pink wasn't as nice as Munji's, but the relic job made it for me. My wife doesn't get it. "It looks like a bathroom from a really old house". When she said that, it really made it for me! Mission accomplished.
 
#18
I vote:

HOT.

Okay, pink would not be a color I chose myself usually, but I actually like the retro-cool of that carnation/shell pink quite a bit.

I also don't usually care for pearloid guards (I used to love them, but I got tired of them)...however, on that pink I think it is the perfect choice. Plain white would make it look somewhat cheap-ish. Black might have worked, but I think you made the perfect choice. Plus, it accents the neck blocks very nicely.

Finally, I usually hate relic jobs, but you did yours with taste. Well done. Enjoy that beastie!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back