Hello all! New here. Been playing bass for about a year. Recently rebuilt an old custom Telecaster and have caught the amateur Luthier bug. I am looking for thoughts on this idea. I want to buils a bass using a Fender Aerodyne Special jazz bass body from Mighty Mite (Choco Sunburst), Lindy Fralin cream colored split jazz bass pickups, custom matching knobs, custom maple/rosewood 20 fret Warmoth (Fender specs) jazz neck with cream binding to match the body. Schaller bass tuners. Have the Babicz Aerodyne bridge and knob electronics. Also will sand and paint just the face of the headstock dark chocolate brown to match the body while keeping the headstock sides and back of the neck maple. Any thoughts or advice?
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Franken Bass Build
- Thread starter jmhughes9
- Start date
I think it will be a good looking bass! 
If you post up here as you go, the hive mind will help you work through any hiccups.
If you post up here as you go, the hive mind will help you work through any hiccups.
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Uhhh...sounds like you pretty well have it figured out already lol
GLWTB!
GLWTB!
Yeah, that sounds killer. Love me some Aerodyne Jazz body, the binding that follows the elbow relief is a cool detail that's hard to pull off without CNC or a fairly expensive router jig. Matching headstock for the Win! Please post build photos, you'll get more reaction that way.
Sounds like it'll be a great bass for you. I vote the matching headstock is always an upgrade. I've done a few of mine and have used that same process of only painting the front while leaving the sides and back.
Good luck on your project!
Good luck on your project!
It’s almost impossible to have a good build without taking many pictures and posting them here. Don’t allow the bad karma to collect. Post often!
I will say that the Aerodyne body is that they're super light, so you need a neck and tuners that are also light so it balances. Also, the Aerodyne body is bound and has a "corner" so to speak on it all the way around, rather than being rounded over like other bodies.
To some people this is a non-factor, tons of people play bodies like this. For me it was an absolute deal breaker. Something about the way I place my forearm on the body just didn't jive with that corner.
That's my 2 cents, either way have fun with the build! I went through this process about a year ago and the bass I ended up with is still one of my favorites.
To some people this is a non-factor, tons of people play bodies like this. For me it was an absolute deal breaker. Something about the way I place my forearm on the body just didn't jive with that corner.
That's my 2 cents, either way have fun with the build! I went through this process about a year ago and the bass I ended up with is still one of my favorites.
Welcome to TalkBass, @jmhughes9, and know that you had me at "Aerodyne"!!
I think you have the bones of a great idea, so go for it! Given all you've already laid out, and what others like @KevInDaBassment and @Elmstreet have already suggested, you've got a great foundation. All you need are the parts and the constitution to see it through. The main thing I can suggest is what I've learned from assembling many Projekt basses; measure twice…cut once!
To get "into the weeds" a little more, though, not only would some lightweight tuners like Hipshot Ultralites (licensed or USA-made is up to you and your budget), but if your fretting hand can work with it, getting a slim taper on your neck could shave off a wee bit more weight.
Good luck with your Franken-Dyne, don't hesitate to pick our collective brains and, as touched upon earlier, there is a rule here on the forum; no pics…no bass!
Perhaps you would like to show a picture or two of your Aerodyne Projekt creations?
Welcome to TalkBass, @jmhughes9, and know that you had me at "Aerodyne"!!
I think you have the bones of a great idea, so go for it! Given all you've already laid out, and what others like @KevInDaBassment and @Elmstreet have already suggested, you've got a great foundation. All you need are the parts and the constitution to see it through. The main thing I can suggest is what I've learned from assembling many Projekt basses; measure twice…cut once!
To get "into the weeds" a little more, though, not only would some lightweight tuners like Hipshot Ultralites (licensed or USA-made is up to you and your budget), but if your fretting hand can work with it, getting a slim taper on your neck could shave off a wee bit more weight.
Good luck with your Franken-Dyne, don't hesitate to pick our collective brains and, as touched upon earlier, there is a rule here on the forum; no pics…no bass!
Thank you for the thoughts! Much Appreciated! When I order the neck from Warmoth, I was going to order the slim taper.
Welcome to TalkBass, @jmhughes9, and know that you had me at "Aerodyne"!!
I think you have the bones of a great idea, so go for it! Given all you've already laid out, and what others like @KevInDaBassment and @Elmstreet have already suggested, you've got a great foundation. All you need are the parts and the constitution to see it through. The main thing I can suggest is what I've learned from assembling many Projekt basses; measure twice…cut once!
To get "into the weeds" a little more, though, not only would some lightweight tuners like Hipshot Ultralites (licensed or USA-made is up to you and your budget), but if your fretting hand can work with it, getting a slim taper on your neck could shave off a wee bit more weight.
Good luck with your Franken-Dyne, don't hesitate to pick our collective brains and, as touched upon earlier, there is a rule here on the forum; no pics…no bass!
Great advice on the tuners, was going to get Schallers but switched to the Hipshot ultra lights, StewMac has a 25% off sale tomorrow for members, ordering then!
Welcome to TalkBass, @jmhughes9, and know that you had me at "Aerodyne"!!
I think you have the bones of a great idea, so go for it! Given all you've already laid out, and what others like @KevInDaBassment and @Elmstreet have already suggested, you've got a great foundation. All you need are the parts and the constitution to see it through. The main thing I can suggest is what I've learned from assembling many Projekt basses; measure twice…cut once!
To get "into the weeds" a little more, though, not only would some lightweight tuners like Hipshot Ultralites (licensed or USA-made is up to you and your budget), but if your fretting hand can work with it, getting a slim taper on your neck could shave off a wee bit more weight.
Good luck with your Franken-Dyne, don't hesitate to pick our collective brains and, as touched upon earlier, there is a rule here on the forum; no pics…no bass!
I just got the body and it is actually tapered a bit where your arm sits even with the binding, with the body so thin, hopefully its comfortable for me, but again, great insight I hadn't even thought of.
Yep, that's one of the best features of the Aerodynes IMHO, the radiused top of the body. I incorporate that feature into all my scratch builds as it's sleek and makes for good arm comfort. Some players find the edges thin, but I've found it doesn't really affect playability much, it's more about aesthetics.
I will when I start later this summer. I just got the body , ordered the pickups, and a few other things, I will post the progress!
Again, appreciate your advice. Its a bit more, but I will also go with the graphite rods vs. The steel for the Warmoth neck. Saves a good bit of weight.
I think he was asking me, but yes…I'm also interested in your progress and would love to see more pics as it evolves.
In the meantime, I suspect murphy wants me to post some of these pics. Mind you, some of my Projekts use Aerodyne necks, not their bodies.
However, there is one Projekt that I, recently, got a chance to drag outside for a photo-shoot. After years of hungering for one I, finally, got my hands on a used, non-export 'Dyne in U.S. Gunmetal Blue (UGB finish code) that I made that much more "mine", especially since I already have a couple of P/J's.
Right after purchase…
…and after re-routing and revamping the pickups, electronics and hardware.
