Nice!
The “white rails” pickup seems like an appropriate subliminal reference to Miami in the ‘80s.
The “white rails” pickup seems like an appropriate subliminal reference to Miami in the ‘80s.
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Got your sunglasses on?
- Thread starter musicman556
- Start date
You need to play that with these sunglasses:
Killed it! Those pickups even kinda harken to that gaudy 80’s-90’s modern architecture of that time and place. Well done!
I'm gonna have a suit made using those colors. So I can go to South Beach and fit right in.
Wow! Just WOW!!!
The only change I would make is a matching painted headstock, but it is awesome as-is.
Rock it in good health!!
The only change I would make is a matching painted headstock, but it is awesome as-is.
Rock it in good health!!
Cool! You really can only rock that with a white suit and pastel accents.
It only let's me "like" it once. 
Seriously, that thing is awesome, I love it man!
Seriously, that thing is awesome, I love it man!
Yea, I definitely thought about that. While I did spend a fair amount of cash on this, I did have limits so I decided to forego the matching headstock. Also, as to sourcing, etc, based on the timeline of the project, painting the headstock would have put me back a few more months. I ordered the body and had it drop-shipped to Pat before I even started purchasing the rest of the parts, haha! I took that lead time to buy all the other bits.
My first thought (not that anyone cares or that it’s important) was, bubble gum in a pool BUT, I like it.
Only bass I recall that white pickups looked right.
Thanks! Yea, I think the white pickup (pickups? How do you properly reference a split-coil, humbucking design made of two humbuckers?! haha!) really make things pop. Yea, the blocky white design with the black rails is very art-deco, and the chrome everywhere. Think 50's diner, 57 Chevy, palms trees and bikinis, lol! Maybe even the strakes down the side of your white Testarossa, haha! I'm really happy with how it all came out. It absolutely nailed the vibe I had in my in my head.
Thank you! I'm very thankful for all of it.
That is SO AWESOME.
Now you need to arrive to gigs in a white Ferrari Testarossa.
Now you need to arrive to gigs in a white Ferrari Testarossa.
The thread title suggest that we could have been discussing the new Mono Neon Fender Bass.
The thread title suggest that we could have been discussing the new Mono Neon Fender Bass.
It does! Haha! I only learned about that bass a couple hours ago, lol.
Honestly, I LOVE the spec sheet on that thing, except for the colors. I despise gold hardware, and I'm not a fan of orange. HHOOOOWWWWEEEVVVVEEEEERRRRR.... I clearly love roasted maple necks, and I like 5 strings. I love the Roscoe Beck-ish layout. It's also a yellow body already, and the next bass I've been planning to make would be a blue/yellow scheme. This could be a great platform for that, if Pat can spray me a cobalt blue metallic on the top and back and shoot the sides with some lime pearl. I'd also have to figure out something on that orange headstock. I would yank all that gold hardware and hopefully recoup a couple bucks selling that, and replace it all with chrome.
I can't buy one right now as we're in the middle of a kitchen remodel that's eating all my play money.
But if they're still around in the Spring that may be next year's project bass!
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WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!! This is totally RAD!!!! Seriously, I play in an 80's band and this would be perfect for it!!! Great job!!!
Alright, I've been talking about it for a long time and shared some pics here and there, but I finally got around to making one last trip to Brian Barrett at The LowEnd for final setup tweaks to my latest crazy idea. I have named him "Crockett" after Don Johnson's character James "Sonny" Crockett from Miami Vice.
I'm from Miami, FL originally and have always love the bright colors and flashy nature of my hometown. I like to have pieces of home around me. I even have 3 saltwater reef tanks at my house because I love the ocean so much! I've also always wanted a Mark Hoppus Jazz bass, but those things have gotten ridiculously expensive for just being a weird MIM bass. I decided for the same money I could build one exactly to my liking and pay tribute to my roots while I was at it.
Over the last year I sourced all the parts myself, and sent the body off to get custom paint done by Pat Sims at Sims Custom shop in Chattanooga, TN.
The parts I can remember now are:
Solid maple Hoppus-ish body from Perle Guitars on Reverb - I say Hoppus-ish because the actual Hoppus has a pickguard mounted (top routed body) volume pot and output jack. This body has a rear-route setup with holes for V and T, and a rim-mounted output jack route. This is exactly what I wanted!
Fender MIM roasted maple Precision bass neck - got this from Sweetwater
DiMarzio DP127 split rail pickup
Hipshot Kickass bridge
Hipshot USA Ultralite tuners
Matching Hipshot Extended Range tuner
Chrome knobs from a Gibson Diablo SG
Standard Fender chrome neckplate
Black convertible strap-locks (which I haven't installed on a strap yet. Oof)
It came out WONDERFULLY!!! I have multiple maple/maple necked P and J basses from Fender Mexico and USA, and this is far and away a beefier sounding instrument. Like... not even close. It's crazy how powerful the low E string on this thing is, and it gets even BETTER when you flick the extended range tuner to drop D!
I am absolutely a believer in roasted maple. This is my second roasted maple necked bass (other is a Sterling Ray35) and I absolutely believe these necks are stiffer than their un-baked (ha!) counterparts. When you're playing it, this thing just feels like it was milled from one piece of iron or something! Sure, the maple body (and the increased overall weight) may have something to do with it as well... but you just gotta feel this thing. It's really incredible. It's by far my favorite 4 string now. I'm actually contemplating swapping the necks on another MIM J and P I have to these roasted maple jobs. I am completely convinced.
Brian assembled/built the bass for me, and he did a FANTASTIC job. He treated it with as much love and care as one of his $4-5k custom basses. The frets needed a bit of leveling, so he did that and then gave them a full fret dress. The fret ends were done pretty well from factory, but not perfect. For a $330 then/$400 now neck, the overall finishing was actually a little better than I expected. Super comfortable profile. It's just a delight to hold and play!
I appreciate all the discussion here on TB as I was dreaming this up and planning it out. I read lots of reviews on hardware and electronics, etc. Your input means a lot to me! I am just a mediocre hobbyist and it's so great to be able to chat with folks who are real musicians, performers, engineers, builders, etc all here on TB!
Alright, without further ado... CROCKETT!
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Thanks man! Hey it looks like you're here in Nashville a lot too. Does your 80s band play around here? Ever get down towards Smyrna/Murfreesboro?
As an avid watcher of Miami Vice back in the day, I excitedly approve. Very well done, looks amazing. I love this! Congrats!
