Happy new bass... hey, wait a minute!

[Will P]

I traded a busted electric guitar for this:

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Unknown maker. Neck-through construction. Straight enough neck. Plays well. Sounds OK, but the A string is a little loud. Where's the pickup?

The fingerboard is a single, uncut piece all the way down, covering the spot where one might expect to find a magnetic pickup. Control cavity only displays a single 9V battery -- no preamp/EQ, and no access to what is inside. This is a new one on me.

What is going on? Logically there's a piezo in there, but do I really have to remove the fingerboard to work on the electronics?? I have to believe this is user error on my part. I must be missing something.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[BoogieZK]

Backside acces PU and eletronics?

 

[Gaolee]

I don't know where the pickup might be, but that thing is outrageous. I might even trade a working guitar for it.

 

[gary m]

Unusual, but nice.

 

[bachlover]

Yeah, what a unique cool looking bass! Fretless too!

 

[nashvillebill]

Dunno, maybe hidden under the wood piece in the middle?

On the bridge, it looks like the strings have been put through the holes where the screws should go, and the screws through the holes where the strings should be. The strings should not be making a turn to the side like they are.

 

[Hankenstein]

looks like a wish bass

 

[Will P]

looks like a wish bass

Apart from the headstock and bridge, it sure does. I may have to send Wishbass a query.

I tapped around on it with a tuning fork. The pickup seems to be P-bass configured, and it's right where a P-bass pickup should be, except it's under the fingerboard extension. I can access pots & battery from the back, but all wires vanish into tiny holes. No way to pull out the pup....

The design is growing on me. It's surreal.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

The mothman's spawn

 

[christopherogut]

That is the wackiest and coolest bass that I've seen in a while...

... and WAY better than Steve Wishnevsky could EVER do!

 

[christopherogut]

Seriously, though. You can see the pickup routs on a typical Wishbass from space. I see no routes, hell, no pickup on this bad boy!

 

[SoCalBassman]

That is a very unique bass.
You would think there would have to be some kind of pup access.
Look in the back cavity for some screws holding that top plate from behind.

 

[Backwoodsman]

Cool

 

[Goatrope]

On the bridge, it looks like the strings have been put through the holes where the screws should go, and the screws through the holes where the strings should be. The strings should not be making a turn to the side like they are.

Agree. Saddles for D & G need to be moved to E & A. Just assembled wrong, hopefully....

 

[JimmyM]

Apart from the headstock and bridge, it sure does. I may have to send Wishbass a query.

I tapped around on it with a tuning fork. The pickup seems to be P-bass configured, and it's right where a P-bass pickup should be, except it's under the fingerboard extension. I can access pots & battery from the back, but all wires vanish into tiny holes. No way to pull out the pup....

You better hope you like it then

I'm sure a qualified luthier could figure out what's doing. Sure is odd, but I'd totally rock that bass if it had frets.

 

[Marko 1]

The mothman's spawn

That tail sure doesn’t look like it’s from anything wholesome…

I think I’d lock it outside somewhere over night.

 

[Feral Feline]

...
Look in the back cavity for some screws holding that top plate from behind.

Nah, doubtful. OP clearly stated that the "top plate" is part of the FB, a "single, uncut piece", unless the whole FB's been screwed on?


Hopefully the pickup is just a piezo under the bridge; if the pup is anywhere else, ie under the FB-cum-pickguard/ramp, it'll be an expensive fix if anything goes wrong with it. Definitely an interesting bass.

 

[jmverdugo]

I know you said it was probably located on p bass location but could it be under the bridge?

 

[Dave Curran]

Take a small wire and stick it in the hole from the back access where the pickup wire goes through. Don't force it, but use it as a guide to figure out which direction the hole was drilled. That will tell you if the piezo is under the fingerboard, or the bridge.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

If I was one of your bandmates, I would be very careful how I move around on stage, with you holding that beast!
Fishheadjoe