I have created the ultimate P bass!

[LowEndLobster]

This is the G&L bass that never was. I have combined the G&L SB-1 split coil MFD pickup with the G&L L2000 preamp. The pickup was snagged on Mighty Mite, and I bought the preamp+harness from the G&L store a year or two ago. I replaced the pickup selector and series/parallel switch for a DPDT switch for series/parallel.

The body is Allparts Primo and required no modifications to fit both the battery and preamp. The neck is a warmoth J neck that I bought off a friend. Flamed roasted maple with a beautiful rosewood board and pearl blocks. Hipshot ultralites for tuners and Gotoh for the bridge. The neck needs a fret level and crown, I'll release a video once that is done.

Tonally, this thing is intense. Series and all the way open is FAT, and adding the preamp is like adding flour to a roux. It just gets thicker. Series and parallel are both unique voices, and the bass + treble cut and the preamp treble boost allow for tons of tone shaping.

 

[Sharko]

Plus 1000 points for the color too

 

[GretschWretch]

Plus 1000 points for the color too

Sorry. It's an impressive piece of work and a great-looking (and I'm sure sounding) bass, but only 750 points for color. This is not an LSU bass; for that, the hardware would have to be gold. What we have here is a Northwestern State University (Nachitoches, LA) bass. But I envy Lobster's skills and tech savvy to be able to create this instrument. Were I to try this, the result would look like Beetle Bailey after Sarge was done with him.

 

[DWA2469]

That is a looker for sure! Would love to see more pics!

 

[LowEndLobster]

 

[DWA2469]

I would ROCK the heck out of this bass! If you ever want to part ways with it let me know!

 

[ghostdog93]

Sparkly purple? Rosewood with blocks? Flame maple?

GOOD LAWD that bass is a beauty. Whew!

 

[Gopherbassist]

You have to open the pickguard to get at the battery? It might be wise to put in some threaded inserts and get machine screws to reduce wear.

Looks pretty good though. That's a lot of knobs and switches for a P bass, hopefully you can get a lot of sounds out of it.

 

[Saetia]

Thanks for sharing. Wonderful results. Have pondered doing this to a P but have an old JB2 with some serious mojo I’ve also toyed with the idea of giving a whirl.

 

[OldShark]

Yeah, the ultimate P bass and by this forum's believes the ultimate bass.

Add some tort, ask the mods to make this a sticky thread, and we can turn the whole forum into readonly mode...

 

[gwangi]

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I need the drool pan right now!!!!

 

[NOLA Bass]

View attachment 7531667

This is the G&L bass that never was. I have combined the G&L SB-1 split coil MFD pickup with the G&L L2000 preamp. The pickup was snagged on Mighty Mite, and I bought the preamp+harness from the G&L store a year or two ago. I replaced the pickup selector and series/parallel switch for a DPDT switch for series/parallel.

The body is Allparts Primo and required no modifications to fit both the battery and preamp. The neck is a warmoth J neck that I bought off a friend. Flamed roasted maple with a beautiful rosewood board and pearl blocks. Hipshot ultralites for tuners and Gotoh for the bridge. The neck needs a fret level and crown, I'll release a video once that is done.

Tonally, this thing is intense. Series and all the way open is FAT, and adding the preamp is like adding flour to a roux. It just gets thicker. Series and parallel are both unique voices, and the bass + treble cut and the preamp treble boost allow for tons of tone shaping.

Wow, I really hope you make a video to hear this!!!!

 

[J Wilson]

NICE work, LEL. I LOVE the color and an interesting control layout. Congrats.

I've always wondered why there are so few 'active' P basses. I've often daydreamed about P bass with a Music Man control circuit.

Anyway, great work.

All the Best,

JW

 

[LowEndLobster]

Yeah, the ultimate P bass and by this forum's believes the ultimate bass.

Add some tort, ask the mods to make this a sticky thread, and we can turn the whole forum into readonly mode...

Am I crazy for putting a J neck on a P? ;P

 

[aproud1]

Sweet bass!

What are those knobs? They looked beveled and grabby?

 

[aproud1]

Am I crazy for putting a J neck on a P? ;P

Only the reverse is crazy. Or so I'm told....

 

[LowEndLobster]

NICE work, LEL. I LOVE the color and an interesting control layout. Congrats.

I've always wondered why there are so few 'active' P basses. I've often daydreamed about P bass with a Music Man control circuit.

Anyway, great work.

All the Best,

JW

Oooh that's a fantastic idea. I may do that for another build. Boscoe Music makes the mmsr77 preamp module which is a faithful replica of the original stingray preamp. I think that and the battery will fit in one of these Primo bodies too. Thank you for the inspiration!

 

[LowEndLobster]

Sweet bass!

What are those knobs? They looked beveled and grabby?

Guyker

 

[BassicJazzy]

You have to open the pickguard to get at the battery? It might be wise to put in some threaded inserts and get machine screws to reduce wear.

Looks pretty good though. That's a lot of knobs and switches for a P bass, hopefully you can get a lot of sounds out of it.

Yeah, I wonder about that too. Seen lots of Js with the John East and battery under the control plate, but that's only a few screws and you don't have to remove strings to get at the battery. I love everything else about it though. The color reminds me of the metallic purple we used on slot cars back when I was a kid, in the 60's.

As for putting a J neck on a P, yes, absolutely! I mean, why not?

Looking forward to the video demo.

 

[Sharko]

OMG that neck tho