I'm looking for a bass that may or may not exist...

[DiabolusInMusic]

Another thread got me thinking about a Precision bass that would have no visible electronics aside from the top jack (maybe the knobs, depending on player.) You would just see a solid pickguard, no hole for pickups. I realize this would complicate the electronics but I have to think somebody somewhere has attempted this (piezo bridge maybe?) I would be fine seeing this in a jazz as well. I just think it was look really sleek and sexy, I'm hoping for some pictures. It doesn't necessarily have to be sunburst and tort but it'd be nice ( .) If this kind of thing doesn't exist then can somebody make up some photoshop mock ups?

Bonus question: what is the name of the Sandberg bass that's, like, multiple different looking basses?

 

[MarkoYYZ]

Sandberg patchwork bass, I think.

The sleek P is possible, you'd have to just recess the pickups deep enough for the PG to cover them. The Attitude (Billy Sheehan) bass by Yamaha has done this with the Willpower pickup right at the neck.
.

 

[Jazz Ad]

The Variax was close, but it had knobs.

But yeah it wouldn't be difficult to do at all, since P basses don't have much clearance between the body and the strings.
Hide a powerful pickup beneath a blank pickguard, say a Di Marzio DP127, plug it straight to the jack and you're done.

 

[kodiakblair]

Back in 84 I saw fretless Tune Bass Maniac that was piezo only,not what you're looking for I'm afraid as it had an extended fingerboard and no scratchplate.
If you were going to build one Schaller sold a piezo bridge and I'd like to see the end result

 

[MrMerrey]

There is this I found, but think is a custom build

Piezo only Precision Bass

 

[40Hz]

You could do it with a Lightwave optical system since everything is in the bridge.

 

[BlastGatr]

I'm not sure they'd do it themselves, but you could use a Warmoth body, route the pickup slots down a bit more (maybe, they might sit fine in the pocket anyway), then order a Pickguard without a pickup hole or any knob holes.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

There is this I found, but think is a custom build

Piezo only Precision Bass

Thank you for this, this is exactly what I had in mind. It does indeed look fantastic.

 

[40Hz]

Forgot to mention a GraphTek Ghost Modular piezo bridge earlier.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

The Sandberg bass you are thinking of is called "Sybil". Here's a CME video that explains why this and not "Schizo":

 

[MrMerrey]

I would guess you could Warmoth this with a Piezo bridge of your preference, I cant advise really which to use, but I've heard good things about the Ghost system mentioned previously. Then just get a guard with out the pickup hole cut out.

 

[Old Blastard]

The problem with the piezo is that it will sound more like a ABG than a Precision, unless you're doing a lot of EQ and effects.

 

[The BurgerMeister]

The Variax was close, but it had knobs.

But yeah it wouldn't be difficult to do at all, since P basses don't have much clearance between the body and the strings.
Hide a powerful pickup beneath a blank pickguard, say a Di Marzio DP127, plug it straight to the jack and you're done.

What if you connected the covered pickup to volume and tone sliders somewhere on the instrument? Like an acoustic-electric bass's controls? Just find your favorite place to put these sliders and rout appropriately...

Et voila! No pickup, no knobs.

 

[groovaholic]

That piezo only P-Bass picture reminds me of "gentleman's magazines" that show topless models, but with their nipples airbrushed out.

Joking aside, sacrificing the distinctive tone for aesthetics that might only appeal to you doesn't make sense to me, but this is your thread and your concept, and I guess it'd be easy enough to add the traditional electronics if you ever wanted to flip the bass...

 

[dalkowski]

Thank you for this, this is exactly what I had in mind. It does indeed look fantastic.

Co-signed, except that pickguard should be tort.

 

[GretschWretch]

fender marauder guitar - Google Search

 

[ofajen]

You could do it with a Lightwave optical system since everything is in the bridge.

In theory, but unless things have changed, they only sell complete instruments and won't sell components to install in a third-party bass.

Otto

 

[elgecko]

Thank you for this, this is exactly what I had in mind. It does indeed look fantastic.

 

[40Hz]

In theory, but unless things have changed, they only sell complete instruments and won't sell components to install in a third-party bass.

Otto

You're correct. They no longer sell the system by itself. They licensed it exclusively to Willcox Guitars. But basses loaded with a Lightwave pickup and (more rarely) the pickups themselves show up on eBay. Not cheap when they do. But when is anything if it's unique, it works, and there's only a single source for it?

Which is also why I mentioned GraphTek's Ghost system later on. That's also workable. And better yet, it's readily available.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

That piezo only P-Bass picture reminds me of "gentleman's magazines" that show topless models, but with their nipples airbrushed out.

Joking aside, sacrificing the distinctive tone for aesthetics that might only appeal to you doesn't make sense to me, but this is your thread and your concept, and I guess it'd be easy enough to add the traditional electronics if you ever wanted to flip the bass...

I have no intentions of buying or building such a bass, I just wanted to see one. I have far too many basses as it is (don't report me for this, ha ha.) I tossed out the piezo as a possible option, I don't know enough about electronics to know if it is possible to use normal electronics through a guard. I would think such pickups would have to be super strong and would probably require something custom to be made for the application. In my mind before the orginal post the bass sounded like a P bass, I actually didn't think of the piezo until I posted so I edited the post. I always forget about the Lightwave system, that would be another viable option.

Anybody photoshop? I think it would be for the benefit of the community to see the above example in some different finishes (sunburst obviously, but maybe shoreline gold, seafoam pearl, or burgundy mist) and it really must be seen with a tort guard.