just another parts bass build - black/black/maple

[skycruiser]

I currently have a Squier P (40th Anniversary) and Squier Telecaster bass but interested in playing a J bass again. I think the P and Tele cover similar ground. So I'm putting together the following:

Fender Standard body (poplar) from Stratosphere). I jumped on this one because it was lists as 4 lb 9 oz - way down on the low end for unloaded J basses I've been watching).

Fender Player II Jazz pickguard.

Loaded Neck and Bridge from my Squier P bass:

And I don't have a pic handy, but back when these Anniversary basses were selling, I bought a vintage J black anodized loaded pickguard (from the vintage burst version) and control plate from Stratosphere. I don't want to use the black anodized pickguard, but this will give me the matching vintage worn control plate to match the bridge and tuning machines. And I'll use those pickups which I thought sounded great when I had one of those 40th Anniversary J basses.

I should have the parts delivered early next week and will get it together pretty quickly I hope.

I'm excited to have my hands on a J bass again.

 

[skycruiser]

Got the body and pick guard. I tried a quick fit check and found that the neck heel shape isn't quite right. I either need to round off the corners of the neck or open up the corners on the body. I'll probably do the latter. Tomorrow most likely.

My camera takes very yellow tinted pics for some reason...

 

[skycruiser]

After a little sanding I got a nice snug fit for the neck. No problem screwing it on using the Squier 40th screws and plate.

I applied copper shielding. Not a clean job but it should work. I ended up removing the copper from the bridge pickup cavity because the pickup was catching on it and pushing it down. The pockets have the conductive paint do hopefully that's good enough for the bridge pickup. I grounded it with a wire.

Now I'm working on the wiring.

Not shown - bridge is installed. Now I just have to figure out how to deal with this stupid cloth insulation on the pickups..

 

[skycruiser]

I haven't soldered the pickups yet. But I have a little interference between the control plate and pick guard. Might need just a little bit of pick guard shaping to fit it up.

 

[skycruiser]

False alarm. There was a wire pinned under the control plate. Everything fits together!

 

[skycruiser]

Finished up the wiring and did a pickup tap test to confirm everything is working.

 

[skycruiser]

Got everything together with only minor issues.

I put a small shim in the pocket so I wouldn't have to raise the saddles too much.

2 or 3 pick-up screw heads are stripped. I replaced a couple with black ones. Need to replace a couple more. I really hate those screws. They are too small for the amount of torque you have to apply sometimes.

I need to set the intonation tonight.

Weight and balance are good and the bass sounds great with fender flats I put on. (First I tried SIT Power Flats but the G string was too short.)