Here's a video I did with it. I've got a list of cover videos I'd like to do when I find some time. Sound is direct from a Cafe Walter headphone amp. The EA amp is just for show in this one...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Lee Sklar type double P ?
- Thread starter duke2004
- Start date
Here's a video I did with it. I've got a list of cover videos I'd like to do when I find some time. Sound is direct from a Cafe Walter headphone amp. The EA amp is just for show in this one...
Sounds great. I also love my Cafe Walter.
Would love to hear you do a video going through different pickup positions.
Again nice job.
Would love to hear you do a video going through different pickup positions.
Again nice job.
No, like where the pickups are in relation to the "classic" p position. As noted, the neck pickup is quite far forward, so maybe a measurement form center of mounting screw to new position?
here's a close up of the real deal, that Sklar posted on his Facebook.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
that's a really cool frankenfender. looking at the close-up, it seems like the emgs are just butted right up against the edges of where the stock pickup normally would be.
Also just posted on Sklar's facebook, the REST of the story....
"Since I posted the shot of my old Peace/Love bass and people were asking about Frankenstein here it is. John Carruthers built this bass back around 1974 when he was the repair guy at Westwood Music in LA. I had an old Precision neck but not a fan of them. Prefere Jazz Bass neck. Went to Charvel and hung a bunch of blank P-Bodies from a wire and picked the one that resonated the best. While assembling the bass I was walking around the shop and since we were reshaping the neck into a 1962 Jazz Bass profile, the frets were stripped out and I saw some fret wire hanging on the wall. I asked John what it was and he said it was Mondoline fret wire. The thinnest possible. I said lets use it. One of the best decisions I ever made. Then I had very early EMG's put in. We put them where Jazz P/U's would have gone and I thought that since the G & D string will already read well, why not reverse the configuration so the the A and E were closer to the bridge. This evened out the response perfectly. Between the P/U's in the cavity where the P pickup would have gone we put the two 9V batteries. It has a BADDASS II bridge. It has the first Hip Shot D-tuner, which is still one of my favorite add ons. Strung it with GHS Super Steel Medium light round wounds. It has been my work horse since 1974 both touring and studio. In 1981 the LA Dodgers won the World Series we went into the studio and cut Queens "We Are The Champions". They were signing baseballs and I asked them to sign my bass. That was the beginning of the autographs. Every one is there from Clapton to Jeff Porcaro to George Lucas who wrote, 'May The Force Be With You' and Peter Max put a little Saturn next to it to you name it. Lot's of great memories there and still use it daily. So there is the explanation as to the Frankenstein bass....made of parts like the monster!!!!!!"
"Since I posted the shot of my old Peace/Love bass and people were asking about Frankenstein here it is. John Carruthers built this bass back around 1974 when he was the repair guy at Westwood Music in LA. I had an old Precision neck but not a fan of them. Prefere Jazz Bass neck. Went to Charvel and hung a bunch of blank P-Bodies from a wire and picked the one that resonated the best. While assembling the bass I was walking around the shop and since we were reshaping the neck into a 1962 Jazz Bass profile, the frets were stripped out and I saw some fret wire hanging on the wall. I asked John what it was and he said it was Mondoline fret wire. The thinnest possible. I said lets use it. One of the best decisions I ever made. Then I had very early EMG's put in. We put them where Jazz P/U's would have gone and I thought that since the G & D string will already read well, why not reverse the configuration so the the A and E were closer to the bridge. This evened out the response perfectly. Between the P/U's in the cavity where the P pickup would have gone we put the two 9V batteries. It has a BADDASS II bridge. It has the first Hip Shot D-tuner, which is still one of my favorite add ons. Strung it with GHS Super Steel Medium light round wounds. It has been my work horse since 1974 both touring and studio. In 1981 the LA Dodgers won the World Series we went into the studio and cut Queens "We Are The Champions". They were signing baseballs and I asked them to sign my bass. That was the beginning of the autographs. Every one is there from Clapton to Jeff Porcaro to George Lucas who wrote, 'May The Force Be With You' and Peter Max put a little Saturn next to it to you name it. Lot's of great memories there and still use it daily. So there is the explanation as to the Frankenstein bass....made of parts like the monster!!!!!!"
Yes I believe that's true. It had a p-pickup rout in the traditional position. EMGs went on either side of that... With the halves reversed. Wood cover sits on top of the original rout, or battery compartment.
Schecter makes a hellcat with a double p setup. I know there not in the jazzbass positions but it's an option.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Awesome! Lee says he's played it on over 2000 recordings. Busy guy!
I wish this photo had been available when I built my Sklar Frankenstein tribute last spring/summer. I did a lot of research online and studied every interview, every photo and every video for specifics. Some things we just guesstimated... Without having Lee's bass in your hands there are some things you can't know.
My tribute bass has a very particular sound and feel to it. The mando frets make a big difference, as does the pickup placement. The p-body and j-neck combo is really comfortable as well. Tonally, it sounds very similar to what I hear on Lee's recordings. There are lots of variables to this, from pickup heights, the pickups themselves, studio magic c. 1974-2014, the sound of different bands, and of course... Lee's hands! The guy is a master. He's been my favorite bass player for years. The versatility of his catalog, and this bass as his number one for 40 years, makes it a cool tribute to have - it's humbling too.
Last edited:
Here's a sound sample of my Sklar Frankenstein Tribute. Starts out with both pickups on full. I move from playing directly over the neck pickup to playing over the neck. After some improvised noodling I pan the pickups to the neck pickup, then to the bridge pickup, then back to both pickups. Last, I turn the tone all the way off and then move it back up again.
Signal chain is bass to Tube Works DI to Apogee Jam to Apple Logic. No effects or overdubs (obviously).
https://app.box.com/s/6nldaz57ppyskd2xrs40
Signal chain is bass to Tube Works DI to Apogee Jam to Apple Logic. No effects or overdubs (obviously).
https://app.box.com/s/6nldaz57ppyskd2xrs40
Here's another sample. This is a cover of Carolina in my Mind. I did this right after the one above... all the same settings. Both pickups on full with the neck pickup backed off a touch.
https://app.box.com/s/cpmqt30hg8av02cfbjjg
https://app.box.com/s/cpmqt30hg8av02cfbjjg
Last edited:
Again Bass sounds great. nice playing. Big, full defined tone. With a little growl.
There is some magic going on with the reverse P-Pickups, in that placement.
Nice Job.
There is some magic going on with the reverse P-Pickups, in that placement.
Nice Job.
Let's put this to rest. The neck pickup on Lee's bass is not in the jazz bass position. ;-)
In fact, the traditional jazz bass neck pickup position is in the same spot as the traditional (split coil) p-bass position. That's the very location were Lee's bass no longer has a pickup' but a wooden cover instead.
Anyway, Lee is a fantastic player and that tribute bass is way cool, correct (non jazz) pickup locations and all.
What a great job! Your tone and feel is spot on.
