Memphis Bass Club

[BuffaloBill]

View attachment 2865103 Was given this gift for x-mass LOL!!! Totally boogered up by somebody.
Am rebuilding it; keeping neck pups, adding bridge pup for P-J conversion. Neck restored to Fender radius and all new frets. Body; has the original natural Ash finish under the spray job, decided to redo it with an amber butterscotch semi transparent finish. Hardware; black Wilkinson bridge & black Schaller tuning machines, black 3 ply Fender pickguard.

OK, varnish was hard enough to put it together for the last time, much improved I think.

 

[kitfinger]

I saw that listing. Looks very clean, complete and original. If you want to sell it, put strings on it and take the time to adjust it as best you can. Most musicians don't know how to adjust their own instrument, so they're looking for a bass they can play out of the box.

Well have to see how it is once it arrives! Was able to get the price to a lower and fair price. If it plays well once I set it up, might be a keeper, otherwise, may let it go! Either way, I've always wanted to add a Memphis to the collection!

 

[BuffaloBill]

Well have to see how it is once it arrives! Was able to get the price to a lower and fair price. If it plays well once I set it up, might be a keeper, otherwise, may let it go! Either way, I've always wanted to add a Memphis to the collection!

Oh you bought it? I thought you were the seller lol.
Anyway, the truss rod adjustment on a P bass was new to me, but his Dan Erlewine video was a big help. Also, the Memphis takes a metric size allen wrench.

 

[kitfinger]

Oh you bought it? I thought you were the seller lol.
Anyway, the truss rod adjustment on a P bass was new to me, but his Dan Erlewine video was a big help. Also, the Memphis takes a metric size allen wrench.

Appreciate the heads up! Fortunately not my first rodeo, not expecting much trouble! Also, great job on the rebuild, looks like a winner!

 

[Wolf87]

Memphis p bass

• Wolf87
• Mar 15, 2018
• 1
• bass 4-string memphis

Memphis p bass copy

This was my first bass when I was 13 years old. Im now 31 and have completely rebuilt it. The only thing stock is the body and the neck. Internals are original as well except the Seymour Duncan pick ups.

 

[ATLbassist]

Memphis p bass

• Wolf87
• Mar 15, 2018
• 1
• bass 4-string memphis

Memphis p bass copy

There's one of these for sale near me. It's very hard to resist going to take a look.

 

[reddog]

quick Q -- what scale does the memphis come in?

thx!

i play 32" (medium scale) and am looking for quality (mij?) options

 

[AGH]

quick Q -- what scale does the memphis come in?

thx!

i play 32" (medium scale) and am looking for quality (mij?) options

Most (if not all) of the Memphis basses posted here have been 34" scale. Good luck in your search.

 

[ATLbassist]

Are there any good replacement necks for Memphis basses? I ended up getting the "hippie sandwich" P-style bass a few years ago, but the neck was twisted. It's difficult to find a neck with a square heel that will fit the body.

 

[villegastx]

How can I date a memphis bass? I just seen a nice bass in a pawn shop. All my bases are fender, I dont play any other brand, but, somehow I found a memphis and fell in love. It is heavy as hell, but I dont remember seeing any serial number. In the neck plate had a sticker, I think T57 but I dont remember and I didnt took a pic.
Im posting a couple of pics.
Im planing to go back to buy it.
Its only $280

 

[villegastx]

 

[GretschWretch]

The headstock logo suggests first-generation Memphis, which would put it someplace in the seventies. 'fraid I can't do any better than that.

 

[ATLbassist]

I'm no expert, but a neckplate sticker and that headstock shape point to it being an 80s Korean issue. The lack of variance in the grain and weight are signs of a plywood body. But it if sounds good and the neck is straight... I'd still talk them down if possible.

 

[villegastx]

I'll go back to take better pictures, body is very heavy, so, I want to make sure is not plywood

 

[Cartentoya]

I just got this beauty for cheap. Very similar to the David Wm. Sims! I just need some tweaks here and there, but if feels amazing, like a real 70's mojo machine.

 

[ATLbassist]

I just got this beauty for cheap. Very similar to the David Wm. Sims! I just need some tweaks here and there, but if feels amazing, like a real 70's mojo machine.

Very cool! Is it a plywood body or single wood?

 

[Cartentoya]

Very cool! Is it a plywood body or single wood?

I'm not very good to figure it out, here is another pic. Is has a perfect weight to me, I was expecting a little bit heavier but it is not heavy nor light. Looking at this group I noted a couple of your proyects, do you still have a couple of Memphis?

 

[ATLbassist]

I'm not very good to figure it out, here is another pic. Is has a perfect weight to me, I was expecting a little bit heavier but it is not heavy nor light. Looking at this group I noted a couple of your proyects, do you still have a couple of Memphis?

That grain pattern certainly doesn't look like a plywood layer, so I think you've done well! If you pop off the pickguard or take off the neck, you'll know for sure.

I still have my Memphii. The natural one now wears D'Addario tapes and has been used on some sessions:



It's on deck for a pickup swap to a Fender Original '63 set.

The multi-wood one unfortunately sits disassembled. The neck was twisted, and it's hard to find square-heeled replacements. I might route out the neck pocket to fit a curved heel.

 

[Cartentoya]

That grain pattern certainly doesn't look like a plywood layer, so I think you've done well! If you pop off the pickguard or take off the neck, you'll know for sure.

I will once I make the cleaning, set up, etc. Is there anyway to know or guess the year of date of these basses?

 

[StealingThyme]

Hey gang!! Looking to join the Memphis family, just need some help potentially dating a Memphis here (don't take it! haha) - but I don't see a "made in Japan" etching into the neck plate, and not necessarily good at figuring out whether a bass is plywood or not (also not sure if the "3 screw" tuners is more or less a sign of it's origin either like your project @ATLbassist ). Any of you kind folks able to help me out? They're claiming it's a lawsuit era from Matsu for sure.