Mike Watt EB bass replica (prop)

[JIO]

So here's the story… a local music-centric tavern (Winters) just a couple blocks from where I live in Pacifica CA (yes, that Pacifica, with building slipping into the ocean) is having a Steve Mackay tribute day on Saturday February 27th. Steve, who passed away recently was a Pacifica resident. He was also a life-long musician (sax) who played w/Iggy Pop (Fun House) back then and more recently. On that day, local musicians like me who had the opportunity to play w/Steve will be rocking' from noon till about 7pm and Mike Watt (bass w/Iggy along with countless legendary projects) will be in attendance/playing for the evening performances. CJ, the man behind Winters' focus on music (one of his stickers reads; "Winters... no really - it's all about the music") wanted to do something special in some form to honor Mike Watts presence in his establishment. He went on, "it'd be cool to have him sign a beat-up old bass, you know, with knobs missing and all scratched up - and then hang it here in the tavern - I'd pay a couple hundred dollars for getting one". Wheels quickly spun in my brain and I told him… I'm on it - I'll work up something for you. A quick search for a rock-bottom lowest price and once found it I ordered a used Epi EB-0 from Guitar Center - $148.93 shipping & tax included. With $50+ to spare I will replicate the bass you see below.

As it will be a prop for display only, I'll only work on the front/sides. The 2 lower pu's I'll make out of wood painted satin black, the gold knobs I have, I'll add a couple of dummy switches and the scratched-up jack plate, and I'll enlarge the photo and print out facsimile stickers. I don't want to pop for a Schaller 3D bridge, so will just use a cheap (non 3-point) bridge I have in my parts bin and distress it along with everything else. (or just distress the 3-point, which would suffice)

The bass should be here by middle of next week, and I'll post transformation through presentation here. Fun!

 

[PDX Rich]

That should be a fun project. Nothing quite as rock n' roll as a beat up EB-0!

 

[wraub]

I have always loved the look of Watt's EB, so I am looking forward to this one for sure.

 

[JIO]

I have always loved the look of Watt's EB, so I am looking forward to this one for sure.

After doing some searches on this iconic bass, I read it was stolen w/a bunch of Iggy's band's equipment in '08. Stooges Bassist Mike Watt's Stolen Gibson Replaced by Stranger! Not certain if it was ever recovered, so I better not do too good a job replicating it or Mike will tear my head off thinking I stole it!

 

[JIO]

Here's the "before" Epi EB-0 fresh from Guitar Center. Nice and shiny and 'like new'. It's got that stripy grain pattern that was never seen on the originals. The hs shape was different too, a bit smaller - but after all it was a Gibson, not an Epi. It's funny because my first new bass was a 1970 Gibson EB-3 in cherry. I stripped the finish off as everyone did back then, and even had the frets pulled out! (pre Jaco!) I replaced it shortly thereafter with a '63 T-bird IV, and never went back to a short scale bass.

First - the parts come off. Then I'll take the body w/the pic of MW's bass to get printed full-size. I've got 10 days to complete the transformation.

 

[JIO]

Looking ahead to what needs to be done. The pg needs to be shortened, a dummy chicken-head knob and circular (distressed) switch-plate needs to be created, 2 additional pots need to be installed w/gold Gibson-style knobs (got 4), 2 dummy black pu's need to be created, a distressed gold jack-plate aded, and 2 mini-toggles.(have one) I found a 'Schaller-style' bridge (cheap) on eBay which looks close enough to the 3D costing 3 times as much. (I couldn't see wasting a perfectly good bridge for 100% authenticity sake!) Once I get the full-size print of it, it will allow me to trace the exact distressed area and placement of all additional parts. I can also cut out the decals and paste them on the bass. The distressing will be fun, and aside from the stripy grain pattern I'll get it to look like his road-warrior.

 

[Hopkins]

An EB-0 is one of the only basses that I think actually looks better when distressed. I usually prefer an instrument remain in new condition.

 

[PDX Rich]

An EB-0 is one of the only basses that I think actually looks better when distressed. I usually prefer an instrument remain in new condition.

Agreed on both counts. Plenty of folks would disagree, hence, the relic'ed market.

Can't wait to see the final prop, Jio!

 

[JIO]

Well yes, as you reiterated - it's a prop that will hang in a 100yr old road-house/tavern here in Pacifica, a stones throw from HW1 and a couple blocks east of the Pacific Ocean. The back of it will look brand new as it will never be seen. (not touching it!) and the front once transformed will eventually have Mike f-ing Watts siggy on it. That's what I'm talking' about!

 

[PDX Rich]

Not understating! I think it is a fantastic project. Serious cred. \m/

 

[JIO]

I just realized what the stripy grain thing is about… "faux" (fake) - why am I surprised? I decided to scrape a section off to see how difficult it is going to be and discovered the fakery. Oh well, it's all about creating an illusion...

 

[JIO]

Got a lot done today and here's partially the result.

I did the distressing after shooting this and want to correct my post above saying it would be fun. It is fun in retrospect, seeing the illusion realized.., but doing it is simply hard work. Thick & hard, the finish does not come off w/o a fight. Which, in this case actually added to the desired effect. (but it's still physical labor!) It's kind of 'based on' at this point and will give 'the appearance' of his iconic bass.., and that's all I'll say about that! More pics when the sun comes out.

 

[hopsbb]

That is a pretty cool project you have going on. EB/SG basses are my favorites. This one especially. Makes me wanna get a project going of my own.

 

[JIO]

I need to wait for the bridge to arrive (this is a stand-in) before finishing it off, but it's mostly done. (close enough for jazz, er.., punk!)

 

[CosmoReverb]

Fun!

Is that actually wired up, or does its status as a "prop" mean that the extra p'ups, knobs, and switches are just for show?

 

[JIO]

Fun!

Is that actually wired up, or does its status as a "prop" mean that the extra p'ups, knobs, and switches are just for show?

All for show - for the visual gestalt only. I removed the electronics and mud-bucker neck pu. The "SISTAS IN THE PIT" sticker helped here hiding the fact it has no poles! 2 left knobs are glued to dowels into the pot holes, the other 2 and chicken-head switch are connected to old used/disposable pots I had in my parts bin. The extra pu's as seen in the earlier post are wood & plastic from scraps I had lying around, painted matte black. I used a mini-toggle I had and bought the second one for as cheap as I could - it's a bit big but it's not like someone will have a photo of his bass to compare while looking at it! The cheap MIC bridge I ordered looks enough like a Schaller 3D to pass. I'm leaving the Epi hs as is (Mike Watts was a 60's Gibson) and just de-glossed it a bit and rubbed black-stain over it wiping it mostly off. (just looks less shiny new) Total cost about $200 bass & parts/materials. I did my labor time as a favor to CJ (Winters proprietor) and as an opportunity to get up-close-and-personal w/the Watt.

I ended up with a newish Roadrunner hs case (fits a standard Fender bass) that it came in and a hs tuner which was in the case compartment. One delivered it'll be attached to the wall (or ceiling!) with Mike Watts Johnny Hancock on the body, probably on the distressed section using a metallic ink pen. (I'll sign the back)

 

[Bullitt5135]

Cool stuff. This one's floating around the rock band school in my town...

 

[mapleglo]

This is an awesome build!

 

[JIO]

I'll stick on that last (lower left) pic once the bridge is attached.

 

[petrus61]

Wow...the relicing came out great. Considering the veneer and what you were working with, I'd definitely do a triple take if I saw that bass in person.