• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

RED BASS- JACK CASADY MOD- PROJECT FINISHED!

hey guys;

this thread is a follow up to a couple of threads i did recently about completing work and mods on my son's red bass. I have now finished and i submit it for your approval. what we have done is to add a precision pickup right below the neck, so the bass now has 3 pickups--ala Jack Casady.

the bass started life as an ebay purchase (of the body), whereby i got a sunburst Fender Jazz body, with pickup's, off ebay and installed my son's geddy lee neck on it. see pic below:

email9.gif


I modded it by painting it bright red, the headstock and knobs bright red and installed a "Fender" plaque on the body just for laughs. see the pic:

SDC10486.jpg


I have now completed the mods to the bass. I took it to Brian at THE LOW END bass shop in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and had him install a precision pickup right below the neck.

voila!

SDC10616.jpg


this is almost the mod that Jack Casady had on his Jazz bass back in '67 or so before it got stolen. see pic below, which is a portion of a picture of Jack Casady playing the bass we are talking about.

jackcasadybasscropped.png


this mod varies a little from Jack Casady's in that i did not change the output location, it is in the same place it always was. further, on Jack's, the precision pickup is right up against the neck, whereas on ours, it is about half an inch lower.

for controls, Brian put a stacked knob on it so we now have three completely separate volume controls, with infinite adjust-ability. there is only one tone knob and that is in the same location as on any Jazz. I hoped he would add a tone knob for the precision pickup, but that was the least of my desires. what i really wanted and what i got were three totally separate volume controls.

obviously Jack's was not that gaudy red & black color scheme, but I am very happy with Brian's work, and I submit it for your approval.

davesignatureII.gif


ps- before you ask, the total price was right at 175.00 for all the work. I supplied the '62 Fender Precision pickup. Brian is the Man!
 
Alright. Who else besides me was stoked to an Epiphone Jack Casady with a custom red finish?

....

And who still feels that way?

But, that is a righteous mod OP. Bet that thing has some nice purr and growl.
 
alright, alright...

you're making me break out my big guns now...

feast your eyes on the pic below; it is one of my son's OTHER basses.

a black epiphone Jack Casady, that I modded by removing the pickguard, and going with an all black color scheme.

how do you like me now?


JackCasadyII.png


and just for laughs, for those of you who have not been subjected to it before, here is a video of him playing that selfsame bass- it is "Slippers" by Charles Mingus, and he is sight reading.

http://youtu.be/XOTODMWDc6A


davesignatureII.gif


ps- edit- LOL...in case you have not guessed...Jack Casady is a name that is spoken of with reverence in our household... my son is 14 years old and can dern near name every Jefferson Airplane album and song. he knows them on the radio before I do!