• 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.

Sourcing a Fender Precision Bass Control Plate

#21
Mickey Mao said:
There's also the half-DYI option of buying an aluminum pickguard as CompleteHack was doing, and cutting off the section with the knobs/jack and only using that. The shape should be okay and the holes ought to line up.
Click to expand...
That is for sure an option. I haven't yet decided whether I will go with the full aluminum replacement pickguard, or use the P-Base product to replace the broken section on my original pickguard.

The Positech guy replied again. Shipping cost to me in the US looks very reasonable, no VAT since I an not in the EU, and the dollar is about on par with the Euro today. I might do it.

Yes, I could DIY one, but it would cost me more in materials + new tools to do so. I like these Positech folks, and am leaning toward giving them my business.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WRM
#22
Deleted member 409896 said:
That is for sure an option. I haven't yet decided whether I will go with the full aluminum replacement pickguard, or use the P-Base product to replace the broken section on my original pickguard.

The Positech guy replied again. Shipping cost to me in the US looks very reasonable, no VAT since I an not in the EU, and the dollar is about on par with the Euro today. I might do it.

Yes, I could DIY one, but it would cost me more in materials + new tools to do so. I like these Positech folks, and am leaning toward giving them my business.
Click to expand...
Very interested in how the fit works out on this one. Please keep us posted!
 
  • Like
Reactions: LP Custom and Deleted member 409896
#23
I still need to send Positech some photos to confirm fit. If I commit to an order, I'll update here when it arrives.

Positech apparently has filled orders to US customers before, but it's not possible to place an order directly through their website.

pre-update: Sent photos and waiting on fit confirmation, then most likely will go ahead with an order. Total cost should be about US$33. I can't make my own for less, certainly not with a shiny finish (I have zero polishing supplies).
 
Last edited:
#24
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 409896
#25
Here are a couple I hacked off full pickguards and painted. The one on the bass is aluminum diamond plate. The other one is just plastic. I wanted the pickguard off the body between the pickup & neck heel. I was going to cut a pickguard just above the pickup, but remembered I had the P-pickup surround, so this is it…
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7308.jpeg
    IMG_7308.jpeg
    4.3 MB · Views: 20
  • IMG_7307.jpeg
    IMG_7307.jpeg
    3.8 MB · Views: 20
  • Like
Reactions: JRA and Mickey Mao
#26
Still conversing with the gentleman at Positech Design.

I sent a couple photos of the front of my P-bass and he confirms fit should be perfect. He sent a photo of the P-base lying on top of a full pickguard, proving the screw holes line up.

He wondered how I found out about the product, so I pointed him to this thread. So be nice!

I've asked for a small modification to the P-Base: It would be better for me if the upper end of the P-base were straight across rather than curved. Will make it easier to fit the remaining pickguard next to the P-base. don't know if he'll be willing to do that, TBD.
 
#27
I am also still talking with him about ordering one! Pretty close to pulling the trigger myself.

The modification you described is actually one I would be interested in as well, for the exact same reason. I'll mention that in my next email too.

On another note, someone from AllParts got back to me today! They passed along my desperate plea for help to the "powers that be". Stay tuned!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 409896
#28
I would be pretty proud of us if we managed to get Mr. Positech 2 sales in a row.

I get the impression it's a one-man shop. I would like to reward his innovation, effort, and willingness to address a need that no one else will, at a very reasonable price point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: digmeout and MacSwell
#29
#30
No thanks. Those 3 links are:

1) shady as heck. I'm not convinced I would ever receive anything, if I ordered from that webshop full of Lorem Ipsum filler text. People, please stop recommending it, unless you've ordered from them and can verify they are legit, despite appearances.

2) Either the photo was mistakenly reversed, or this is for a left-handed P-bass. Else you may need some longer screws to allow for the reverse-countersinks on a right-handed P. Or drill countersinks for your L-handed P, IDK. Regardless, it already sold, so you can't buy it now.

3) Confusing? ABM Guitar parts doesn't appear to offer anything relevant to this thread, at least not currently available. Yes, I looked up the 7813-C but got a "product not found."

If I seem exasperated, it's nothing personal, I'm only a bit frustrated with folks continuing to post links for unavailable or clearly non-fitting items.

Especially now that we've found the lowest-effort yet best-fitting and least-expensive solutions, either:

1) buy a cheap aftermarket aluminum pickguard and cut it down, or

2) buy the Positech P-Base.
 
Last edited:
#31
MacSwell said:
Hello all! Been browsing this site for many years, finally made an account in an attempt to get some help sourcing a part.

I am looking to mod my 2023 Fender MIM Precision Bass to have a metal control plate. It's one of my favorite things about my Jazz bass, and I would love to have the same functionality/aesthetics on my P. For the life of me I cannot seem to find a part for this anywhere. The only one I have seen is one made by AllParts (AP-0876-010), but it is long discontinued and out of stock everywhere. I wanted to check here to see if 1) someone has a source for this or another part that I don't know about, or 2) someone has this part and would be willing to sell it to me. I have found a couple of older threads with the same goal but they seem to have dead-ended.

For reference, I have attached pictures of what I am talking about. Thanks in advance for any help!

View attachment 7154318
View attachment 7154319
Click to expand...
Front Panel Express will happily make you one, or you might hit up Amplifyfun in Portland OR for a potentially lower priced solution. IME both companies put out fabulous work and are great to deal with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 409896
#32
I hope you don't mind if I jump into this discussion. I am the guy who developed the PBase® control plate currently available on the market. :)

Just to take out any expectations on the outdated links I have seen in this thread: none of them will get you to a site with an actual product available. The old ABM example on Reverb was a single private item that has been out of stock by ABM for a long long time. I did extensive investigation on the internet worldwide for my own P-Bass and decided to develop this control plate myself as I could not find a proper one anywhere.

I'd like to push back the remark on the steel PBase plate being 2 mm as opposed to the 2.5 mm of a plastic pickguard as well: an original Fender Jazz Bass control plate has a a thickness of 1.5 or 2.0 mm depending on the production era, which says enough I guess.

Furthermore, if you want to install the PBase control plate "stand alone" without the remainder of the original pickguard 2.5 mm would be far too beefy! I have developed the PBase plate with stand alone installation in mind (for older P-Basses with an internal pickup --> control cavity routing), so a "straight ended" Jazz Bass type version would be a lot less elegant than my solution, which is inspired by the previous ABM form (see pictures below).

I will definitely consider a "straight" Jazz Bass inspired version as I can clearly see the benefits of this when if want to preserve the remainder of the pickguard (also with a top-routed wiring channel). However, this will be not until I have reached the end of my current production batch. After all this is a private investment. Please respond to this remark what you think of this.

Finally, I will attach some pics of my own P-Bass with the PBase control plate and a few pics of the plate placed on top of an original Fender pickguard.

I hope this helps in "our" discussion and kind regards from the Netherlands,

Peter Niessen, Positech Design

positechdesign.com

P.S.
Please also have a look at my readily available LTwist neck torsion gauge. This measures exactly your longitudinal neck torsion (of your bass/guitar that is ;)). So far, such a gauge is not available on the market anywhere worldwide, you will be surprised!
 

Attachments

  • 20241109_152205c.jpg
    20241109_152205c.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 22
  • 20241109_152129c.jpg
    20241109_152129c.jpg
    1.7 MB · Views: 25
  • 20250219_111105.jpg
    20250219_111105.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 21
  • 20250219_111152.jpg
    20250219_111152.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 21
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: LP Custom, WRM, digmeout and 3 others
#33
whoa, very cool, thanks for showing up!

Peter N said:
I'd like to push back the remark on the steel PBase plate being 2 mm as opposed to the 2.5 mm of a plastic pickguard as well: an original Fender Jazz Bass control plate has a a thickness of 1.5 or 2.0 mm depending on the production era, which says enough I guess.
Click to expand...
Another consequence of the P-bass design changing over time, I expect.

I can live with it. My 1995 P-bass pickguard is something like 2.3mm (0.09") thick, so there would be a ~0.3mm thickness change from the remaining original pickguard to the P-Base. Can't think of any way this would matter, other than purely aesthetic.

Peter N said:
I will definitely consider a "straight" Jazz Bass inspired version as I can clearly see the benefits of this when if want to preserve the remainder of the pickguard. However, this will be not until I have reached the end of my current production batch. After all this is a private investment. Please respond to this reply what you think about this.
Click to expand...
A J-bass style plate (that is, straight upper edge) may win some over, but for me it is not a show stopper. I am OK with cutting the remaining plastic pickguard to match the upper curve of the P-Base. Something like your second photo from left.
 
Last edited:
#34
Peter N said:
I will definitely consider a "straight" Jazz Bass inspired version as I can clearly see the benefits of this when if want to preserve the remainder of the pickguard (also with a top-routed wiring channel). However, this will be not until I have reached the end of my current production batch. After all this is a private investment. Please respond to this remark what you think of this.
Click to expand...

I would very much be interested in the flat version! That being said, I would buy the current version in the meantime, I think it would still look very nice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 409896
#36
Did anyone's P-bass come from the factory with conductive paint applied to the back and sides of the cavity for controls and pickups?

I thought I read a comment about something like that recently, but can't recall where. May be making it up.

Mine doesn't seem to have that. Wondering how common it is or isn't.
 
#38
Not sure. I did the same thing - diode-mode continuity test with a multimeter. No continuity on whatever the cavity coating is.

What got me thinking about this is, I noticed that there is a ground lead bonded to...the body of the bass, at the bottom (backside of bass) of the cavity. Huh.
 
#39
If you're talking about the screw-and-lug tied to ground, I have that on pretty much all my Fender guitars and basses. My guess is that it's an attempt to ground the body itself from any stray charge build up, I know I've had instruments in the past that can get static-y depending on the environment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 409896
#40
"Ground" is a fun topic. On a mobile item like a bass, using the body as a ground is probably the best we can do. The instrument cable is only 2 wires, and neither of them is connected to an earth ground (e.g. through the power supply).

That's typically how aircraft and vehicles do it - frame/fuselage ground.

I am not too sure whether 360° shielding of the electronics cavity on the P-bass was ever intended, or indeed would be desirable. EMC/EMI is a very complex topic. I am in the middle of reading Henry W. Ott's "Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering" book to learn more about this sort of thing. Not specifically due to bass playing, more because I am an EE masochist.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: WRM

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back