Thinking of creating this, any alternatives for the same price? (short scale content)

I am building up GAS for a versatile Short Scale. I was on Warmoth looking at bodies and necks, one thing lead to another, and I started putting on paper what I would like in the bass.

I am contemplating buying a short scale bass and building from there. I am thinking of doing this with a Squier Jaguar SS, but I am also interested if there is some make/model of bass that would give me something similar for a similar price.

The cost of my "creation" would be around $1000 if based on the Jaguar, but around $1500 if based on a warmoth body and neck (basic parts, no exotic woods), I would prefer to keep it at the $1000 mark.

The bass would consist of:

- Jaguar Short Scale Body.
- Rear route and refin with a laminate top (Zebrawood with maybe a color tint).
- Nordstrand np4a Precision pickup.
- Nordstrand m4.4 Musicman pickup.
- Audere Preamp.
- Hipshot ultralite tuners.
- Sandberg bridge (or similar)
- Hardware to match bridge and tuners.


Here are some quick ideas in photoshop (Gimp actually). This is just to give an idea (I used Sandberg pickups, and didn't pay much attention to location etc.)










Any alternatives I should look at in a similar price range?

 

I am also taking into consideration the Warwick Corvette Shortscale Active. This would save me on routing the back, filling the front and refin (although I am not a huge fan of the shape), but the active version is shown as having active pickups and active electronics, does it really have active p'ups and a preamp, or am I misunderstanding?

I would probably still have to route for pickups, and go with 2 soapbars (or MM's) instead of a P/MM, but depending on how much I like the tone as is, then maybe this would stay stock for a lot longer. Even with a pickup and preamp change, it would be in the same price range as the Jag mod.

 

That is a SS Jaguar, just refinned (in photoshop to get an idea).

The $1000 is basing it on buying a Jaguar SS (180$) and upgrading from there.

 

Thanks @coughingskunk

 

Just don't tell @Chef

 

I completely agree with you, but it puts the price up by $500 dollars just for a simple body and neck, with no finish. If I was going to go for something with a laminate top or some other exotic finish, it would be nearer $2000, which starts getting into custom built territory (not quite, but close).

 

I have spent the last couple of days reading the SS Jag and the Modified Squier forums (damn GAS!).

The pickups and pre do not have to be those specific models (although I would like them) and I could live with the bridge on the JAG (I already have a regular scale JAG, so I am guessing the quality is similar). The issue is that to install the preamp, I would rather have a rear compartment than under the pickguard, but I could certainly go for a solid color instead of laminate. The thing is, I am thinking it will be easier to fill the top routing and refin at the same time as I route the back and pickups.

The other option I am contemplating is the Warwick SS I mentioned. It is around $600, but I would only have to route for the p'ups, and upgrade p'ups and preamp.

So many decisions!

However, the SS build is not starting until I fund the new barefaced cab and prolite which are on top of the GAS list for January!

 

Thanks @RED J, I hadn't seen that one. I like it, it would save me on routing and it is cheap ($175 on amazon). Any ideas on the quality? (search function is next )

 

I understand and agree on this, which is why I said in my previous post that I want to keep it below the $1000 mark (which is less than half of the price of a Birdsong).

Now this I am afraid I can't agree with. Out of all the mods, only the refin and the routing would be fixed to the bass forever. Why would buying things like Nordstrand pickups, Audere preamps, Ultralite tuners etc. be classed as flushing money down the drain?

All of these items can be removed, and even if I hate the final project, and had to trash the JAG body, the rest (including the JAG stock parts and neck) would be perfectly usable.