Winter Build Off 2022 - Back to '56

[41Hz To Go]

fantastic build!

looks awesome and fun to play.

 

[Flamingo21]

don't do it. stay minimal

In this case, I agree. I vote no thumb rest.

 

[RichterScale]

Does it look naked without the thumbrest???? I don't know . . .

Well, it would look "normal" if you put one on there. But I wouldn't put extra holes in it unless you absolutely need and use one.
Looks awesome btw.

 

[41hzthunder]

Well, it would look "normal" if you put one on there. But I wouldn't put extra holes in it unless you absolutely need and use one.
Looks awesome btw.

Not sure there's a lot that is "normal" about most of my work, or me, I suppose. If I were, I'd probably just buy a bass.

You raise a good point. I'm not sure how these rests are used. The ones on later P-basses that are above the strings make more sense. Still . . . it just looks like its missing something. Maybe I'll get over it today.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

I'm not sure how these rests are used. The ones on later P-basses that are above the strings make more sense.

AIUI, the lower position is called (for the same piece of wood) a "tug bar" rather than a "thumb rest" which suggests hooking it with fingers while plucking with thumb, to me. But I don't have, don't use, and would also likely skip it unless you do use it, and put it where you'd actually use it in that case.

 

[41hzthunder]

AIUI, the lower position is called (for the same piece of wood) a "tug bar" rather than a "thumb rest" which suggests hooking it with fingers while plucking with thumb, to me. But I don't have, don't use, and would also likely skip it unless you do use it, and put it where you'd actually use it in that case.

If playing fingerstyle, I usually have my thumb on the E string to act as a mute when not playing that string. It also gives a relative position for the other strings. If picking, a tug bar or thumb rest would be completely useless! The only reason to put the tug bar on would be appearance. Maybe its '56 ish enough already.

 

[41hzthunder]

This is my submission in the partial build category for the WBO 2022.

This is a '56 Fender P-bass build that allowed me to work on my finishing and pickup winding skills. Its my first serious attempt at a 'burst' finish using wood dye and an airbrush. Pickup winding was designed around a tapped coil model and a split coil that would fit in the single coil space. In the 80's I owned a Telecaster bass and this project was to go back to those P-bass roots.

Specifications:

Weight: 8 lbs 2 oz
Body: Alder
Neck: Fender '51 reissue one piece maple neck (its chunky)
Neck/Body Joint: classic 4 scews with chrome plate (Fender)
Scale Length: 34"
Fingerboard radius: 9.5"
Strings: Ernie Ball Slinky Custom Guage .45, .65, .80, 1.00
Pickup: custom wind split coil humbucker with 1/4" Alnico 5 and 12000 winds of 42 AWG on each coil
(will try the single coil soon)
Electronics: CTS G450 250K pots, .047 uf (Russian K40y-9) capacitor, classic push-back wire
Controls: Volume and Tone
Knobs: Fender rounded, knurled knobs
Jack: Switchcraft Electrosocket
Bridge: Fender two saddle, through body string mount
Control plate: Fender CIJ (drilled for CTS pots)
Machine Heads: Gotoh vintage reverse wind, long stem (3096ns)
Finish: Analyn dye, tabacco burst with spar urethane (little bit of amber tone)
Strap buttons: Fender standard
String Tee: Fender standard
Pickguard: cheap chinese copy that was modded to fit

I want to thank everyone for following and supporting my build thread. Its been great! Time for the item in the last photo.

 

[Bent77]

Very clean and classy. The pickup is a nice touch

 

[2saddleslab]

Outstanding!

 

[Gary_M]

Oh man, so nice! Congrats on a beautiful build!

 

[Beej]

Beautiful!

 

[DucRyder]

I'd hit it ... Nice work!

 

[dmarino]

Nice! Extremely clean. Burst turned out perfect!

 

[NKBassman]

I like that a lot. Great job!

 

[Mickey666]

Very nicely done