P-bass Mods Progress And Introduction

[Dswain81]

This is my first long post...so I hope you enjoy. My name is David (23) and I have been playing guitar for around 10 years. This P-bass is my first attempt at changing anything on any of my guitars. I have learned a lot by reading this forum/tutorials and I hope I can get enough knowledge to actually contribute to all of the threads that I read on a daily basis.

Okay, now to the good stuff...

I have been remodeling an old Memphis p-bass that my buddy gave me a few months ago. It played like you would expect a Memphis to play, so I decided I would customize it. It is not done, I just wanted to show my progress so far.

I basically wanted to make it look like an old 70s precision bass in good condition.

Mods:

-ACTIVE Bartolini 8TC pickups with treble boost and cut (and they sound awesome!) $55

-new fender neck (had to re-route neck pocket) $100

-new mighty might pickguard (had to be severely modified) $15

-old school pickup and bridge chrome covers $30

-new chrome knobs/screws/neckplate/pots/jack/(thumbrest not on yet) $45

-new tuners for neck $32

-new string tree $4.50

The original finish was a hideous clown nose red...that had to go. I knew the body was solid wood, but I wasn't sure what was hiding under the paint. I am still not completely sure what kind of wood it is...looks like basswood.

Pic before any mods: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/dswa...ssbeforepic.jpg

Originally I tried to paint the bass a dark red color, but it turned out like crap (I had not discovered this site or ReRanch yet). So, I started sanding.

Pic after sanding (you can kind of see some of the darker red paint on the edges of the bass: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/dswa...sssandedpic.jpg

After it was sanded, I stained the body using some water-based walnut stain and it turned out great. I attempted a black burst that looked awful (I used the "poor man's burst tutorial", but I live near Chicago and had to do it outside, so the wind really messed me up). After sanding off the crappy burst, I decided that I liked the way the walnut top and bottom looked with the black edges.

I haven't sprayed the clear yet (have some Deft, as recommended by Maiden in several posts over the past few months). I will probably start that this week.

Here are more pics of the precision bass without clearcoat:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/dswa...asspic2copy.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/dswa...asspic6copy.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/dswa...asspic4copy.jpg

I am so glad I found this site...I am addicted...can't wait for my first actual build. Updates on the bass coming soon.

[feylya]

Nice job. Two things I'd do:

1) Stain the head as well. You'll loose whatever logo that's there but you can always put your own on

2) Don't varnish it. A wax or Tru-Oil finish would work quite well I think.

Keep up the good work

[bluespresence]

Welcome to the board! Nice job on the bass. You should put a warning on that first pic that shades are required! That is some BRIGHT red!!

I like it much better now and I'd keep the HS like it is......FWIW

I'd like to hear those Bart's. I don't think I've heard a clip of the 8TC's.

[skibum5545]

I like it! Actually, I'd leave the headstock natural maple. I happen to really like the look of a walnut covered body with a maple headstock... like my first:

Deja Vu, no?

Sorry for the blurriness.

Anyway, great job. I like it a lot, and the bridge and pickup covers add a nice vintage touch that really gives the bass a finished look. The only thing I don't like is the black sides, but to each his or her own, eh?

Again, congrats on a nice mod, and I can't wait to see your first from scratch build!

[Dswain81]

Thanks for the feedback guys. All this hard work has really payed off.

As far as the bass is concerned, I am going to leave the headstock maple, otherwise, it would probably just look like a big brown blob....it helps break up the color scheme a little bit. I am thinking about sanding off the "Fender" logo and putting on something more original, but in the same style as the 70s p-basses (you know, the curvy words).

As far as the finish goes...I am not sure about the oil finishes. I want something with a little more protection and glass-like shine. Plus, I am not sure if the oil finishes will go over the black paint?

I like the black sides...gives it kind of a unique look....not to mention the sides are in awful shape...beyond my finishing abilities I'm afraid.

I'll post a sample of the Barts in the next few days. Man, they sound soooo good. My crappy little project bass plays and sounds better most basses I've ever played (including old Ricks and the like). The action is super low with no buzz and the tone from those pickups is so warm and deep...and with the treble boost they turn into some serious slappin' tone.

I have definetly gotten $300 worth here, thanks to the search button here at PGF!