duane v Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 A little project I'm working on: The neck made it in and of course nothing is ever plug-n-play, but with a little massaging it fits nice and snug. I installed the tuners and tinted the headstock and neck with kiwi brown shoe polish paste and mini-wax dark wax as it was whiter than my feet. I had to ream out the peg holes a little to get the bushings pressed in, but not too big of a deal. Today is the string guide and the hootenanny strap button in the back. Then the 1966 headstock waterslide. I purchases a dirt cheap lefty Squire classic vibe 60's Jazz bass ($299). I added upgraded volume plate electronics which I already had. Fender Custom 60s Jazz Bass Pickups (which I already had). Purchased a neck with block fret markers with binding and rosewood fretboard. Found a 64-68 headstock waterslide logo (friggin expensive). Modified the existing pickguard for the thumb rest screws, added the 11th hole and dremel'd a trussrod adjustment access. Gotoh lollipop tuners. Polishing off the "Gotoh" and "Made In Japan" laser marking on the tuner primary gear. Purchased a new Fender USA bridge with grooved saddles Hootenanny headstock strap button. F neck plate with Pauls actual serial number stamped. My brother is making a metal punch with the Fender logo to stamp the tuner plates. Headstock String Tree. Fender ashtray set. As purchased: Current state: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Nice work. The ashtray set makes it for me!!! Back in the day, I played a P-bass with the ashtray set on it. Nobody thought of taking them off back then, and I think they just look good on the P-bass, J-bass and the Teles too. Notes ♫ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Looks cool! How much did it cost total? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 14 minutes ago, Larsongs said: Looks cool! How much did it cost total? Total $370 so far because I sold the original Squier neck for $140. The original cost of the Squier bass was $299.... Only thing left is to get some tape wound strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 (edited) Nice work.. Look forward to seeing Pics when it’s completed. I’d like to hear more on how you Dremel’d Truss Rod access.. I have several Fenders & hate having to remove the Neck to adjust Truss Rod if they need it. Edited April 21, 2022 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 14 minutes ago, Larsongs said: Nice work.. Look forward to seeing Pics when it’s completed. I’d like to hear more on how you Dremel’d Truss Rod access.. I have several Fenders & hate having to remove the Neck to adjust Truss Rod if they need it. I used variable speed dremel tool using a sand paper roll bit on a low speed so that it wouldn't generate heat... I did the same thing with my GH Tele clone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 37 minutes ago, ghost_of_fl said: Seriously, if you bought the parts in quantity and made a batch, they would sell. Very good work (again). Thanx mate... My wife kinda said the same thing about my breakfast burritos... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 7 hours ago, duane v said: I used variable speed dremel tool using a sand paper roll bit on a low speed so that it wouldn't generate heat... I did the same thing with my GH Tele clone. I bought the Stew Mac Truss Rod tool to adjust Fenders where the neck meets the Body but there’s no access.. What you’ve done looks very clean & almost unnoticeable. If that works that will be great!! I notice the area you Dremel’d on both Guitars is very small but is that enough room to get the Truss Rod adjusting Tool on the adjustment Nut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 What a transformation! Great work there Duane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 22, 2022 Author Share Posted April 22, 2022 14 hours ago, Larsongs said: I notice the area you Dremel’d on both Guitars is very small but is that enough room to get the Truss Rod adjusting Tool on the adjustment Nut? On the Tele yes.... Yesterday I has to recess the body neck pocket edge on the bass a little bit and now I can access the truss rod adjustment hex. Glad you asked because it made me double check on the bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Impressively commendable ! "The devil is in the details." Wow ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 22, 2022 Author Share Posted April 22, 2022 So I assembled the headstock string tree, hootenanny strap button on back of the headstock and put on the old strings. The nut grooves need to be filed as the strings are sitting on top of the nut grooves. It's playable but the action is a bit high and my fingers don't like wound bass strings (***** fingers).... they only like Black Nylon Tapewound strings. So I will order those as soon as I know which type of LaBelle's to get as this is a 34" scale bass as opposed to my short scale Hofner. I measured the strings with a 0-1" mic and they measure .050, .065, .085, .105, so I ordered Music Nomad 5-Piece Bass nut file set. Before I do any set up work I think I will let the bass acclimate with string tension for about a week because the neck is brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefang Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Actually started me to thinking of taking up the bass. Whitefang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Just too cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 I think you now have to go the whole hog and buy the cloths too 😄 https://harrys-menswear.myshopify.com/collections/john-lennon?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6pOTBhCTARIsAHF23fLidGoFI1FmqynhHNCYQ_Y97JM902FvEsAZr8_mtaSua2Wiq7e8FqIaAnWOEALw_wcB https://www.modshoes.co.uk/product/get-back-john-lennon-inspired-multi-colour-long-sleeve-shirt-beatles-mod-skin-style/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 I finally received my nut files to finish setting up the bass and man does this bass have a mean sound. I'm also using a nordy bass mute. Really stoked. I also added the mid-60's headstock logo and tapewound strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Wow! Nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Brilliant! Absolutely beautiful. If it plays even half as good as it looks, you have a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 I have a 1975 reissue I purchase backed in 1994. Looks very similar to this, with the exception of a maple neck and a natural finish. The binding and the block inlays is what does it for me. I love that thing, it plays nice and the sound is kick ***. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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