SteveC Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 So my students bought me a Mighty Mite unlined fretless 4 string neck to commemorate my 25th year teaching. Pretty cool. I have an active Roscoe 5 string fretless with rounds so I'm thinking maybe passive with flats for this one. Suggestions for body, other parts? Don't have/want to spend a ton, but I would like a playable fretless, maybe use it when I play in the musicals here at school or something. Maybe go P-bass? Keep it simple? Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 It feels like a jazz neck, which is OK as I once had a P bass with a J neck and it was pretty awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Can't go wrong going P-Bass -- classic electric fretless sound. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric VB Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Suggestions for body, other parts? Uh, wait for your students to buy the rest for your 30th, 35th, 40th, etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lug Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Look at any other parts you have laying around like pups, tuners, etc. and let that help guide you. You can stop now -jeremyc STOP QUOTING EVERY THING I SAY!!! -Bass_god_offspring lug, you should add that statement to you signature.-Tenstrum I'm not sure any argument can top lug's. - Sweet Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Yeah...I don't have any parts laying around. Haven't "built" a bass for a long time. I found some cheap loaded Squire bodies on eBay for under $100. All I'd need to do is get some tuners, a string tree and 4 neck screws and a neck plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Suggestions for body, other parts? Uh, wait for your students to buy the rest for your 30th, 35th, 40th, etc.? That is an option I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 In the same vein as the Squire idea, you may want to find a cheap used bass (more complete than just the body) and just swap necks. It may be cheaper than buying the tuners and other stuff. If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 What kind of woods for neck and fingerboard? The Music Man StingRay fretless sound is pretty cool. You could go with a body that has a MM bridge pickup rout. Nice gift. Peace. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 My fretless is a Precision with a Jazz neck. I prefer the sound of a fretless P over a fretless J but I love the fretless J neck. My particular neck is on it's 3rd body. The first two were J's but I just wasn't feeling it. P and J. Yin and Yang. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/YinYang01_zps069ff749.jpg Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Well Steve if you go the build-your-own route I can hook you up with a bridge and a white-black-white, green pearl or red pearl pickguard all with the Lowdown discount (gratis). I'm sure I have some knobs as well come to think of it. Let me know. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Well Steve if you go the build-your-own route I can hook you up with a bridge and a white-black-white, green pearl or red pearl pickguard all with the Lowdown discount (gratis). I'm sure I have some knobs as well come to think of it. Let me know. That's the ticket -- let's crowdsource this build! Who's got a body, tuners, etc. laying around? "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 In the same vein as the Squire idea, you may want to find a cheap used bass (more complete than just the body) and just swap necks. It may be cheaper than buying the tuners and other stuff. Very true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 A crowdsource would be very cool. Some big ticket items though so I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them. I found a bunch of cheap stuff on Amazon - body, preloaded pickguard, bridge, tuners, etc for about $275. Maybe I'll give the "my cheap parts bass is as good as any" thing a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 A crowdsource would be very cool. Some big ticket items though so I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them. Look, if someone's got a P-bass body or a set of pickups that have been sitting in box in the garage for 20 years, just take it. You'll be doing them a favor. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 What kind of woods for neck and fingerboard? Nice gift. Peace. Maple neck, ebanol unlined fretless fingerboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 A crowdsource would be very cool. Some big ticket items though so I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them. Look, if someone's got a P-bass body or a set of pickups that have been sitting in box in the garage for 20 years, just take it. You'll be doing them a favor. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 You know I probably have all the parts (of varying quality) necessary to build a precision bass except the neck... Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 You know I probably have all the parts (of varying quality) necessary to build a precision bass except the neck... I love it when a plan comes together. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 Well, I haven't bought anything yet. Waiting to see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I think we, as a community, need to help brother Steve out. Kinda like a barn raising. A bass raising if you will. I'm extra busy at work but I'm gonna take photo inventory of my p-bass parts inventory this weekend and post. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane hugo Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 there's always eBay http://blip.fm/invite/WorkRelease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I think we, as a community, need to help brother Steve out. Kinda like a barn raising. A bass raising if you will. I'm extra busy at work but I'm gonna take photo inventory of my p-bass parts inventory this weekend and post. Exactly what I was thinking. Very kind of you to volunteer parts. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 It would be cool. The neck was a gift so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I have this body & electronics. http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/%400_mall/k-gakki/cabinet/00971235/squ_petepb_2.jpg I bought it with a broken neck for dirt cheap. I kinda liked the idea of just a volume knob and the "Duncan Designed" quarter pounder pickups are better than decent. I took a black rattle can to cover up that stupid heart bat. Not the best job but good enough for me. Never did get aroung to putting a neck on it and now it's just sitting in a hard case in my attic. Like I said I also have WBW and green pearloid pickguards, other bridges and I think good Fender stamped tuners. I'll be more sure when I can take an accurate inventory and post pics. Then feel free to raid for any or all or none. I'm not likely to be using this stuff anytime soon. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 Unlined, black fretless board would look good with that wouldn't it? I'll keep watching for pics and see what might work. All input is welcome.This could be a cool thing. The kids would think it was awesome if it was a project like this. I'd love to get a "loaded" body or guard so I don't have to do any wiring. Just screw stuff together and go. I like the volume knob only thing, too. I have always run passive bass full bore so that's all I really need. This could be cool/fun/interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 Anyone have some flats? String tree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Parts bass builds are definitely fun. I did two of them last year and it was a great time. And I genuinely like the way both basses turned out. I had some pretty good experience with this particular parts dealer: http://www.stratosphereparts.com . Their loaded bodies are pretty good. As for parts like knobs, bridges and string trees? You would be really surprised by what you can find at relatively low prices for those bits of hardware. I managed to get most of the hardware for my builds at local MI shops. For stuff that inexpensive and small it really isn't worth paying for shipping. Here's the thread I started to document my project P-Bass build. I hope it can be of some help to you, Steve. https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2527304/Project_P_Bass_Build#Post2527304 Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Okay, here's what I have. This is the body I mentioned, pre-wired with "Duncan Designed" 1/4 pounders. Volume pot only. Output jack and standard Squender stamped bridge. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/aImg_3694_zpskxwlu9xy.jpg Closeup showing my not quite exact rattlecan paint job. There are also some bridge cover screw holes that could stand repair. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/bImg_3694_zpsnztbftlw.jpg Back is in better nick. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/aImg_3695_zpshrcu7u1c.jpg Italian flag or Christmas themed pickguard assortment. The green pearl one still has the plastic protective coating. I ordered one, they sent me two and I pass the savings on to you! http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/aImg_3696_zpsjnquczyj.jpg Knob assortment. Three screw-attached, one press on chrome domed top, one fancier black one, and a skull. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/aImg_3698_zpsybkmg47n.jpg Your basic MIM Fender tuners, grommets, string tree and fairly close to the correct amount of screws. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/aImg_3697_zpsnq4r2nfy.jpg Some extra Fender bridges a Squier neck plate, a plain neck plate and neck screws. http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/aImg_3699_zps3rloghug.jpg Well that's what I got. Maybe someone else has something better? Anyways if you want any or all or none let me know which of the assortments and PM me your address. Peace & love. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottom End Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I vote for the green pickguard and the chrome knobs "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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