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Post subject: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:39 pm
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Hi, my name is Pat. I've been reading the forums but just registered, and was hoping I could get some help.
I'm heavily considering putting together my own Precision Bass because I'm pretty picky about what I want.
I'm looking at a few parts online and I was hoping I could get some help from you guys.
I tried to find a site that could verify the serial number but most sites only had serial number verification up to the 90's.
The neck I'm looking at is from a 50's P-bass reissue. The seller says it's a 2011 model and that it's made in Mexico. Here's the serial number: MX11054543

The body I'm looking at is from the same seller and is from 2004. It's Japanese made and he says it's a 70s reissue P-bass body. There is no serial number listed. It is a white body with a black pick guard if that helps any.

I'm hoping to put together a classy looking bass. I've never owned a Fender but I've always wanted one so allow me to be vain in wanting a Fender product.

Thanks :mrgreen:

Edit: And do you think those two pieces will assemble well or will there be problems?


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:10 am
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Thanks for the welcome.
I'm not looking for custom (too expensive, the parts I'm look at come to a total of about $800+shipping). My thing is that I like how the 50's P-bass sounds and feels but the colors are not at all to my liking.
The neck is probably my favorite part. I like how it stays thick throughout.


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:51 am
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The serial number seems legit in it being a 2011 for starters,as far as will everything fit thats not an answer I can say with absolute conviction,here's why.
Even though Fenders for the most part are interchangable sometimes there are slight differences in some of the interchangables,like some necks can be a tiny bit smaller not from production but from maybe where its from or its moisture content,as the wood ages it looses moisture; becomes lighter and the wood tends to shrink(even if its just the smallest amt)ever play a bass that the frets poke out the side of the neck ? perfect ex.
Also sometimes necks cant be just dropped in because the body itself is dried out a bit which makes the neck need to be sanded down in order to fit properly,Which as far as mods go really no big deal,To get a larger neck to fit to a smaller pocket equal passes of very lite sandpaper to both sides of the neck can fix that and make for a good fit,but it should be checked after every couple of passes with the s/paper to avoid oversanding and ending up with a loose pocket, I prefer this method of having a larger neck and sanding it down to fit because it allows a nice tight pocket to be achieved opposed to a drop in fit that is loose.
As far as the body being what the seller says it is seems almost impossible to tell from only a color and a pickgaurd,I would'nt myself buy used a bodies and neck both sight unseen not being able to measure them up to one another to see where I was at with them,If the neck is new w/used body I mite with some further investigation go with it but thats only because of my prior exp with building basses.
There are tons of brandnew actual Fender bodies on e-bay for all types of budgets,from Squier Tele p-basses for 99.00$ to Japanese jazzbasses for 299.00$(both loaded w/p-gaurds and p-ups)also Fender necks w/tuners and a pre-cut nut all of types of options:maple fretboard,r/wood fretboard,smaller tele style h/stock or "large" style h/stock from 57 and up.
The choices are yours but stick with newer stuff more likely to fit properly without much modification untill you are more expierienced enuff to deal with the used/vintage,custom or repairman specials.
good-luck :mrgreen:

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BOOMSHANKA: "May the seed of your loin be fruitfull in the belly of your woman"
Neil quoted from the "Young Ones" MTV Sketch series.


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:17 am
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Thanks, man. Your advice is really helpful. It definitely gives me more to think about but it also gives me more legitimate considerations.

I don't know if it'll help any but here's a picture of the body anyway:
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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:31 am
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Okay- I'm thinking a re-issue neck---- look at the heel of the neck and see if it is square-- look at the body you want to use and see if the neck pocket is square-- the neck pocket has to be the same exact shape as the neck heel and it will fit without mods. If the neck pocket is rounded and the neck heel is square then you have to modify the neck pocket to fit the square heel neck . That's about all. I've never had any problem switching necks --as long as they are the same shape. I guess you can get into other stuff like pocket depth and heel thickness and too snug of a fit. I just never have.

Making a P bass is a good one to start with. It can IN MOST CASES be done inexpensivley if you know your buy list first. BUT you could spend a ton of money on a P if you wanted to. You don't really have to. MY advice is to at first stay away from badass bridges and super expensive pickups and concern yourself with the body wood and neck wood. I prefer an all maple neck set up. To me those sound the best. If you can get a nice piece of wood then chances are it will sound good-- More advice=== stay away from Basswood bodies.

Sorry to tell you a bunch of stuff if you have already built basses in the past.
Tuners-- if you want to use vintage tuners you may have to modify the back of the headstock to fit them flat against the wood.

Don't cheap out on pots and input and cap and use 24 guage hook up wire.

Can you tell I wish I was building a sweet P bass ?

Have you ever built a bass or guitar? Okay dude I wish you some luck!!!!!! :D :D

******sorry I did not see the pic when I wrote my post so you can disregard it.


Last edited by stroker vance on Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:33 am
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patwhite wrote:
Thanks, man. Your advice is really helpful. It definitely gives me more to think about but it also gives me more legitimate considerations.

I don't know if it'll help any but here's a picture of the body anyway:
Image



okay it looks like you are just going to try and stick a neck on a body that's loaded. Can you tell if the pocket is sanded?


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:11 pm
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I am not even sure putting together a bass is worth it considering I just saw a great 1979 Fender Precision Bass sell for $900 on ebay. I saw an incredible after market bass sell for about $400 - $450 with a hardshell case. You would be better off buying a bass that is whole. There are incredible deals on actual Fender Basses in the $500 range. It is a lot more fun to have a bass that works rather than goofing around trying to get one put together properly.

Before you buy parts do take 30 minutes to really search ebay to see what is out there before you go the parts route.


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:10 pm
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yeah but if you've never put a bass together you just may want a USA bass in one whole original piece


if you can afford NOT to buy a Highway one or a "special" (both USA) don't. That's something I'd tell my relatives.


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:32 am
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The neck has rounded edges and the pocket in the body has rounded edges too. From my judgement I think they'd fit.
I've definitely considered just going with a vintage bass but a lot of the affordable ones have a slimmer neck, where I prefer the 50's P-Bass neck (it's stays wider at the nut) . I've also played a few American Standards and I just didn't like them that much. They weren't bad but I couldn't dig it.


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Post subject: Re: Putting together a P-Bass
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:37 am
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Good call on the neck heel,there are a couple of p-bass necks out there new and used(mostly new)that have different shapped but ends of the neck(no jokes please :wink: ) there's the tele style that are more square and the newer precision style that are shaped like the jazzbasses heel thats more rounded.
Even the people selling them are'nt always aware of the diff,I did a couple of neck swaps for a few customers and they ended up with a square heel suited for a telecaster bass or the older original precision,even when I spoke to the seller they were un-aware of the difference of the heels and had to re-do all the auctions and store descriptions,which tells me not everyone is aware of the diff.
There's HW1 p-basses on clearence all over e-bay and on some of the larger music chain stores for between 599.00$-699.00$,>50's re-issue p-basses for 579.00$ and boat loads of >Japanese p-basses from 499.99$ and up which for this price is far more cost effective than building one from parts that are'nt a guaranteed fit.
If you were exp I say go for it but not being something you have done before I would go with the other options from some of the guys insted,it could get costly in the end and there's alot of little things that can make it costly: new necks usually DONT have a nut but if they do will it be the correct height for your custom made bass ? Tuner holes on new necks need to be...,neck plate holes are'nt always pre-drilled, will they match up perf..? are the frets crowned ..? these are but a few just on the neck there's a whole new set for the body.
GO WITH THE PRE-MADE,I would for now,maybe later and w/expierence you can.
G/Luck :mrgreen:

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BOOMSHANKA: "May the seed of your loin be fruitfull in the belly of your woman"
Neil quoted from the "Young Ones" MTV Sketch series.


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