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Post subject: My P-bass project
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:11 am
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For some background, I have a "thing" about the sound and look of a P-bass with ash body and maple fretboard, and I also have a "thing" about the PJ pup configuration... its tonal characteristics and possibilities, and (IMO) its uber-cool look.

Early this summer, I picked up a new ADPB, because it seemed to be the closest thing to my dream machine, at a reasonable price. And yes, active electronics was part of my dream.

Even though I've been into active electronics since the late '70s (when I first put a homemade pre-amp in my cheap, non-Fender Japanese knock off), I find myself running the ADPB in passive mode almost exclusively. That will probably change, when I start messing with effects more.

I really do like the ADPB, but now I'm thinking about another option to find one of those majick sounds in my head.

So I have this inspiration (i.e., crazy idea) to create a slightly custom instrument for myself. In a nutshell, the project consists of replacing the rosewood neck on a current AVHR '60s P-bass with the maple-faced neck from a current American Special. I've played a few Specials in local shops, and I really like the feel and action of the slim profile. To me, that's worth more than the compound fretboard radius of the AVHR neck.

I considered starting with a Special and replacing the body, pups, and electronics, but then I found a good deal on a new AVHR, and a neck swap seems like a lot easier starting point.

So one question I have for those more experienced with technical issues; should I relieve the truss rod tension in the HR neck for long-term storage off an instrument? Or would it be better to just leave it as is (factory setup, I presume)?

Thank you all for any input or suggestions.

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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:23 pm
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Instead of cannibalizing and swapping parts around on perfectly good finished instruments have you considered building one from parts like from Warmoth or Mighty Mite or some place like that? Seems like a better idea to me. But if you are wealthy and want to mess up two perfectly good USA basses it's your money. I'd go the parts route instead of messing up a perfectly good USA bass. Even if just buying used Fender parts on eBay.

Yes I'd remove some of the tension on the neck if you are going to store it a long time. Know up front though that all sorts of bad things can happen to good necks due to drastic tension changes. Drastic tension change is always a gamble. eBay is full of used basses with screwed up necks exactly because of that.


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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 4:10 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Know up front though that all sorts of bad things can happen to good necks due to drastic tension changes. Drastic tension change is always a gamble.

Thanks for the advice, bro.

To mitigate the drastic change, would it help to loosen the strings gradually, say over a period of days?

Would it help to loosen the truss rod gradually, along with the strings?

I want to hang onto the AVHR neck, and ideally, in usable condition. I might someday want to return the instrument to a more original condition.

OTOH, if this turns out to be the dream bass that I hope it will be, I might decide to sell the AVHR neck. I'd feel better about selling it, knowing that it was handled and stored to at least reduce the probability of being messed up as a usable part itself.

Anyway, I'm going the parts route on the Special neck. I found a source for one, already removed from a complete instrument.

Thanks again.

I'm still open to any input or suggestions.

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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:23 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Instead of cannibalizing and swapping parts around on perfectly good finished instruments have you considered building one from parts like from Warmoth or Mighty Mite or some place like that? Seems like a better idea to me. But if you are wealthy and want to mess up two perfectly good USA basses it's your money. I'd go the parts route instead of messing up a perfectly good USA bass. Even if just buying used Fender parts on eBay.

Yes I'd remove some of the tension on the neck if you are going to store it a long time. Know up front though that all sorts of bad things can happen to good necks due to drastic tension changes. Drastic tension change is always a gamble. eBay is full of used basses with screwed up necks exactly because of that.



Now that I know that I'll never buy a neck on Ebay again.


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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:28 pm
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Stoker you probably weren't going to buy one on ebay anyway! LOL


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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:42 pm
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I agree on getting parts to experiment with rather than changing good USA
Fender instruments, but its your dollar and if you can get the bass you want by buying two complete basses and swapping necks, and you can do it for less money after you sell the leftover bass, then why not?

I have a different view on storing basses or guitars. I feel that a bass is in balance being in tune and the truss rod at proper tension. The pull of the strings is countered by the rod and the bass should be stable for many years. Remember a bass or guitar doesn't know when it is not being played. It makes no difference if the storage are is stable and not fluctuating in temperature or humidity.
De-tuning only makes sense if you are shipping the bass and a drop or hit against the instrument could cause damage that string tension could spread.

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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:18 am
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brotherdave wrote:
Stoker you probably weren't going to buy one on ebay anyway! LOL



Prob not. I have before=== out of 3 or 4 only one worked out well.


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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:24 am
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BCbassman wrote:
I agree on getting parts to experiment with rather than changing good USA
Fender instruments, but its your dollar and if you can get the bass you want by buying two complete basses and swapping necks, and you can do it for less money after you sell the leftover bass, then why not?

I have a different view on storing basses or guitars. I feel that a bass is in balance being in tune and the truss rod at proper tension. The pull of the strings is countered by the rod and the bass should be stable for many years. Remember a bass or guitar doesn't know when it is not being played. It makes no difference if the storage are is stable and not fluctuating in temperature or humidity.
De-tuning only makes sense if you are shipping the bass and a drop or hit against the instrument could cause damage that string tension could spread.



I've always detuned a bit if the bass is going to sit in it's case for a long time. I may have had to tweek the neck every great once in a while but never any problems. Yeah it's humidity and temp change that has an effect on the guitars.
Old downtown Pawn Shops have examples of things temps and humidity will do to guitars. At least the ones I know of around here do.


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Post subject: Re: My P-bass project
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:25 am
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I agree, tension changes are murder on necks.


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