New Custom Precision Type Bass [building Content Inside]

Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
252
Reaction score
197
I was asked to build a custom bass based on a Precision Bass, with some features not so comum on a P bass. So the requested spec were:

- Body wood: Walnut (2 pieces Black Walnut - Juglans Nigra)
- Neck wood: Maple, carbon reinforced (Matching Headstock)
- Fretboard wood: Pau Ferro
- Neck specs: 34" scale with 22 frets. String spacing 17.5mm - 9.5" radius
- Frets: EVO Gold (Small)
- Tuning Machines: Gotoh GB707 (Gold)
- Bridge: Schaller 3D-5 (Gold)
- Pickups: Nordstrand NP5v (Volume + Tone)
- Finish: Tru Oil (Satin)

This is the mockup os what is supposed to look like:
Precisionbass_Mockup - cópia.JPG


Now the Building process:
IMG_7453.jpg
IMG_7464.JPG
 

jester

ocdemon
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
4,666
Reaction score
1,309
Real Name
Yanni
Awesome! You know by now I love threads like this. Did you discuss with your customer the possibility of a reverse P, or are they very specific about it?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
252
Reaction score
197
Awesome! You know by now I love threads like this. Did you discuss with your customer the possibility of a reverse P, or are they very specific about it?

Ahahah, me too!! ;)
Well, I actually did, but on that matter he wants it as "Classic" as possible, Nordstrand P vintage, not reversed and with the 60's position.
 

jester

ocdemon
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
4,666
Reaction score
1,309
Real Name
Yanni
Ahahah, me too!! ;)
Well, I actually did, but on that matter he wants it as "Classic" as possible, Nordstrand P vintage, not reversed and with the 60's position.

If the bass were a four string maaaaybe I would begin to understand this. The top coil, esp. with 60s position, will make the low B extra boomy and mud. Get me into contact with your customer I will change their mind and save the bass while there's still time, hahaha.
 
Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
252
Reaction score
197
The top coil, esp. with 60s position, will make the low B extra boomy and mud.

Well, not necessarily... It is actually how a P bass is supposed to sound. I've tried a few 5 strings with that configuration, between Sads, Sandberg, Fender Dlx and Sire P7, there are several that use the same config or similar and they sound good. Don't get me wrong, I really prefer the sound of a reversed P, and always with a Jazz on the bridge! But I'm not a Precision guy myself.
The client already have a 5er P bass and he's happy with that sound, so... It's not for me to decide ;)
 

jester

ocdemon
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
4,666
Reaction score
1,309
Real Name
Yanni
View attachment 19435

The 9.5" radius is done.
Next I'm carving the back of the neck and do the fret slots.

Looking good! I wanted to ask, do you level/radius the neck with the truss rod completely loose? Also, do you sand a bit of relief into the fingerboard while leveling?
 
Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
252
Reaction score
197
I wanted to ask, do you level/radius the neck with the truss rod completely loose?

In this case, I'm doing if from scratch before the neck is carved so I radius the fretboard as flat as possible without any or just a little truss rod stress. I've seen people doing it in different ways, but personally I do it like this and it never failed me.
When you are doing a fretboard reset/re-radius on a existing bass or fret dressing, there's another story.. Usually you have to adjust the truss rod.
In a finished bass, even if the neck relief is perfect with the TR on "loose position", I like to give it a tweek, just enough so it doesn't rattle or cause any strange noises on the neck
 

DiMarco

nutcase
Good Vibe Sponsor
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
6,979
Reaction score
4,738
frets = middle, nut = edge. *wink*
Looks great!
 

Henrythe8

Dolphin Hoarder
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Messages
2,528
Reaction score
957
Age
50
That's a dream of mine, a 5er P-bass. A nice one.
 

jester

ocdemon
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
4,666
Reaction score
1,309
Real Name
Yanni
View attachment 19452
All the fret slots are done, now I'll be carving the neck.

Awesome. Another question for you: If you had to deal with a fret slot cut at a slightly wrong position, how would you go about it? I 'm sure it's inconceivable for you seeing a wrongly placed slot since you measure two and three times. :) I'm almost certain you will say "get a new fretboard and cut it right".
 
Top Bottom