Bass Builders I need Your help

[Tonar8352]

Hey guys this is my first Bass Build.

On the neck I'm going to do a Maple 1 1/2  nut  with a Tele Headstock.  Like Max said I'm going for the Sting look or a 54.

I'm thinking a Fralin P/U.

I need your help is with the following.

What total vintage Tuners should I use?
What Bridge?
Who has the best vintage style hardware?

Help me out.

 

[emmaporkchop]

Try www.angela.com, they seem to have a decent selection. I usually just look on ebay or go to guitar shows though. Maybe look through an issue of Vintage Guitar magazine. It seems alot easier to find vintage styled parts for guitar rather than bass for some reason. The finish looks great by the way. Good luck.

 

[Micahbell]

Sorry, I can't answer your questions, but you said you "think" you are going with a Fralin pup - I just wanted to say, do it do it do it!
I have one of those Fralins in my bass and it kicks.
Looks great.

 

[willyk]

www.guitarpartsresource.com stock reissue 2 saddle bridges for the old style basses as well as Fender, Hipshot, Schaller and other tuners.  :icon_thumright:
The body looks really tasty, should be another beauty mate.

 

[kreig]

ditch the fralin pup for a lollar instead - imo

 

[Patrick from Davis]

It looks like I might quicker on the draw on another pickup suggestion, look into Nordstrand.  Like Bareknuckle, you can email and ask about how to achieve the sound you are going for.  Nice guy and nice stuff.

By the way Tonar, you are single handedly making me believe that I really should put a spray booth into my garage just to get the nitro to look like that.  Unless I win the lotto, or get a sizeable raise, I doubt any of that concept will happen anytime soon.
Patrick

 

[Jorundr]

www.guitarpartsresource.com stock reissue 2 saddle bridges for the old style basses as well as Fender, Hipshot, Schaller and other tuners.  :icon_thumright:
The body looks really tasty, should be another beauty mate.

:icon_thumright: I bougth some "vintage" 60's fender tuners from there, a bit expensive, but absolutely classy. Also bought some fender pup's for my jazz, and I really love them!

 

[jackthehack]

Isn't that bass routed for a Gotoh 206 string through bridge?

 

[stubhead]

The Schaller "BMFL" tuners are "correct" for the Kluson replacement, but they're really similar to the "BM" Tuners that Warmoth sells - the baseplate is different - how exact does it have to be?

http://bass-machine-heads.com/hp38538/Bass.htm?ITServ=C586a949dX11c858b764cX4eb0

Hipshot & Gotoh both make "elephant ears" tuners too, both "correct" and modern. I personally think as long as you've got the ears right and a big ol' baseplate, the plate screw differences are pretty darn finicky.

http://www.hosco.co.jp/HOSCO_ENGLISH/Pages/gotoh_catalog2008/gg2008_21.html
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=2

 

[SkuttleFunk]

and I'll suggest you ditch the Fralin and Lollar pickup for a Nordstrand SCPB - they absolutely KILL all the immitators  :blob7:

R

 

[Tonar8352]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't that bass routed for a Gotoh 206 string through bridge?

Does that mean I'm going to have trouble getting one?  If so what should I use instead?

 

[jackthehack]

I picked up a "real deal" bass off eBay that had that routing; figured I'd just stash it until I found one - they ARE hard to find, but I found this other alternative that might work, but haven't gotten around to ordering it yet, see links below. At any rate, with that route if you do use an appropriate vintage style bridge, it won't be a string through...


http://wdmusic.com/ultra_deluxe_bass_bridge_black_24392_prd1.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHROME-4-String-BASS-BRIDGE-Best-Quality-UPGRADE-BB24_W0QQitemZ130083124746QQihZ003QQcategoryZ41407QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I just broke down and ordered the one on the eBay link, I'll let you know if it fits OK

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Try www.angela.com, they seem to have a decent selection. I usually just look on ebay or go to guitar shows though. Maybe look through an issue of Vintage Guitar magazine. It seems alot easier to find vintage styled parts for guitar rather than bass for some reason. The finish looks great by the way. Good luck.

2nd best avatar on the board. :icon_thumright:

 

[stubhead]

The front screws on my 206 are roughly 58mm apart, the backs screws 47mm apart. If you do have to plug holes and sub out a bridge, I would want one with the least similar screw pattern, assuming they'll be under the plate.

 

[jackthehack]

I didn't realize that the early 50s basses had a string through bridge with a 2-saddle design; you may be need to fill some holes and redo that top finish if you want to go "totally vintage". Here's a close up of the bridge on Sting's bass:

That bridge is still being made by Fender, it's listed on this page as a "Tele Bass Bridge" on top of graphics:

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bridge_genuinefender.htm

 

[stubhead]

That is one nasty-looking P.O.S. bass, there - wonder what it's worth? $50,000 or so? ccasion14:

 

[jackthehack]

Story is allegedly Sting sent out one of his gear techs to buy the most beat up looking bass that could be found for a video shoot, and it wound up becoming his "#1" axe.

 

[emmaporkchop]

SrDeMaFp, thanks you can't beat Gob and Franklin though! I was hoping it would work as a GIF

 

[jackthehack]

I picked up a "real deal" bass off eBay that had that routing; figured I'd just stash it until I found one - they ARE hard to find, but I found this other alternative that might work, but haven't gotten around to ordering it yet, see links below. At any rate, with that route if you do use an appropriate vintage style bridge, it won't be a string through...


http://wdmusic.com/ultra_deluxe_bass_bridge_black_24392_prd1.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHROME-4-String-BASS-BRIDGE-Best-Quality-UPGRADE-BB24_W0QQitemZ130083124746QQihZ003QQcategoryZ41407QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I just broke down and ordered the one on the eBay link, I'll let you know if it fits OK

Tonar - Got that bridge in, see details in this thread: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=4919.0

Or are you already filling the extra holes and going the 2 saddle vintage bridge?

 

[Tonar8352]

Thank you Jack.
I'm holding off doing any thing right now while we try to track down a 206.  If I hit the wall I'll consider my options at that time.