PJ Bass - Control Layout - now accidentally turned into a build thread!

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

Why is the additional control positioned so close to the pickup? 

Imagine, if you will, the centre line along the "tail" of the pickguard. The holes for the jack socket and controls follow that line. (The original outline was created using French Curves.) Continue that same centre line towards the neck and the third pot would be on it, roughly an inch further away from the P pickup.

My guess is that the control cavity needs enlarging slightly.

Yeah I tried it on the curve and it just didn't look right - it stuck out and seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere all on it's own. 

As a gigging bass I'm going practicality over looks anyway. 

Bridgehouse

ICBM said:

Yes, I think it looks the best at the front too. Also less risk of bashing it, probably.

Possibly controversially, I would probably make that one the blend if you're doing VBT - its actually the one I would use most.

Yep. That's the plan now. This bass is turning into a proper controversial build.

Tru oil on Alder..

blend/Volume/Tone...

Jazz knobs....

1.75" nut width...

I will get banned from Basschat at this rate

TTony

b V T gets my vote too.

TTony

Don't suppose you could make be a quick outline of the scratch plate onto a piece of A3 or whatever?

Just run a pencil around the outer edge and pickup cutouts ...

Bridgehouse

TTony said:

Don't suppose you could make be a quick outline of the scratch plate onto a piece of A3 or whatever?

Just run a pencil around the outer edge and pickup cutouts ...

Of course. I'll do it in a bit for you.

Bridgehouse

Hole drilled. Got bored of fucking about with it

It will do the job. I can always get a custom cut guard done later if it annoys the crap out of me  

TTony

Just in case I ever needed to make a pick guard for a PJ you understand


I'm toying with the idea of a piece of clear perspex just over the control cavity, recessed into the body so that it sits flush with the top.  Then a thumb rest somewhere suitable above the pickups.

Hate to cover up so much beautiful wood.




Ermmmm, in theory.

Bridgehouse

TTony said:

Just in case I ever needed to make a pick guard for a PJ you understand


I'm toying with the idea of a piece of clear perspex just over the control cavity, recessed into the body so that it sits flush with the top.  Then a thumb rest somewhere suitable above the pickups.

Hate to cover up so much beautiful wood.




Ermmmm, in theory.

Now, thumb rests. My advice would be don't. 

I found that learning to play resting your thumb on the string below (or the pickup if on the bottom string) means you are a bit more articulate and aren't stretching around so much.

YMMV of course

TTony

Hmmmmm ... s'pose it would be easy enough to add one later on if still needed.

Bridgehouse

TTony said:

Hmmmmm ... s'pose it would be easy enough to add one later on if still needed.

Yes, just two screws and you are away

Bridgehouse

3 coats of tru oil on the neck and I'm not going any further - it's got a nice satin smooth sheen to it. 

Bridgehouse

Not sure how far to go with the body tho. I don't want gloss. 

Its had 3 coats so far. I'll do another later today. After that tho.. I guess I could just keep going.. 

Bridgehouse

Stuck another coat on the body. It's getting a nice satin sheen now.

I'm thinking maybe 3 or 4 thin coats more and leave it to harden. Got to say, I do like tru oil...

guitarfishbay

Musicman necks are 1 coat Tru Oil and then wax. They feel incredible but you have to top it up once a year

TTony

Bridgehouse said:

Stuck another coat on the body. It's getting a nice satin sheen now.

Pics required.

Bridgehouse

Mrs B was rather non-plussed by my use of the clothes hanger for drying purposes.. ho hum... but here you go @TTony

Bridgehouse

Which means the last thing to get is the pickups. 

Dilemma dilemma. Torn between SD quarter pounders and Dimarzios. 

Funkfingers

Have you bought any pickups yet?  

guitarfishbay

Which Dimarzios?

The PJ set I’d be interested in is the EMG Geezer Butler set

Bridgehouse

Funkfingers said:

Have you bought any pickups yet?  

No. I keep changing my mind. I don't want to go mad out cash wise, so I'm avoiding all the posh options at the mo - this is supposed to be a budget build, and I have the relic one to finish off, which I might get a custom wound set for...

I have a quarter pounder in my '52P which I really like, hence tempted by the SD PJ set.. but, the Dimarzio DP126 set is well regarded, and the J is a split coil... urgh.