Inspired by Dusty bass...…..Finished!

paulnb57

So, on occasion I like to faff about on just 4 strings and then only the root note on the the first beat of each bar, there that got the bassist bashing out of the way!........

Anyroadup, I really like the Dusty Hill (Root notist on the first count of each bar in ZZ Top) signature bass, its a Fender Custom Shoppe and the RRP is agout £3.5k, to be fair as much as I like it and guitar boutiques sell em for about £2.5k, I wouldn't part with that many Red Wine/pie/cake tokens, I have a figure to maintain, in fact I think £350 would do, but I digress...

I could build one, not a slavish replica, but something INSPIRED by the bearded one......so I started searching for parts, a reverse head bass neck is a rare beast indeed, in fact Unicorn horn, secured with unobtainium would be easier......especially as I have a penchant for the narrower Jazz neck.......

OK so I put out feelers for a Left hand Jass Bass neck and eventually am offered a Southpaw neck from a Harley Benton Jazzer on Basschat......woohoo! I'm in business!

A 51 P Bass body from an ebay manufacturer in Italy is puchased...

A bridge and chrome control plate from across the pond......

Tuners are in the parts box, along with a Jack plate

A hand wound vintage stylee pickup from Spain.....

Some parts arrived today and tonight the pink one is on night shifts.... cue Hammer House of Horror sound effects, the kitchen will be a bomb site!

paulnb57

This is the Dusty Hill Signature Bass

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpskua8fpsz.png

paulnb57

This is as far as I got tonight, a dry run fit of parts after modding the headstock to Tele shape, sealing the sanded area with satin water based varnish (!) and applying a moody "F" decal.......the Body is outstandigly good quality, the Harley Benton neck really isnt bad at all but although the tuners fit, they were crooked and needed all the screw holes filling and redrilling, however the neck to body holes lined up perfectly.......I did have to square off the heel of the neck though to match the pocket.....heres close of play......

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsjufxrdac.jpeg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsownqg3n8.jpeg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zps8bvcdesa.jpeg

Black paint tomorrow!..........

nick_s

I like where this is going!

Andyjr1515

Strange - I thought I'd already posted on this one.

Anyways - what thought I'd said is that I like the look of this and especially the combination of the block inlays with the reversed headstock!  

Andy

Andyjr1515

Andyjr1515 said:

Strange - I thought I'd already posted on this one.

Anyways - what thought I'd said is that I like the look of this and especially the combination of the block inlays with the reversed headstock!  

Andy

Ah! Schoolboy error.  Still love the block inlays with the reverse headstock  )

paulnb57

Schoolboy? Just the sort of Senior Moment I keep having!

paulnb57

Anyroadup, more progress today, left the body on a clothes airer near a radiator overnight so it would warm up a bit when the heating kicked in, stuck half a can of Halfords Satin Black in a sink of warm water, then at 0700 dressed only in a dressing gown, I stepped onto the deck, 5 mins later the body was sprayed, and I was bloody cold, back into the warm (Bass) body back near the radiator to bake the paint. Cup o tea, then relic-ed  the neck. Later gave all the chrome a going over with wet n dry and wire wool to dull it down a bit. After tea reassembled.....need to open up the holes in the control plate tomorrow then fit the pots and wire everything ready for the pup when it gets here from Spain.....

Happy Days!

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpswij7egu5.jpeg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsvv5ckxzv.jpeg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsabu7kbul.jpeg

paulnb57

Oh, and relic the body, not everyones cup o tea, but it's mine, with potential for really screwing it up...….I poured a glass o red and cracked on………not too bad for a first attempt…..

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/IMG_2231_zpska4uq4ts.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/IMG_2232_zpsf6m6b80w.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/IMG_2233_zpsfzhspcsf.jpg

Andyjr1515

Very quick work and excellent progress. It's looking good, Paul. Andy

paulnb57

Thanks Andy, coming from someone with your skills…….I'm home alone, the pink one is on nights for a week, just me n the hound, I don't really do telly……...

simonbeckwith

Excellent work pops! Keep it up. More red! And pie tokens....mmmm pieeee!

JonHosker

Can I be cheeky and ask what your total build will cost? Love to have a go at a bass too Thanks

paulnb57

Significantly less that the real Fender, it pays to have an idea of what you want, then gradually pick up parts as ypu see them at the right price, the biggest thing to get right is getting the right neck to fit your body, the rest is relatively easy......

Deadman

Nice bass, man.

IvisonGuitars

Very cool indeed!

As an aside, the matching red 'relic' guitars Billy & Dusty have, are photographs stuck to the body then lacquered (like the old photo flame models).

paulnb57

Quite. effective that...

gavin_axecaster

Nice, and you work fast!
I am planning a "peeler" build modelled on the one above - I have a Fender bridge on the way (decided against the Squier version) and and order for body and neck going in tomorrow.
I suspect mine will take a little longer though!

paulnb57

Screened, wired, tested with an old pup.......bored now! Waiting for strings and the pup........bored!

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii21/paulnb57/image_zpsnjbvfhau.jpeg

BigMonka

That's looking fantastic! What is this Spanish pickup you've got coming? Is it a custom winder out there?

paulnb57

@BigMonka linkness......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172057438540?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT