NBD - Fender/Squier VM Custom Telecaster P-Bass

Today, one of my biggest bass dreams was fulfilled in a decent way.
I got my hands on Telecaster Bass with Fender logo on a headstock.
There she is, my Fender/Squier VM Custom Telecaster P-Bass (dunno how to call her for short... Squender T-Bass? :razz:).
It's Squier Vintage Modified 70's TB body with early Fender Sting Signature Bass neck installed. She looks delicious and delivers real low-end punch, like a 'Mudbacker P' should. And the very Fender logo adds much as well - we all know VM/CV Squiers are cool, but 'F' opens some doors otherwise locked.

The neck is rock hard and changes the overall intonation much comparing to stock SVMTB. It's really punchy, but not all-muddy - she can deliver some high end too! The bass is quite lightweight and comfortable. Guy Lewis ebony thumbrest is the nice addition, too. That would be pros.

Cons? I don't know, who installed the thumbrest, but the location, angle and the 'artist craft' behind the very installation process itself... really do suck. The holes are too big, the wood underneath is mauled, thumbrest is way too angled to provide a nice anchoring while playing and the location is totally 'non-canon'.

Here's how she looks:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1948/dscn0285v.jpg
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8294/dscn0293u.jpg
I'm planning to move the thumbrest to the original 70's TB location place - beneath the highest string,under the humbucker, in line with the humbucker's adjusting screws. I will try to obtain white pickguard and bridge cover to give her more 'vintage' and 'correct' looks, sort of like this:
http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/1877075/p1_un2fi0ezy_so.jpg
And if I'll put my hands on original 70's Telecaster Bass, maybe I'll go artistic on this one and make it my 'signature bass' by adding Lindy Fralin single and 3-position switch (Telecaster style) for pickup selection.

If only this 'Sting' block wouldn't be there, the word 'Telecaster' was placed instead 'Precision' on the headstock, the body was fully slab and the neck adjusting screw from the truss rod was 'bullet' style, it would make a really close 70's TB replica, but it's extremely cool anyway and gives exactly what I need.

Next stop - nice 70's style Jazz Bass. But as for now I'll try to tame my G.A.S. - 4th bass within eight months is way too much :lol:

I've got the Sting bass and I'm quite happy with it. The 12th fret marker is something I've totally forgotten about. It's a great instrument.
I'm also someone who's made a frankenstein out of 2 pieces that normally don't go together. I modified my Telecaster guitar to become a short scale bass. I had Rhomco (member on the forum) make me a customized neck from a Bronco short scale bass and he conveniently puts an F decal on it. He cut the headstock to the identical Telecaster profile as you have on the Sting neck. Perfect!

If you're not crazy about that tug bar/thumb rest you can always pick up another pickguard for the bass you've shown us here. I've got 2 extras for my Sting bass...a mint green and a black. It's an inexpensive fix.

I'm also building a custom bass (Immo Custom Shop, yay!) that will have Telecaster Bass (51'/Sting/71' style) neck and telecaster guitar style body, thinline.
It looks like this:
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/592/woodieprototypes.png
Body's from cheap Czechoslovakian bass, but the new bridge and neck created a really nice instrument with it! It stays in tune and sounds really nice. I recieved a basic Dremel set for Christmas, so I'll be able to finish this baby.

I don't know if I'd bother moving the thumb rest/tugbar to the treble side, unless you're one of the VERY FEW who use it there!

Tim

Yeah, I'm learning to play only with my thumb and it sounds really great on this particular bass. It's as warm and bottom-end as thermal spring :razz:

I love that humbucker.
I have the same bass (with the stock neck) and feel that it is one of those sleeper instruments that more people need to find out about. Solid, thick bass tone with a great deal of tone flexibility through the use of the tone control and finger position.
You know what? The position of that rest would work fine for me, since I usually anchor my thumb on the side of the pickup.

I love that humbucker.
I have the same bass (with the stock neck) and feel that it is one of those sleeper instruments that more people need to find out about. Solid, thick bass tone with a great deal of tone flexibility through the use of the tone control and finger position.
Agreed. Pickup is one of the best I've used, as much powerful as thunder-casting humbuckers on my T-40. It has so much gain it acts like it was active. As for the whole instrument - most people label it (without testing!) as 'definitely muddy bass too thick to have it, as it's certainly not universal'. That opinion is so much wrong...
You know what? The position of that rest would work fine for me, since I usually anchor my thumb on the side of the pickup.
Position is OK, but should be angled otherwise - the part next to the neck should be lower than the part closer to the bridge. And it would certainly look better off if in line with PU's adjust screws. And the angle is terrible - I use more 'strength' to keep my thumb anchored on this thing - it constantly tends to slide down towards the E string! - than to pull the strings themselves.

Fantastic, I've been looking to do the same to my VM Tele Bass.

I'm torn though, while I'd love to match the neck to my '51 reissue it's nice after playing a set on the '51 to pick up the lighter and slightly easier to play VM. I'm considering the neck from the new 'Modern Player' Tele Bass, it's not as fat as the '51 but has more of a vintage feel than the satin finished Squire.

I've also recently fitted a parallel/single/coil tap switch between the volume and tone pot on the VM. A nice easy mod but now you've got me thinking about doing the same with a Telecaster style switch and panel.

Bruce

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/9815/stelecasterbassk.png

Here's the crazy design for my 'Immo-Custom-Shop-Fake-Signature' Fender Telecaster Bass. :razz:
I think I'll go for it, it's damn appealing.

As for now, I've put the Rotosound 77 TruBass Tapewounds and it plays like butter.

I put a single coil SD pickup on my 78 Tele bass, pretty much like your pic. I love it! Best mod you can make to a mudbucker bass. I changed the controls to volume and blend.

Best mod, huh? I feel pretty much convinced. :razz:

I want to keep two pots (canonical :wink:) and wanted a tone control as it gives a lot to versatility of the bass. At first I was thinking about a Tele-style 3-position switch, but it'll ruin the looks. The Gibby-style one will not be too adequate, I guess. So I'm thinking either of two coaxial pots each for one PU (vol/tone) or two push/pull pots - one Vol, one Tone, each as a on/off switch for PU's. First one gives more control, second - aesthetics. Which one would you suggest?

I would probably do the concentric pots. The mudbucker is much stronger than the single coil, so that's why I went with a blend. I never use the tone control on my bass. It's always wide open.

Update:
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9987/telew.png
New, better fitted thumbrests, base for Immo Custom Shop logo on the 12th fret instead of Sting's signature, racing stripes, Rotosound Tapewounds... and lots of love.
As I'd postponed, at least for this year, adding the single coil PU, she's nearly done. Now the only thing she needs is chromed cover on the bridge and new pots+jack (Squier made are a bit cra**y).

I really like what you have done to this bass Immo. Simple but tastefully done. Take care. Bob

Another update, my baby with minor visual tweak, ready to go (I'm moving out in few days):
http://imageshack.us/a/img513/8872/telereadytogo.png

Minor but tasteful. I spotted it right off. You cant fix perfect too much. Take care. Bob

Minor but tasteful. I spotted it right off. You cant fix perfect too much. Take care. Bob
Thanks, Bob, being a person with low self esteem and with need of having pretty things (:wink:), this means much to me :grin: