New old P Bass

4mal · April 1st, 2008, 03:02 PM

87 MIJ E Series. So far so good. It's still aclimating but I gave it an initial truss loosen and a new set to TI JF's. I wanted to document how the bass sounds stock so I cut a walking line that I'll get to MP3 and link to later ... I have a Lollar pickup sitting here waiting for install so another line after I get that done. I also cut a line from my MIM PJ at the same time. That one has Aero Type 1's in it. To my ear - the MIJ Split P is better than I expected ...

anybody know what the color is called ? In person it is very much the blue equivalent to Candy Apple Red.

allen st. john · April 1st, 2008, 03:07 PM

That's sweet. I want one just like that but maybe a burst, blonde or CAR--something that would work with an anodized guard

allen

4mal · April 1st, 2008, 04:03 PM

I built up a relic a couple of years ago as a host for a Dark Star. THat one was Tobacco Burst with Gold ano. The guard was custom cut from a blank I got from Warmoth. That was a really nice color combo. More restrainined as a color combo than some. Gold anno on Oly White is sweet too... on CAR it's a little over the top for me.

Ignore the fingerprints and general un-cleanliness of this one ...

hekawi · April 1st, 2008, 04:19 PM

nice one!

as to the color, Lake Placid Blue?

Tim Armstrong · April 1st, 2008, 04:54 PM

That does look kinda like Lake Placid Blue to me...

Cheers, Tim

ps- must find drool cup...

4mal · April 1st, 2008, 05:30 PM

well my friend, you were the inspiration for the Lollar I'll tell ya... but what are you going to do with all that extra neck ?

(actually I'm trying to figure out what to do with all that extra neck. All these years of playing J's and my timing is messed with ...)

This turns out to be a 62 RI model. I never realized that LPB was a metallic quite this deep. Sure looks like what they are selling as LPB today though ...

allen st. john · April 1st, 2008, 06:14 PM

I really like the two color burst with the gold anodized guard.
I saw a 57 RI at Sam Ash that I got really attached to.
Guy on talkbass had an MIJ in an ad but it turns out he sold it in October.
They're out there, I guess. I'd love to do one myself, but first I've got to figure out what I need and how much I'm going to play it. A used Fender will hold its value, a used partscaster not so much.

Tim Armstrong · April 1st, 2008, 06:20 PM

FWIW, Tokai made a really great '57 P-bass with that look. I had one, since sent to fellow TDPRIer Paul (in Colorado) Honeycutt:

Cheers, Tim

broadcaster · April 1st, 2008, 06:34 PM

Mal, how much does the beauty queen weigh?

4mal · April 1st, 2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadcaster

Mal, how much does the beauty queen weigh?

she's a svelte 8.5 lbs. The tobacco burst above was under 8 - but she was routed almost completely under the pickguard. My luthier buddy Craig had to fabricate 'body' to mount the pickup!

ah, Partsa'casters - a generally enjoyable way to dispose of money and time ... Have a look at Rhomco's signature line - that pretty much says it I think.

4mal · April 2nd, 2008, 12:20 PM

another truss tweak today as this one settles into form. Action is beginning to get pretty good... I might actually be able to play this without professional help!

I normally take everything to local luthier Craig Wilson - they guy does amazing work and it's almost stupid not to...

Here's a link to Craig's Myspace page. Some really nice acoustic guitar playing there. Not bass related but worth a listen for sure. Craig Wilson - White Salmon Guitar

Be sure to click on the Nels Cline link in Craig's friends... the first cut is amazing stuff .. I'm still listening at this point!

giginthesky · April 2nd, 2008, 01:32 PM

looks very LPB in color. i have 2 MIJ's (strats) in the same color. i was going to change the pups in my MIJ basses but decided to keep them in. i think they sound fine.

4mal · April 2nd, 2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giginthesky

looks very LPB in color. i have 2 MIJ's (strats) in the same color. i was going to change the pups in my MIJ basses but decided to keep them in. i think they sound fine.

first LPB I've had. Nice color for a metallic... I switched the pickups in my MIJ 75 RI J to Duncan SJB-1's and picked up some detail. The SJB-1 is one of my personal 'benchmark' favorite J pairs. They also have the advantage of flying under most folks radar - so they sell used cheap. Generally $70 a pir shipped. I recently swapped the Duncan's out for Dimarzio Ultra Jazz as I wanted to try a humbucking J again - it's been a few years. I have them installed with each pickup's coils in parallel.

Output wise - similar to the SJB-1 - not real hot - which I consider a good thing.

Definately quieter. Lots of mid range detail and a nice solid low end. Maybe not quite as detailed on top - or maybe less bright - or maybe more mid - promient ... I'm leaving them in for a while, the lack of noise is certainly an advantage.

I had heard these before and didn't like them. - my guess is that the coils were wired in series. To my ear that makes things get boomy and kinda 'dullish' - or as dubbya might say "Puttin' those coils in series dullificates' that bass."

I have to say that I'm impressed with the basic character of the MIJ split P. They done good on that one for sure.

tom grossheider · April 12th, 2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mal

first LPB I've had. Nice color for a metallic... I switched the pickups in my MIJ 75 RI J to Duncan SJB-1's and picked up some detail. The SJB-1 is one of my personal 'benchmark' favorite J pairs. They also have the advantage of flying under most folks radar - so they sell used cheap. Generally $70 a pir shipped. I recently swapped the Duncan's out for Dimarzio Ultra Jazz as I wanted to try a humbucking J again - it's been a few years. I have them installed with each pickup's coils in parallel.

Output wise - similar to the SJB-1 - not real hot - which I consider a good thing.

Definately quieter. Lots of mid range detail and a nice solid low end. Maybe not quite as detailed on top - or maybe less bright - or maybe more mid - promient ... I'm leaving them in for a while, the lack of noise is certainly an advantage.

I had heard these before and didn't like them. - my guess is that the coils were wired in series. To my ear that makes things get boomy and kinda 'dullish' - or as dubbya might say "Puttin' those coils in series dullificates' that bass."

I have to say that I'm impressed with the basic character of the MIJ split P. They done good on that one for sure.

Sweet bass Mal. I think the word you might be looking for is "dullifies"....

4mal · May 11th, 2008, 12:19 PM

Well - pickup swap time. I swapped in the Lollar about a month ago. Played it enough to feel like I had spent quality time with it. Nice pickup. More detail than the MIJ, maybe a tad less bottom. Sweeter upper mid's - overall - a smoother sounding pickup to my ear.

I just yanked it and installed a Vintage Vibe. This one is a custom build up after telling Pete Biltoft know what I wanted. I asked for warm but articulate. Smooth or even slightly restrained high end. He chose ALico III magnets and a slight overwind and - damn! It's been in for a few days and all I can saw is WOW! One of the better $80 buy's I've made.

Great sounding pickup and beautifully built. He put's a little copper foil shield on the bottom, then runs braided shield 2 conductor wire. The braid is soldered to the copper foil on both halves of the pickup so I soldered it to the back of the tone pot. Not vintage looking like cloth and fiber board but very business like looking and quiet as a church mouse.

I'm going to record some DI'd samples this afternoon. Then I'm going to re-string with a set of rounds to see how those do.

broadcaster · May 13th, 2008, 06:15 PM

Mal, looking forward to hearing the samples from your P bass with the replacement pickups.

mudbean · May 13th, 2008, 06:22 PM

Oh, man ... old P-Bass ... I need, I want ...

mud

ramblinmike · May 13th, 2008, 06:32 PM

Wow...that is beautiful. I generally don't like blue guitars, but there's something about LPB!

4mal · May 14th, 2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudbean

Oh, man ... old P-Bass ... I need, I want ...

mud

I highly recommend scoping one from the basses Fender made in Japan during hte 80's & 90's. The prices are resonable and - the basses just rock. I have 2 a 90's 75 RI J and this 62 RI P from 87 - they both just have it.

April 1st, 2008, 03:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
4mal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 1,917	New old P Bass 87 MIJ E Series. So far so good. It's still aclimating but I gave it an initial truss loosen and a new set to TI JF's. I wanted to document how the bass sounds stock so I cut a walking line that I'll get to MP3 and link to later ... I have a Lollar pickup sitting here waiting for install so another line after I get that done. I also cut a line from my MIM PJ at the same time. That one has Aero Type 1's in it. To my ear - the MIJ Split P is better than I expected ... anybody know what the color is called ? In person it is very much the blue equivalent to Candy Apple Red.

April 1st, 2008, 04:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
hekawi Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 1,827	nice one! as to the color, Lake Placid Blue? __________________ ____________________________________________ "Rule Number One: Obey All Rules" - Barney Fife

April 1st, 2008, 04:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 7,504	That does look kinda like Lake Placid Blue to me... Cheers, Tim ps- must find drool cup... __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

April 1st, 2008, 06:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 7,504	FWIW, Tokai made a really great '57 P-bass with that look. I had one, since sent to fellow TDPRIer Paul (in Colorado) Honeycutt: Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

April 1st, 2008, 06:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
broadcaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wisconsin Age: 49 Posts: 496 1 Photos	Mal, how much does the beauty queen weigh? __________________ The tone is in your fingers.

April 1st, 2008, 03:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 648	That's sweet. I want one just like that but maybe a burst, blonde or CAR--something that would work with an anodized guard allen

April 1st, 2008, 04:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
4mal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 1,917	I built up a relic a couple of years ago as a host for a Dark Star. THat one was Tobacco Burst with Gold ano. The guard was custom cut from a blank I got from Warmoth. That was a really nice color combo. More restrainined as a color combo than some. Gold anno on Oly White is sweet too... on CAR it's a little over the top for me. Ignore the fingerprints and general un-cleanliness of this one ...

April 1st, 2008, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
4mal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 1,917	well my friend, you were the inspiration for the Lollar I'll tell ya... but what are you going to do with all that extra neck ? (actually I'm trying to figure out what to do with all that extra neck. All these years of playing J's and my timing is messed with ...) This turns out to be a 62 RI model. I never realized that LPB was a metallic quite this deep. Sure looks like what they are selling as LPB today though ...

April 1st, 2008, 06:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 648	I really like the two color burst with the gold anodized guard. I saw a 57 RI at Sam Ash that I got really attached to. Guy on talkbass had an MIJ in an ad but it turns out he sold it in October. They're out there, I guess. I'd love to do one myself, but first I've got to figure out what I need and how much I'm going to play it. A used Fender will hold its value, a used partscaster not so much.

April 2nd, 2008, 12:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
4mal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 1,917	another truss tweak today as this one settles into form. Action is beginning to get pretty good... I might actually be able to play this without professional help! I normally take everything to local luthier Craig Wilson - they guy does amazing work and it's almost stupid not to... Here's a link to Craig's Myspace page. Some really nice acoustic guitar playing there. Not bass related but worth a listen for sure. Craig Wilson - White Salmon Guitar Be sure to click on the Nels Cline link in Craig's friends... the first cut is amazing stuff .. I'm still listening at this point!

April 2nd, 2008, 01:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
giginthesky Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: berlin, n.j. Age: 36 Posts: 896 6 Photos	looks very LPB in color. i have 2 MIJ's (strats) in the same color. i was going to change the pups in my MIJ basses but decided to keep them in. i think they sound fine.

May 11th, 2008, 12:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
4mal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 1,917	Well - pickup swap time. I swapped in the Lollar about a month ago. Played it enough to feel like I had spent quality time with it. Nice pickup. More detail than the MIJ, maybe a tad less bottom. Sweeter upper mid's - overall - a smoother sounding pickup to my ear. I just yanked it and installed a Vintage Vibe. This one is a custom build up after telling Pete Biltoft know what I wanted. I asked for warm but articulate. Smooth or even slightly restrained high end. He chose ALico III magnets and a slight overwind and - damn! It's been in for a few days and all I can saw is WOW! One of the better $80 buy's I've made. Great sounding pickup and beautifully built. He put's a little copper foil shield on the bottom, then runs braided shield 2 conductor wire. The braid is soldered to the copper foil on both halves of the pickup so I soldered it to the back of the tone pot. Not vintage looking like cloth and fiber board but very business like looking and quiet as a church mouse. I'm going to record some DI'd samples this afternoon. Then I'm going to re-string with a set of rounds to see how those do.

May 13th, 2008, 06:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
broadcaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wisconsin Age: 49 Posts: 496 1 Photos	Mal, looking forward to hearing the samples from your P bass with the replacement pickups. __________________ The tone is in your fingers.

May 13th, 2008, 06:22 PM	#17 (permalink)
mudbean Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Semi-Desert Semi-Paradise Age: 49 Posts: 816	Oh, man ... old P-Bass ... I need, I want ... mud __________________ *Everyone brings joy to my room ... some by entering, some by leaving.* www.mudbean.com

May 13th, 2008, 06:32 PM	#18 (permalink)
ramblinmike Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island NY Age: 22 Posts: 878	Wow...that is beautiful. I generally don't like blue guitars, but there's something about LPB!