The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Alanko on October 08, 2021, 06:47:24 AM
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Once again I've slightly overpaid for a worn out end-of-life bass guitar. This time it is a Dearmond Jet Star 'Spel'. At one point I owned the upmarket version. It was sparkly pink and had two "Mickey Mouse" style pickups. A series of poorly judged and poorly executed things happened to that instrument...
I still have my Dearmond Starfire that I documented here previously. This 'Spel' bass is clearly the ersatz model, as it has a bolt on neck and generic P Bass pickup in place of any repro heritage pickup.
(https://i.imgur.com/ld1ikQd.jpg)
The selling point for me was that wide open expanse between the pickup and neck, crying out for pickups various. I'm going to install a Mudbucker for sure, then weigh up my options.
Realistically though, every inch of this bass has scratches, chips and dents galore. It has clearly sat on a concrete floor as the points at the bottom of the body are heavily eroded. I could strip and refinish the bass, but that turns weeks into months, in my experience. I will try and sympathetically rejuvenate the finish but not lose any sleep over it.
(https://i.imgur.com/EXDZkb2.jpg)
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I'm always here for a mud transplant :popcorn:
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A mud transplant.... hmmm!
I had a peek below decks this evening.
(https://i.imgur.com/bEvRDOX.jpg)
This is the first time I've seen terminal blocks used in a guitar. This also means the pickup wires were cut at some point.
The pickup itself is very dead.
(https://i.imgur.com/6t1WVwi.jpg)
I didn't cut that white wire. The eyelet it hooks onto is totally loose and has broken the coil wire connected to it. Signs of over-soldering and snipped wires in here.
(https://i.imgur.com/WcizdrV.jpg)
Never trust a bass that shipped without strings! :mrgreen:
I imagine this was quite a chunky sounding pickup in its prime with those big ceramic magnets. Stock wiring harness features 500k pots as well, so maybe a big bright sounding bass originally.
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Hmm... is there anyone else on the site with "Mud in the 'Bird" club...?
:popcorn:
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Mud my bird up!
I had my apprentice with me today.
(https://i.imgur.com/KZk6HW9.jpg)
He decided it was time to do some irreversible damage!!!!
(https://i.imgur.com/HVAh0wQ.jpg)
In the bad old days I would have slapped a layer of copper shielding tape on that and called it a day. Now that I own a trim router I have a wooden template glued up and ready to go.
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Hell yes. The world needs more mudbucker basses for those folks who like actual bass frequencies.
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Making a hole to store some mud in.
(https://i.imgur.com/7VIcceK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VKSjaNn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jQFPik5.jpg)
I did this in six passes or so, removing a little wood each time. Having thought about the wiring a bit more I opted to install an additional volume control on the lower cutaway area. To do so I firstly drilled through the body.
(https://i.imgur.com/fohxH4J.jpg)
Then routed a cavity around this hole.
(https://i.imgur.com/KQ6nZLK.jpg)
...but there is no way I'm making a round control cover when a square one will do. The mudbucker template enjoyed a nice renaissance here.
(https://i.imgur.com/mQa3wGS.jpg)
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Coming along nicely.
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Clever trick using the Mud Template too!
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That's looking good! Can't wait to hear it!