Modify a Les Paul Tribute Jr DC bass with a Hobbit Pickup......

[Highlander]

 

[Chris P.]

Nice project!

[Grog]

I just ordered my “Donor Bass” off of eBay. Who would have thought after buying one for $599 new that the prices would have gone up like they did for a used one. I ended up buying another Blue Stain bass in like new condition for $90 more than I payed for my first one. I will have to decide how I route the cavity to accept a LPR pickup. It’ll just need a little clearance for each end & the three screw lugs. Also, the cavity will have to be another 1/8 or so deeper I believe.
If a Les Paul Triumph bass is a Hobbit, will that make this blue beast a Smurf?

[Highlander]

Smeagol, because it's not who you think it is... 

[Pilgrim]

Smeagol, because it's not who you think it is... 

I thought that was Inigo Montoya. 

[Grog]

The project bass sat at Sparrows Point MD four days before it moved, possibly due to bad weather along the coast. In just a matter of hours it was in St. Paul MN. It showed up here this morning. You wouldn’t think that 35.00 shipping would buy air shipping but it seems like it did. The new (used) bass looks & plays nicer than my original. The color is nicer without the weird wood grain on one side. It plays almost as good as my player Hobbit. I think the one I bought new will become the project bass. I won’t start tearing anything apart for at least a week. My wife is having minor surgery next week & since I’ll have to hang around the house (even more than usual), that will keep me out of mischief. The bass on the right is the new one.....

[Pilgrim]

That's a good-looking dark blue.

[Grog]

The main question I have on this project is what to use for a tone capacitor. Both the Les Paul Recording Guitar & the Les Paul Triumph bass have both a treble & bass control. The bass I am modifying will have a Les Paul Recording pickup & only a treble control. The LPT bass has a 4.7uf on the treble pot & a .15uf on the bass pot. The only low impedance guitar with only a tone control is the L5-S. It has a 3.3uf capacitor. I was leaning towards using the bass pot with the .15uf capacitor as I am more interested in deeper tones. Any suggestions?

[Basvarken]

I'd use the 4.7 uF since that is used for the treble pot. It will work well with the lo-z pickup.
I don't see the use of a bass pot with because you can only roll bass off.

[Grog]

I'd use the 4.7 uF since that is used for the treble pot. It will work well with the lo-z pickup.
I don't see the use of a bass pot with because you can only roll bass off.

Thanks Rob! I’ll give it a try.....

[Grog]

I had a little time this afternoon, so I stripped the donor bass.



Everything has to be located from where the chrome pickup ring does the best job of covering the existing opening in the pick guard.
I drilled pilot holes & screwed the ring right into the pick guard. I think only one screw will have wood to screw into. It seems pretty secure. Just a little bit of light peeks along the back & at two points on the angles on the front. It is close!



I had to file a smalll amount of clearance for the radiuses on each end of the pickup. Also clearance for the three screws & springs that mount the pickup. Not bad!



Next will be opening up the cavity. It almost fits, just hanging up on the front & top screw lug.  The pocket will have to be cut deeper by 1/8“ to 3/16” & drilled clearance for the three screws. Another day.......

[Dave W]

That should work!

[OldManC]

It looks at home already! That's going to be a great looking and sounding bass.

[Basvarken]

Love it! 

[Pilgrim]

Nothing wrong with using the pickguard to mount the pickup. Should work nicely, and looks good.