USA Epi hollowbody

drbassman · January 24, 2008, 11:52:35 AM

Got a newer Epi USA Sheraton body and we'll be doing the short scal bass thing with her, but with something original for the pups, like TV Jones ThunderTrons. I've got a mahog neck for it that needs a fret board and finishing, so this will be a fun one for sure.

Chris P. · January 24, 2008, 12:00:52 PM

Good idea! I like your plan.

Granny Gremlin · January 24, 2008, 12:01:28 PM

My Idea, that I will execute as I aquire the appripriate basketcase candidate, is to put some Triumph pups in a short scale hollowbody. The Trons doon't sound like a bad idea tho.

Barklessdog · January 24, 2008, 12:15:51 PM

Nice!

Keep us posted

drbassman · January 24, 2008, 01:12:35 PM

I used the TVJ pups in my Allen Woody (in Uwe's possession now) and they sounded pretty good. I've learned a little more about wiring Gibsons since I did that one and the key, I'm finding, is to use 250 k pots for the tone controls. Makes a big difference in the sound and tone.

eb2 · January 24, 2008, 02:14:45 PM

I really like the binding on that. I hope your neck gets the full treatment to match it up.

I had an old Peter Tork Gretsch, and the pups in that - which were Supertrons - sounded wonderful. Probably the one I liked most for recording. I know people love Hagstrom/Dark Stars, but I preferred it. I would imagine the TV Jones pups are simillar sounding.

I thought of TV Jones for a future Coronado experiment. I would love to try your Sheraton, but I know I can't handle a set neck. A man's got to know his limitations.

As always, Good Luck.

doombass · January 24, 2008, 02:22:19 PM

Nice project. You sure know how to keep being busy, and what better way than building/restoring basses. Is the mahogany neck your own build?

godofthunder · January 24, 2008, 04:25:27 PM

That will be one cool bass ! Bill I think you should quite your day gig.

drbassman · January 24, 2008, 06:18:51 PM

Thanks guys. I bought a bare bones neck some time ago just waiting for the right body to come along. Here's the neck.....

I haven't decided what I might do about binding on the neck. I'd probably have to make a matching binding, so I don't know if I have the patience for it!

Dave W · January 24, 2008, 06:58:56 PM

Interesting project. I've thought about a guitar to short scale bass conversion but not with a semihollow.

drbassman · January 24, 2008, 07:24:09 PM

Quote from: Dave W on January 24, 2008, 06:58:56 PM
Interesting project. I've thought about a guitar to short scale bass conversion but not with a semihollow.

I did it once before with my first project, a tele guitar body with a short scale neck.

the mojo hobo · January 24, 2008, 07:27:08 PM

Are those real toasters?

drbassman · January 24, 2008, 08:47:01 PM

Quote from: the mojo hobo on January 24, 2008, 07:27:08 PM
Are those real toasters?

Yep. I sold it a few years ago on eBay then saw it later on G Base. It sounded pretty neat but the toasters lack bottom and I let her go.

ramone57 · January 25, 2008, 07:00:32 AM

the key, I'm finding, is to use 250 k pots for the tone controls

Dr B, can you elaborate on the difference in sound between the 250k & 500k pots please? thanks!

drbassman · January 25, 2008, 09:00:17 AM

Quote from: ramone57 on January 25, 2008, 07:00:32 AM
the key, I'm finding, is to use 250 k pots for the tone controls

Dr B, can you elaborate on the difference in sound between the 250k & 500k pots please? thanks!

I have found that the lower resistance of the 250k pots enhances the lower frequencies and gives a fuller sound to the bass, IMHO of course. The higher the resistance, the more you bleed of the low end output of the pickup. I used four 500k pots on my recent NR repro TB and it sounds thin to me, so the 500k tone pots are coming out soon for 250s.

I first noticed it with a 72 Telecaster bass I rehabbed. It has 1 meg pots and no low end at all! It took all of the mud right out of that old humbucker pup. So, that one will be redone with a 500k tone pot to bring back some of the missing lows.