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Lotus P-Bass Body - Donation from Dave H
Body Finish: "Rattle Can" Red for a buck a can. Buzzard's Blood Red
Maybe I shoulda spent some more time and another buck for a can of primer but I'm on some kinda marathon speed-build here seeing as I haven't played a fretless since last October~! Squeezed one can onto the backside; looks like shit but will do the trick. Unless Dave wants to take it on tour, she'll be just fine for me.
Why does it look like shit~? It doesn't. It's got "character" . . .
Why did I paint the body with rattle cans without filling, sanding, or priming? Because Dave sent it as a gift so I wanted to leave this body exactly as I received it. If anyone ever questions the workmanship of this bass they'll know that this bass has special meaning to me. I also painted the body this color because this is MY color, a blood red. Every scratch and nick is sealed over but still remains~!
Body Routing: Wednesday, while looking at a picture of Dave and his PJ Bass, it came to me . . .
why not make this a PJ~?
I know, it's already painted but WTF does that ever matter~? I've got no router so this'll be done old skool . . . after I go get me some drill bits and sharpen the chisels . . .
Pickguard: Black One-Off . . . Tuesday, while the paint was still wet, I sketched out a pickguard for making the template. But GUESS WHAT happened~?
Yup, the paint was still too tacky and the paper stuck to the backside of the body while it rested overnight . . . so I wet-sanded the body just enough to break the glaze and remove the imbedded paper and I'll have to throw on some clear . . .
Wednesday: 1-27-10: Started cutting out the pickguard: 1 -|- 2 -|- 3 -|- 4 but I had to stop because the hacksaw wasn't making a turn. Pickguard installed.
Finger/Thumb Rests: Ramp
Bridge: Chrome 4-string OEM Deluxe
Bridge Layout: Wednesday: 1-27-10: Step-by-step photos . . .
Neck extension lines -|- Mark the center line -|- Mark the 34 inch scale
Position the bridge -|- Drilling 1st bridge holes -|- Drilling last bridge holes
Now draw a line around the bridge and remove it 'cuz I'm using the same layout to continue with the layout of the pickguard and pickups. Now GO here . . .
Bridge/Pickup Covers: Possible P
Strap Locks: Of course . . . in time.
The Plan: Rip the 5-string fretless neck down to a 4
Tuesday: 1-26-10: It takes a good set of gonads to decide to freehand rip an already good neck down from a 5 string to a 4 string neck. Not only that but it takes a very steady hand to rip it so it doesn't rip apart.
But, lo and behold . . . here we go . . . Clamped the neck overhanging the bench. View two is like preparing to walk a tight rope. Take a last look at a perfectly usable neck.
Quit squirming because I already ripped it and she's not too shabby~!
A little bit-o-work with a rasp and files and she'll be ready to install:
Profiled rear of neck - she's getting there . . . I even fit the heel into the pocket while the paint was still wet~!
Wednesday: 1-27-10: I tried to match the amber stain on the back of the neck but it wasn't even close but I'll leave it on for now. I went to drill out the holes for mounting the neck and all four screws lines up so that made my day . . .
But what about the headstock~? Leaving it alone for now . . .
Headstock: Extra Hole - will use to hang from a special 20D spike in a stud.
I've contemplated filling the hole but it'll raise curiosity amonst the connoisseurs.
Tuning Machines: 4 plus 1 spare
Tuesday: 1-26-10: Threw the tuners onto the headstock after finishing the heel and applying a coat of ebony stain/sealer on the board.
Truss Rod Cover: Didn't have one. Never had one and never will . . .
Fingerboard: Rosewood with fretlines.
Tuesday: 1-26-10: Splashed some ebony stain/sealer on the board.
Fret Size: Miniscule - next to nothing. Looks like something, but, nope, nada one.
Strings: Rotosound RS 66 RW 5-strings - will/may be B E A D
I got a half-price deal on these. I bought 'em when I thought I'd be going 5-string. I also wanted pounds to be the same as what Dave uses. I usually run the flats on all my fretless basses.
String Nut: Bone nut was made 1-9/16" long - Jazz-P-Bass.
I still need a .130" nut file so I may as well go E A D G and open her up later.
So here's the nut pix: Close-up -|- Full Headstock
String Guide: SX Chrome 3-String Flat Bar
I think the SX flat bar sucks for this project. It works fine for a 5-string though not perfect. It'd be okay for a 4-banger but I'd move it away from the truss rod nut access hole for starters. Here's what I mean by "the flatbar string guide sucks" . . .
Seeeee how the flat bar forces the G string at a fugly angle?
This is the headstock after installing a round string guide.
Special Setup Specs: Had originally planned B E A D
Pickups: 1-27-2010: Changed from just a Split-coil P to a PJ setup.
Pickups and harness were donated to this project from Jimmy D from RI.
Pickup Layout: Wednesday: 1-27-10: Step-by-step photos . . .
Layout for pickups -|- Layout Dimensions - 1 -|- 2 -|- 3 -|- 4 -|- 5 -|- 6
This is gonna get ugly: 1 -|- 2 -|- 3 -|- 4 -|- 5 -|- 6 -|- 7 -|- 8 -|- 9 -|- 10
and uglier . . . 11 -|- 12 . . . so ugly I'll only show the last photo =o)
Control Plate: Pickguard will have 4 holes eliminating the side-of-body drilling.
I'll hack into the body cavity IF need be in order to fit the controls.
Controls: Volume-Volume-Tone along with the output jack on top.
Control Pots: Three CTS 250K Audio Taper Short Solid Shaft Pots
Control Knobs: Three WD Music Custom Chrome Flat Top Knobs
Shielding: Copper Foil Shielding applied to the backside of the pickguard and the body cavities.
Wiring: I had to use a length of solid core copper two conductor wire I snagged from a section of the garage door wiring because, at the time, I had nothing else. It works sweeeeet though. I also had to drill from the bridge pickup cavity into the neck pickupo cavity because I didn't have a long enough drill bit to go straight to the control cavity.
No guts no glory~!
It's not many people who'll stop their lives long enough to listen, never mind take major parts from their own crib and ship them to you at their cost, but Dave is one of the good guys. The major parts Dave donated are the Body, the Neck, and the Tuning Machines which pushed me into overdrive with excitement because I've been depressed because, out of everything I own, my basses are what I miss playing the most.
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Parts & Labor Checklist
 Lotus P-Bass BodyFront -|- Rear
Buzzard PJ Body
Completed
 • Finish: Rattle Can Red
• Bridge: OEM DLX CHR
• Bridge Cover: Maybe
• Pickup Cover: Nope
• Pickguard: Black
• PG Screws: Chrome
• Finger Rest: Nope
Thumb Rest: Ramp
• Strap Buttons: Chrome
Strap Locks: Soon
SX FL 5 Neck
• Headstock: 4+1-1
• Fingerboard: RW R & R
• Fret Size: 0.000"
• Tuners: Chrome
• Tuner Screws: Chrome
• String Guide: Round
• Strings: RS 66 RW
• Nut R&R: Bone
• Truss Rod Cover: Nope
• Setup: Completed
Electronics
• Copper Foil Shielding
• Pickups: SX P & J
• P'up Screws: Chrome
• P'up Springs & Pads
• Control Plate: BLK PG
• Control Pots: SX 250K
• Control Knobs: 3 Domes
• Capacitor: .05 Disc
• Output Jack: Metric
• Buzzard's PJ Wiring
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