It’s done. The Fralin pickup and electronics are installed in the Warmoth Tele Bass.
It thumps now.
It is also brighter than it was on the Squier. Same pots, Fender flats, it has a more defined treble and mid tones. I wonder if that’s because of brass saddles on the bridge? Anyway sounds really good.
The chrome decorative plate around pickup rubbed against the string wound around the pickup - 51P pickups are exposed, they don’t have a cover. Left it as I didn’t like the contact, I figure it will just look like I removed the ashtray.
Completely different bass like I said. Kicking myself for not recording it before/after.
The routes are much nicer, everything was super easy to install. Only problem was when the cat jumped up on the workbench and made a mess. I lost a screw for the jack plate, so it’s held on by one. Will need to remedy that.
Now to start up B2B again and acquaint myself with the new bass.
Quite possibly. The Squier has a pine body and maple neck, best as I can tell this is an ash body with rosewood fretboard. It comes down to the bridge or the wood, either way it’s quite nice
Initially I started playing guitar but after some time I found out that it’s just not for me… I bought a MIM Fender Jazz Bass and really liked playing bass, however the Jazz Bass was too quiet and it just didn’t have that “punch” (I wasn’t even aware of that at the time — I just didn’t like the sound of it).
A couple of days ago, I’ve tried this AM Pro P-Bass. Oh. My. God.
This is, by far, the BEST instrument that I ever played in my life (yes, I’m comparing this with all the other guitars and basses and drums that I’ve played). Already setup out of the box, A M A Z I N G tone, the neck plays like butter.
I truly think that this is one of the best purchases that I made and that I’ll be keeping this bass forever. I bought it yesterday and I’m playing the heck out of it!
She is here. I tried her briefly, and my initial impression is I see what people say about the pickup. It seems very balanced, highs, mids, and lows. I think people are expecting more thump out of it being a 50s style P, and this is more modern sounding.
It sounds good, but I just took off the D’Addario XLs and put on my old Thomastik Infeld flats, the set that gave me a wonky A on the Squier. But I’m suspicious that was a problem with the nut.
The Sire has a much better string tree design that also addresses the A. Fender could learn a trick here for no cost.
If it’s still bright, then I will see about doing something about the brass saddles on the bridge. But then I really want a Nordstrand too, and gas is gas.
The socket design is much bteer then the Squier, which uses the old Tele style socket with the clip. This Sire is a better design and more reliable.
What I like about Sires are their attention to small details, like the string tree and output socket. They are simply more pragmatic, functional designs.
Now to see how she sounds. Neck seems nice initially. The back of the neck is smooth and light satin finish, where the fretboard is a super heavy gloss. The roasted maple is nice
Update on the Tele bass, now that I play it more it has super heavy neck dive, lightweight tuners next
Brass saddles are generally desirable; I wouldn’t touch those. I’d just bite the bullet and admit the pickup is the problem. Or just enjoy its different character
I agree with Howard: Leave the brass saddles. If you want serious thump, go with a more classic pup. I was going to do exactly that with the Sire P5 I had on order.
As you know, Sires have outstanding fit, finish, woods, and attention to detail. Just swap out the pup and maybe slap on some lightweight tuners, and you’re home.
The pickup is very mids focused, I would like some more low end, but unlike the Duncan pickup, this one still thumps. This pickup is really hot. Like a Dimarzio Model P hot.
More low end would be nice, but I think it has enough to work with and the rest could be fixed with an EQ pedal/sim. I think this screams for distortion. I haven’t hooked it to the B3k yet but will do so. And my Behringer BDI21. There’s a rawness to the pickup.
This bass is very playable. It’s like the FGN in that. Neck profile has good proportions, not too chonky like the Squier, not too flat like the Charvel.
If you’re looking for that vintage 50s sound, go Squier. It has a beautiful tone.
If you’re looking for playability, quality, and versatility, go D5.
Where I place my basses.
For all around gigging, D5 and FGN. Those two would carry me. D5 fore rock oriented, punk stuff. FGN for more classic rock stuff, but either could handle anything.
For harder rock, metal, the Stream, especially when I get the Sainless Steel strings on with the EMG pickups
My CV 60s Squire with the Delano Big Pole pickup (which I hope to add tomorrow) with chromes will handle funk.
Tele bass has the potential to be a great blues bass if I can dial in the neck dive
Follow-up on the silver relicing of the missing finish. This is the result of the experiment to “fill” the missing part with a cast silver piece. It’s really flush and follows the contour except for some parts where it was simply too thin and overall the form follows the shape of the body pretty well. The pictures show pretty much how it went. Use of soft wax to cast and shape, the cast piece in silver before filing, trying out the piece and marking the spots where it was too high and the final piece placed.
What actually made me feel really good is that someone I consider knows a lot about basses and was a bassist too tried this bass out and said it feels really nice, the quality is good and mostly, it sounds really well!
