Back to the future

[Keith Walters]

I've just bought a Left-handed Precision bass kit. I've been knocked around by two severe doses of Flu so I haven't been able to do much more than check that all the bits are there! Looking forward to feeling well enough to start the actual assembly.
About 30 years ago I made a bass out of a 6-string guitar I bought for $12 in a second hand shop. It actually worked a lot better than it had any right to, but I always wanted to get a "proper" bass. However left-handed ones are difficult to come by, at least a a price I could justify.

[wokkaboy]

welcome to the forum Keith ! So it's a PB-4 or PBH-4 ? Great kit to build. Have you got any photo's of your guitar to bass conversion ? Was it a shorter scale bass neck ?

Hope you can shake the flu and make a start on the PB build. Start a build diary and ask any questions you have there

[Andy40]

Welcome to the Forum Keith

About 30 years ago I made a bass out of a 6-string guitar I bought for $12 in a second hand shop.

You can do that ??????

I always wanted to get a "proper" bass.

I second that motion Keith...you've earned it!

[wazkelly]

G'day Keith and welcome to the forum.

Hope the flu clears soon so that you can make a start of your lefty P Bass over Easter.

Cheers, Waz

[Brendan]

Excellent - another low ender. Hope the flu clears!

[Simon Barden]

Hi Keith. I don't envy you getting flu twice in a row. Good luck with your build and remember that we're here to help.

[Fretworn]

Welcome Keith. Hope you are better soon.

[Keith Walters]

welcome to the forum Keith ! So it's a PB-4 or PBH-4 ? Great kit to build. Have you got any photo's of your guitar to bass conversion ? Was it a shorter scale bass neck ?

Actually the order says JB-4L.
No photos of the old bass, but I remember finding a cassette tape a few years ago with a couple of 4-track recordings I'd made using it. I've got no idea where that is, but I'm still on the lookout for it.
It was just a standard right-handed 6 string guitar. I don't know what make it was because the previous owner had repainted it with garish red and blue enamel, but I could tell it wasn't a complete piece of junk. It wasn't a copy of any particular brand. The standout feature was it had a rocker switch engraved: " Rizm/Solo". It was only years later that I realized that was supposed to be "Rhythm/Solo"!
I got started when I saw some water-damaged bass guitar string sets in a disposal store. They were sealed in plastic boxes so only
the labels were damaged, but they were going for about $4.50 so I bought some. I made a new 4-notch nut from a piece of ox leg bone cut for me by a friendly butcher on his bandsaw! The pickups worked fine even though the strings didn't quite line up. I was a bit dubious about the machine heads but they tuned the heavy strings OK.
This was actually in New Zealand where I lived for about 9 years. I gave the guitar to a neighbour's kid when I left; figuring I'd get something decent when I got back to Australia. Better late than never!
Edited to add: As for the scale length, I suspect it might actually have been one octave higher than a standard bass, but it still sounded OK.