Hi MoSch, I love the fact that you have started the build diary. Really love the "metal shrine" photo bombing some of the pictures - I am a huge fan of Dio, Iron Maiden and to a lesser extent Manowar.
I problem I do see is that in post #6 the two lower tuning pegs are in the wrong way! I'm sure they need to be fitted so that the string tension on the posts pull the post gears towards tuning peg gears (otherwise the gears may pull apart and slip).
PitBull Builds: FVB-4, LP-1SS, FBM-1, AG-2, TB-4, SSCM-1, TLA-1,TL-1TB, STA-1HT, DSCM-1 Truckster, ST-1, STA-1, MBM-1, MBM custom, GHR-1 (Resonator), FH-5V (Acoustic), DMS-1 (Mustang).
Scratch Builds: Pine Explorer, Axe Bass, Mr Scary, Scratchy Tele's.
The little voices in my head keep telling me "build more guitars"
BTW Having an oddly shaped bass project in the cue... I am very curious what you have done with the case?Originally Posted by MoSch
There's evidently a lot to like in the background. The Geezer Butler pickups caught my eye. I am using those in my current bass build. They are awesome!
Last edited by fender3x; 05-01-2026 at 10:24 AM.
Yes, I was able to use a drill press with a colleague :-)
I just needed the proper drill to pre-drill for the screws in the neck.
Considering pickup-wiring... I bought an EMG Geezer Butler Set with J and P-pickup including all the electronics and a solderless connector system - I'll only have to exchange the J-pickup by the DiMarzio DP146 (Billy Sheehan) I decided to use at the bridge position (and that seems to have at least compareable values for impedance, so it might work...)
Thank you for telling me that issue!
I was able to just switch the two and turn them around:
I butchered the foam in the case of a Charvel Star Bass with a knife to fit both basses now
ok, I'll still have to unscrew the spikes at the headstock...
so....l In case someone buys a Charvel Star Bass just to get the case... I might be interested in buying the bass, especially if it is a model with P-pickup(s) and any color but black
Great that you found a case that could fit with just a little modding! FWIW I found a fabric store that sells "fur" similar to what is in a guitar case. I bought a couple of square meters of it that I have been using to cover either places where my cuts have left the foam exposed, or to cover foam pieces that I have cut to improve the fit of the guitar in the case.
It occurs to me that if get tired of unscrewing the spikes, you might be able to use steel slugs/dowels and rare earth magnets so that you can do a "quick release" for the spikes when you want to put it in the case. Something similar to what DeWalt and other tool makers use for quick release screwdriver and drill bits.
I have a set of Geezer Butler P-J bass pickups, BTW. They are awesome! One of the best bass pickups I have heard IMHO.
Do you already have the DP146? If not, it might be worth it to get another Geezer Butler P pickup. The DP 146 is about the same price as a Geezer Butler P. You'd be able to use JBass wiring harness. The quick connect for the J pickup is the same as for the P pickup, and they would likely relatively well balanced. The EMG is a sort of classic, alnico V bass pickup, where as the Dimarzio is a very hot modern ceramic pickup. That may be great, since they will be quite different from each other, and you can always turn the DM down with an independent volume control. That said, one of the things I like about my Geezer Butler set is that the P and J are pretty well balanced.
The other advantage, assuming that you have been bitten by the guitar building bug, is that you'd have your P+P bass for this project, and you'd have a J bass pickup and quick-connect harness for the next project. That EMG J is not an ordinary J pickup. EMG designed it to work with the P bass pickup. It's also alnico V, but it's also higher output and humbucking. It would sound pretty good on its own, or you could use the wiring harness with any of EMG's other passive bass pickups. They are also in about the same price range as the Billy Sheehans
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