ES4-B 1st Build

[fender3x]

Thanks, Simon, I have indeed learned a lot! I was definitely going for the '60's vibe. I called it Anachronistic because it's "out of time." Got a lot of old style parts and ideas that have generally not all found their way into the same bass.

It's a really unique kit that I haven't seen anywhere else, and Adam is to be commended for commissioning it. But I also see why no company has built one quite like it. Most semi-hollows are short-scale. This allows the bridge to be closer to neck and gives more room for a conventional tailpiece. I see why Gibson designed stop tailpieces and thee-points, but the forces working to pull their pins out are more extreme a curved top than on a EB or Thunderbird. So, short tailpiece, two point bridge seem like the way to go.

Pickups were dictated by what would fit in the humbucker routs. They needed to be wide enough for bass spacing. They needed to shift a little south because of the neck pocket being a little off. Preferably they'd be narrow and rounded at the end. Not many pickups fit that configuration ;-)

So, how does it sound? Good! I'll see if I can make a decent recording of it and put the samples up. Nothing Gibson about the way it sounds. Nothing vaguely muddy. Not exactly Fender sounding either. It sounds best with both pickups on. Not as scooped as a Jazz. It has some booty, but more treble than a Precision.

To get it the way I want, I need to bleed off quite a bit of the top end, and turn off the tweeters on my cab. When I do that, I really like the way it sounds. Not sure whether I'll ever use either of the single-pup settings. You lose quite a bit of gain and it seems to get thinner sounding as well. I now understand why the volume pots are 100K. Even with alnico magnets the lipsticks have plenty of top end.

Not sure how the pickup placement was determined, but it seems to work well for these pups. The neck pickup is just about where a p-bass pickup would be. The bridge pickup a lot farther from the bridge than a it would be on a jazz. I don't hear much scoop, or big boost in treble with both pickups on, and that may be why.

I wanted something a bit different, and it certainly is that, and in a good way. As the strings wear in, I hope it will get even better.

[PeterSik]

looks real good mate..

even though red is really not my colour i do like it on your bass..
mine is now at the polishing and i\m having some trouble getting a decent shine..

[Simon Barden]

I'll be making one for a friend when the kit arrives in November. It's simple custom order with no pickup routs or tuner holes drilled so I can decide on which pickups and tuners to fit. All passive though, nothing active (nowhere to easily put a battery for a start). I was thinking of fitting the Hipshot Supertone bridge and making sure that I get and fit the longest stud inserts I can find to counter any pulling action.

[fender3x]

looks real good mate..

even though red is really not my colour i do like it on your bass..
mine is now at the polishing and i\m having some trouble getting a decent shine..

The red made me think of the Epiphones of my youth. Yours is amazing and a color that would not have occurred to me.

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[fender3x]

I'll be making one for a friend when the kit arrives in November. It's simple custom order with no pickup routs or tuner holes drilled so I can decide on which pickups and tuners to fit. All passive though, nothing active (nowhere to easily put a battery for a start). I was thinking of fitting the Hipshot Supertone bridge and making sure that I get and fit the longest stud inserts I can find to counter any pulling action.

I wanted to avoid routing because the surface is curved. If you have the right equipment, though it's a better option.

I looked at both the hipshot and the babicz replacements for the 3-point. For me the problem was that they seem to mount flat, and the space on an ESB-4 is curved. I have since learned that hipshot will send you a fit kit so that looks like a good option.

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[Fretworn]

I love it. Great job.

[fender3x]

Thanks, Fretworn.

I have been playing it all afternoon. I think I have the setup as good as it's going to get. Have to get used to the neck that is wider than a j-style. But it sounds good with and weigh in at about 7.5 lbs (3.4 Kg) my back likes it too.

Simon, you might consider lighter tuning machines. It has a little neck dive. Nothing a decent strap won't correct, but something to consider.

That said, the stock tuners are smooth as glass and the bass has been staying in tune despite the fact that the temperature changes.





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[wazkelly]

Finally caught up with this thread and impressed with how things turned out. Looks great.

[Andy40]

Same here Waz. great work Fender. I love the red. It would be cool to hear a recording.

[Simon Barden]

I think that Fender3x will be still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Irma for a while, so a recording may not be the first thing on his mind. Really hope you didn't suffer too much, Fender3x.