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Author Topic: My Matt Sharp Jazz Bass Build!  (Read 2986 times)
umcoo
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« on: November 17, 2009, 04:16:21 PM »
In an attempt to resurrect this board somewhat, I thought I'd contribute and show you all a bass project I made this summer...this is quited from a couple of other forums I go to. Enjoy!

So being a big fan of the mighty Weezer, I decided to build a signature bass of their first bassist, Matt Sharp.  I decided on making his backup bass (his main bass was a heavily distressed 60's Jazz body, which is neither easy to find, or cheap).  His backup was a Mexican Fender Jazz blue body, Schecter Monstertone pickups and a Warmoth tele bass neck.  It looked like this....



So when Fender started making Lake Placid Blue bodies again last year, I thought now is a better time than any to have a go.  I searched high and low for the Monstertone pickups.  Found some in Sweden, but the guy never replied to me, then by chance, found some over in the states and paid for them.  9 weeks has passed since that, and they still haven't shown up (thanks USPS).

The body and miscellaneous stuff (pickguard, control plate etc) came from a guy on Ebay, and the Warmoth neck followed soon after.  I gave up on the Monstertones and ordered some Wizard 84's.  Put on a Gotoh 201 bridge and some Hipshot HB2's and she was ready to roll.

Here's a fair few pics of the build and the final piece!  Oh, and it sounds bitchin!














oh...and those pickups never did show up!
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Ricardo_P
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« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2009, 01:36:52 PM »
Nice, sorry to hear about the pickups. A friend of mine bought a bass once and he didn't get it for about 6 months later when the company found his order that they had miss placed.

How many hours do you think you put into this?
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umcoo
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« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2009, 04:43:37 PM »
Mmmnn hours...not sure.  The actualy build didn't take too long.  Maybe 10 or so?  The whole thing took a few months though with researching and waiting on things!
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maltjik
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« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2010, 07:47:58 AM »
great looking bass!! i actually had no idea about the blue backup bass!
but matts black jazz bass with tele neck is such a classic...

the hours i've spent looking at the garage pic with the gear in TBA-booklet...
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Dingus
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« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2010, 12:48:24 PM »
So I've been thinking of doing something similar but with the Black Jazz Bass (his main)

I just wanted to ask about your bridge and tuner choices.

I'm relatively sure that Matt used a Schecter 463 Bridge (http://www.warmoth.com/Schaller-463-4-String-C722.aspx) on his main and the LPB copy and was wondering if you knew that when you went with the Gotoh and still picked it out of preference, or was just misinformed?

I'm wondering the same thing about the tuners? Do you know that he used Hipshots? or is that just your personal preference? From pictures it looks like he's using standard Fender Bass "clover" style tuners, or more likely given the bridge preference and what Warmoth sells, Schaller BML Bass Tuners (http://www.warmoth.com/Schaller-BML-Bass-Tuners-Set-of-4-Chrome-P139C731.aspx)



Here are some great pic links of his main bass btw, from an '07 Rentals tour:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schilder/1101881834/sizes/o/in/set-72157601410568565/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trysop/1189691162/
« Last Edit: August 26, 2010, 12:58:19 PM by Dingus » Logged
umcoo
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« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2010, 10:39:35 AM »
Hi Dingus,

It's funny you write this at this time...I'm considering making the black one now myself.  I parted out and sold this bass fairly recently.  I've finally sourced some Schecter Monstertone pickups and they should be on their way to me this week.  Do you have a set of these?  I've only seen a couple of sets come up in about the past 3 years.  Very rare!!

Yes, you're right.  The black bass does have a Schaller 463.  I can't remember if I knew this when I did the build, but obviously went with the Gotoh.  I've heard great things about the Schaller bridge and Warmoth seems to be the cheapest place for them I've seen, although second hand prices are pretty good. 

In regards to the tuners, I ordered a set of BML's, but the didn't show up for ages.  I ordered some Hipshots and both sets of tuners came at the same time!  I went with the Hipshots as I thought they seems a higher quality tuner.  Nothing against the Schallers...just how it was at the time.  Actually, there is a picture on therentals.com from I think March 14th (??) and the headstock is in the picture.  It sure looks like a Schaller BML on the neck, but can't quite make out the brand.  I'd be tempted to say it was a BML!

Now I'll be getting the right pickups, I think I'll put more effort into the next build to get bthings right.  I'm currently trying to find out what neck woods are used.  It looks to me like ebony fretboard and flame maple or birdseye maple neck.  There aren't many deent quality pics of it though...especially the back of the neck.

As the body is a 60's Fender, I was looking at an Alder (most likely) body finished in black nitro paint (same used in the 60's).  I'm still unsure if I'll get it 'reliced' to look like Sharps...that seems a bit lame.  Time will tell though!

Let me know your progress in the build...it'd be good to see!  Good luck
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Dingus
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« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2010, 08:41:25 AM »
Hi Umcoo,

         No, I haven't found a set of the Monstertone Jazz Bass pickups yet, but I'll keep looking (let me know if you have any tips to share). My progress so far is that I have a black MIM jazz bass that I've replaced the pickguard, pickups (just went with American Standard Jazz Bass pups), electronics, knobs, bridge (with the 463, I found one on eBay for $30), and I've got the tuners on the way. I still need the neck which is hard to justify the cost of at the moment, but essential of course. It's also worth noting that he used the standard Warmoth 21-fret bass neck opposed to the Fender standard 20-fret bass neck (for Tele and Jazz models). It's also interesting to note that the heel of his neck has a squared off fretboard opposed to the rounded ones that Warmoth now make standard. I'm trying to keep the cost down on this project so far I've spent:

Fender Standard Jazz Bass - $200
Potentiometers - $8
Jack - $3
Knobs - $2
Bridge - $30
Tuners - $35
Pickguard - $17
Pickups - $68
Nut - $4

Total - $367

The damn neck is going to cost me about $300... ugh. Otherwise I've been doing pretty good with this. Either way it's plenty functional now with the Jazz bass neck, and leaves me room to upgrade it down the road. It's super tempting to get a luthier to shape the jazz bass neck I have to the tele shape, sand it down and tint/clearcoat the peghead/headstock. However that wouldn't get me 21 frets (he actually slides up from the 5th to the 21st fret on El Scorcho, so I know of at least 1 case where it "matters").

Oh well, I'll keep this thread updated if I ever finish it, neck and all.
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umcoo
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« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2010, 12:39:17 PM »
Dingus,

As I said, the Monstertones are incredibly hard to find.  I've finally got some now, so I'm sorted in that department (sorry!).  Tips...mmnn just keep on ebay really.  I saw a post by  a member of a bass forum who said they had some in 1996, didn't like them and took them out.  I emailed asking if they still had them and would they sell them...turns out they said yes!

The neck is definately up there as the most expensive.  I'm in the UK so I have customs fees to pay aswell, so think yourself lucky!  Yeah, Warmoth used to square off the neck heels back in the day.  Not sure if they would still do it, but if they did, I would assume there would be an extra cost for it. 

One thing I have noticed is I believe the body is actually from the 1970's.  The space between the two pickups was slightly further apart in the 70's, and this looks to fit with Matts bass.  Can't be certain though.  I always thought it was a 60's body as it was just so fucked with the paint coming off, but I think Sharp is just hard on his bass!     
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Dingus
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« Reply #8 on: February 04, 2011, 11:41:25 AM »
Hey Umcoo, just wondering what Fretboard Radius and Fretsize you chose to go with when you ordered the neck from Warmoth?
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