Medium scale modded (Novak Goldfoil)

temmrich

temmrich

Jan 29, 2012
497
342
5,126
Columbus, Ohio
#1
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So, I had this mid 80s squier medium scale p bass hanging around. Great player, I just recently leveled and dressed the frets, I had put a SD antiquity pickup in it and it sounded great. But I have several other p basses and it just wasn't getting much love. I thought, with all the interest in modding short scale bass these days, it might be a good platform to try a few things.

I didn't want to go crazy and make any changes that couldn't be reverted from later on. Enter the Curtis Novak surface mount goldfoil H22 and a new pickguard modeled after a mix of a mustang bass and a 70s tele bass (the design was settled on because it was different, didn't require any new holes, and it covers all the existing ones). Plus, I threw on an old Sandberg bridge I had laying around to get even further from a stock fender look.

Got lots of sound compliments at rehearsal last night.
 
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#4
NKBassman said:
That looks fantastic!
How does it sound compared to the SD Antiquity pickup?
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I think the antiquity was more stereotypical p-bassy, that punchy midrange sound that's woody when the tone is all the way up. But it also had focused fundamental with a little more bottom than my other p-basses, and I think that has to do with the shorter scale. Almost a mix of a p and a j sound. The goldfoil has a tighter bottom end, very focused, smooth midrange, no honk or nasalness, and the highs roll of nicely so it's not brittle on the top end. The goldfoil drives pedals really nicely. Especially things like an envelope filter. The bottom doesn't bloom into tubbiness and the highs don't get overly harsh, and there's enough oomph to get it to engage the filter.

This is all with Dunlop flatwounds on it.
 
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#5
temmrich said:
I think the antiquity was more stereotypical p-bassy, that punchy midrange sound that's woody when the tone is all the way up. But it also had focused fundamental with a little more bottom than my other p-basses, and I think that has to do with the shorter scale. Almost a mix of a p and a j sound. The goldfoil has a tighter bottom end, very focused, smooth midrange, no honk or nasalness, and the highs roll of nicely so it's not brittle on the top end. The goldfoil drives pedals really nicely. Especially things like an envelope filter. The bottom doesn't bloom into tubbiness and the highs don't get overly harsh, and there's enough oomph to get it to engage the filter.

This is all with Dunlop flatwounds on it.
Click to expand...
I have an Antiquity II in my main P4, so I'm familiar with that as a baseline.
Thanks for your thoughts on the Novak Goldfoil! Sounds nice!
 
#7
temmrich said:
it just wasn't getting much love. I thought, with all the interest in modding short scale bass these days, it might be a good platform to try a few things....Got lots of sound compliments at rehearsal last night.
Click to expand...
that is so cool! :thumbsup: nice job! that ax just looks like fun! :bassist:

question: the curtis novak site gives a choice between a bridge and a neck version of the pickup, if i understand correctly --- do you know which version you're using on that delectable mod of yours? TIA
www.curtisnovak.com

H22 Goldfoil

This is my vintage correct version of the classic Harmony H22 bass pickup. I went to painstaking detail to get this one right. The dimensions and contours of metal parts are spot on, as is the mag…
www.curtisnovak.com www.curtisnovak.com
 
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#9
I've been building exclusively 32' scale basses the past few years, in the planning stage of making a 32' bound and blocked J neck for an old MIM P bass with a terrible case of Fender Ski Jump. This scale is ideal IMO, plenty of punch and string tension, but a little easier to play then 34" scale. Cool bass!
 
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#10
Did the same mod on a Sire D5, super easy install. The flush mounting is nice, but height is not adjustable, Curtis does sell spacers to raise the pickup, probably necessary in the bridge position. The pickup is hot especially in the mids, but sounds fantastic. Mine doesn’t get much use because I don’t particularly care for the bass. I asked Curtis about which pickup I needed, neck as suspected.
IMG_2638.jpeg
 
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#11
JRA said:
that is so cool! :thumbsup: nice job! that ax just looks like fun! :bassist:

question: the curtis novak site gives a choice between a bridge and a neck version of the pickup, if i understand correctly --- do you know which version you're using on that delectable mod of yours? TIA
www.curtisnovak.com

H22 Goldfoil

This is my vintage correct version of the classic Harmony H22 bass pickup. I went to painstaking detail to get this one right. The dimensions and contours of metal parts are spot on, as is the mag…
www.curtisnovak.com www.curtisnovak.com
Click to expand...
I used the neck version. Initially, I even installed it a bit of center, and it still had great evenness and response. The outtermost strings were picked up fine. That being said, the slightly shorter scale and narrower (1.5" vs 1.625") nut may have helped keep them over the poles when that may not have been the case with a longer scale and wider nut. The poles are not visible on the top or bottom, and I have no idea of the actual pickup design.
mdogs said:
Did the same mod on a Sire D5, super easy install. The flush mounting is nice, but height is not adjustable, Curtis does sell spacers to raise the pickup, probably necessary in the bridge position. The pickup is hot especially in the mids, but sounds fantastic. Mine doesn’t get much use because I don’t particularly care for the bass. I asked Curtis about which pickup I needed, neck as suspected.View attachment 7001932
Click to expand...
I actually was reading your thread about this bass earlier today. I have a 51 reissue and was considering putting it in there just like you did on your D5, but I had just put an antiquity ii in it and that pickup sounded phenomenal in it. And, unlike your D5 (sorry you don't care for it), I really love playing my 51 RI.
 

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#12
temmrich said:
I used the neck version. Initially, I even installed it a bit of center, and it still had great evenness and response. The outtermost strings were picked up fine. That being said, the slightly shorter scale and narrower (1.5" vs 1.625") nut may have helped keep them over the poles when that may not have been the case with a longer scale and wider nut. The poles are not visible on the top or bottom, and I have no idea of the actual pickup design.

I actually was reading your thread about this bass earlier today. I have a 51 reissue and was considering putting it in there just like you did on your D5, but I had just put an antiquity ii in it and that pickup sounded phenomenal in it. And, unlike your D5 (sorry you don't care for it), I really love playing my 51 RI.
Click to expand...

It just needs some fret work and I have no one where I live. I need to take it to my guy in Chicago next time I visit my mom.
 
#15
Beautiful spot. I did a working interview in Green Bay a billion years ago. Loved everything but the company. One of the best skylines I've ever seen was in Wisconsin.

Can't help you with the fretwork in your neck of the woods. I was hoping you might be close to central Ohio. But your call on Chicago is probably the best option.
Sorry your D5 didn't ring your bell. I have a p5 and it's been pretty nice. I needed to refile the nut, but the frets were in great shape. EMG geezer in that one. 8
 
#17
temmrich said:
View attachment 7001596View attachment 7001597

So, I had this mid 80s squier medium scale p bass hanging around. Great player, I just recently leveled and dressed the frets, I had put a SD antiquity pickup in it and it sounded great. But I have several other p basses and it just wasn't getting much love. I thought, with all the interest in modding short scale bass these days, it might be a good platform to try a few things.

I didn't want to go crazy and make any changes that couldn't be reverted from later on. Enter the Curtis Novak surface mount goldfoil H22 and a new pickguard modeled after a mix of a mustang bass and a 70s tele bass (the design was settled on because it was different, didn't require any new holes, and it covers all the existing ones). Plus, I threw on an old Sandberg bridge I had laying around to get even further from a stock fender look.

Got lots of sound compliments at rehearsal last night.
Click to expand...

What strings did you put on it?
 
#18
Sharko said:
gorgeous design!

I’m mainly shocked to find out that Squier made a medium scale p bass. How do I find one?
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They pop up from time to time. Interestingly, the squier medium scale was offered before the fender medium scale and both were built by fender Japan in the fujigen factory in the 80s. They are of equal quality and craftsmanship.

The prices on these have been rising over the years. I really think they deserve a reissue. The medium scale jazz bass has been made several times over the years.
 
#20
Sharko said:
gorgeous design!

I’m mainly shocked to find out that Squier made a medium scale p bass. How do I find one?
Click to expand...
IIRC:

The Japanese were building Fenders at the time while the American factory was being retooled and the staff retrained. They asked Fender permission to build smaller scale P basses for the internal market. The Squier brand had been resurrected for the internal market in 1982.

When the Fender guys saw how good these Squiers were, they allowed them to be sold as Fenders. And that's how Fender Japan was born.

For a while in the mid 80s, the same factory was building both the Squier and the Fender version of this bass. The might have used different woods but they were literally the same instrument with a different decal.

Jake Serek has a video on this bass

 
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