Why the Reverse Double P?

[MichaelOz]

Bit of a metamorphosis for my reverse double-P. Previously a black alder body - I wasn't terribly happy with a lot of things so I decided to keep the neck and make a new body.

So, 4 string all maple neck with 5 strings (nice and tight), 35" scale, 2-piece northern ash body, Hipshot hardware and Bart pickups. Passive with a three-way mini switch: neck, both in series, and bridge.

Pretty light, very balanced, goes from "P" via "sort of generic" to "sort of Musicman/Jazz".

Regards,
Michael

 

[Raulplaysbass]

Happy with my reverse double P. Definitely more even tone from E to G than my standard P. Lee & Leo were the inspiration!

 

[TimBosby]

Wow I love that you modded a Musicman.

View attachment 2918730 Happy with my reverse double P. Definitely more even tone from E to G than my standard P. Lee & Leo were the inspiration!

 

[Raulplaysbass]

Wow I love that you modded a Musicman.

Thank you! It’s not a real Musicman, sounds crazy good.

 

[Leland Sklar]

Thank you! It’s not a real Musicman, sounds crazy good.

Really cool. Enjoy!

 

[Raulplaysbass]

Really cool. Enjoy!

Thanks Lee!

 

[ihaveaquestion]

that is when I discovered Mandolin frets (the thinnest frets you can get) and have done all my basses with them ever since.

What are the advantages of super thin frets?

 

[berklee46]

I was lucky enough to just get this and had to join in after seeing some really nice basses in this thread.

A few years ago, John Carruthers was kind enough to build a "Frankenstein" bass around the specs of the one he made Lee all those years ago. I've always been a fan of the reverse P configuration and am very grateful to have one made by the same person that made Lee's.

• 1967 Alder Fender P Bass body
• Early 1980's EMG pickups
• Badass bridge
• Hipshot USA tuners
• Custom brass control plate
• Carruthers hand built neck with mandolin frets

 

[danclaro]

I was lucky enough to just get this and had to join in after seeing some really nice basses in this thread.

A few years ago, John Carruthers was kind enough to build a "Frankenstein" bass around the specs of the one he made Lee all those years ago. I've always been a fan of the reverse P configuration and am very grateful to have one made by the same person that made Lee's.

• 1967 Alder Fender P Bass body
• Early 1980's EMG pickups
• Badass bridge
• Hipshot USA tuners
• Custom brass control plate
• Carruthers hand built neck with mandolin frets

View attachment 3050073 View attachment 3050074

Cool! How does it sound?

 

[berklee46]

Cool! How does it sound?

It plays and sounds fantastic. It’s very loud acoustically and brighter than I expected, which is not a bad thing at all. The guy I bought it from looked at a lot of bodies before “settling” on this ‘67 Precision.
Some have said it’s a myth, but I definitely hear the D and G being fuller with this reverse pickup configuration...

Danclaro, I’m a big fan of the bass you built, with all the attention to detail put into it.

I’ve looked for the right bass like this for a while now and couldn’t be happier with this one. Definitely worth the wait!

 

[danclaro]

Thanks berklee66! The two p-pickup bass is a great platform. I definitely hear the D and G strings as more full because of that pickup configuration. Really cool that you have one made by John Carruthers.

 

[danclaro]

 

[danclaro]

 

[PawleeP]

I was lucky enough to just get this and had to join in after seeing some really nice basses in this thread.

A few years ago, John Carruthers was kind enough to build a "Frankenstein" bass around the specs of the one he made Lee all those years ago. I've always been a fan of the reverse P configuration and am very grateful to have one made by the same person that made Lee's.

• 1967 Alder Fender P Bass body
• Early 1980's EMG pickups
• Badass bridge
• Hipshot USA tuners
• Custom brass control plate
• Carruthers hand built neck with mandolin frets

View attachment 3050073 View attachment 3050074

killer

 

[back2thebassics]

Mark Hoppus employed the reverse P in the neck position of his signature Jazz bass, he claimed the D and G strings sounded weak in the standard P position and so reversed it to balance the tone across the strings. The measurement here was taken from the 12th fret by a TB member in another thread.

I'm planning a build that takes elements from both the original Frankenstein bass and Mark Hoppus's Signature bass. Would anyone happen to know the exact placement of Mr. Sklar's reverse P pickups or perhaps take a minute to measure their tribute Frankenstein bass placements and post them here?

On a side note,
Mr. Sklar, it has been great watching your quarantine videos you've been posting. It is such an inspiration to hear you play and talk about your life. Thank you for posting those videos for us! I'll continue to tune in throughout quarantine.
I hope you all are staying healthy out there

 

[Raulplaysbass]

In one of his recent YouTube videos he mentioned that they were placed in the jazz bass pickup positions. around 12:06



Cheers!

 

[back2thebassics]

Actually if you look at this image posted earlier in the thread they are both just a little further toward the neck

 

[Steve432]

Thanks for all these postings. I am also greatly enjoying Lee's youtube channel. Lee, you are a national treasure! And thanks for the Clubhouse! I am putting together parts to make a Frankenstein bass and I would love to know the exact pickup placement. This picture on the last post might be enough to extrapolate the dimensions. It looks like danclaro has it pretty close to dead on (great video playing along with Up on the Roof, BTW...excellent tone and feel!). How did you figure the exact dimensions? Do you feel like they are "correct"? Would you be willing to post them? Say the space from the bottom (bridge side) of the 20th fret to the top of the EA P bass pickup...or center of the pick up. I don't know which would be clearer. Thanks for any help you can provide. I really appreciate it!

 

[TimBosby]

I've had two variations on this idea now (both sold) and am concocting up a third one in my head (budget version - more to come in this thread if it comes to fruition.) Your best bet it to take your existing P rout (or figure out where the existing P rout would be - maybe measure a standard Fender P bass or something) - and then go immediately "above" and "below" that rout for your reverse P pickups. Maybe leave a thin sliver (a couple millimeters of wood) in between the center rout and the two reverse P routs. Also, Mr. Sklar's original Frankenbass I believe has a Charvel body, but I would think the P pickup would be similar in placement to a standard Fender. I have no way of knowing this but eyeballing is probably as good as we can do on Talkbass See my rough mockup below:

Thanks for all these postings. I am also greatly enjoying Lee's youtube channel. Lee, you are a national treasure! And thanks for the Clubhouse! I am putting together parts to make a Frankenstein bass and I would love to know the exact pickup placement. This picture on the last post might be enough to extrapolate the dimensions. It looks like danclaro has it pretty close to dead on (great video playing along with Up on the Roof, BTW...excellent tone and feel!). How did you figure the exact dimensions? Do you feel like they are "correct"? Would you be willing to post them? Say the space from the bottom (bridge side) of the 20th fret to the top of the EA P bass pickup...or center of the pick up. I don't know which would be clearer. Thanks for any help you can provide. I really appreciate it!

 

[Steve432]

Thanks for the reply. Looking forward to see the next incarnation when it's built.