I don't have anything I can show photos of other than one experimental pickguard. But here's what's been simmering. 1. P bridge design with a cool new look and saddles that have a unique locking system and top surface designed to influence the tone of the string. We're not done prototyping yet but the idea is to have different tone profiles for each string or at least one for the B and E-strings and one for the rest. 2. cast tortoise pickguard material. This should be a lot easier but it's kicking my butt. 3. Getting the new CNC tooling designed and on stream. This is a big job! 4. New logo. Jjango's helped a huge amount with this. I just built the first ad with the new logo for Premier Guitar this week and sent it off today. 5. We've been studying dead spots trying to learn more about them and how to control them. For now here's a photo of one of the failed tort pickguards. It somehow reminds me of someones basement wetbar from the '70s.

I understand that pattern wasn't what you were going for, but it's really cool IMO. It's a little bit organic and psychedelic at the same time, it sort of reminds me of smoke swirling and plants or feathers. I would rock that in a heartbeat on the right colored bass.

Coooool. That's a great looking pickguard, even if it IS a mistake. Really striking. Is the new tortoise shell project in the works because there's no really decent modern version of it, or do you have another goal for the project? I'm interested to see the P bridge when done. Before I jumped the Fender ship for Dingwall I played an ol' early 70's P for a bunch of years. It will be interesting to see what you describe in real life...I'm sure that its very different from what I'm picturing. I'm sure folks will be happy to know there's Super-P work being done. Is the new CNC in place because its better, because it can do more/other than the older setup, or in addition to it? I'll be interested to see what you find about deadspots. That could be a real development in neck design. Thanks Sheldon?

I wouldn't consider it a failure, Sheldon. That's a very hip look, perfect for your basses, IMHO. Are you able to do other colors with this material? If so, it looks like the possibilities for custom color guards would be endless. Don't count it out yet.

I'm interested by the P-Bass. I was under the impression that it would be a P shaped body with a P shaped pickguard, but all the other stuff pretty much the same as the SJ/SJ5 (obviously with the P pickup). Are there any plans to play with the neck dimensions (width) and string spacing?

I'm back tracking on the P. David Swift needs a P for the upcoming season of Jools Holand so I drew up a P based on the SJ neck and scale on Friday.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":vxyqohy2]I'm back tracking on the P. David Swift needs a P for the upcoming season of Jools Holand so I drew up a P based on the SJ neck and scale on Friday.[/quote:vxyqohy2] Sheldon I agree with your choice, the Super J neck is very suited for a P bass, is Dave Swift having it 4 or 5 strings? Is this going to become a Dave Swift Signature model? I hope it is, the man deserves the accolade!

Love to see that pick guard on a combustion 3 tone, just to see what it looks like, great mistake by the way.

I'd put that pickguard on a bright orange Combustion. It would put the MM Bongo to shame.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":jto680aw]I drew up a P based on the SJ neck and scale on Friday.[/quote:jto680aw] It should definitely have an SJ neck when it's put into production. Any thought of adding a J pickup at the bridge?

I would imagine that a SuperP should have a J bridge pickup option. However, if it's dimensionally the same as the SJ5 (or SPJ5), it would just be the same bass with a different body shape, no? ([i:ho5nycyb]not that's a bad thing[/i:ho5nycyb])

I asked for a SuperP instead of an SJ way back because I prefer the P shape, but Sheldon said he wasn't ready to do the P at that time. Glad to see the ball rolling. As far as the J bridge pickup goes, my favorite Pbasses through the years haven't needed it now that I think about it. Maybe simplicity is the key. Can't wait to see it.

Ive only drawn it as a P. I had to move the P pickup back about 1/2" to get it into position. That's going to crowd the bridge pickup a bit. GW Dave is going for a 5. He's got to really like it first before we talk about signatures.

So does that mean the P pickup position will be different than what's on the SPJ 5 now?

Yes, slightly closer to the bridge.

Sheldon I hereby declare on my name and honour, that I will be one of the first to order one of your P basses as soon as you are happy with the project and they can be ordered as full production basses. Mine will be simple 3 tone sunburst / Maple neck / Tort pickguard 5 strings. I shall now wait patiently and money is ready already too

I am highly tempted too, although I have to say I am really happy with my SPJ5. Sunburst/Tort [i:1b8rf687]is[/i:1b8rf687] the classic combo, although I would consider trans orange, forest green and trans blue too.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":33fb69wf]Ive only drawn it as a P. I had to move the P pickup back about 1/2" to get it into position. That's going to crowd the bridge pickup a bit. GW Dave is going for a 5. He's got to really like it first before we talk about signatures.[/quote:33fb69wf] Will there be a 4 string?

I hadn't thought about it. I do have one question. Would you guys prefer a solid or semi-hollow? The difference is about 1/2 lb and of course the tone.

I had an ASAT for a while. It sounded great plugged or unplugged. But the good Pbasses I've owned didn't need help tone-wise. The SuperP, if semi-hollow, should not have an F-hole of any kind, IMHO.