Built for the brilliant Andrew McKinney, bassist for Pulp, the James Taylor Quartet, and more, this custom Eternal P-Bass was commissioned in 2019 as a road-ready tribute to his beloved 1962 Precision Bass. The mission: deliver the tone, feel, and soul of the original, but with subtle upgrades for the demands of modern touring.
Background
After refretting Andrew’s original ’62 P-Bass (and reconnecting from our Guitar Institute days), the idea for a custom build was born:
Could we replicate everything Andrew loved about his worn-in Precision, but build it tough enough for life on the road with Jarvis Cocker?
Meticulous measurements were taken from his ’62 — including the unique neck shape, wide nut width, and pickup output — to ensure the finished instrument stayed true to the spirit of the original.
One big change: While Andrew’s original ’62 wore a classic sunburst finish, he opted for a sleek all-black nitrocellulose finish on this new build — a personal touch that gave the new bass its own identity, while nodding to the past.
We also added a "road-friendly" truss rod access scoop at the heel end of the neck, hidden neatly into the pickguard — making on-the-fly adjustments quick and easy without removing the neck.
Build Highlights
Body:
- Two-piece lightweight alder, modelled after the original
- Solid black nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- Light relic ageing, designed to let the road naturally continue the story
- 3-ply vintage-style tortoiseshell pickguard
Neck:
- One-piece maple shaft with slab rosewood fingerboard
- Nut width: 44.5mm (accurately replicating the wide, shallow feel of the original)
- Profile: Shallow C-shape, flat-backed for smooth playability
- Vintage-correct 7.25” radius slab rosewood ‘board
- Vintage sized frets
- Real clay dot inlays
- Luminlay side dots for stage visibility
- Two-way truss rod with body-end access (via hidden scoop in the pickguard)
Hardware:
- Upgraded Gotoh vintage-style bridge for improved intonation and stability
- Aged nickel hardware throughout
Pickups & Electronics:
- Eternal hand-wound custom pickup using vintage-spec 42AWG Plain Enamel wire
- Output and tone matched closely to Andrew’s original '62 pickup
- CTS brass collar 250k volume and tone pots
- Vintage paper-in-oil tone capacitor
- Cloth-covered hook-up wire
- Switchcraft jack socket
The Result
A faithful yet professionally refined tribute to a 1962 classic — combining the timeless warmth and feel Andrew knew intimately with a few smart, discreet modern upgrades for stage, studio, and the road.
This bass went on to serve Andrew during Pulp’s 2023 reunion tour, and appears on their new Number One album "More" and the hugely succesful 2025 Arena Tour.
Eternal Guitars — vintage soul, built for the modern road.
