luckman67 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Last year I got a Fender Precision bass from a good friend of mine,who built it from a MIJ PB-57 body that was left battered and beaten in the back yard of a pub. He bought a 2008 MIM neck & an Alnico P pickup & an active Basslines J pickup,wired it together then I got it from him. Anyhow the PJ look was not for me & as the body was in a bad way, I started to think about turning it into my own Road worn 70's rocker. The plan was simple take out the active J pickup and battery holder,fill in these holes just spray where they had been (this didn't have to be perfect) add a b/w/b scratchplate, CTS pots & orange cap and jack socket, and a early 1970's decal and neck plate. My friend Andy who I got the bass from set to work for me and I have the bass back now and it plays great, and as it is beaten I do not have the worry of knocking it or anything happening to it. And Andy has given it a great set up low buzz free action,intonation spot on,and as it's lighter than my Ric 4003 it is being used more often. I am tempted to add the 2 screws either side of the bridge for a more authentic look,and maybe some vintage style tuners down the line. If anyone has an early 70's P and notices that I have missed something please let me know, any how here is some before and after pictures. Before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Not sure if it helps, but I've got a couple of pics of early/mid 70's P basses. Don't know if you can glean anything from the pics, but they are in this thread: - http://basschat.co.uk/topic/94149-tredders-current-4/page__p__980549__hl__tredders__fromsearch__1#entry980549 Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 And After thanks Andy now I have a battered 70's styled Fender Precision bass, for less than the cost of a Squier CV and never having to worry about looking after it I love it, just waiting for the head stock to darken a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Thank you tredders this is the look I'm going for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Pickguard looks a bit too shiny, going over it with wire wool will take the shine off and cover it in tiny scratches. [b]But take it off the bass first or your pickups will forever be covered in iron filings![/b] To look more road worn leave the area under the strings fairly unscratched, but focus the scratches around the top of the pickup where your thumb rests and maybe below the G and D strings where you'd get your fingers in playing slap. You may be able to match up the wear on the original white pickguard that came off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 See what you mean about the scratchplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 And make sure no iron filings find their way into the pots..... Bass is looking good though, a few years of no polishing will take the shine off the hardware and start to build up some crud in the nooks and crannies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 [quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1330177360' post='1553745'] Pickguard looks a bit too shiny, going over it with wire wool will take the shine off and cover it in tiny scratches. [b]But take it off the bass first or your pickups will forever be covered in iron filings![/b] [/quote] Or you can use a brilo pad! Does the same job but you don't get iron filings everywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1330183232' post='1553847'] Or you can use a brilo pad! Does the same job but you don't get iron filings everywhere [/quote] A Scotchbrite pad is good, doesn't remove too much material at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330184100' post='1553860'] A Scotchbrite pad is good, doesn't remove too much material at once. [/quote] +1 on the Scotchbrite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SidVicious1978 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 your missing the thumbrest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 [quote name='SidVicious1978' timestamp='1330192323' post='1554020'] your missing the thumbrest [/quote] If it's a pre-74 Precision it's called a tug bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SidVicious1978 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 really. Awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 [quote name='SidVicious1978' timestamp='1330192323' post='1554020'] your missing the thumbrest [/quote] Yes above the E string I'm going to a guitar show in May might pick one up just for the overall look, I'm a pick player myself though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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