julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 (edited) I've just dug this jazz bass out of my cupboard and always wanted to know what it once was. Someone gave it to me a while ago in pretty poor condition. It was once red, had gold hardware with cream pups and it has had an awful defret. The only clue I can see is the serial number on the neck plate. Serial L23880 [attachment=232210:20161117_093649.jpg][attachment=232211:20161117_093707.jpg][attachment=232212:20161117_093743.jpg] Any bass detectives out there? Cheers, Jules Edited November 17, 2016 by julesb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winny Pooh Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Are the rear tuner plates square or triangular? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 Thanks guys. Here's a pic of the tuners. Strangely, I just went on the fender dating site with the serial number and it says it is Fullerton 1964 which is highly doubtful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Any clues on the underside of the control plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 I don't remember seeing anything but it's been a while. I'll take it out later and check again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 take the neck off and look for any markings on it and the body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 (edited) Those tuners are MIJ and appear on several Japanese-built brands from the late 70s & early 80s, most notably Tokai. I'd look at old Tokai, Fernandes & ESP catalogues to start with. Maybe this? Tokai TJB-55. Edited November 17, 2016 by Bassassin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 Nice one. That's a good lead. It's such a shame that someone did a horrible defret as the bass has/had promise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Serial number (L plus 5 digits) checks out as post '81 Tokai according to the Tokai Registry page - so that's what it is. Unusual model with P/J pups, don't remember seeing one before. Shame it's been abused like this but I think if it was mine, I'd consider a refret & give it a Danish Oil refin. I've also seen repro Tokai decals online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 Just took it apart and there's not much to go on. Also noticed it has volume, tone, tone. That's odd isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1479406617' post='3176357'] Serial number (L plus 5 digits) checks out as post '81 Tokai according to the Tokai Registry page - so that's what it is. Unusual model with P/J pups, don't remember seeing one before. Shame it's been abused like this but I think if it was mine, I'd consider a refret & give it a Danish Oil refin. I've also seen repro Tokai decals online. [/quote] Great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winny Pooh Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Tokai hard puncher with a retrospective bridge route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 (edited) Thanks so much bassassin. I think you are bang on. In this thread http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=81037&sid=25e142ae8e60e0618dbd0d166ff97365 there is a bass which is very similar so I don't think it was an aftermarket rout winipooh The colour is referred to as all metallic red. Just had a look again in the pup cavity and there is a very faint AMR stamped inside. The body seems to be a 2 piece so it would be noticeable with an oil finish (which someone seems to have tried already) Thinking of maybe sanding the fingerboard and keeping it fretless but I don't have a fretted bass so it is tempting... Edited November 17, 2016 by julesb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) Back from the dead. Two new pickups, two new pots, refret and a pickguard. Linseed oil finish with a wax polish. Kept everything else that was useable. Kept original jazz pup cover and tried to match it with some diy distressing on the new p pup covers. This doesn't look quite right so might bin the jazz cover. Not sure yet. Looks nothing like it would have originally but sounds great and back in the land of the living. Edited January 26, 2017 by julesb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 That's quite a nice bass now - battered, abused, resurrected and lived to tell the tale! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 That's awesome! I quite fancy a bass like that. I love the offset of the Jazz, neck of a P and the PJ pickups. I think that would be my ideal bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 Cheers! It was a steep learning curve, especially the frets, but very rewarding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Very nice - I have one of these in the original white but like what you've done. It's really similar to what I did to my old Aria - build diary here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/234069-1977-aria-rescue/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/234069-1977-aria-rescue/[/url] Are '70s sanded finishes coming back into fashion? It's been a while! Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 (edited) Cheers all. Narural finishes are indeed back! Forgot to mention I had to move the p pup toward the neck a bit to accomodate the impossible to find pickguard. I found one which was cut for a fender blacktop jazz bass and it makes no difference to the sound. Edited January 31, 2017 by julesb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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