Paul Simonon’s Precision bass

[BrunoBass]

I’m looking for a detailed specification of Paul Simonon’s famous Precision bass - the maple necked model he smashed on the cover of London Calling, not the rosewood necked model he still plays today. 

It looks like it’s a Seventies model and I assume it’s all stock, but can anyone shed any more light please? 

 

[Highfox]

I think it was an early to mid 70's job. (and stock)

The one he plays now I think was a fretless (might even be a jazz neck) that he got fretted, seems the neck and body might be from different basses. Not sure but that's my guess.

Edited September 25, 2019 by Highfox

[yorks5stringer]

Doesn't look like the guy who did Graceland.....😉

[hooky_lowdown]

According to this guy, it was an early 70s model...

He liked heavy basses, so probably ash body, stock US spec.

http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-story-behind-paul-simonon-his.html?m=1

Edited September 25, 2019 by hooky_lowdown

[Cat Burrito]

One careful owner. May benefit from new strings and a setup

[tayste_2000]

Not meant as a tribute but I always think of Paul Simonon when I pickup my battered 63AVRI

 

[BrunoBass]

1 hour ago, Cat Burrito said:

One careful owner. May benefit from new strings and a setup

I’m going to see that in a few weeks when the exhibition opens! 

[BrunoBass]

10 minutes ago, tayste_2000 said:

Not meant as a tribute but I always think of Paul Simonon when I pickup my battered 63AVRI

 

That looks like the bass that Paramore gave away in a competition (after having kicked it around a car park).

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Looks like a job for...

[tayste_2000]

1 hour ago, BrunoBass said:

That looks like the bass that Paramore gave away in a competition (after having kicked it around a car park).

It is

[BrunoBass]

23 minutes ago, tayste_2000 said:

It is

I thought it might be. Did you win it or did you acquire it later?

[tayste_2000]

Acquired it later from the girl who won it as she didn’t play bass.

 

[Steve Browning]

Two piece body, by the look of it! 🙂

[MattM]

Good interview with Paul here: 

 

Where he mentions the weight of the bass and how the one he smashed up was the better bass.   Definitely sounds like a 70s ash body.   Cannot beat a white 70s Precision, just screams  Paul or Dee Dee (in a good way)....

[Hydra19]

Anyone know what strings he used? It sounds like rounds on some and flats in other songs. The white bass he still uses today seems to be strung with d'addario rounds but the bass he smashed and is on museum display seems to have flatwound strings with red silk so probably roto flats.

[asingardenof]

On 25/09/2019 at 14:19, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

Looks like a job for...

Julyan Wallis, who does the fretted instrument repairs for that, has a workshop just outside Penzance. I took nearly all my instruments to him for setups when I lived in Cornwall. Sound bloke and excellent luthier.

Edited November 2, 2022 by asingardenof
Grammar

[Chiliwailer]

It’s got the serial number under the Fender logo, so 76 onwards. Could be 76 if it starts with a 6, or 76 onwards if starts with a S. Hard to see. 

[Reggaebass]

A close up pic looks like S8 -78 , and they look like flats 

Edited November 2, 2022 by Reggaebass

[ikay]

It's a '78

 

[umcoo]

I went to the Clash exhibition just before COVID. 

 

Serial number is S875618.

[WinterMute]

On 25/09/2019 at 11:09, Cat Burrito said:

One careful owner. May benefit from new strings and a setup

 

That'll buff right out...

[Sarlscharisma]

So really an almost new bass to him back in 78/79 when London Calling was made and released.  No one cared about vintage this and that back then. 

[T-Bay]

On 25/09/2019 at 14:19, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

Looks like a job for...

Did you see the one they did? They took every bit of character out of it and made it like new. I could have cried at the result.