Vintage Fenders

[Mrbigstuff]

45 minutes ago, GuyR said:

https://www.guitar-auctions.co.uk/sale/234/147/1971-Fender-Competition-Mustang-Bass-guitar-made-in-USA
 

what a shame - a really good looking mustang. Why would you do that to the scratchplate?

 

it’s been made “player grade”

Well they describe the condition as “god” so if he’s played it, it might be okay.

[ossyrocks]

13 hours ago, andytoad said:

Feck.. several Kronenbergs in, I've just panic bought it. Refret incoming me thinks. I'm gonna get the original electronics checked out for reinstallation, if the pots have had it, maybe just the pickups.. not liking the idea of SD's in it.

I'm glad you bought it, it has prevented me buying it!

 

I think this one deserves its own thread to follow progress. I'd be keen to see more of this one and its journey back to life.

 

Rob

[ossyrocks]

13 hours ago, andytoad said:

Feck.. several Kronenbergs in, I've just panic bought it. Refret incoming me thinks. I'm gonna get the original electronics checked out for reinstallation, if the pots have had it, maybe just the pickups.. not liking the idea of SD's in it.

I'm glad you bought it, it has prevented me buying it!

 

I think this one deserves its own thread to follow progress. I'd be keen to see more of this one and its journey back to life.

 

Rob

[miles'tone]

14 hours ago, andytoad said:

Feck.. several Kronenbergs in, I've just panic bought it. Refret incoming me thinks. I'm gonna get the original electronics checked out for reinstallation, if the pots have had it, maybe just the pickups.. not liking the idea of SD's in it.

Congrats! Nice and light too. You can usually tell a good one from how much it's been played.

A little tip - Quarterpounders sound great with T.I. flats. The TIs are middy and fill out the scoop of the QPs, and the QPs give the TIs the lowdown booty that they can be a bit shy on. Great combo in a live mix.

Just a thought anyway...

[BassAgent]

15 hours ago, andytoad said:

Feck.. several Kronenbergs in, I've just panic bought it. Refret incoming me thinks. I'm gonna get the original electronics checked out for reinstallation, if the pots have had it, maybe just the pickups.. not liking the idea of SD's in it.

Awesome! Congrats, I hope it serves you well and the original electronics do their thing.

 

14 hours ago, GuyR said:

https://www.guitar-auctions.co.uk/sale/234/147/1971-Fender-Competition-Mustang-Bass-guitar-made-in-USA
 

what a shame - a really good looking mustang. Why would you do that to the scratchplate?

 

it’s been made “player grade”

 

14 hours ago, SurroundedByManatees said:

I've seen these added screws on many old Mustangs before. Apparently the scratschplate has a tendency to curl up around the edges, so people have extra screws added to keep it flat.

 

 

Personally I think it will sell for more the the estimate of £1500-2000.

The PG on my 73 has shrunk and curled up, crooking the screws a bit. I don't mind, but if you really want to prevent that from happening... It's a very pretty bass.

[BassAgent]

Oh by the way, I was also checking out this Mustang for sale in Germany:

https://secondhand-musicland.de/produkt/1971-fender-mustang-competition-gitarre-und-bass-candy-apple-red/

Very lovely set but insanely priced. I inquired about the price for just the bass. They're not planning on a separate sale, but did indicate that just the bass would have to cost around 5-6K (in €). Crazy. They also seem to think 16 and 17 on the neck stamp stand for the day. Hey, if you're overpricing vintage Fenders, please be well informed.

Edited February 10 by BassAgent

[rwillett]

2 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

I think this one deserves its own thread to follow progress. I'd be keen to see more of this one and its journey back to life.

Agreed, I thought about it but don't think I have the skills or nous to do the job and would much rather learn from somebody else Also I hadn't had any Kronenbergs....

 

Rob

[nilorius]

13 minutes ago, rwillett said:

Agreed, I thought about it but don't think I have the skills or nous to do the job and would much rather learn from somebody else Also I hadn't had any Kronenbergs....

 

Rob

I read Bookowsky.

[andytoad]

4 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

I'm glad you bought it, it has prevented me buying it!

 

I think this one deserves its own thread to follow progress. I'd be keen to see more of this one and its journey back to life.

 

Rob

Sounds like a plan!

[andytoad]

3 hours ago, miles'tone said:

Congrats! Nice and light too. You can usually tell a good one from how much it's been played.

A little tip - Quarterpounders sound great with T.I. flats. The TIs are middy and fill out the scoop of the QPs, and the QPs give the TIs the lowdown booty that they can be a bit shy on. Great combo in a live mix.

Just a thought anyway...

Ah OK, I only had previous experience years ago on a US P with steels on, could be worth a go as I mainly play with flats these days.

Edited February 10 by andytoad

[briansbrew]

Hi Guys,

I recently got this celluloid nitrate scratchplate for my 74 Jazz from the States as it had the vintage look, not cheap but I was looking for some opinions on the look especially the yellow spot to the right, does it look alright

 

[wateroftyne]

I have to say it looks like common-or-garden fake tort to me 🙁

[Steve Browning]

1 minute ago, wateroftyne said:

I have to say it looks like common-or-garden fake tort to me 🙁

Have to agree. I've not really seen a genuinely convincing tort 'copy'.

 

That includes those named after WW2 UK fighters. 

[Sparky Mark]

This guy from France gets closer than almost everyone else IMO; at a price though.

https://www.avantguardshop.com/

[briansbrew]

2 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

This guy from France gets closer than almost everyone else IMO; at a price though.

https://www.avantguardshop.com/

About the same price as this guy charged me for this one

[briansbrew]

This was the one listed on his site, looked much better

[jazzyvee]

What age does a bass, or any musical instrument for that matter, need to be to be classed as vintage?

[dodgnofski]

23 minutes ago, briansbrew said:

About the same price as this guy charged me for this one

I found the Avant - Guard ones were very close to the originals. Here’s one I had on my AVRI, very ‘opalescent’ being Celuloid.

[briansbrew]

22 minutes ago, dodgnofski said:

I found the Avant - Guard ones were very close to the originals. Here’s one I had on my AVRI, very ‘opalescent’ being Celuloid.

That does look pretty and very close to a vintage one

[Stub Mandrel]

 

Cheap ebay:

 

AVII

 

Flea Jazz

 

Cheap eBay

 

Genuine eatly 60s (not mine)

[Mrbigstuff]

1 hour ago, jazzyvee said:

What age does a bass, or any musical instrument for that matter, need to be to be classed as vintage?

For the sake of Fenders it tends to be pre 1980

[Sparky Mark]

2 hours ago, jazzyvee said:

What age does a bass, or any musical instrument for that matter, need to be to be classed as vintage?

30 years +

[Reggaebass]

Spitfire do a very convincing tort pickguard but they aren’t cheap, nothing looks like the original ones imo but they are close 

[Beedster]

9 hours ago, briansbrew said:

Hi Guys,

I recently got this celluloid nitrate scratchplate for my 74 Jazz from the States as it had the vintage look, not cheap but I was looking for some opinions on the look especially the yellow spot to the right, does it look alright

 

 

I think it looks fine, for me it's the edges as much as the flat surface that bring the sense of authenticity, and those edges look good to me Brian. Some pickguards really do look rubbish and are to be avoided by all conscientious bassists, but given the majority that aren't, it's best not to overthink them or we find ourselves in a situation in which no pickguard is ever good enough  

[BassAgent]

6 hours ago, Sparky Mark said:

30 years +

That would mean that any bass from before 1995 is considered vintage and I don't think most Fender fans will agree with you on that  But it's weird. When I started playing in 1999, pre-1980-ish was already considered vintage. 26 years later, it's still pre-1980. For me and most people I know anyway.