Old Man Riva Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I got this at the weekend that I absolutely love to bits, and just wanted to share. A huge thank you to @walshy for his patience and good nature over the past weeks, as I’ve bombarded him with various questions, requests for excruciatingly detailed dimensions and pics galore. “Walshy, if the neck was an 80s pop act, who would it be? Which discontinued item of confectionery is the bass most like?” Prefab Sprout, and a Texan Bar, since you ask! I’ve been after a ‘68 to ‘73 period P Bass for a while now. I tried some lovely basses, but they weren’t quite for me, as I was after a specific neck profile. As soon as I picked this up I knew it was what I was after. Virginia Plain, Metal Guru, In a Broken Dream, All The Young Dudes, Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west), and this bass: 1972 was a good year… 23 Quote
Reggaebass Posted March 4 Author Posted March 4 5 minutes ago, Old Man Riva said: I got this at the weekend that I absolutely love to bits, and just wanted to share. A huge thank you to @walshy for his patience and good nature over the past weeks, as I’ve bombarded him with various questions, requests for excruciatingly detailed dimensions and pics galore. “Walshy, if the neck was an 80s pop act, who would it be? Which discontinued item of confectionery is the bass most like?” Prefab Sprout, and a Texan Bar, since you ask! I’ve been after a ‘68 to ‘73 period P Bass for a while now. I tried some lovely basses, but they weren’t quite for me, as I was after a specific neck profile. As soon as I picked this up I knew it was what I was after. Virginia Plain, Metal Guru, In a Broken Dream, All The Young Dudes, Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west), and this bass: 1972 was a good year… Oh yes , very nice indeed, congrats 2 Quote
walshy Posted March 4 Posted March 4 16 minutes ago, Old Man Riva said: I got this at the weekend that I absolutely love to bits, and just wanted to share. A huge thank you to @walshy for his patience and good nature over the past weeks, as I’ve bombarded him with various questions, requests for excruciatingly detailed dimensions and pics galore. “Walshy, if the neck was an 80s pop act, who would it be? Which discontinued item of confectionery is the bass most like?” Prefab Sprout, and a Texan Bar, since you ask! I’ve been after a ‘68 to ‘73 period P Bass for a while now. I tried some lovely basses, but they weren’t quite for me, as I was after a specific neck profile. As soon as I picked this up I knew it was what I was after. Virginia Plain, Metal Guru, In a Broken Dream, All The Young Dudes, Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west), and this bass: 1972 was a good year… It's a bloody cracker and so glad you took it home. Enjoy it mate and Im sure it'll serve you well. See you in Birmingham in 2026 unless you head north first 👌 2 Quote
ossyrocks Posted March 4 Posted March 4 42 minutes ago, Old Man Riva said: I got this at the weekend that I absolutely love to bits, and just wanted to share. A huge thank you to @walshy for his patience and good nature over the past weeks, as I’ve bombarded him with various questions, requests for excruciatingly detailed dimensions and pics galore. “Walshy, if the neck was an 80s pop act, who would it be? Which discontinued item of confectionery is the bass most like?” Prefab Sprout, and a Texan Bar, since you ask! I’ve been after a ‘68 to ‘73 period P Bass for a while now. I tried some lovely basses, but they weren’t quite for me, as I was after a specific neck profile. As soon as I picked this up I knew it was what I was after. Virginia Plain, Metal Guru, In a Broken Dream, All The Young Dudes, Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west), and this bass: 1972 was a good year… Congratulations. That neck profile is where it's at for me too. Lovely looking bass. Rob 2 Quote
nilorius Posted March 4 Posted March 4 49 minutes ago, Old Man Riva said: I got this at the weekend that I absolutely love to bits, and just wanted to share. A huge thank you to @walshy for his patience and good nature over the past weeks, as I’ve bombarded him with various questions, requests for excruciatingly detailed dimensions and pics galore. “Walshy, if the neck was an 80s pop act, who would it be? Which discontinued item of confectionery is the bass most like?” Prefab Sprout, and a Texan Bar, since you ask! I’ve been after a ‘68 to ‘73 period P Bass for a while now. I tried some lovely basses, but they weren’t quite for me, as I was after a specific neck profile. As soon as I picked this up I knew it was what I was after. Virginia Plain, Metal Guru, In a Broken Dream, All The Young Dudes, Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west), and this bass: 1972 was a good year… 68 vs 73 a suviunier between. Quote
Steve Browning Posted March 4 Posted March 4 1 hour ago, ossyrocks said: Congratulations. That neck profile is where it's at for me too. Lovely looking bass. Rob Absolutely this. B profile for me too. 2 Quote
ossyrocks Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Ok, my 73 P Bass started playing up tonight. It’s been ridden hard and put away wet for over 50 years, it’s far from pristine, and the electrics have been worked on too over the years. When I got it, the tone pot didn’t work at all, but that was just a contact problem. I’ve got the guard off and I can’t find a single diagram that matches how this is wired! Can anyone point me to a definitive wiring diagram for a 73 P bass? If I look online, I see so many variations! Cheers, Rob Quote
Hellzero Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Here are the two wiring diagrams, 1973 being a pivot year for this. 5 Quote
ossyrocks Posted Thursday at 07:47 Posted Thursday at 07:47 7 hours ago, Hellzero said: Here are the two wiring diagrams, 1973 being a pivot year for this. Thanks for those, I'll check it out today and report back. Rob Quote
Steve Browning Posted Thursday at 08:32 Posted Thursday at 08:32 I've often wondered what difference any of these variations makes. Can anyone explain? Quote
Hellzero Posted Thursday at 08:45 Posted Thursday at 08:45 Better grounding from 1973 on as it's not relying solely on the poor contact with the aluminium shielding since wires are now soldered to the ground @Steve Browning. The capacitor is simply easier to solder and less prone to grounding a lug from 1973 on, hence a quicker installation time and a more reliable wiring. 3 2 Quote
Stub Mandrel Posted Friday at 14:09 Posted Friday at 14:09 On 05/03/2025 at 23:54, Hellzero said: Here are the two wiring diagrams, 1973 being a pivot year for this. Those look electrically identical. Quote
kevin_lindsay Posted Friday at 14:19 Posted Friday at 14:19 Almost the same - just a slight difference in the wires to lugs Soldering layout Quote
Stub Mandrel Posted Friday at 14:42 Posted Friday at 14:42 22 minutes ago, kevin_lindsay said: Almost the same - just a slight difference in the wires to lugs Soldering layout Yes electrically identical but as HZ says there may be practical advantages. Quote
J_Bass Posted Friday at 15:45 Posted Friday at 15:45 Hello all. Is 1975 admissible? This one is turning 50 this year. Here is my 1975 Olympic White Precision: 6 Quote
ossyrocks Posted Friday at 15:51 Posted Friday at 15:51 On 05/03/2025 at 23:54, Hellzero said: Here are the two wiring diagrams, 1973 being a pivot year for this. Ok, we're cooking on gas again, or should that be induction these days? Thanks @Hellzero for the diagrams. Mine didn't resemble either layout exactly. My tone cap was only on one pot, like the later layout, but I didn't have a dedication ground across the back of both pots. I've rewired as per the 73-95 layout and added a ground between the pots. I also sucked all the old solder off and redid all the connections, trimming leads where required. Whilst this bass has been worked on over the years, the pots, cap and jack socket are the originals ones from '73. I do suspect the issue I was having with it was related to grounding, as it sounded like that, and one pot was every so slightly loose (now tightened). All working well now, and quietly, and the tone isn't any different than it was before, which I'm very glad about, because this bass sounds really good. Cheers, Rob 2 Quote
Reggaebass Posted Friday at 16:30 Author Posted Friday at 16:30 43 minutes ago, J_Bass said: Hello all. Is 1975 admissible? This one is turning 50 this year. Here is my 1975 Olympic White Precision: Very cool J Bass, thanks for sharing 1 Quote
Reggaebass Posted Friday at 17:07 Author Posted Friday at 17:07 Does anyone recognise this precision I’m looking at with the initials TM on the front, I’m sure I’ve seen it before somewhere but can’t remember where Quote
snorkie635 Posted Friday at 17:45 Posted Friday at 17:45 37 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: Does anyone recognise this precision I’m looking at with the initials TM on the front, I’m sure I’ve seen it before somewhere but can’t remember where Yep Reggae, it belonged to a Tone Monster. 😉 1 2 Quote
Reggaebass Posted Friday at 17:53 Author Posted Friday at 17:53 7 minutes ago, snorkie635 said: Yep Reggae, it belonged to a Tone Monster. 😉 Thanks snorks, it must have been one of mine then 😁 1 Quote
Mrbigstuff Posted Saturday at 07:46 Posted Saturday at 07:46 14 hours ago, Reggaebass said: Does anyone recognise this precision I’m looking at with the initials TM on the front, I’m sure I’ve seen it before somewhere but can’t remember where TM Stevens? 1 Quote
BassAgent Posted Saturday at 08:22 Posted Saturday at 08:22 Currently for sale here in NL. 12K? Really?! Quote
ped Posted Saturday at 08:24 Posted Saturday at 08:24 Looks like the finish was stripped on that one. But, best sound ever, well who can say no 1 Quote
Reggaebass Posted Saturday at 08:35 Author Posted Saturday at 08:35 Pretty sure natural finish was an option in the early 70s, I think it was in the 72 catalog so it could be the original finish, but €12 k is way steep Quote
BassAgent Posted Saturday at 08:40 Posted Saturday at 08:40 12K is ridiculous. For a 1972 you could get around 3K I'd say. So I offered 40K. 1 Quote
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