wateroftyne Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Hey gang! Short version: Got a '71 P. It's in amazing condition*. B neck, 8.8lbs, balanced, resonant. It's a stunner. Long version: It's had one owner before me - an ex-pat Glaswegian, and professional bass player, who bought it new from a shop in Hamilton, Bermuda(!) in 1971. He was the resident bassist in the house band at the Princess Hotel on the island, and gigged it for decades. I suspect he may have used it to back some massive stars over the years, as it was a big venue on the circuit (no provenance of this, unfortunately). He returned to Argyll in his twilight years where it remained in its case, until he sadly passed away last year at a ripe old age after living a remarkable life. His family decided to sell it on, and I'm the lucky recipient. As you can see, it's incredibly clean. From talking to his family, it sounds like it never really left the hotel. Also in the case was a manual (with the purchase date, store name and price - $315 - handwritten on it), some REALLY old guitar cables, his strap and a back of old tortoiseshell picks. There's a mark on the back of the neck from a guitar stand, which I think will come off. There's also a sticker on the back with the hotel details on it.. I think I might leave this on, but I'm not sure. One of the tuner screws has been replaced. In addition to that, it looks like it may have had a refret at some point but I won't know for sure until I've taken it to be looked over by the legend that is Dave Wilson. Dave will also be looking at the mystery of why the bridge appears to have been moved to the 'E' side very slightly - I really can't see a reason why. If there isn't one, I'll ask him to shift it back. He's also going to pop the pickguard off to check the wiring, pots and pickups are original. It's been used so much, maybe something has been replaced, but hopefully nothing major. All-in-all, I'm VERY happy with it. It's getting gigged tomorrow night before it goes to Dave's. 🙂 48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Lovely 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skin Lewis Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 29 minutes ago, wateroftyne said: B neck, 8.8lbs, balanced, resonant. Lovely. Ticks all the boxes. Great back story too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Lovely 😍 Nice score! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Riva Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Gorgeous bass. Have fun with it, sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 It's wonderful to see a working instrument go straight into the hands of a working musician... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 That is what a bass guitar should look like. IMHO, naturally. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 14, 2023 Author Share Posted April 14, 2023 Cheers, all! Just made a quick murky vid. It sounds exactly like a P with ancient flats should sound. 17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Lovely find. Looks like the faded shadow outline of a bridge cover possibly....? Please keep that hotel sticker, candy like that is irreplaceable😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulstar89 Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 congrats. I wish i could find such opportunities. I am sure it has found a great home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ossyrocks Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Congratulations! Lovely bass. I really like early 70’s Precisions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyder Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 9 hours ago, ossyrocks said: Congratulations! Lovely bass. I really like early 70’s Precisions. I agree. I have a 72 P bass and it's the best P I've owned. And I've had a few ( many ). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Fabulous………and a great back story! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincbt Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Wow, what a find and what a story behind it! How does it feel compared to your other burst 71? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Stunning! Great find 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 11 hours ago, iconic said: Lovely find. Looks like the faded shadow outline of a bridge cover possibly....? Please keep that hotel sticker, candy like that is irreplaceable😎 Cheers! The shadow is actually surface marks at the edge of where the bridge used to be. if you look closely you can see the old holes for the bridge cover adjacent to the new ones (the previous owner used the bridge cover with foam stuffed in it). I can't work out why it's been nudged, as it's actually offset the strings. It's still completely playable, but I'm scratching my head as to why. 42 minutes ago, vincbt said: Wow, what a find and what a story behind it! How does it feel compared to your other burst 71? The neck and weight are almost identical to my other beloved '71, but the 'new' one is definitely more resonant, and brighter. Old one is darker and rounder. Disclaimer: Can't say how that translates into the real world until I gig it.. which is tonight 🙂 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Stingray 62 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Very nice indeed well done that man👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Fantastic. And it's great that you got the back story. I'm always thinking about what the back history is when I see an instrument. And more often than not its lost in time. Kinda romantic really. If you remove the sticker then maybe do it in a way it can be kept with the bass. Maybe mounted on card. So someone else in another 50 years knows the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 Just soundchecked it. Ooooof. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 That is a lovely looking Precision, hope it brings you many happy years of playing & owning it. 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 That is a peach! Lovely old girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocketflup Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 I'm not a P bass man by any means, even less so with sunburst, but that's awesome. Just the whole package, back story etc, the stuff that you can't buy (well, you know what I mean ;)) fair play to you '71 is my YOB, and I don't seem to see many of them turn up. I know YOB basses are a rarity in themselves, but '71 does seem to be a sparse year even by those standards. As for the bridge move......I cant think of a reason either, other than he liked to play high notes/solos and bend them a lot so was falling off the edge of the fretboard? But surely you'd bend them inwards/upwards rather than outwards/downwards? No idea Anyway, enjoy that rather cracking opportunity you've been given there WOT, as already said, fair play to ya 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Lovely looking bass. I’m confused tho - the bridge doesn’t seem to have any screws attaching it to the body? Is it just glued on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 22 minutes ago, bassbiscuits said: Lovely looking bass. I’m confused tho - the bridge doesn’t seem to have any screws attaching it to the body? Is it just glued on? That’s part of the mystery - new holes have been drilled in the bridge, between the originals. I’ll find out more soon… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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