Starless Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I have seen a couple of walnut finish basses recently, and was wondering what the score was with this finish. Body, headstock (front and back), back of the neck... In fact, just totally walnutised. I'm presuming this is not solid wood, and is some kind of all over satin finish. Does anyone have any experience of this (especially on a Jazz bass) and how did they sound and play? Also, when did Fender actually produce this finish - were they ever standard production models or custom jobs? Any replies appreciated as I'm beginning to lust after this particular finish. Help me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 There was a walnut P bass made in the early 80s around the time of the Elite series - might actually have been part of it, I can't remember. as far as I remember, it was made of walnut Really nice - on my "would like but will probably never find/be able to afford" list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 [quote name='Starless' post='596131' date='Sep 11 2009, 10:55 PM']I have seen a couple of walnut finish basses recently, and was wondering what the score was with this finish. Body, headstock (front and back), back of the neck... In fact, just totally walnutised. I'm presuming this is not solid wood, and is some kind of all over satin finish. Does anyone have any experience of this (especially on a Jazz bass) and how did they sound and play? Also, when did Fender actually produce this finish - were they ever standard production models or custom jobs? Any replies appreciated as I'm beginning to lust after this particular finish. Help me......[/quote] Its basically a brown see through stain. I think Fender introduced it as a standard finish during the late 70s/early 80s and personally I think it looks pretty good with a black guard. They've had it on the Squier standards for a while now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Yeah, I remember the walnut Fenders. Gibson 'walnut' finishes were just that, a brown stain on maple or mahogany. I think both are pretty well coveted by collectors now. Warmoth do walnut necks and bodies (I think) and they're supposed to sound pretty good, balanced half way between maple and mahogany tone wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 The early '80s Walnut Precision was a 'Precision Special'. The specials were released in CAR and LPB and later in white (I think). Around '82 (again, if memory serves) there was a short run of Walnut specials - these had a Walnut body and neck and look really striking. There was one for sale in the US recently but it was extremely expensive - it was the bass used for the Fender catalogue photographs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 My Washburn Status is made of 'rich American walnut'. Fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapolpora Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 (edited) A mate of mine has one of the early 80s walnut Stratocasters. Black pickguard, gold plated hardware - absolutely stunning. Sounds good but goes out of tune quickly (don't they all ) His strat is actually called "Strat" on the headstock - not "Stratocaster" and I also remember being about the same time as the early 80s Elite series. Edited September 12, 2009 by lapolpora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 A friend of mine has a 1976 Fender Jazz with a walnut finish, bound rosewood board and MOP block inlays. It's beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starless Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 Thanks for the replies folks. Good old Fender Japan along with Ishibashi's used stock have contrived to make me part with the dosh for my first 'duplicate' bass. It is a walnut finish '62 re-issue CIJ Jazz, and as I already own a CIJ 62 Jazz in John Paul Jones 3TS, I'm hoping the quality of the one currently on its way will be comparable. I've never obsessed about how a bass looks before, but just thought the completely walnutted Jazz would go well with my completely mapled fretless P (CIJ of course). A kind of matching contrasting pair that would complement each other on stage. Mmm... Walnuts and maple syrup... Mmmm.... The 3TS jazz is my 'baby' my gigging workhorse, and there is sentimental value attached to it, but when the walnut arrives... One of them will have to be eBay-ed..... Those Japanese chaps do make exceedingly good basses, at a fraction of the price, and the choice of models and finishes is just mind-blowing (and over-draft inducing). Can't believe I've just pulled the trigger on a bass because of the way it looks. Jeez... Shoot me someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I've had a couple of solid walnut Fenders... great, but VERY heavy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew-Bass Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='596666' date='Sep 12 2009, 05:03 PM']I've had a couple of solid walnut Fenders... great, but VERY heavy! [/quote] Gorgeous bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Yip - That's the one I want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 [quote name='Delberthot' post='596742' date='Sep 12 2009, 06:39 PM']Yip - That's the one I want[/quote] It's now in Texas. Shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 There's a rather nice 78 Precision in walnut for sale here. Nice, but a bit pricy [url="http://www.classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/walnutp.htm"]http://www.classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/walnutp.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starless Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 Thanks for all the replies people. She arrived today, and I must say Ishibashi have out-done themselves this time. The serial number dates it to 93/94, and when I enquired about the condition of the bass prior to purchasing, I was told 'a few scratches, nothing serious. Frets 80-90%' - I wasn't sure what the fret reference was all about, but went ahead with the purchase anyway. After unwinding about 50 metres of bubblewrap, she revealed herself in all her glory - not a mark on her apart from some serious scuffing and scratching on the black pickguard. I then noticed that the pickguard still had it's protective film on it, and after peeling it away, I was left with a shiny new pickguard. So, a fifteen year-old bass with not a mark on her anywhere. It is a matt walnut finish and I would have expected to have seen some 'shiny' patches where actual bodily contact has been made while playing, but no - nothing. Whoever owned this before obviously wasn't into playing very much. Now for the tricky bit. The tuners are black-ish (a kind of almost metallic black), the tailpiece, neck plate and strap buttons are a dark metallic greenish kind of gunmetal sort of colour - does anyone know what the technical term for that is? It is going to be impossible to find a set of schaller strap buttons to match. Gold won't do it, and their black ones are just too ...ehm...black. Does anyone know of a decent straplock system that would work with original Fender vintage-shaped strap buttons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 That looks stunning, good score mate! I'm a sucker for dark wood finishes anyway but that's beautiful If you fancy a fretless sister for it have a look ay the link down there \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starless Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='606200' date='Sep 22 2009, 10:32 PM']That looks stunning, good score mate! I'm a sucker for dark wood finishes anyway but that's beautiful If you fancy a fretless sister for it have a look at the link down there [/quote] That does look rather nice.... thanks for the offer, but she already has a fretless sister.... I will have to get a photo of the two of them together... will that qualify as 'gear porn'? If so, better not refer to them as 'sisters'. Maybe, 'just good friends who share a room together and become emotionally and sensually entwined as they explore their deepest....'. maybe that's taking the analogy too far, I'll stop before I include the vibrating G-strings.... Need to go have a lie-down now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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