I'm helping a friend get her '72 Jazz back in playing shape. Yes, it went under during Hurricane Katrina so there's a good bit of work to do. I can handle everything but the neck problems so any suggestions are appreciated. Her husband bought the bass used for her in '81. Most parts are original (pickguard's been replaced).

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee268/lbwdog/pats-guitar/Candys%20bass/Picture027.jpg

I set the bass up for them when they first got it and there were truss rod issues then. The neck had a concave bow and the truss rod was frozen. We're not trying to make it new, but playable. I know these things must be done:
1; Truss rod replaced. (what method, and approximate cost?)
2; Clearcoat must be stripped and refinished (may go with an oil finish)
3: Some of the inlays are coming up.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee268/lbwdog/pats-guitar/Candys%20bass/P1060012.jpg

Clearcoat is like this all over the neck.....and obviously will need a fret job!
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee268/lbwdog/pats-guitar/Candys%20bass/P1060017.jpg

At the end of the day, we may clean her up and put her on ebay (disclosing all issues of course), leaving the major neck work to the subsequent collector. The serial # is 344***, which corresponds to '72 or '73.The date stamp is hard to make out but looks like it could be 70. What do you think?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee268/lbwdog/pats-guitar/Candys%20bass/P1040063.jpg

At this stage we're undecided, so check out the pics and tell me what you think.

I don't know dude. Thats a nasty bass. I don't think i would want it to be restored.

Think of the CHILDREN!

Seriously, man, I hate to be a bummer, but that thing sopped up sewage. It's been absorbed into the fibers of the wood. I'd take the insurance money (if there is any) and put it towards either a Geddy, which is based on a 72, or a Marcus, which is based on a 77. The value of that bass is approximately...(whips out calculator and punches numbers)...ZERO.

Sorry, man, I know you and she will hate to hear it, but I wouldn't want that even if it was restored by Roger Sadowsky himself! Stew had his new Bee wrecked by that storm, too, and gave up on it. Fred couldn't do anything to help him, and he built it. :bawl:

Wow, as strange as it may seem I would actually have loved to be the one to restore this bass :)

It looks like a lot of work but I think it could be do-able. There would definitely need to have a good look at the neck. Probably would have to rout out the skunk stripe from the back, remove and replace the rod then fill the hole with a new stripe (need I say how dangerous it could be to rout out a skunk strip where the router bit could get easily into the rod itself), that's all assuming that it's a one piece neck.

yes, the plastic inlays need to be replaced. If you're lucky the inlay holes in the fretbboard will be ok and the damaged will only be to the inlays themselves. If not you'll need to clean and fix the holes.

Once the neck is fixed you'd need to re-shoot the whole thing but I hesitate to touch the face of the headstock. I wouldn't want to damage the logos. If they're looking to sell it, they would have a hard time if it's all refinished with a new (illegal?) logo or no logo at all.

befoe you go too far with it, I'd look first if the neck problesm could be fixed only by changing the truss rod. If the neck is bent out of shape because of Katrina and not the truss then the neck is stuffed period and there would be nothing you could do to fix that.

I don't know dude. Thats a nasty bass. I don't think i would want it to be restored.
So I'm supposed to throw a '72 Jazz in the trash. I don't think so!
Think of the CHILDREN!

Seriously, man, I hate to be a bummer, but that thing sopped up sewage. It's been absorbed into the fibers of the wood. I'd take the insurance money (if there is any) and put it towards either a Geddy, which is based on a 72, or a Marcus, which is based on a 77. The value of that bass is approximately...(whips out calculator and punches numbers)...ZERO.


Actually, this was an area that wasn't affected by sewage.
On Ebay it'll be worth more than zero!

Wow, as strange as it may seem I would actually have loved to be the one to restore this bass :)

It looks like a lot of work but I think it could be do-able. There would definitely need to have a good look at the neck. Probably would have to rout out the skunk stripe from the back, remove and replace the rod then fill the hole with a new stripe (need I say how dangerous it could be to rout out a skunk strip where the router bit could get easily into the rod itself), that's all assuming that it's a one piece neck.

yes, the plastic inlays need to be replaced. If you're lucky the inlay holes in the fretbboard will be ok and the damaged will only be to the inlays themselves. If not you'll need to clean and fix the holes.

Once the neck is fixed you'd need to re-shoot the whole thing but I hesitate to touch the face of the headstock. I wouldn't want to damage the logos. If they're looking to sell it, they would have a hard time if it's all refinished with a new (illegal?) logo or no logo at all.

befoe you go too far with it, I'd look first if the neck problesm could be fixed only by changing the truss rod. If the neck is bent out of shape because of Katrina and not the truss then the neck is stuffed period and there would be nothing you could do to fix that.
I guess the best thing would be to clean it up, put it up for auction and see what happens.

Having in mind the posts before mine I have to say that building and restoring are two different things. The knowledge for both are not the same and there is a lot (and I mean a LOT) to do on that guitar. Things you should consider are:

How is going to look after the restoration you plan to do?
Are you good enough to do that restoration?
How much is going to cost?
How much the new owner will have to pay to do finish the restoration?
How much you can ask for that bass after both restorations be to a good deal for you and the buyer?

I wouldn't send it to get it restore unless it would have a great sentimental value to me cause this bass is in really bad shape and people with the skill to do this and do it well are no cheap at all.

There's an awful lot of work to be put into that neck to salvage it . I'm really not thinking that it's worth it myself. There's a good chance that the neck itself, being made of flatsawn and not quartersawn material, is warped or will warp after work is done to it.The compression rod (truss rod) is no doubt siezed. The fretboard probably needs replacing as it looks like the rectangular routes for the inlays look to be a little out of shape now. Sorry, I know it's not what you wanted to hear but I'd look at a replacement neck from allparts or warmoth.

The owner can always keep it as it is but not or playing but just you have it hanging from one wall or something. I would not definitely throw it to the trash can.

I am going to throw my two cents in here.

Katrina broke the hearts of a lot of people. That place was destroyed along with lives paths of life. It would have been cheaper and easier to let that city just die and go away, but people have been putting their money and lives into rebuilding it. Sure, we all know that it will NEVER be the same. But the soul is still there. That is what matters.
My suggestion is, you do whatever it takes to restore that bass. You know it will never be the same as it was before the storm. But make it into something that shows more heart and soul and perseverance. Someone will fall in love with that bass as you bring it back to life.
So, in short...go on whitcha bad self!!!!
peace,
Chris

I am going to throw my two cents in here.

Katrina broke the hearts of a lot of people. That place was destroyed along with lives paths of life. It would have been cheaper and easier to let that city just die and go away, but people have been putting their money and lives into rebuilding it. Sure, we all know that it will NEVER be the same. But the soul is still there. That is what matters.
My suggestion is, you do whatever it takes to restore that bass. You know it will never be the same as it was before the storm. But make it into something that shows more heart and soul and perseverance. Someone will fall in love with that bass as you bring it back to life.
So, in short...go on whitcha bad self!!!!
peace,
Chris
Chris, Thanks so much for your thoughts. You are so right about peoples lives being forever changed. While most of the country goes on with their own lives, we're still dealing with what was done to ours.
This bass was in Waveland,MS, which took the most complete destruction of all the areas affected. I see you are from VA. We have received a lot of help from people in your state and are so appreciative.

I think we're going to get a replacement neck for this bass, and I can clean up the rest and make it playable again. I just tested the pickups and pots and they seem to work perfectly even though corroded. The pots aren't even scratchy!

You are welcome for the thoughts. I know for a fact my church sent people down there for sometime to help. I can say that I was not one of them, but my heart and prayers go out to those who stayed and are rebuilding. To me, that shows true spirit and heart.
I would love to see the progress this bass takes on its' way back to being itself. Please let me know if you document the restoration.

PS. Be sure to save the neck. Always keep it with the bass.

Peace and have fun!!!!
Chris

Chris, Thanks so much for your thoughts. You are so right about peoples lives being forever changed. While most of the country goes on with their own lives, we're still dealing with what was done to ours.
This bass was in Waveland,MS, which took the most complete destruction of all the areas affected. I see you are from VA. We have received a lot of help from people in your state and are so appreciative.

I think we're going to get a replacement neck for this bass, and I can clean up the rest and make it playable again. I just tested the pickups and pots and they seem to work perfectly even though corroded. The pots aren't even scratchy!

DON'T THROW IT AWAY, MAN!

this bass have more story to tell than many other basses! as you told, the only issue it have is the neck. have you tryed to remove the trussrod screw? it looks ver rusty and i think the problem is just there. just rust. the neck itself has soaked a lot of water and that's because is now bowed.

sand down the laquer on the neck but leave the headstock as it is. remove the inlays and clean it. sand the fretboard and maybe refret it again. glue the inlays back into the fret board and give it a nice laquer job.

Wow, I still have a lump in my throat. Sorry for the loss.

Regards,
Vince P

Actually, this was an area that wasn't affected by sewage.
On Ebay it'll be worth more than zero!


Just looked and saw you're in MS, I'm sorry for that mistake. My friend lives in Biloxi, up Hwy 49. I used to live right behind the 110-10 interchange. It still looks to me like there may be a pretty serious mold issue going on under the finish...between that, and the hydraulic pressure of the water wanting to get out, that may explain part of the block inlay damage. I'd try to get the trussrod out first. It may break, which would leave you about where you are now- unplayable neck- or you could get lucky and it pops free, and you can try a new nut.

That would leave you with a refret and refinish job, if the neck is able to be staightened. I'd worry about twist more than bow at that point. Check it carefully if you get this far for twisting. If it does indeed twist, you'll have a great wall decoration. If it's pretty straight, I'd see about getting it into playing shape at that point. The blocks are still there, but my thinking is that the water wanting out exerted pressure on the glue, which failed. That would be best-case scenario- just carefully clean out the old glue, refit the block, and that part would be done.

Too many variables for me, I'd save the neck for sentimental reasons and mount an Allparts or Warmoth to get it playing again.

Again, sorry for the mistake in location, and for the sewage inference.

So I'm supposed to throw a '72 Jazz in the trash. I don't think so!
No... Just save it as it is.

leave it this way, this will make a good wall-hanger, and will remind your grand-children what happened (...many years ago)

(the stamp says may 1970)

(the stamp says may 1970)

IMO the stamp says "MAY 72 A"

Don't let Katrina win. It has affected enough of us already. I was fortunate to only have roof damage and water in only two rooms of my home. I work for the electric utility in New Orleans and I have seen too much damage. The homes that were destroyed, bodies of the victims. As we still fight to rebuild, it would be great to see this bass restored. (imho)

Cheers,
Jim

only thing that I would do to this bass if I was the owner....

Replace the rod(so it's useable), refinish the FB and a re-fret. just make it playable

I wouldn't do anything else I guess and of-course KEEP IT and play the hell out of it... I think it looks great!

IMO the stamp says "MAY 72 A"

Try as I might, I can't seem to discern '72 from the stamp.
The serial # puts it at '72 or '73 though and we don't think the neck was ever swapped.

I'm wondering if a '70 neck was used on a '72 production bass.
Once I get the pot's cleaned up, maybe I'll get a clue there.

That bass has some serious mojo. I'd be tempted to not restore it but instead only repair what has to be repaired to make it a player.