Advice on a 77 Precision

[wilsonn]

I've sort of inherited a 77 Precision from a friend. The bass is pretty rough and I am trying to decide what to do for it, and what not to do.

Looking it all over, it appears to be mostly original, but judging from the way the overspray looks in the neck cavity, it appears it's been repainted. The neck is straight. The pickups and knobs (pitted) are all original and look and sound pretty cruddy. The tuning machines and bridge are pitted. The frets need some help, either replacement or filing. All the other fittings--strap knobs, neck plate also look like hell.

Without consideration for value, I'd refinish it again, replace the tuners, bridge, pickups, pots and knobs.

Are they any pieces mentioned above that I should really try to salvage, clean and re-use to protect value, or should I just make it playable and presentable at this point?

Thanks
Neal

[Matt R.]

If the parts function, clean and use them. No need to replace probably. Good luck

[No4PCs]

> Wow friend, the 70´s sound in your hand. Congratulations.
If me , i send it to Fender official repair personnel and re-paint it ...About the other pieces you could try change the broked ones and play forever in it. Peace.

[BetterBottomEnd]

How does it play? If its amazing then get it fixed up and play it anything less then mind blowing make it as pretty as you can while keeping it as original as possible. Then sell it and go buy something nice.

[wilsonn]

Originally Posted by BetterBottomEnd

How does it play? If its amazing then get it fixed up and play it anything less then mind blowing make it as pretty as you can while keeping it as original as possible. Then sell it and go buy something nice.

Thanks for the comments and thoughts.
As for how it plays, it does have that 70's thump that seems hard to get with anything else, and the neck is easy to get around on. It's just crackly sounding (pots, jack) and it's filthy.

Can you get the pitted chrome tuners and bridge looking right or is better to replace?

[wilsonn]

Another question: Under the pickups is that familiar black foam rubber piece that is totally disintegrated. What do use as a replacement for that? If I keep the original pups, does someone sell replacement covers?
thanks
N

[P_bass]

If it were functional I would opt to leave it be of course I would clean it and maintain it as well as play it.

Enjoy!

That foam is available at many after market places that sell pickups and such.

[Groover]

Clean everything and play it as is, or sell it as is.

You can get contact cleaners at Radio Shack for about 5 bucks. They have a non lubricated type and and lubed type. They'll both do the job. I use a little of both.

The sponge... Just add what you need, but leave the cruddy stuff there (resale if you decide to do so)

Just take it apart, and clean it up.

I bought an 80's Jazz Bass Special that was just crappy feeling.. sticky, and smelled really bad. Pots felt and worked badly too.

All I did was clean it, and was like night and day.

Of course, it's you bass so do what you really want with it. In the end, it's just a tool that you want to be comfortable using.