My baby needs a facelift. Or a tech?

[GeneralElectric]

Howdy all,

So my bass from home just got sent to me cross country from my folks since my last one got stolen. However, its just not... up to snuff I guess.

Its a Fender Fullerton 1957 Precision Reissue (1982) that I bought for $400 when I started playing. It was like new when I bought it. Now... not so much...

I can't find the connection cable to my camera, so no pics at the moment.

This baby needs a set up badly, and I think I might swap out some parts as well.

Currently its strung with LaBella flatwounds and has a foam under the bridge cover. I want this to be a thump machine.

Problems with the bass:
-Uneven string response: The G string sounds... odd... As if it doesn't belong with the rest of the set. I've never had this problem with my other basses strung with the same strings. It might be from when I thought unlevel pickups were a bad thing and adjusted the pickup screws accordingly.
-Lacks sustain: Even with the mute taken off it sounds there isn't any sustain
-Bridge Issues: The bridge buzzes and rattles when I play, though this problem is partially solved with the mute.
-Neck Issues: Most of the finish is gone off of the back of the neck as apparently my sweat does a bang up job of eating away nitro. There is a slight bow to the neck, which I haven't tried to correct yet since I don't want to mess with a truss rod older than me.
-String Rattle: The A string rattles in the nut when I hit it too hard, and its driving me up the wall. In the pictures I've wrapped the area above the nut with rubberbands to fix this problem. Buts its not a permanent solution. The string sometimes does this too but only rarely
-Guts:The pots are scratchy and the jack is always loose and sometimes cuts out unless I fiddle with it.

Things I wanna change:
-Frets: I wanna lose them. I like playing fretless more these days.
-New Bridge: Recommend me a bridge. String through maybe? I'd have to route the body some, but I don't mind. It will kill the resale value of the body, but what do I care? I don't plan on selling it.
-New string nut: Possibly to hold down the A string...
-New Electronics:Thinking of getting new electronics or getting my pots cleaned and a new jack and then finding a way for the jack to stay in one place.

So, should I just take my bass to get set up and cure my problems or do you think I need a tech?

[GlennW]

I think you should leave it alone (or adjust it) and get another bass instead of completely screwing it up.

Edit: Since there's not much you like about it, why not sell it and get a fretless?

[GeneralElectric]

If anything were to be modded I'd have a good repair tech do it. Matt Umanov probably.

I don't care much about the value of this bass, as I said, I never plan on selling this. It was my first proper bass and has lasted through... 7? years of abuse by me.

[Disappear]

I "face-lifted" my bass about a year ago, new pots, new jack new paint job etc...

Don't be afraid to do it. Take your time, since this is your baby, treat her like gold and don't rush anything. Sure you could send it elsewhere but where's the pride of finishing it and calling it all your own.
You can find guides online and if not, I'm sure someone here would know

[GlennW]

I try to keep it on the lo-lo, but I am psychic, and I'm looking into my crystal keyboard about ten years into the future and there's a guy holding a fretless saying, "Damn...why did I do that?"

[derrico1]

"Leaving it alone" = continuing to neglect it. At least adjust the truss rod, clean the pots, and fix the jack.

If the neck has much bow, you might find that flattening it fixes your buzzes and rattles. Truss rods are your friend; don't fear them. I'd also check if the PU is choking the G string and check the springs on the stock bridge. While you're at it, might as well set the intonation and action. There are online guides stickied in the set-up forum that will help walk you through these simple maintenance procedures.

If you decide to convert the bass to fretless, consider swapping out the original neck with either a second-hand Fender fretless neck or an aftermarket (Warmoth, Allparts, MM, etc). A 1982 isn't that old yet, but being able to return it to original condition might be useful someday.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Things I wanna change:
-Frets: I wanna lose them. I like playing fretless more these days.
-New Bridge: Recommend me a bridge. String through maybe? I'd have to route the body some, but I don't mind. It will kill the resale value of the body, but what do I care? I don't plan on selling it.
-New string nut: Possibly to hold down the A string...
-New Electronics:Thinking of getting new electronics or getting my pots cleaned and a new jack and then finding a way for the jack to stay in one place.

So, should I just take my bass to get set up and cure my problems or do you think I need a tech?

I vote to leave it as is aside from making adjustments and cleaning. The bridge works fine like millions of other Fender bridges...and there's not enough advantage (if any) to string through to mess up the body. if it rattles, stretch the springs on the adjustment screws and it should be fine.

If you MUST play fretless, buy a replacement neck and keep the original. Adjust the truss rod - if needed, loosen it, remove adjusting nut and lubricate, then re-install nut and adjust.

To fill in the loose nut slot, use baking soda and a drop of super glue, then file the filled slot to shape (do a search for the gluing technique, it's common). No need to replace the nut.

The string that sounds off is likely in pickup adjustment...but it could be a bad string. I find that Labellas last a long time so I'm more inclined to think it's the pickup adjustment.

Remember, all this great advice is worth only as much as it cost you!

[GeneralElectric]

What if I purchased a drop in replacement like the Hipshot bridge?

If you want to hear the bass as is:

youtube.com/user/riceplaysbass

Using a webcam at my friends house to record.