Vintage Precision: is it the end of the road?

Rockin John · #1 10-30-2007, 07:22 AM

The bass itself is in nice enough shape for a 1977 according to the guitar tech. But there are a couple of places where the fingerboard isn't absolutely dead flat, and that leads to an action higher than I like (prolly 5mm @12th position) or buzzing if it's lowered.

The guitar tech suggested I don't attempt a dressing and simply put the old girl out to grass

Further -and this is the nasty bit - I'm getting fingering-hand cramps after just one song. No matter what I do, I can't get around this, and it seems to be related to the width of the 'board. I've gone back to the 5 string Jazz for a while and the cramps have almost gone.

End result is that I shall probably have to give up on my beloved Precision.

I'm sure this little set-back will lead me into other things on the bass - perhaps that 6er fretless

- because playing a 4 seems to be impossible from now on because of the cramps.

I will miss the old girl though.....

John

James_B · #2 10-30-2007, 07:27 AM

Replace the neck.

KeithBMI · #3 10-30-2007, 07:37 AM

I'll take it off your hands!

louieeadg · #4 10-30-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

I'll take it off your hands!

Ditto.

lefty007 · #5 10-30-2007, 09:11 AM

Funny that your tech would wquld not recommend a fret leveling. Basses are supposed to be worked on and set up to your liking.

Although some P-Bass necks, even with good frets and low action, can be hard to play to some people.

Rockin John · #6 10-30-2007, 11:12 AM

He didn't recomend it cos it's a fretless .... LOL

It seems some vintage Fenders have a kind of hump where the neck body joint is and that to plane the board would weaken the Rosewood which, in the firstplace, is one of the thin types that Fender did.

In any case, I still get cramps.

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 10-30-2007, 11:29 AM

It really comes down to if you want to keep it as a player or keep its value.

mjolnir · #8 10-30-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

It really comes down to if you want to keep it as a player or keep its value.

+1

Personally I think basses are meant to be played, so if it were me I'd do what it takes to get it in working order again.

But that's me.

lefty007 · #9 10-30-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin John

He didn't recomend it cos it's a fretless .... LOL

Oops, right, a leveling, or planning, not a fret leveling.

Even easier. Those rosewood board can be leveled so many times before anything drastic needs to be done, and it will still look original.

I did that to my Yamaha fretless myself, bought a radiused leveling block from StewMac and a couple of sheets of sandpaper.

**john turner** · #10 10-30-2007, 12:01 PM

despite being the proud owner of a 77 jazz, i have a hard time calling anything fender from the 70's "vintage". probably just me though heh.

that being said - condolences on the potential loss of a loved bass. that's gotta suck. i know i get totally torqued up if one of my basses starts showing signs of wear.

mjolnir · #11 10-30-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

despite being the proud owner of a 77 jazz, i have a hard time calling anything fender from the 70's "vintage". probably just me though heh.

that being said - condolences on the potential loss of a loved bass. that's gotta suck. i know i get totally torqued up if one of my basses starts showing signs of wear.

I have a hard time picturing you with anything less than seven strings...

...Unless it's that 7 string Magnus Lee (the Geddy's big cousin) that blows my mind every time I see it...

manicbassman · #12 10-30-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin John

He didn't recomend it cos it's a fretless .... LOL

It seems some vintage Fenders have a kind of hump where the neck body joint is and that to plane the board would weaken the Rosewood which, in the firstplace, is one of the thin types that Fender did.

In any case, I still get cramps.

well you have two options... one: take it to a luthier to get the fretboard replaced, or two: sell it

Rockin John · #13 10-30-2007, 01:30 PM

Vintage? Yes, you are perhaps right, John. A poor choice of words on my part.

But ... what I was trying to get over in the initial post was that this bass will be a loss for two reasons that are probably interconected.

That, in getting older (I'm nearly 55!!!), I seem unable to tolerate any narrow bass necks these days because I get fingering hand cramps. So that it applies to my P and probably most other 4 strings. I supose it's possibly a medical issue, I don't know.

Then there is the bass that has f/board issues. Naturally, therefore, any repairs to the bass would almost certainly be pointless because of the cramps issue.

I'll not sell it. I'll probably play it ocassionally when I have worked out what to do over the cramps.

Best.

John