66 Fender Precision Restoration

jonpowl · #1 12-05-2010, 02:00 PM

I have a 1966 Fender P-bass that I bought used in the late 70s. It had been poorly refinished, with runs, etc. Now it has some worn places and of course some nicks, etc. I would love to restore it, but I don't have the money to do it correctly and have no intention to resell. I am thinking of sending the body to Marty Bell for an inexpensive refinish. Does anybody have any experience with him? There is also a local guy, Addam Stark in Santa Cruz that people have recommended. I am thinking about sunburst, natural or a black or red solid color, in that order.

As for the neck, the frets were pulled off in the Pastorius days and the rosewood sanded. I would love to re-fret, but the rosewood is too thin. I will need a new fretboard but I have no idea who to get to do it, as I realize this is very specialized work for such an old bass. I have purchased a Fender Highway One neck to use temporarily and it works well.

First step will be to refinish the body, which I would like to get done in the next couple of months. Second will be to repair the neck, which can wait a year or two till I have the money as it will probably cost $500-1000. Any and all comments/suggestions will be appreciated.

Meddle · #2 12-05-2010, 02:11 PM

The black pickguard has to be newer right?

jonpowl · #3 12-05-2010, 02:19 PM

I have changed the pick-guard as the original Tortoise had a small edge missing (still have it). The neck is a just purchased Fender Highway One as I prefer playing with frets these days. The original neck is waiting on a new fretboard, frets and perhaps a refinish as it will probably need it after all of the work.

pgolliher · #4 01-31-2011, 09:34 PM

Hi, I highly recommend Addam Stark. A guitar collector friend of mine has gotten some amazing finishing work done by Addam. Please PM me if you would like me to put you in contact with him for a personal reference. I just got a set up/fret work on my back up bass by his bass guy and it is by far the best work I have seen in Santa Cruz.

Will Kelly · #5 01-31-2011, 09:37 PM

PLEASE! Send the original neck to Mike Lull and let him refret it.

I have a '60 P that had been re-fretted at least 4 times over the course of it's life (my dad bought it new). We thought the board was too thin to be re-fretted. We were wrong. Lull did an awesome job, it took him one day, he filled in all the old chips so well you can't even tell they were there, and it cost $200 bucks. You cannot beat that.