I recently bought a new bass that was a bit out of my comfort zone, played a high-profile gig with it over the weekend, and decided it wasn't for me (returning it).
It turns out that I'm way deeper into this Precision thing then I ever thought I'd be, and in more ways then I realized. Little things I never think about, like the size of the body, and how far the reach is to the first fret (not talking about scale, but how the bass sits when standing).
Determined to get something new into the arsenal, I started considering all options for "P's with a twist" and decided on something I've never owned - an early 50's P reissue.
I'm a huge fan of MJT Relics (I own two, a P and a Jazzmaster) so I started specing out what an MJT build would cost. I figured the cost of every part and unfortunately, it turned out to be a few hundred more then I was hoping.
Not content to cross my fingers and hope that Fender releases a '54 Road Worn at NAMM, I decided to check eBay for MIJ '51 (slab) and '54 (contoured) reissues, figuring I could strip the finish myself and have Matt @ MJT work his magic (I'm a stickler for nitro finishes).
To my complete shock, I found a gorgeous sunburst heavy relic MJT-built '55 reissue P on eBay. All high-quality parts were used, including a Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickup, and a gorgeous brand new tweed case. The kicker: it was located THREE MINUTES from my house. I immediately got in touch with the seller, we negotiated a cash price, and I picked it up last night.
Here are the seller's pics:
It turns out that the seller is a huge Sting fan, and the wear was copied exactly from Sting's weathered '55 P (he sold this bass to buy a real '55). It is over the top for sure (especially on the back), but I love relics - it really looks fantastic in person! Feels great too of course. I'm gonna be beating the snot out of it anyway.
I immediately put on a set of GHS Flats and it plays beautifully. Just waiting on an ashtray cover for the bridge so I have a solid place for my thumb. The Antiquity leaves a little to be desired for my tastes, so I'll be dropping in a more modern-sounding Seymour Duncan SCPB-3. I'd like to add a set of Ultralites too, to get the balance even better.
- as much as I don't want to admit it, it does look better sans pickguard. I have two gigs this weekend - it will get dirty and come away with a few more dings. 
