Pre-CBS Fender Basses.. Let's See Em

[Hizzoner]

where do you guys find some of these basses? craigslist? pawn shops? I wonder if there is a method to find rare vintage basses on the cheap...

[Beano_z]

Originally Posted by D Bopp

Anyone have a 1964 or before Fender bass? I wanna see em. Here's my two 64's:

D Bopp, love your collection, why don't you start a club...I'll take #13 just in case

[Beano_z]

Originally Posted by Beano_z

D Bopp, love your collection, why don't you start a club...I'll take #13 just in case

Here's my contribution, she's a blonde '59:

[1SHOT1HIT]

Man this thread and the other Vintage Fender thread just get better and better.

[1SHOT1HIT]

Originally Posted by D Bopp

May be a 63 stripped body, but the neck is from the 70s.

Those really look like clay dots to me, but I'm viewing from my I'Phone so they're not so easily discernible from the later white dots.
More pics would be greatly appreciated.
Not so much to authenticate it, as much as I'd just like more bass porn to drool over :-)

[1SHOT1HIT]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

oh yes on the stripped body neck is original, decal is not... Short history of the bass:

Dad bought it in 1966 it was factory fiesta red, the drummer he was playing with in 1970 convinced him to change it to cream to match their band outfits etc...

then in 1979-80 he took it to the only authorized guy in Australia (Merv Cargill) to have fender decals (apparently bought from Leo) and strip it back to natural redo the whole thing in Vintage Nitro and fix the decal that was painted white by hand as you see in the pic... the end result with a custom black pickguard is in the first pic, all electronics, wiring, pickups, frets are original... only the finish was changed... My dad gave it to me on my 30th, as I play bass too... I'm never going to sell it, so the value is purely academic until either I'm too old to play or have no one to pass it on to

edit: Oh and he played it 3 nights a week for 20 years... so the neck and frets have amazing mojo

I also have the original case, pickguard, thumb rest, strap and both covers...

Attachment 317264


Attachment 317270

I'd be torn on leaving it, or having it refinished with a very light relic back to the original Fiesta Red.

Honestly, I'd probably ask my dad if he was to make one ultimate decision on its finish knowing what he knows now, what it would be? Then I'd go with that!
Based on your story it appears your dad made his finish choices by outside influence, or lack of other options, (settling for the only guy in Aus)
So I'd take those elements out of it, put the choice back on him w/o the limits of options. And get *his* influence back into that bass.

But that's just me, I prefer color over the stripped natural colorless look of the 70's.

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by 1SHOT1HIT

I'd be torn on leaving it, or having it refinished with a very light relic back to the original Fiesta Red.

You know, it never occured to me to do that...
I love the bass but not so much the colour... I know he would let me do it and probably encourage it, but can I get it done with period correct decals ?

would there be any obvious risks invovled that you guys know of ?

[D Bopp]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

You know, it never occured to me to do that...
I love the bass but not so much the colour... I know he would let me do it and probably encourage it, but can I get it done with period correct decals ?

would there be any obvious risks invovled that you guys know of ?

Send it to John Kallas, johnk_10. He'll do a fantastic job for you.

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by D Bopp

Send it to John Kallas, johnk_10. He'll do a fantastic job for you.

Thank you, will note him down.

EDIT: Just got the new Fender black glass sparkle pickguard... popped it on, amazing 50 year old bass and the pickguard holes lined up

[D Bopp]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

Thank you, will note him down.

EDIT: Just got the new Fender black glass sparkle pickguard... popped it on, amazing 50 year old bass and the pickguard holes lined up

Attachment 317736

Just realized you are in Australia. May be a bit pricey to ship your bass to the States.

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by D Bopp

Just realized you are in Australia. May be a bit pricey to ship your bass to the States.

It would probably add another $350 to the cost of the job

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

oh yes on the stripped body neck is original, decal is not... Short history of the bass:

Dad bought it in 1966 it was factory fiesta red, the drummer he was playing with in 1970 convinced him to change it to cream to match their band outfits etc...

then in 1979-80 he took it to the only authorized guy in Australia (Merv Cargill) to have fender decals (apparently bought from Leo) and strip it back to natural redo the whole thing in Vintage Nitro and fix the decal that was painted white by hand as you see in the pic... the end result with a custom black pickguard is in the first pic, all electronics, wiring, pickups, frets are original... only the finish was changed... My dad gave it to me on my 30th, as I play bass too... I'm never going to sell it, so the value is purely academic until either I'm too old to play or have no one to pass it on to

edit: Oh and he played it 3 nights a week for 20 years... so the neck and frets have amazing mojo

I also have the original case, pickguard, thumb rest, strap and both covers...

Attachment 317264


Attachment 317270

I don't think I've ever felt so bad about an old Fender refin -- that would have been the most amazing Fender on TB if it had the original finish! Further proof drummers are idiots!!

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

I don't think I've ever felt so bad about an old Fender refin -- that would have been the most amazing Fender on TB if it had the original finish! Further proof drummers are idiots!!

sigh...
she still gets a lot of love and attention even with the cheap dress on... and has the voice of an angel, but, if you guys know of someone in Australia that would have the proven skills to bring her back to factory showroom... let me know

[Pimmsley]

just took a picture of her naked (before putting the guard back on...... gotta say, it has a kind of certain appeal ?!?

[1SHOT1HIT]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

just took a picture of her naked (before putting the guard back on...... gotta say, it has a kind of certain appeal ?!?

Attachment 318601 Attachment 318602

When I read naked pictures of "her" I didn't expect to see so much wood!

But it's still awkwardly beautiful, just don't tell my buddies I said so!

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by 1SHOT1HIT

When I read naked pictures of "her" I didn't expect to see so much wood!

But it's still awkwardly beautiful, just don't tell my buddies I said so!

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Oh yeah, that too. Now I wear the equally-hated Hawaiian shirts. I wore them to work almost every day.

They aren't hated here. Just about everybody wears them to work every day.

[Fran Diaz]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

just took a picture of her naked (before putting the guard back on...... gotta say, it has a kind of certain appeal ?!?

Attachment 318601 Attachment 318602

I might be in the minority here, but I love the look of old stripped Fenders, especially when the alder looks as amber and sweet as yours. It'd be different if the wood were poorly matched but in this case I vote to keep it as is.

[Mr_Dave]

Pimmsley, if you are interested in getting the bass refinished go and see Darren and Ben at Guitar Emporium in Albert Park. Ben does fantastic nitro refinishes and also does very accurate and realistic relics if you're into that. I have seen his work on a few basses including a killer refin Fiesta Red '68 P... Enjoy the bass.

[Arild]

All original.