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Updating a Fender 51 Precision Reissue

Chef

Chef

In Memoriam
May 23, 2004
41,814
18,945
65
Columbia MO
Disclosures
Staff Reviewer; Bass Gear Magazine
#1
Recently scored this bass:
pretty nice. I like the color much more than the "school bus yellow" attempt. The finish on this one is super thin, and you can feel the grain thru it.
But: no tug bar, the two saddle bridge could be better, the output jack was loose; and the stock pickup-while actually pretty nice at the vintage thing-doesn't bark and snarl like the SD SCPB3 I had in my old one.
So; time for surgery, starting with gutting, masking and shielding.

51gettingupdates.jpg
 
#2
Don't freak: the replacement bridge is still string thru!

I figured as long as I had the thing nealy apart, I'd take the neck off, take a round file to the pickguard/body junction where you can't get to the trussrod, and fix that:

51trussrodroute.jpg
 
#4
GR Guitars made the one piece maple tugbar: just like the original. They supplied the electrosocket as well.
Screwed everything down, put on some new DA XL170, set saddle height, set intonation, and she's ready to get on down the road to the next gig. I may order up some Chromes flats yet though...
I really like those on my 57 reissue.

finished...ain't that wood pretty ;)

51updated.jpg
 
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#6
Production note:
the bobbin of the SD SCPB did not match the route.

It took about 15 minutes of light work with a flat file to shape down the triangulated part the points to the bridge, to get it down to size.

Also; I didn't measure depth of the SCPB3, but, it's torqued down all the way to get 1/8" between pole and underside of strings, fretted last position. Sure wouldn't want it any taller.

Though the A and D poles are not raised to match contour of the fingerboard as the stock pickup's were, the A and D strings don't seem to suffer for it.

Lastly, I took a Sharpie and blacked out the 'Basslines' logo on the pickup to make it look more stock.
Yeah, the pole pieces are huge. Cie la Vie.
 
#10
nice. My 91 has the same type of finish. I dumped the unknown Duncan in there for Curt Novak's take on the style. Much fuller bottom without losing the great snap of mids and highs. I also found some Bakelite knobs from an old test device that look badazz.

I like the sound so much I didn't want to part from original bridge design, but I did just have some titanium saddles fabricated to replace the worn originals.

I should've taken the time to shield it when I had it apart.
 

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