54 Precision Attic Find

[Bflat]

Most would think the bridge cover was installed upside down, but if it had original foam in it, maybe that's how they were supposed to be mounted.

Looks like the bridge has its original Bakelite saddles too!

It is mounted upside down, that was done in order so the foam mute was passed the bridge and it would sustain instead thump as leo intended it.......

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[BboogieXVII]

Looks like you're doing a great job on restoring. Rock on!

 

[bumperbass]

Congratulations! I am following this thread for sure. Why can't this Sh|+ happen to me?

 

[2saddleslab]

Well done on the restoration. Very lucky find. I did a somewhat similar project with a '51 body and '55 neck. Nice to find a complete package. I would have probably left the neck as is though.

 

[electracoyote]

Wow, she's cleaning up nice. The fretboard clean up is impressive. Well done, can't wait to see the finished results.

 

[Engle]

Just want to say, as a machinist I'm glad so see someone using a vertical mill to do the repair. So tired of most repair men who get out there router and template and proceed. They can never duplicate the preciseness of a properly set up mill. My hats off to you on that repair. I look forward to seeing the finish product!

While a properly set up mill can be much more precise, guitar builders and repair folks have been using routers and templates with a great deal of success for many years.
I learned repair from a luthier that did most of his work with hand tools, including jointing the neck/fingerboard. His guitars looked, played and sounded perfect.

OP that’s a great project. I’m looking forward to seeing more!

 

[Basshappi]

Oh My!!
Congrats! Looking forward to the end results.

 

[Gord_oh]

Wowowowowowowowowow

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Love projects like this. First thought was Mary Kaye white but if so trans as possible to show off that beautiful grain especially the figure in that top portion . Or keep it natural. Yours to do as you like but looking forward to the finished results.

 

[Mind Eroded]

Id go with a light transparent finish. Like the squier CV 50's. Doesn't get much classier

 

[punchdrunk]

I’d actually like to hear the (as hinted at in the heading) backstory to how you came upon this gem. Please share.

 

[briandavismurph]

I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to become the new owner of this weary player..it needs some attention. The body is getting the most attention... taking special care to protect and preserve Mr. Gomez's handwriting. Stripping the rattle can car paint off and repairing the sad woodchopping in the pickup route were first priorities.

Epic Thread, Great restoration, and what a bass, amazing! Can't wait to see her back in one piece.

 

[Bass V]

nice, score and resto, but man, I saw that pool being routed and thot we'd see a muddy in there...
oh well, it's twin is available locally with the mud and may end up mine if I can get'r down from $1,6.

 

[Bthebassplayer]

I didn’t new they had string through bodies back then. Learned something new today!!! Nice thread! Keep coming with pics!

 

[Frederiek]

Oh that's awesome, great to see someone taking such good care of it now ^^ That pickup 'route' must have hurt the poor thing.

 

[Tim Rinkerman]

Wow! I'm overwhelmed at the responses to my project! Thanks for all the interest..As to the original discovery, a friend was helping another friend clean out her late fathers house, and found this bass in the attic..no case and no idea how long it had been there. My friend asked me if I knew anything about it, I honestly said I know the neck is very old, but without taking it apart, I wouldn't be able to tell if the body was as old as the neck...it was hacked up,not original.....and left it at that....I was patient and nudged him every few weeks as to what they wanted to do with it. I waited till just recently and said..christmas is coming up,if you could use some extra christmas cash, let me know...a price was agreed upon, and 1007 came home with me. It wasn't until I got it apart that I learned its true value.
As to the intended color...it still has original blonde transparent finish in the neck cavity, so as much as I like natural or butterscotch, I feel it would be best to return it to its original color. (if anybody has an original pick up from this era they want to part with, let me know..)I already have a repop black bakelite pick guard, and a new set of pots and fabric covered wire to make it whole again.
As far as more pictures, I'll take a few more during the finishing process, but its going to be alot of spray a bit,wait a long time, sand a bit, spray some more, wait a long time again, sand a bit more..ad infinitum...till I'm happy with it...yea, I could shell out the bucks and send it to a pro refinisher...( that's still not off the table if the refinishing takes a turn towards the worse..),but I'm fairly confident that I can do a very respectable job.
This is only my second serious restoration...I don't have past or construction photos of my 68 Precision resurrection, but the bodywork was more serious, and the neck was long gone. I'll post some pic's of the finished bass and try to describe what was done...

 

[808P123]

I love these stories. Tadeo Gomez shaped the neck which is another sweet bonus! Great find.

 

[johnson79]

Can't wait to see more photos of the restoration. They didn't try and match the grain on that one!
Nice work on the patch, shouldn't be too noticeable after finishing.

 

[AltGrendel]

I love these threads, subbed.