+1 on the leave it alone, but I think you already knew that.
-1 on buying a vintage cover. The new ones are exactly the same as the olds ones.
Use some circuit board etching acid and some dirt to age it.
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70s Fender, what should I look for?
- Thread starter StarscreamG1
- Start date
-1 on buying a vintage cover. The new ones are exactly the same as the olds ones.
Use some circuit board etching acid and some dirt to age it.
I was thinking that too. Its all part of its mojo and I am a stickler for originality on a vintage item be it bass or whatever. Just not sure what to do about the difference in condition regarding the pup cover and the bridge cover. Not sure how one would go about aging a new pup cover.
I actually don't want to touch a thing on it save getting the rust off the pups and as I commented in my previous post maybe trying to smooth out the orange peel and run on the [re]finish.
Oh yea I know to leave it alone!! I just ran into a circle of thoughts when I got to thinking of the difference in finish with the pup cover and the bridge cover. It all kind of spiraled from there LOL but I really, really DON'T want to replace anything!!!
And thanks for the suggestion on how to age the new pup cover!!!! YES!!!! I hope he can find its original one but if he can't now I have an idea on what to do to being the 'new' one to speed with its other one.
wow. that P looks almost exactly like mine, which also has the serial # starting with S8. same clear ash/black pickguard/maple board.
have you checked out the weight on it? i think the body is hard ash. sounds amazing, but might be a bit much for the weight sensitive... i ended up getting mine in a trade from my friend who didn't like the weight... i think i "won" the trade, as it was for an eden metro combo worth 7-800 at the time. i offered to add cash, but it was refused.
have you checked out the weight on it? i think the body is hard ash. sounds amazing, but might be a bit much for the weight sensitive... i ended up getting mine in a trade from my friend who didn't like the weight... i think i "won" the trade, as it was for an eden metro combo worth 7-800 at the time. i offered to add cash, but it was refused.
You know, that P wasn't that heavy. I was expecting weight and yea it weighs a few pounds but it wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be. Then again, I am owned by a Peavey T40 soooo....whats weight?
Unfortunately I /am/ weight sensitive hence the 4.5 inch padded strap on my T40 and it still doesn't help me for more then about an hour standing up playing it. >_< But in all honestly that P didn't seem that heavy to me at all.
And that is interesting that at least two others here have Ps that are almost identical. ^_^ Now if we were all in the same room unless we memorize our particular wood grain pattern or put our names on the back in masking tape, we might have a problem?
Unfortunately I /am/ weight sensitive hence the 4.5 inch padded strap on my T40 and it still doesn't help me for more then about an hour standing up playing it. >_< But in all honestly that P didn't seem that heavy to me at all.
And that is interesting that at least two others here have Ps that are almost identical. ^_^ Now if we were all in the same room unless we memorize our particular wood grain pattern or put our names on the back in masking tape, we might have a problem?
I was just talking to a friend here on TB last night about this. They suggested letting the other cowpoke go for now and just concentrate on the P. And I have given it some very serious thought. Ironically Cowpokes are harder to find then a 70s P BUT not a P in this condition and price and history. Funnily enough the nephew refers to it something similar too; he calls it the 'Merle Haggard Fender Bass'.
I do need to contact the Cowpoke seller and I hope he understands. This is a once in a lifetime deal and I do already have one Cowpoke (I just wanted a back up for it cause its that wicked). But I always feel bad when I have to back out of something I've firmly promised someone to get. Also in the conversation with my friend here last night, I commented that I promised my BF Id sell my Squier VMJ and though I have a wicked Foundation and Dyna bass (so Im not exactly without a Jazztype bass) if I let that Jazz go I will have no J in my stable. And I didn't realize just what that monster can bring to the table all its own until I faced the reality of possibly letting it go. And ok a funny pairing I'm sure, a 77-78 Fender P and an 08 Squier VMJ
but they are almost a matched set visually and Im sorry, that Squier is just awesome!! And if I let the [backup] Cowpoke go I could keep the VMJ...maybe with a lil sweet talking to the BF Mmmmm And ok a funny pairing I'm sure, a 77-78 Fender P and an 08 Squier VMJ
Now that sounds like a plan!
You'll come across a Cowpoke again, just keep it as a favourie search on eBAy.
Ironically theres a dream (for me color wise) Cowpoke on eBay right now. Its black 
with the rosewood. But the headstock is still maple and for some reason it throws it off somehow and I found my black bass loving self kind of turned off by it
. The one I am committed to getting is white and rosewood. Now that would look funny with all my black basses...the 'white sheep' of the family....
White basses are cool. I won't go out of my way to get one but if a bass I want happens to be white, its fine too ^_^
But I think I will let that one go -- at least for now. I also have a feeling I might not be playing that Cowpoke as much as I do once I get the Haggard P home.
with the rosewood. But the headstock is still maple and for some reason it throws it off somehow and I found my black bass loving self kind of turned off by it. The one I am committed to getting is white and rosewood. Now that would look funny with all my black basses...the 'white sheep' of the family.... White basses are cool. I won't go out of my way to get one but if a bass I want happens to be white, its fine too ^_^But I think I will let that one go -- at least for now. I also have a feeling I might not be playing that Cowpoke as much as I do once I get the Haggard P home.
buy that P as fast as you can. I think you will not play any P special again when you get used to that late 70ies P. By instance, they had a narrower neck than the 50ies or 60ies Ps.
If its in solid condition (as it looks), you wont need a backup on it anyway...
Great Deal with a great history. Don´t ask, do it!
If its in solid condition (as it looks), you wont need a backup on it anyway...
Great Deal with a great history. Don´t ask, do it!
When did Fender remove the thumbrest and the ashtray bridge cover on their standard series? I got a similiar, sweet sounding P-Bass that has a S9 serial number lying over here and I'm trying to find out, if it's all original. It looks more like it's the eighties version though.
Here's a picture of it:
Gruesse, Pablo
Here's a picture of it:
Gruesse, Pablo
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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+1
I would get the old P-bass asap!
Get a cowpoke later, that is still if you want it after you settle in with the P-bass.
Awesome, just awesome! I agree with everyone else, jump on this great deal now! I'd say adios to the second Cowpoke in a heartbeat for this.
And:
Ive been thinking the same thing to be honest. Cowpokes
totally rule, their necks are the best of a J and the best of a P and the bodys are smallish and they balance perfectly. As I've said before why Fender stopped making them just befuddles me. BUT, That Haggard P in its own P way is just as sweet and after I sat back and reviewed mentally how it felt to me, my first thought was 'I don't think Im gonna need a Cowpoke backup.' In fact I think my Cowpoke will be the back up for that P instead. No sitting around lounging in its case with me when it comes to that P, thats for sure. And this is my one shot for my vintage Fender!! I won't let it slip by -- I can't!When did Fender remove the thumbrest and the ashtray bridge cover on their standard series? I got a similiar, sweet sounding P-Bass that has a S9 serial number lying over here and I'm trying to find out, if it's all original. It looks more like it's the eighties version though.
Here's a picture of it:
Gruesse, Pablo
Wow, yours does look a lot like the one thats gonna be mine soon. ^_^ And I honestly don't know a lot about older Fenders (barely know Fenders but Im trying to learn) but I see no mounting holes for the accessories (which I know you notice as well ^_^). Just an ignorant guess but maybe they dropped the ashtrays and thumbrest in '79 and you have one of the early ones maybe? Or it could be a transition model, one made as they were changing from the 70s profile to the 80s?
Thanks for a reality check, guys. I knew the Haggard P was THE one to go for but I am the type when I make a firm commitment on something I like to follow through but its killing me to try and cover both at once (I am financially challenged shall we say). I think Im about to go contact the seller of the Cowpoke and decline for now at least.
I just sent off an email to the Cowpoke seller. That was hard. I really tried to get the scratch up for both but then reality set in $$ wise and I had to let the P Special go - at least for now. But yea baby that means I bring home the Haggard P a lot sooner then even they are expecting....*happy dance*
Congrats, in my opinion that was the right thing to do. The one I got here (it's not mine yet) is a very nice playing bass, even if it doesn't have a famous previous owner as your bass does. 
Well, it's not as cheap as yours either. Other than that I'm in a similiar situation like you.
That is what I was thinking, too. My 84-87 MIJ P-Bass does not have any of those mounting holes like seventies basses normally have.
Gruesse, Pablo
Well, it's not as cheap as yours either. Other than that I'm in a similiar situation like you.That is what I was thinking, too. My 84-87 MIJ P-Bass does not have any of those mounting holes like seventies basses normally have.
Gruesse, Pablo
Its famous background is only as good as I can get it documented, which is something Im going to do my best to get done with him (and if he feels up to it, old skool or no, I will gladly sit and listen to any pointers, stories, lessons, any words of wisdom he has to give me!). And YES, I believe I just sold my brownsville bat to someone in my neighborhood so (if the deal goes through) thats one step closer to the Haggard P.
LOL Now if I take the PG off and theres a lil bag of white in there somewhere...oh hell naaa ROFL!!
