In 1951, only a few dozen P basses were made. Last count, only about 2000 are left. ;-)
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Another '51 P-bass unearthed!
- Thread starter humbucker79
- Start date
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- Tags
- #1951 precision
- Mar 4, 2020
- 24
- 203
- Disclosures
- Repair/restoration luthier @ Gryphon Stringed Instruments
Wow, I love those original P basses. I also love to see a real road-worn instrument, mean it’s been gigged for ever, rather than the fake wear you get so often these days.
My Good Lord....
That picture of the frets would look Beautiful as a large print.. How about it? I would buy that as a print - it speaks of the original owner - so much history. Gorgeous.
That picture of the frets would look Beautiful as a large print.. How about it? I would buy that as a print - it speaks of the original owner - so much history. Gorgeous.
- Mar 4, 2020
- 24
- 203
- Disclosures
- Repair/restoration luthier @ Gryphon Stringed Instruments
It seems that no one will ever know how many were made, but Leo Fender's notes account for 83 basses in 1951 (according to Detlef Schmidt's book). The forum member who archives all the discovered '51s told me this is one brings the number to 39.
I am very curious about the ohm reading on your 1951's pickup. I have a March 1953 Precision and it's pickup reads about 5.6 K ohm (through an instrument cable).
Just put an instrument cable into the jack and touch a voltmeter's leads unto the ends, pots on full.
If you could share this info, I'd be sooooo thankful!
My '53 has the original wiring but I'm pretty sure that the tone capacitor is about shot. The tone pot only works for about the last 10% of a full turn. But, I certainly don't want to replace or change anything.
I love your bass! And I'd just about give you my house for it!
Just put an instrument cable into the jack and touch a voltmeter's leads unto the ends, pots on full.
If you could share this info, I'd be sooooo thankful!
My '53 has the original wiring but I'm pretty sure that the tone capacitor is about shot. The tone pot only works for about the last 10% of a full turn. But, I certainly don't want to replace or change anything.
I love your bass! And I'd just about give you my house for it!
- Mar 4, 2020
- 24
- 203
- Disclosures
- Repair/restoration luthier @ Gryphon Stringed Instruments
One of the first things I did was measure the DC resistance, it is 7.4K Ohms at the output jack. Nice and strong!
Thank-you ever so very much, humbucker79 for the ohm reading on the pickup of your 1951. I value that info very much!
As many of us know, Fender's pickup windings vary greatly. ha ha ha, nearly 2,000 less ohms between my pickup and yours.
My son is a 1950s Telecaster information freak and he told me that the bridge pickup can be anywhere from 5.5 k ohm to 8 k ohm. Strat pickups vary too.
I just love your 1951 Bass! This has been the best thread ever here on TalkBass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Mar 4, 2020
- 24
- 203
- Disclosures
- Repair/restoration luthier @ Gryphon Stringed Instruments
Thanks bassdude51, I am happy to share anything I can. I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to get this piece of history.
nice pic of a 4000 as your avatar...….best Ric sound I ever had was from a 4000!
There is a facebook page run by Detlef - fender precision bass 1951-1954 owners group. A good group to belong to if you have one of these.
