Butterscotch '51 P Bass options

Check out Bluesman Vintage.

 

The MIJ ones are excellent and pretty easy to find used.

 

I was playing my mint 94 CIJ yesterday, what a killer bass, I was running through my huge pedal board and it was dead quiet.

 

The MIJ butterscotch isn't. It's more like a slightly see-through TV yellow. They sound and play great, though.

 

not that it matters but, your bridge cover is on backwards.
awesome bass!

 

I had one of these until just recently. They're great basses whether or not the color is authentic.

 

Hah! Now I have to make sure I don't have the bridge on backwards

 

I loved the CV Squier one I tried last year. I wish I could have bought it. It sounded great even though it was a little heavy.

The *real* 51 I tried 20 years ago was a killer bass in all respects and the Squier didn't remotely compare, but I'm a lot more likely to actually afford the Squier.

The 90's MIJ basses I've never had the pleasure of messing with. How accurate are they, really? Do they have the same neck shape as the original?

 

You might also check out the Rob Allen Solid 4, which is a very close approximation of the early 50s P-basses.

 

I'm not some normal of vintage specialist but the neck of mine in the pictures above feels like just a modern neck with a medium width nut.

I don't want to appear bashing these MIJs. They are great, but not nearly as accurate as e.g. the Fender Japan '57 P-basses. The color is off and the neck shape is better (for many).

 

I just looked at your blog and saw the '62 AVRI CAR with wear on it. Are you it's new owner? I thought I saw this exact bass on eBay this week? Feel free to reply by private message if you care to.

As to your question, the 1991 or so Made in Japan '51 Precision reissue basses are great instruments. Prices have crept up quite a bit but they are much closer in spec to the original early basses than the later Crafted in Japan instruments. Like the Custom Shop basses, the early MIJ basses have the larger ferrules, faithful reproductions of the neck shape and tuners and the color is closer than the CIJ's school bus yellow color.

 

Wow, nice! Congrats! I am waiting for a '62 Fullerton RI in fiesta red to pop up. One sold very recently on eBay for an appallingly low price of $1425 I believe. I would have snapped it right up if I had been more vigilant.

 

1991 Fender MIJ '51 Reissue.

Picture is a little washed out, but not much. The picture is pretty close to the actual color. This one has a "Muy Grande" Rio Grande pickup.

Note: some guys used to spin those '51 bridge covers so the mute wouldn't make contact. You'll see pictures with those covers on backwards. I think either way is acceptable.

 

:scowl: Great now I have to go find some inexpensive bridge and pickup covers to put on my 51RI.

 

Terrible photographer with terrible lighting.