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Fender 51 RI P-bass thoughts...
- Thread starter Muddslide
- Start date
I'm liking mine. I just picked it up used for $350 - looks unplayed.
Bought it as a bass to take the milage off my '68 Telecaster Bass, but they are pretty different in terms of tone and feel.
The T is wider at the nut and more toneful by a longshot - even unplugged.
I may go the white pickguard too now I've seen that one (it'll match the '68 better!).
Bought it as a bass to take the milage off my '68 Telecaster Bass, but they are pretty different in terms of tone and feel.
The T is wider at the nut and more toneful by a longshot - even unplugged.
I may go the white pickguard too now I've seen that one (it'll match the '68 better!).
1) Is it good right out of the box? Did anyone feel it required any mods? (Nut, bridge, pots, etc.)
I installed hipshot Ultralights. On one I have a late model Fender ASE 4 saddle Bridge, another still has the original 2 saddle
2) How's the pickup? Full, rich, deep, boomy? Or anemic and better off being replaced?
I tried several diferent pickups but went back to the original. It's somewhat sensitive to the distance between the pickup and strings as far as tone goes. Too deep in the body can sound anemic, too close to the strings can sound more aggressive. Also it can be particular about string alignment over the pickup poles.
3) What's the neck profile like?
Profiles vary, I've seen chunky baseball bats to thinner C profiles and I have one from 1990 with a nearly soft V profile.
I installed hipshot Ultralights. On one I have a late model Fender ASE 4 saddle Bridge, another still has the original 2 saddle
2) How's the pickup? Full, rich, deep, boomy? Or anemic and better off being replaced?
I tried several diferent pickups but went back to the original. It's somewhat sensitive to the distance between the pickup and strings as far as tone goes. Too deep in the body can sound anemic, too close to the strings can sound more aggressive. Also it can be particular about string alignment over the pickup poles.
3) What's the neck profile like?
Profiles vary, I've seen chunky baseball bats to thinner C profiles and I have one from 1990 with a nearly soft V profile.
I'm very pleased with mine. I did switch over to Fender flat-wound strings and had to make some adjustments to the truss rod to accomodate them. I also added Wilkinson compensating brass bridge saddles to tweak the intonation. Other than those, it's dead stock.
Did the wilkinson bridge do anything to improve the tone or was it merely and intonation issue...
Be careful when buying D'Addario chromes, the two sets I got were both too short for string thru! They are modern strings for modern instruments. I prefer Fender or Roto flats.
Interesting discussion. There seems to be two kind of people buying RIs. Those who are in love with the historical instrument and keeps it stock, because thats the way it should sound and play. And those who THINK they are in love with the original instrument, but can't stop replacing hardware and pups, and modding it beyond recognition. The latter don't like the original instrument, but only their own IDEA of what it was. Could become a costly hobby then! Better to acknowledge if you really like vintage, or if you need a modern electronical high tech bass, that looks vaguely like a vintage Fender... Just my 50c.
Interesting discussion. There seems to be two kind of people buying RIs. Those who are in love with the historical instrument and keeps it stock, because thats the way it should sound and play. And those who THINK they are in love with the original instrument, but can't stop replacing hardware and pups, and modding it beyond recognition. The latter don't like the original instrument, but only their own IDEA of what it was. Could become a costly hobby then! Better to acknowledge if you really like vintage, or if you need a modern electronical high tech bass, that looks vaguely like a vintage Fender... Just my 50c.
I just re-read my post from 6 years ago. I still have the '51, and the Classic '50s, along with an AVRI '57 (and a '99 SR5 I didn't have back then). As it happens, the fretless was the one that left, and I am now playing the '51 almost exclusively.
I know I'll play the other ones, but the '51 is it for now (my lady friend, who is the percussionist in my combo and a really good chef, asked me, "Why to you need so many basses?" I replied, "Why do you need so many pots and pans?"
).
I know I'll play the other ones, but the '51 is it for now (my lady friend, who is the percussionist in my combo and a really good chef, asked me, "Why to you need so many basses?" I replied, "Why do you need so many pots and pans?"
).
Just wanted to share a couple of samples I made on the 51 RI Japan
