Fender '70s Precision Bass

[TMart99]

cool! Thanks!

All finished. Charging the camera batteries, as I type.

of course, as usual, the camera batteries were dead and of course I'm the only one in the house who seems to understand that rechargeable camera batteries.......need to be .....ReFrigginCharged!



I'll post some pics later tonight.

 

[TMart99]

Well, my pic was roundly ignored! So I'll throw this in the mix:

Anyone notice the unusual string spacing at the nut?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I didn't notice it until it was pointed out to me - the strings are really far from the edges of the fretboard. It's almost like a P width nut with Jazz string spacing... I looked at other examples online (especially at Sweetwater which sometimes has pictures of the actual bass in stock), both of the MIJ Classic P as well as other P's and Jazz Basses - I didn't find any that looked like this. Are they copying the way that some basses actually were back in the day?

That's odd. Mine is not like that.

My Fender MIJ 70's P-bass has correct spacing. I'll post some more pics later tonight.

Did you measure at the bridge saddles, to see what the string spacing is there?

Hopefully, all you need is to replace your current nut, with a correctly cut/slotted nut.

Did you buy that bass brand new, or second hand?

 

[hieronymous]

That's odd. Mine is not like that.

My Fender MIJ 70's P-bass has correct spacing. I'll post some more pics later tonight.

Did you measure at the bridge saddles, to see what the string spacing is there?

Hopefully, all you need is to replace your current nut, with a correctly cut/slotted nut.

Did you buy that bass brand new, or second hand?

Yours isn't this current series that was made for the US market, is it? I think that these are "supposed" to be this way.

I realized that the wording of my initial post is messed up - I meant to say that the other "'70s Precision Basses" from the Classic series that are MIJ DO look like mine, while other Precision and Jazz basses not in the series do not.

It would be interesting to know if there was actually thought put behind this on Fender's part, either Fender USA or Fender Japan. I don't intend to change mine (bought new) - I actually like it!

 

[TMart99]

Yours isn't this current series that was made for the US market, is it? I think that these are "supposed" to be this way.

I realized that the wording of my initial post is messed up - I meant to say that the other "'70s Precision Basses" from the Classic series that are MIJ DO look like mine, while other Precision and Jazz basses not in the series do not.

It would be interesting to know if there was actually thought put behind this on Fender's part, either Fender USA or Fender Japan. I don't intend to change mine (bought new) - I actually like it!

Mine is the more recent Fender MIJ 70's Precision Bass made for the US market. The series came out last spring/summer and I bought mine right at the beginning of when they were released.

 

[hieronymous]

Mine is the more recent Fender MIJ 70's Precision Bass made for the US market. The series came out last spring/summer and I bought mine right at the beginning of when they were released.

Interesting - care to share a pic of the nut? Maybe they changed it part-way in? I bought mine at the beginning of October, maybe it was the second wave - I know the store I bought it at (Gelb Music in Redwood City, CA) had already sold one or two by the time I bought mine...

 

[FarkusSWR]

Well, my pic was roundly ignored! So I'll throw this in the mix:

Anyone notice the unusual string spacing at the nut?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I didn't notice it until it was pointed out to me - the strings are really far from the edges of the fretboard. It's almost like a P width nut with Jazz string spacing... I looked at other examples online (especially at Sweetwater which sometimes has pictures of the actual bass in stock), both of the MIJ Classic P as well as other P's and Jazz Basses - I didn't find any that looked like this. Are they copying the way that some basses actually were back in the day?

That's interesting. I got mine back in October (like someone mentioned above) and it doesn't look like that. On mine there is a small gap between the inlay and the bottom side of the string. I busted out the the dial caliper and from the side of the nut to the top side of the E string it is exactly .080 inches. ( 5/64, I think)

 

[JEDI BASS]

I'm shopping for one of these.....

Where's the best deal guys? Sales tax in TN is right at 10% so I'm gonna wanna buy from outta state if possible to save some $$.

 

[TMart99]

Okay, here she is.............

Babicz FCH Bridge (in Black)

Hipshot HB2 Clover Tuners (In Black)

Cream Pickguard (w/Black pickguard screws)

THG Custom Wooden Knobs (Black/Ebony wood with cream/wood dual inlay Line)

Black/Ebony wood Thumbrest

Gotho Strap Buttons (Black)

Gotho String Retainer (Black)

(Click on pics to enlarge them)

 

[TMart99]

 

[TMart99]

 

[TMart99]

 

[JEDI BASS]

SICK MAN!!! Classy upgrades!

So, is the Babicz bridge the latest hot upgrade??

I've seen several here on TB lately and had never heard about them before.

 

[selowitch]

SICK MAN!!! Classy upgrades!

So, is the Babicz bridge the latest hot upgrade??

I've seen several here on TB lately and had never heard about them before.

The Babicz bridges look cool, are no heavier than a standard Fender bridge, are very solidly made, and have a great “lockdown” feature that makes keeping the correct intonation through a change of strings possible. Tone-wise, not a huge difference, but some people claim their notes ring truer and longer with these bridges installed. Personally, I think one replaces a bridge not for tone but for ease and stability of setup and perhaps to facilitate picking technique. They also prevent unwanted side-to-side movement of the strings. In those areas, the Babicz FCH bridges are true winners, IMO.

Replacement bridges really just refine the mechanical aspects of your bass for the most part.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Yeah, I know all the benefits of higher mass, better contact etc etc.... I had just somehow missed hearing about the Babicz.

Thanks

 

[chadds]

I found no benefits on a Fender by bridge changing. The total combination of all of its elements make for a great bass.

A raucous '57 will rock that POS bridge for all it's worth.

 

[chuck norriss]

View attachment 260852

Tight.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Wasn't trying to start a bridge debate, that's been done before....

The Babicz looks nice! I'll research it. If it adjusts easier and/or quicker, I may get one.

 

[selowitch]

I wasn't looking to spark debate, either ... but I guess I did, albeit a minor one.

 

[TMart99]

I found no benefits on a Fender by bridge changing. The total combination of all of its elements make for a great bass.

A raucous '57 will rock that POS bridge for all it's worth.

I don't know, this is a nice bridge. I wouldn't catagorize it as a "POS" bridge.

It has some really nice attributes. It's a quality bridge.

I don't consider it a high mass bridge. It's rather light, despite what it appears to be.

But to each his own.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I wasn't looking to spark debate, either ... but I guess I did, albeit a minor one.

No no no you gave some valuable input and observations. The inflammatory remark about it being a piece of crap, was what I sensed could've started a heated debate.