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Fender Classic Series 50's precision bass

#41
Gorn said:
Nitro ages faster right? But this is nitro gloss. Does it still age and legitimacy relic over time?
Click to expand...
It doesn't age faster. It ages differently. Because it's not a plastic, it doesn't get smeared & pushed around like a poly finish does. This allows it to rub off, flake & chip differently. As for the gloss, that's just what they buff it to, instead of satin. The finish is still the same.
 
#42
I actually traded mine in on an AVRI '57 P, thinking it would be a massive upgrade. Luckily I came to my senses and worked a deal to get it back.

Couldn't resist: these pics of me with a cowboy hat on crack me up.

StallionClub9.jpg
 
#46
I got the bass. I can't take a picture right now, but almost immediately I know I don't like the neck. Not the width, but the front to back flatness of it.

I may consider selling the neck and using the body for something else. Any ballpark estimates of the value of the neck? It's in mint condition.
 
#47
Also, why is there a the colored bit above the nut that makes it look like that's where the truss adjustment is? I thought that's where it was but it's apparently at the heel, which I suppose is vintage accurate, but annoying as hell.
 
#50
I also got a 50's lacquer P earlier this year. It's light at 8.25 lbs and super resonant. Pretty loud unplugged with rounds. The neck is a little chunkier than my '57 RI, but that one is very thin front to back.

One thing I should mention, if yours is like mine the the lacquer may not be fully cured and since I keep it in the case all the time the finish has stippled somewhat from the fur inside the case(I think that's what caused it). I may be able to polish that out but haven't tried yet. It doesn't really bug me but if that would bother you, you may want to leave it out of the case for a few weeks or so.

My only mod planned is to put a 3 ply black guard on it. Not a fan of ashtrays, so none of those for me!

Cheers.
 
#52
Gorn said:
Also, why is there a the colored bit above the nut that makes it look like that's where the truss adjustment is? I thought that's where it was but it's apparently at the heel, which I suppose is vintage accurate, but annoying as hell.
Click to expand...
Look at the back of the neck. There's a skunk stripe. That piece at the top is where they closed off the truss access channel. you have a 1 piece maple neck, you need that truss stripe & "plug". :)
 
#54
The Classic '50s is a sleeper for sure. There is not much discernible difference between this bass and the '57 AVRI IMHO. And it grows on you.

Mine was hand-selected by a fellow TBer at Corner Music in Nashville. I bought it for a nice price. The setup was good, not great. In a moment of weakness, I foolishly sold it in response to a PM. Then fortunately caught wind of it being flipped. Drove 2 hours each way to buy it back. Fixed the setup, changed the pickup and boom! Great bass.
 
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#55
R&B said:
The Classic '50s is a sleeper for sure. There is not much discernible difference between this bass and the '57 AVRI IMHO. And it grows on you.

Mine was hand-selected by a fellow TBer at Corner Music in Nashville. I bought it for a nice price. The setup was good, not great. In a moment of weakness, I foolishly sold it in response to a PM. Then fortunately caught wind of it being flipped. Drove 2 hours each way to buy it back. Fixed the setup, changed the pickup and boom! Great bass.
Click to expand...

I own both the Classic '50s and the AVRI '57, and I am thinking I'll sell the AVRI. The nitro finish is too easily dinged, and the fiesta red shows up a lot better under stage lights than the two-tone burst.

Here's an out-of-focus shot of both:

TwoPrecisions.jpg
 
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#57
The slotted saddles are interesting. I set them up as evenly as I could with the strings btw the pole pieces. Does anyone like their strings any way other than evenly spaced? I couldn't imagine why.
 
#60
ahc said:
You can buy threaded saddles for not much money.
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The saddles ARE threaded on this bass. The BEST bridge Fender ever produced, IMO. I wish they came standard on all their basses.

The threads are there more for string spacing than string/pole alignment. Play around with it and see what works best for you!

I agree that the heel adjustment can be a PITA, but that's a sacrifice I've always been willing to make over the plastic jackets that some basses use at the headstock. Many of the appointments on this bass are the same as you'd find on any vintage Fender.
 
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