Fender Classic Series 50's precision bass

[Gorn]

The neck had the slightest bow with the stock 45-100 strings and the super light TI jazz rounds I put on let it straighten right up. So I didn't have to take the neck off and now it's perfect. Probably the lowest playable action I've ever had on a bass.

 

[ahc]

My bad. I thought the saddles had the single slot.

 

[R&B]

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...

Funny, the main thing that has kept me from selling my birth-year '57 AVRI is the gorgeous white blonde finish. Well, that and the intoxicating aroma of nitro. The '57 weighs a pound more than the '50s classic (thanks, Bass Central...NOT...we did discuss sending the light weight one, yes?) and it cost 2.5 times as much. It mainly stays in its case. But it is lovely and sounds awesome--like the '50s with the '58 pickup.

 

[petrus61]

Funny, the main thing that has kept me from selling my birth-year '57 AVRI is the gorgeous white blonde finish. Well, that and the intoxicating aroma of nitro. The '57 weighs a pound more than the '50s classic (thanks, Bass Central...NOT...we did discuss sending the light weight one, yes?) and it cost 2.5 times as much. It mainly stays in its case. But it is lovely and sounds awesome--like the '50s with the '58 pickup.

View attachment 486196

I fondly recall this bass!

Captain, it's funny you should mention the TI's. The bass above all basses that I wish I could get back (anyone listening?) was a 50's Classic in Fiesta with TI's. It had the fastest, lowest action out of any P I've played since. My current AmStd is no slouch, but I'd trade it in a heartbeat for that bass.

 

[R&B]

TI JF344s, yes...that pic of the '57 was right before they went on! Petrus, this one is the twin of yours as I recall!

/hijack

 

[lpdeluxe]

Funny, the main thing that has kept me from selling my birth-year '57 AVRI is the gorgeous white blonde finish. Well, that and the intoxicating aroma of nitro. The '57 weighs a pound more than the '50s classic (thanks, Bass Central...NOT...we did discuss sending the light weight one, yes?) and it cost 2.5 times as much. It mainly stays in its case. But it is lovely and sounds awesome--like the '50s with the '58 pickup.

View attachment 486196

I love that aged white finish, and wish my Classic '50s were in that color. =sigh= But I prefer alder to ash, so I ordered the sunburst '57. I should mention that a real deal-maker for me is the vintage fret size. Medium jumbos feel like speed bumps to me. And the backwards tuners tend to keep amateurs from grabbing it (notice how beginners always think they can improve the tuning of your bass?) during jams. (I have three basses with small frets and reverse tuners -- Classic '51, Classic '50s and the '57, so I'm used to them.)

Here's a better shot of the '57,showing the sunburst.

 

[awilkie84]

Funny, the main thing that has kept me from selling my birth-year '57 AVRI is the gorgeous white blonde finish. Well, that and the intoxicating aroma of nitro. The '57 weighs a pound more than the '50s classic (thanks, Bass Central...NOT...we did discuss sending the light weight one, yes?) and it cost 2.5 times as much. It mainly stays in its case. But it is lovely and sounds awesome--like the '50s with the '58 pickup.

View attachment 486196

I shed a tear for this bass. I would play that bass so much if I owned it, even at close to 10lbs. Want to trade straight up for an unmodified 2011 American Jazz Deluxe V?

 

[R&B]

I shed a tear for this bass. I would play that bass so much if I owned it, even at close to 10lbs. Want to trade straight up for an unmodified 2011 American Jazz Deluxe V?

Don't cry for her. She's pampered, that's all. And she is a keeper!

 

[Gorn]

I wanna take scotch brite to the back of the neck. I've done it before on non-nitro basses. Any potential issues with doing it on this? I have the lacquer version, if that makes a difference.

 

[petrus61]

I wanna take scotch brite to the back of the neck. I've done it before on non-nitro basses. Any potential issues with doing it on this? I have the lacquer version, if that makes a difference.

No issues, just go light at first. I would specifically look for 0000 steel wool at your hardware store. It's better than scotchbrite and probably cheaper. If you check out the Precision Bass club thread, I posted a couple pics recently of how my playing had smoothed the satin finish on my AmStd neck to a gloss. The lacquer will smooth back to gloss eventually, so it's likely you'll need to repeat it as time goes on.

 

[Gorn]

No issues, just go light at first. I would specifically look for 0000 steel wool at your hardware store. It's better than scotchbrite and probably cheaper. If you check out the Precision Bass club thread, I posted a couple pics recently of how my playing had smoothed the satin finish on my AmStd neck to a gloss. The lacquer will smooth back to gloss eventually, so it's likely you'll need to repeat it as time goes on.

That comes in sponges, right? I've only done it with the scotch brite sheets like the picture below. They go over the neck nice and even. How do you do it evenly with the steel wool?

 

[hdracer]

I have used a trick that JohnK posted a few years ago that works great.
Use 800 grit wet & dry paper. Put 3-4 drops of Dawn dish soap in a bowl of water. Lightly wet sand the neck wiping the slury off while you go.
I did it on a gloss black neck and you can not see any difference and the neck feels great .

 

[petrus61]

That comes in sponges, right? I've only done it with the scotch brite sheets like the picture below. They go over the neck nice and even. How do you do it evenly with the steel wool?

Yes, basically a rolled up ball of steel wool. It's much finer than the pads. One thing you may want to do is put a little tape over the pickup poles because there is a fine metallic dust from the steel wool, but not totally necessary. With the 0000, you'll still see a nice sheen in the finish, but the "tack" will be gone.

 

[Gorn]

Yes, basically a rolled up ball of steel wool. It's much finer than the pads. One thing you may want to do is put a little tape over the pickup poles because there is a fine metallic dust from the steel wool, but not totally necessary. With the 0000, you'll still see a nice sheen in the finish, but the "tack" will be gone.

The tack is almost unbearable. I know some people must like it, but after two songs, the friction btw my hand and the back of the neck is really annoying.

 

[petrus61]

The tack is almost unbearable. I know some people must like it, but after two songs, the friction btw my hand and the back of the neck is really annoying.

I had a 60's Jazz lacquer MIM for a little bit and noticed the finish was fairly soft and slightly thicker than you'd find on the AV series. That kind of thing only bothered me in warmer/humid weather where you'd actually get little balls of lacquer building up from friction going up and down the neck. Same thing with the AV's. The lacquer never really cures completely from I understand. The steel wool treatment will assuredly resolve this, but it goes with the territory of this type of finish. Give the steel wool a shot. I think you'll be happy with the result and it won't damage the neck in any way. It can literally be rubbed back to a sheen with your hand to restore it to it's original state.

 

[Gorn]

Anyone change the tuners on theirs? I'm finding that mine aren't all that precise. They work, but not as precisely as other Fender tuners I've used.

 

[petrus61]

Anyone change the tuners on theirs? I'm finding that mine aren't all that precise. They work, but not as precisely as other Fender tuners I've used.

I think hipshot makes a replacement with the same foot print, but a little lighter.

 

[Gorn]

I'm looking at hipshot's stuff. I'm intrigued by the idea of getting a black bridge, black tuners, and black knobs for my black n maple. Too much?

 

[petrus61]

I'm looking at hipshot's stuff. I'm intrigued by the idea of getting a black bridge, black tuners, and black knobs for my black n maple. Too much?

Hey man, whatever floats your boat. I'm a little picky about black hardware because it tends to show wear/dirt a little more, but I'm more of a Fender traditionalist anyway. You'd pretty much have a Roger Waters sig at that point! I used to use an aluminum 62RI pickguard plate under a mint guard under mine. If you swap out for a regular guard, just make sure the control portion is shielded. The anodized guard acts as part of the shielding, so you'll have to make up for that if you swap. Not a big deal as most OEM Fender guards come with the shielding already.

 

[Gorn]

Hey man, whatever floats your boat. I'm a little picky about black hardware because it tends to show wear/dirt a little more, but I'm more of a Fender traditionalist anyway. You'd pretty much have a Roger Waters sig at that point! I used to use an aluminum 62RI pickguard plate under a mint guard under mine. If you swap out for a regular guard, just make sure the control portion is shielded. The anodized guard acts as part of the shielding, so you'll have to make up for that if you swap. Not a big deal as most OEM Fender guards come with the shielding already.

I noticed the shielding power of the anodized guard last night at rehearsal. That's definately staying. I think it would look cool with all black hardware.

The pbass kicked butt with the band for the first time. No one really noticed I got a new bass since all my basses are generally black and maple. My guitar player asked me why I sounded so good last night. P bass with rotosound steels=wowie kazowie.