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Fender experts: '75 P-bass identification help

#42
Huge thanks to this TB community - very much appreciate all who responded! This has been extremely helpful.

After having a vintage local shop:
1. verify my working assumptions on originality and neck condition
2. throw some new roundwound strings on it (TI rounds in this case)
3. do a lightweight setup so that I could actually evaluate it
... I have decided to keep this instrument - lots of mojo left in her, inspiring to play, amazing partner to my main instrument (a delightful 2008 EBMM SR fretless 4 string).

The owner (one of my oldest/best friends) is not a bass player and was unaware of the replacement electronics; he was very sorry about it and has graciously agreed to adjust the price a bit. I will apply that delta to bringing this instrument fully back up to spec, starting with a pickup and pickguard, likely extending to the pots and bridge.

So - any recommendations from y'all on pickups? Based on reading up here, I'm considering:
1. a vintage '75 pup which my local shop has kicking around
2. a Fender CS '62
3. a Lindy
4. a Lollar
5. an EMG "Geezer"

Also - suggestions on source of quality vintage repro pickguards?
I've seen the raging debate on which color to pair with sunburst bodies. Black and anodized gold seem to be the front runners, if one chooses to abandon tort. Jury's out... lol.

Any words of wisdom?

thanks again!
Jim
 
#44
Jim C said:
I'd go Duncan for a stock replacement and wouldn't be surprised if you have one already.
How does it sound?
Click to expand...

I'm likely to get a CS Fender or Fralin or something similar. The existing pickup has small beveled pole pieces - not sure if Duncan used to make things this way. I've never seen anything like it. I'd say it sounds OK but probably not up to its full potential.
 
#45
The main reason why I suggest Duncan vintage is because many years ago I bought a new 73' P.
Maybe 10 years later I decided I wanted it to sound "better" and bought the Duncan vintage.
It sounded nearly exactly the same so s decent replacement if you want to go back to stock tone wise.
 
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#46
Jim C said:
The main reason why I suggest Duncan vintage is because many years ago I bought a new 73' P.
Maybe 10 years later I decided I wanted it to sound "better" and bought the Duncan vintage.
It sounded nearly exactly the same so s decent replacement if you want to go back to stock tone wise.
Click to expand...

Cool - thanks for the advice. I see they have a vintage as well as an "Antiquity". Not sure if that's just aged cosmetics, but I'll investigate. There certainly is a wide array of options and opinions here. I have heard that hand-wound pickups are on a different level. Any experience there?
 
#47
I had Cesar Diaz (may he RIP) rewind a 72' J pup but the mission was to put it back to stock and he did a great job. Certainly Lindy Fralin has tons of experience with rewinding although last I checked he was not offering that service and new sales only.
No personal experience but I have read here that this guys does great rewinds:
TOM BRANTLEY REWINDS
Have read very mixed reviews about Fender replacement pups but no personal experience.
Good luck and congrats on a feather weight 75'! IME, most weigh a ton.
 
#49
My '75 has a very "woody" tone, I'm sure due to its light weight. I wanted a good solid tone (less woody), more vintage vs modern and went thru 5 pickups until I was happy - for me it is The Fender CS '62. Cannot go wrong.

I have an Aguilar in my other P - also recommended if vintage is what you seek.
 
#52
'75 P w/tort pg - most likely all original and in VGC w/OHDC - sold for $3495 (no affiliation)

upload_2022-10-17_11-36-9.jpeg
 
#55
mikeswals said:
Did I miss something? why are you going to replace that stock pickguard?
Click to expand...
Good question. It is broken and therefore a bit unstable where the cable connector is. Might be able to be glued, I guess. Also - a number of folks suggested it wasn't original and the printing is pretty wonky (dots). If I did replace, certainly not throwing it away. Given the pix, do you think it's original?
 
#56
jimgray said:
Good question. It is broken and therefore a bit unstable where the cable connector is. Might be able to be glued, I guess. Also - a number of folks suggested it wasn't original and the printing is pretty wonky (dots). If I did replace, certainly not throwing it away. Given the pix, do you think it's original?
Click to expand...
I also thought that pickguard was a replacement, but after seeing the following thread, I guess it was original for 75. Horrible dot matrix. If it is cracked, I’d replace it with black. Check out post #5 of this thread.
Question for Fender experts
 
#58
Yes the dot printing is original starting in '74, they really only did it one year, so you have a leftover '74 guard. Its unique, don't get rid of it.
if it were mine I'd try finding a way of cutting a short sheet of aluminum or plate to the same shape as the end of the guard to put underneath as reinforcement, use those three screws to hold it all down.
 
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#59
jimgray said:
will apply that delta to bringing this instrument fully back up to spec
Click to expand...
1975 Fender Precision Bass original pickup set! | Reverb
so let it be written, so let it be done. :thumbsup:
mikeswals said:
if it were mine I'd try finding a way of cutting a short sheet of aluminum or plate to the same shape as the end of the guard to put underneath as reinforcement, use those three screws to hold it all down.
Click to expand...
What about the Fender aluminum pickguard shield & epoxy? (Fender part # 0019723000)
too thin?
 

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