Fender Precision leave it as is or road worn it

[Eric Swaim]

Guys I have owned this bass for several years now. I am thinking about giving it a "road worn" look. The paint is nitro and the body is from a 2009 Hwy 1.

Just curious what you guys think. I have it for sell, but not getting the interest I was hoping. Reliced basses seem to get more attention locally. Personally, I do not like the relic basses except for the Road Worn basses Fender puts out.

 

[Nobody]

That is an awesome looking bass. I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[Acoustic356]

You should relic it the old fashioned way... play it... play it...play it!

 

[Gorn]

I got nothing against roadwearing a bass but it's not easy and it looks awful if it's done poorly. It's beautiful the way it is now. Leave it alone.

 

[Flaked Beans]

That is an awesome looking bass. I wouldn't mess with it.

+1!

 

[Flaked Beans]

I got nothing against roadwearing a bass but it's not easy and it looks awful if it's done poorly. It's beautiful the way it is now. Leave it alone.

This ^ ^ ^.

 

[subbeh]

Are you sure it's nitro cellulite? I've never seen a bass with cellulite!

Don't be afraid to make your bass into what you want it to be. Can always refinish it in the future.

 

[slobake]

Leave the finish as it is.
I know Bartolini makes good pickups but P-Bass players can be pretty conservative. If you are trying to sell the bass would it be more worthwhile to put Fender P-bass/Jazz pickups on that? Did it come with Fender pickups? If so maybe you could put them back.
It might actually sound better with the Barts but changing the pickups might help it sell.

 

[EdO.]

My personal preference is to keep my basses in as near new condition as possible. Case in point - I (proudly) own a 1980 model Music Man Stingray that has had the crap played out of it yet it looks like a near new one. Always wipe it down after use (including all the chrome, tuners and all, which a lot of folks seem to fail to do), have always babied it. If I were buying one that would make a lot of difference to me personally. Loks nice, I'd leave it be.

 

[Gorn]

I just re-read the original post and see you're selling it. DO NOT relic it. That won't help you move it. Not at all.

 

[mikefromchurch]

I would not make it a fake road worn considering it's condition. If it was already a little beat up maybe. I like the idea of making it a true road worn though

 

[quickfix]

Don't you dare sully such a beaut!

 

[tortburst]

I got nothing against roadwearing a bass but it's not easy and it looks awful if it's done poorly. It's beautiful the way it is now. Leave it alone.

This

I had this bass. The finish is nitro but it will peel or flake off. It would be very challenging to wear it down in nice blended layers.

IME you could make a little more money on the sale by buying and reinstalling the highway 1 pickups, they're the pre 2008 American standard model, and selling the Barts separately.

 

[FranF]

Leave it. It wouldn't look right roadworn, since it's a newer design (P/J). Not many Fender P/Js would have years of battle scars on them....

 

[xUptheIronsx]

Fake relicing is just that....fake. As other's mentioned, play it and let it develop it's own personality...

 

[petrus61]

I don't like the looks of "Roadworn" basses with overtly modern features/aesthetics. Sandberg seems to do an amazing job at relicing, but to see those bridges, pickups and headstock on a body that looks 40+ years old just seems off. I feel the same way about the P/J Barts and BAII, though I'm sure there's plenty of authentic examples out there of old basses (probably with brass nuts) floating around just like this one. It's all perspective. I'm sure someone who wasn't constantly looking at authentically old basses or their fascimiles all the time would look at a reliced bass with contemporary aesthetics as being pretty awesome. All just IMO, of course.

 

[Mosstone]

Some might consider the color a little 'blah' but a gold anodized pickguard on that finish looks great. I saw a strat at GC that was that color with a gold PG... Very classy. (I can hear the tort contingent gathering their pitchforks)

 

[Eric Swaim]

The color is not my favorite, but I do like the the body, Ash and the finish doe have the woodgrain bleed through although it's hard to get that in the pictures I have taken.

 

[Algo]

As some have said: road worn it, by actually wearing it out on the road.

 

[Shaunpski]

Nice looking bass!

Anyway, you have it for sale for a reason. Something about it doesn't click with you--or you want something else. My estimation is you'll still want to get rid of it after the relicing--and it will take a big $ hit that way. Just sell it as is. Since you're askin... Good luck.