I think you should, in fact, roadwear it. Use only that bass for a minimum of three gigs per week (preferably multiple sets) for the next fifteen to twenty years. It will be the best relic job anybody's ever seen!
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Fender Precision leave it as is or road worn it
- Thread starter Eric Swaim
- Start date
Unless you are going to send it out to have it professionally distressed, leave it alone. No offense, but if you do it yourself there is almost zero chance it will look like you want it to.
I can't believe someone out there doesn't buy it.
As Lo-Hz said, a gold anodized pickguard would really bring it to life.
As Lo-Hz said, a gold anodized pickguard would really bring it to life.
To be honest, I am selling to purchase a mid 1980's G&L L1000 or L2000. I also would consider a Fender American Standard Jazz Bass 2012 or newer. The last bass on my list is a Stingray with 3 band preamp.
My $0.02.
It's just another Fender Precision bass (OK, it's a PJ, which is more interesting IMO). It's probably competing with dozens of other Fender P basses on the used market. I don't know about the used market where you live, but in my region a 60's, 70's, or even an 80's instrument with honest road wear and heaps of mojo may demand a high price but could sit for months or years in the classifieds because people are cautious about spending $$$ in this economy. A home-baked faux relic will simply not sell. Professional relics (e.g. Nash, Sandberg) are cool and will eventually sell to an educated buyer. Used but relatively modern Fender P basses, however, are kinda common and are basically at the mercy of a buyers market. If you urgently want to move it, then you may have to lower the price to undercut the competition.
If you are 100% sure there is a market in your region for relic'ed basses, and you are 100% sure that you can get more money for a relic than a non-relic, then go ahead. Just do us all a favour and send it to a professional. Don't try to do it at home.
Or you could forget the money and have fun with it. Go nuts and turn it into something truly unique. Heck, break out the pliers and router and turn it into a fretless JPJ. That would surely get someone's attention.
It's just another Fender Precision bass (OK, it's a PJ, which is more interesting IMO). It's probably competing with dozens of other Fender P basses on the used market. I don't know about the used market where you live, but in my region a 60's, 70's, or even an 80's instrument with honest road wear and heaps of mojo may demand a high price but could sit for months or years in the classifieds because people are cautious about spending $$$ in this economy. A home-baked faux relic will simply not sell. Professional relics (e.g. Nash, Sandberg) are cool and will eventually sell to an educated buyer. Used but relatively modern Fender P basses, however, are kinda common and are basically at the mercy of a buyers market. If you urgently want to move it, then you may have to lower the price to undercut the competition.
If you are 100% sure there is a market in your region for relic'ed basses, and you are 100% sure that you can get more money for a relic than a non-relic, then go ahead. Just do us all a favour and send it to a professional. Don't try to do it at home.
Or you could forget the money and have fun with it. Go nuts and turn it into something truly unique. Heck, break out the pliers and router and turn it into a fretless JPJ. That would surely get someone's attention.
Given your location, you could take it to someone like Bluesman Vintage and have them properly relic the bass, but then you'd have more money into it. If you're trying to sell, I'd just leave it. Though I'd recommend, as others have, to maybe swap those pickups out to Fenders.
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I don't think that bass would look good road worn, even if it were done by Fender. The PJ configuration and clean lines of the Barts would make it seem odd.
I have been refinishing basses for over 25 years. I know I can do the job correctly. The question is do I.
I have owned many old Fenders as well and studied the way they wear. Some who relic a bass just start banging and sanding away without thinking it through as to where the wear would come from and how much wear. I would never do it to a polyurethane finish, but a nitro, tempting, especially if I do not sell it. I am giving it until Friday. Friday it will either be sold, traded, or road worn. But I could always change my mind.
It would look like a road worn bass with hot rod parts. Like the kid in small town America who doesn't have his muscle car finished, just some paint and primer, but an engine and transmission that will start a fire on the asphalt.
Could be. For me it would create cognitive dissonance. It's perfectly possible that it tells a different story to different people.
Yeah..get out there and play the crap out of it. Keep it honest.
It's got Bartolinis too..more incentive to play the crap out of it.
"Own" that bass.
It's got Bartolinis too..more incentive to play the crap out of it.
"Own" that bass.
When the average person (non-musicians) sees a “road worn” instrument, they think “Eww, too bad that poor guy has to play that raggedy instrument”. 
I want my stuff looking good so they don’t know that I’m a broke-ass.
I want my stuff looking good so they don’t know that I’m a broke-ass.
Stock pickups and a different pickguard would help sell it. Tort doesn't look right with that body color. What is that color?
