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Final Tally: Restored 1960 P bass -- relic or not?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by OldSchool50, Jun 3, 2020.

Would you have a beautifully restored 1960 P bass aged/relic'd?

Poll closed Jun 13, 2020.

  1. Yes

    17 vote(s)
    6.0%

  2. No

    95 vote(s)
    33.6%

  3. Heavens NO!

    171 vote(s)
    60.4%
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  1. Jun 3, 2020 #1
    OldSchool50

    OldSchool50 OldSchool50 Supporting Member

    Mar 15, 2013
    Connecticut
    The results are in: After an initial flood of responses in the first 24 hours, votes and comments have some to a stop. I'll keep it open another few days for the weekend checkers.
    Resounding "NO" vote, totaling 94 percent. I will heed the collective wisdom. Real wear is best so she will stay pristine until I can earn some aging for her. I"m feeling good about that choice. Thanks to all who responded. It's pretty clear how the TB community feels about this.
    Latest tally:
    Yes 17 votes, 6.1 percent
    No: 94 votes, 33.8 percent
    Heavens No: 167 votes, 60 percent

    Original post: This 1960 Fender Precision bass was professionally restored in nitro five years ago to original sunburst. Original parts are pickup, neck/body, tuners, knobs, nut. New are frets, correct pickguard replacement, covers, pots and input jack. It looks beautiful, pristine in fact, and plays beautifully. What is your opinion of professionally adding some light aging to the body and possibly the neck. Pros and cons?

    Edit: In response to one post, the pre-restored bass was more than "beat up". It had two additional handsprayed finishes, black then, most recently Red, White, and Blue. People used to to those things. So a new finish was very much in order IMO.

    60 p close.jpg 60 P back.jpg 60 p bass full.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2020
    PennyroyalWe, JimK, Ethan Park and 13 others like this.
  2. Jun 3, 2020 #2
    DirtDog

    DirtDog

    Jun 7, 2002
    The Deep North
    Play the hell out of it for a year or two. The nitro finish should get suitably relic'd in that time.

    If that doesn't work for you, send it to me. I seem to be able to damage just about anything I set my hands on! :bassist:
     
    Haroldo, Winoman, rollie 55 and 22 others like this.
  3. Jun 3, 2020 #3
    JRA

    JRA my words = opinion Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 28, 2013
    Indianapolis and Cincinnati
    :wideyed:



    don't do it.
     
    Bob_Ross, jamro217, bobyoung53 and 3 others like this.
  4. Jun 3, 2020 #4
    LBS-bass

    LBS-bass Guest

    Nov 22, 2017
    So, let me get this straight. Someone took a beat up bass that was highly collectible and spent money to get it restored to pristine condition, thereby destroying its original value. Now that person wants to spend more money to beat the bass up artificially. Sounds like a plan. Maybe not a good one, but a plan. Remind me not to let said person give me any financial advice :)
     
    PennyroyalWe, gebass6, Haroldo and 30 others like this.
  5. Jun 3, 2020 #5
    godofthunder59

    godofthunder59 Life is short, buy the bass.

    Feb 19, 2006
    Rochester NY USA
    Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
    I would just play it.
     
    Winoman, JJR58, JimK and 12 others like this.
  6. Jun 3, 2020 #6
    ad9000

    ad9000 Supporting Member

    Mar 30, 2004
    Leucadia, CA
    I am generally a fan of relic instruments, but I would leave this one alone.
     
    SmokinJoe992, murphy, bozha and 1 other person like this.
  7. Jun 3, 2020 #7
    Yonni

    Yonni

    Oct 31, 2016
    Scotland
    Yes, as above, sorry but I think the damage has already been done. For me anyway. I would not get it relic’d. YMMV
     
    JimK, InnerCityBass, EatS1stBassist and 2 others like this.
  8. Jun 3, 2020 #8
    FlashBazbo

    FlashBazbo

    Feb 12, 2020
    Middle Tennessee
    I've got this immaculately restored '62 Ferrari 250 GTO. Should I have it "professionally" relic'd?

    First . . . there's such thing as a "professional" relic artist?

    Second . . . no. (I'm trying to restrain myself.) No. The fact that you ask the question is . . . troubling.

    Play it. But don't make it into a poseur. It's the real thing!
     
    tito0515, EatS1stBassist, MCF and 2 others like this.
  9. Jun 3, 2020 #9
    Bass4ThePublic

    Bass4ThePublic Supporting Member

    Jan 27, 2019
    Kansas City
    No way! Relic it by playing, more fun that way. Also that pickguard isn’t correct for 1960, the gold guards were discontinued by mid-late 1959, but if you like it, rock it!
     
    Winoman, eadg98005, JimK and 1 other person like this.
  10. Jun 3, 2020 #10
    OldSchool50

    OldSchool50 OldSchool50 Supporting Member

    Mar 15, 2013
    Connecticut
    the bass may be one of quirky Fender constructs, with parts from different years. Here's the original aluminum PG that the owner appears to have scraped the gold finish off, leaving just aluminum. Those are the original pots , dated 1960, on the backside. The serial is from '60 also. So I tend to think the gold PG is correct


    t. IMG_5420.JPG IMG_5423.JPG
     
    Winoman, InnerCityBass and EatS1stBassist like this.
  11. Jun 3, 2020 #11
    lowphatbass

    lowphatbass **** Supporting Member

    Feb 25, 2005
    west coast
    Is that the “shield plate” that would’ve normally gone under the pickguard?
     
    Kro, dan1952, JimK and 5 others like this.
  12. Jun 3, 2020 #12
    lowphatbass

    lowphatbass **** Supporting Member

    Feb 25, 2005
    west coast
    Also adding: often times when old basses like this are “fully restored” to like new condition it’s due to a bad/amateur refin or spray job that was done back when the bass was only worth a few hundred bucks..or at least much less than it would be now.
     
    Winoman, JimK, slagbass and 6 others like this.
  13. Jun 3, 2020 #13
    2saddleslab

    2saddleslab Supporting Member

    May 30, 2003
    Kentucky
    Tough call. Last year I completed a relic finish on my 51 body because the 55 neck had natural wear and the poly finished body looked out of place. Also, I wanted to replicate the same finish I found the body in over 30 years ago.

    This is a different example and not sure what I'd do.
     
    sikamikanico likes this.
  14. Jun 3, 2020 #14
    BB Brian

    BB Brian

    Apr 15, 2020
    West Texas
    It's your bass. Would you like it better relic'd? Play it more? If so, I think you have your answer.
     
    bozha and OldSchool50 like this.
  15. Jun 3, 2020 #15
    OldSchool50

    OldSchool50 OldSchool50 Supporting Member

    Mar 15, 2013
    Connecticut
    That's it. Here's my edit to the original post:
    In response to one post, the pre-restored bass was more than "beat up". It had two additional handsprayed finishes, black then, most recently Red, White, and Blue. People used to to those things. So a new finish was very much in order IMO.
     
    Winoman, revd, LukeSlywalker and 4 others like this.
  16. Jun 3, 2020 #16
    LBS-bass

    LBS-bass Guest

    Nov 22, 2017
    Makes more sense then. Too bad it wasn't better cared for. I'd still leave it alone, though, because I prefer natural wear and the relic jobs, to my eye, never really look that convincing. Most important thing, though, is to play it!
     
    Kro, Winoman, bozha and 1 other person like this.
  17. Jun 3, 2020 #17
    OldSchool50

    OldSchool50 OldSchool50 Supporting Member

    Mar 15, 2013
    Connecticut
    Thanks, lowphatbass. By golly, I think you are right. Never heard of or saw one buy a little research disclosed that these were for shielding after the anonized PG and before aluminum foil on back of pickguards. So it's most probably a 1960 after all and the PG is not "correct", but a good look nontheless. IMG_5420.JPG
     
    Templar, Winoman, Dynacord and 1 other person like this.
  18. Jun 3, 2020 #18
    FranF

    FranF Supporting Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Northeastern PA
    Yes, no 1960's had anodized guards.
     
    Winoman and mongo2 like this.
  19. Jun 3, 2020 #19
    Lowbrow

    Lowbrow Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 22, 2008
    Allentown, PA!
    Great looking bass. Leave it as-is and let it get old(er) naturally
     
    Winoman, JimK, Manticore and 1 other person like this.
  20. Jun 3, 2020 #20
    Killing Floor

    Killing Floor Supporting Member

    Feb 7, 2020
    Austin, TX
    yeah, that's gorgeous. Don't let anybody take a file to it so it can look older. Mojo doesn't come from a grinder.
     
    Winoman, JimK, smarthound and 5 others like this.
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