Hi everyone. This is my first post and first time belonging to a bass forum. I've been playing bass since 1996 and have only owned two basses, my starter bass (a Korean made Alvarez that I still have) and my main bass, a Stingray5 (I tune EADGC) that I got in 1998. Honestly I love the Stingray and for the most part don't have a real practical reason to get a new bass, but could use a more professional 4 string and a lighter weighing bass as the Music Man is a bit heavy.
Anyway, ever since I was a teenager reading Bass Player magazine back in the 90s, I always fantasized about owning a vintage Fender. Since I haven't bought a bass in over 15 years and can afford to splurge on myself now I decided to look for a vintage Fender.
This has been quite the educational process for me as I've spent a lot of time on the internet and talking to guitar dealers learning about all this stuff regarding pre CBS etc and all the other intricacies of vintage instruments.
But to make a long story short, this past Monday I purchased a P bass from May 1963. It pretty much original except for the finish and the pick guard (and thumb rest I believe). I bought it from a guy in Kansas City who has been dealing in vintage guitars since the 70s. He described it as having a "hillbilly paint job" as someone stripped the original finish and painted it black back in the 70s. The last owner is a guy, I believe from central Missouri who sold it to my dealer along with an original 64 Jazz Bass that I also saw and played around on.
So my plans with the bass are to strip the black paint and have it refinished with a 3-tone sunburst and get a celluloid t-shell pick guard.
I need to have the bass set up for me and my playing style better and probably have the pickups raised a bit and cleaned out, but even as it is now it plays well and has great tone. I do a lot of two handed tapping on the fret board and it sounds good for that.
Below are pictures of the bass as it is now. I will be getting it refinished soon and will update this thread with the after pictures. If anyone has a bass from this era that they have done restoration to, I'd be happy to hear about your experience and anything I should know while going into this.
While it's important to me to preserve the historic aspects of the bass, I am prioritizing sound and playability. This bass will not be a wall ornament. I plan on playing it, just like it's prior owner.
SORRY can't post pics yet!! Didn't realize this before I typed all that. When I get 5 posts I'll post pictures.
Anyway, ever since I was a teenager reading Bass Player magazine back in the 90s, I always fantasized about owning a vintage Fender. Since I haven't bought a bass in over 15 years and can afford to splurge on myself now I decided to look for a vintage Fender.
This has been quite the educational process for me as I've spent a lot of time on the internet and talking to guitar dealers learning about all this stuff regarding pre CBS etc and all the other intricacies of vintage instruments.
But to make a long story short, this past Monday I purchased a P bass from May 1963. It pretty much original except for the finish and the pick guard (and thumb rest I believe). I bought it from a guy in Kansas City who has been dealing in vintage guitars since the 70s. He described it as having a "hillbilly paint job" as someone stripped the original finish and painted it black back in the 70s. The last owner is a guy, I believe from central Missouri who sold it to my dealer along with an original 64 Jazz Bass that I also saw and played around on.
So my plans with the bass are to strip the black paint and have it refinished with a 3-tone sunburst and get a celluloid t-shell pick guard.
I need to have the bass set up for me and my playing style better and probably have the pickups raised a bit and cleaned out, but even as it is now it plays well and has great tone. I do a lot of two handed tapping on the fret board and it sounds good for that.
Below are pictures of the bass as it is now. I will be getting it refinished soon and will update this thread with the after pictures. If anyone has a bass from this era that they have done restoration to, I'd be happy to hear about your experience and anything I should know while going into this.
While it's important to me to preserve the historic aspects of the bass, I am prioritizing sound and playability. This bass will not be a wall ornament. I plan on playing it, just like it's prior owner.
SORRY can't post pics yet!! Didn't realize this before I typed all that. When I get 5 posts I'll post pictures.
