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Fixing up 1963 Precision Bass
- Thread starter DavidBassista
- Start date
Thanks for the responses everyone. Don't worry, I'm definitely not touching the neck. I've been playing the bass a lot as is. The neck is amazing and perhaps the best part of the instrument.
With regards to the body finish. I can certainly understand those of you who think it should stay as is. But I've already made my mind up about the re-fin. In many ways I feel that getting it refinished will make the bass "mine." Right now it still feels (and smells) like some other guy's bass (who smoked a lot of cigarettes and had a moldy guitar case). If it was the factory finish I would obviously keep it. And I'm not going to get a road worn finish. I'm not into that. I also don't want the dings and nicks sanded out as I do want ti to retain it's history. I just love the sunburst look and also how it will show some of the wood grain. Plus I already have a black Music Man and don't want two black basses. I want to get the bass cleaned up and set up for another 50 years of life. In 50 years it will be worn looking again. I'll be dead and someone else can decide what they want to do with it.
I'm going to take the bass to the shop today. It's going to be refinished by the guy who made the guitar in this video:
With regards to the body finish. I can certainly understand those of you who think it should stay as is. But I've already made my mind up about the re-fin. In many ways I feel that getting it refinished will make the bass "mine." Right now it still feels (and smells) like some other guy's bass (who smoked a lot of cigarettes and had a moldy guitar case). If it was the factory finish I would obviously keep it. And I'm not going to get a road worn finish. I'm not into that. I also don't want the dings and nicks sanded out as I do want ti to retain it's history. I just love the sunburst look and also how it will show some of the wood grain. Plus I already have a black Music Man and don't want two black basses. I want to get the bass cleaned up and set up for another 50 years of life. In 50 years it will be worn looking again. I'll be dead and someone else can decide what they want to do with it.
I'm going to take the bass to the shop today. It's going to be refinished by the guy who made the guitar in this video:
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JohnK is indeed "the man" when it comes to Fender bass restorations -- someday I hope to have him restore one of my basses! Congrats on the bass, David B.
Consider getting a quote from JohnK as well as from the fellow you are taking it to. His work is well documented around here, and simply amazing. If I ever bought an older bass in need of a refin, it would be heading off to him.
That bass will look sweet with the refin! I'm really digging that neck too, seems like a good score!
Thanks. I feel like I got the bass for a really good price too. I'll never sell it either.
I feel pretty confident about the guy who is going to do the work. Also he is local which I really like. Otherwise I would look in to JohnK. I've checked out his threads and obviously he knows what he's doing. I just don't want to ship the bass to Cali, when there is a qualified guy in KC that several local people have vouched for.
I feel pretty confident about the guy who is going to do the work. Also he is local which I really like. Otherwise I would look in to JohnK. I've checked out his threads and obviously he knows what he's doing. I just don't want to ship the bass to Cali, when there is a qualified guy in KC that several local people have vouched for.
@FranF had his bass refinished by Krishna. It was painted black and came out looking stunning in Oly White.
As noted earlier, since the bass has been refinished there's no harm in having it re-done to your taste. I heartily agree with your choice to go sunburst - I personally dislike worn finishes and would not leave it as is. I have a '63 P (acquired in 1967) that I had refinished about 1972 because the finish was chipped up and marked, and i don't regret it. I Have never liked playing instruments that look beat up.
It looks like all the right pieces are there, including the neck plate with the L prefix - looks just like the neck plate on mine, including the font with which it's stamped. I think that bridge will clean up decently, too. I'd definitely spiff it up as much as possible while leaving it stock.
It looks like all the right pieces are there, including the neck plate with the L prefix - looks just like the neck plate on mine, including the font with which it's stamped. I think that bridge will clean up decently, too. I'd definitely spiff it up as much as possible while leaving it stock.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
All good advice so far - Earlier this year I bought a '66 P and know how you're feeling. They can be magical. subbed!
ftr, you are getting it refinished but not filling the slight relief (worn area) at the fb? (it's hard to tell how deep it is in your pic's) I've not seen that done before. (finish over nicks etc) But if you are addressing that area, might as well do it all. (make it all smooth) The mojo is in the wood, not on it.
ftr, you are getting it refinished but not filling the slight relief (worn area) at the fb? (it's hard to tell how deep it is in your pic's) I've not seen that done before. (finish over nicks etc) But if you are addressing that area, might as well do it all. (make it all smooth) The mojo is in the wood, not on it.
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I dropped the bass off with the repair guy this weekend, so it's out of my hands. He seems very enthusiastic to work on it and I've gotten a number of very good references for him, so I'm excited to see how it turns out. Other than this P bass, I haven't played a lot of Fender basses in recent years. Even though my 63 needs some adjusting etc it still plays great and sounds good as is. Has great tone with a lot of texture to it, great overtones.
I was curious to see how modern Fender basses would play as I haven't picked on up in a while and wanted to make a comparative analysis to my vintage one. So today I stopped by a local guitar shop and played several different P and J basses. I played an American P bass with "custom shop pickups." Trying to look past the fact that the action was set up too high on it, I thought it played pretty well and had decent tone. I played an American Jazz (w/ Custom shop pick ups) as well. I thought the Jazz played better than the P but I wasn't crazy about the tone on it, especially for tapping style. It seemed rather thin. I fiddled with the knobs a bit but probably could have fiddled some more. But I wasn't blown away by either of the American ones. They were quality but they just seemed to be lacking something - mostly in their tone, but perhaps it was the amp I was playing through. . I also played a Mexican and Indonesian P bass. Ironically I thought the Indonesian bass played the best of all of them. The Mexican one was good too. Didn't sound amazing but the amp I was plugged into didn't seem that great. I was playing through a couple different Ampegs. I hadn't tried an Asian made Ampeg until today and so far I haven't been impressed.
So my thought on the modern Fender P bass is that it's a good bass. Has good tone but not as resonant or textured as the vintage one. I wouldn't spend what they were asking for it but I would consider picking up a used one for a good deal. I think even the cheap Squire played really well. I didn't get a chance to plug that in but did plug in the mexican one. It sounded fine but not amazing. I think they have done a lot these days to make cheap basses play pretty well, and sound passable, but they don't quite achieve that killer tone that's found on the older model. And it makes me wonder how much of that tone is because the wood is 50 years old and well seasoned or if they actually sounded that way when they came out the the factory in the 60s???
I was curious to see how modern Fender basses would play as I haven't picked on up in a while and wanted to make a comparative analysis to my vintage one. So today I stopped by a local guitar shop and played several different P and J basses. I played an American P bass with "custom shop pickups." Trying to look past the fact that the action was set up too high on it, I thought it played pretty well and had decent tone. I played an American Jazz (w/ Custom shop pick ups) as well. I thought the Jazz played better than the P but I wasn't crazy about the tone on it, especially for tapping style. It seemed rather thin. I fiddled with the knobs a bit but probably could have fiddled some more. But I wasn't blown away by either of the American ones. They were quality but they just seemed to be lacking something - mostly in their tone, but perhaps it was the amp I was playing through. . I also played a Mexican and Indonesian P bass. Ironically I thought the Indonesian bass played the best of all of them. The Mexican one was good too. Didn't sound amazing but the amp I was plugged into didn't seem that great. I was playing through a couple different Ampegs. I hadn't tried an Asian made Ampeg until today and so far I haven't been impressed.
So my thought on the modern Fender P bass is that it's a good bass. Has good tone but not as resonant or textured as the vintage one. I wouldn't spend what they were asking for it but I would consider picking up a used one for a good deal. I think even the cheap Squire played really well. I didn't get a chance to plug that in but did plug in the mexican one. It sounded fine but not amazing. I think they have done a lot these days to make cheap basses play pretty well, and sound passable, but they don't quite achieve that killer tone that's found on the older model. And it makes me wonder how much of that tone is because the wood is 50 years old and well seasoned or if they actually sounded that way when they came out the the factory in the 60s???
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If it's not broken don't fix it.
Lots of thread left on the trod.
I like the rosewood.
These are the basses that made music that was.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
DavidBassista - I read your overview and feel similarly. As in, I have a Squier Jag (Indonesia) w/Duncan designed P/J pu's that sounds/plays decent to really good. I consider it every bit a professional instrument. I also have made custom made basses that play/sound great (awesome, if I were to be so bold). And I own a well worn/much played '66 P that is sublime. There is endless speculation when attempting to decipher why an instrument is special. Just feel lucky to be able to know the difference, and better yet - to be able to own one. At the end of the day we all make the best of what we have -
Nice 63 -- check out the pre-CBS club here for some pics of others here, great bass porn.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-pre-cbs-club-pics-mandatory.1030399/
This is what the P bass will be paired with, a 1966 B-15-N that I recently picked up from a guy in NYC who shipped it to me. Sounds awesome with my Stingray5. The P bass is still at the shop and will probably be another month until the re-fin etc. is complete. But looking forward to playing it on the B-15. I was planning on getting both of these two pieces of gear. Keep in mind I haven't purchased a bass or amp since 1998, so I felt like I could justify the splurge!
You are in good hands with Dave "Seuf". He helped me with a neck repair and he seems to have a real passion for vintage instruments. I saw a P bass replica he built at Mass Street Music in Lawrence, Ks. It had an oly white relic finish that was subtle and really looked authentic. I'm not a fan of relic finishes for the most part but definitely appreciate Dave's approach. I'm betting his sunburst will look awesome. Congrats!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
This is what the P bass will be paired with, a 1966 B-15-N that I recently picked up from a guy in NYC who shipped it to me. Sounds awesome with my Stingray5. The P bass is still at the shop and will probably be another month until the re-fin etc. is complete. But looking forward to playing it on the B-15. I was planning on getting both of these two pieces of gear. Keep in mind I haven't purchased a bass or amp since 1998, so I felt like I could justify the splurge!
You absolutely cannot go wrong with these amps. I have a '75 B-15N and it's my standard for really hearing what a bass has to offer. With your '63 P-bass and this - you are there. A life-time of enjoyment awaits you!
Dave Seuferling, the guy refinishing the bass sent me these. Hopefully he is a better luthier than photographer 
