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Gonna refinish the "beater"

Munjibunga

Munjibunga

Total Hyper-Elite Member
May 6, 2000
37,499
14,776
San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
#1
Well, I have a 2001 Fender American Deluxe Jazz FMT V that has seen a lot of gigs. From 2 feet away, it looks pristine, but it's got some little nicks and dings I've stupidly inflicted on it over the years. So I've decided to have it refinished by Marty Bell - he lives nearby (when I'm not at Groom). It's a pretty bass as it is with an amber-finished quilted maple top on alder. (No, it's not a QMT. It's an early one from when the designation was FMT - figured maple top - for both the flamed and quilted versions.)

Anyway, I saw a video of Nate playing a beautiful dark, slightly bluish green Yamaha, probably a one-off of his BBNE2, and I loved the color so that's what I'm going for. Here it is in amber. Don't try to talk me out of it - I've already taken it apart. George at BSD conditioned the fretboard for me, too.

I'm pretty excited about it. It's like getting a new bass, only one that I know is a great player. Can't wait. I'll keep you updated - Marty has a couple week backlog right now. I guess I'll have to dig something out of the archives to play until I get it back.

View attachment 694771
 
#2
Stop._Don't._Come_back..jpg
 
#5
Munjibunga said:
Well, I have a 2001 Fender American Deluxe Jazz FMT V that has seen a lot of gigs. From 2 feet away, it looks pristine, but it's got some little nicks and dings I've stupidly inflicted on it over the years. So I've decided to have it refinished by Marty Bell - he lives nearby (when I'm not at Groom). It's a pretty bass as it is with an amber-finished quilted maple top on alder. (No, it's not a QMT. It's an early one from when the designation was FMT - figured maple top - for both the flamed and quilted versions.)

Anyway, I saw a video of Nate playing a beautiful dark, slightly bluish green Yamaha, probably a one-off of his BBNE2, and I loved the color so that's what I'm going for. Here it is in amber. Don't try to talk me out of it - I've already taken it apart. George at BSD conditioned the fretboard for me, too.

I'm pretty excited about it. It's like getting a new bass, only one that I know is a great player. Can't wait. I'll keep you updated - Marty has a couple week backlog right now. I guess I'll have to dig something out of the archives to play until I get it back.

View attachment 694771
Click to expand...

That bass in the video is the first version of his signature model (BBEAST), and one of the two stock colours was called Translucent Blue (which that one is), though it is more turquoise in real life. I have the more common Amber coloured one but have run across a few of the trans blue. Your Fender should look very cool in that colour.

J
 
#8
Munjibunga said:
Well, I have a 2001 Fender American Deluxe Jazz FMT V that has seen a lot of gigs. From 2 feet away, it looks pristine, but it's got some little nicks and dings I've stupidly inflicted on it over the years. So I've decided to have it refinished by Marty Bell - he lives nearby (when I'm not at Groom). It's a pretty bass as it is with an amber-finished quilted maple top on alder. (No, it's not a QMT. It's an early one from when the designation was FMT - figured maple top - for both the flamed and quilted versions.)

Anyway, I saw a video of Nate playing a beautiful dark, slightly bluish green Yamaha, probably a one-off of his BBNE2, and I loved the color so that's what I'm going for. Here it is in amber. Don't try to talk me out of it - I've already taken it apart. George at BSD conditioned the fretboard for me, too.

I'm pretty excited about it. It's like getting a new bass, only one that I know is a great player. Can't wait. I'll keep you updated - Marty has a couple week backlog right now. I guess I'll have to dig something out of the archives to play until I get it back.

View attachment 694771
Click to expand...

That is about the best looking beater I have ever seen!:bassist:
 
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#11
bucephylus said:
Munji, that bass isn't a beater. LOL. and, BTW, you should finish it any way you want.

If I were doing it, I'd put in the Delano JMVC pups and a Sadowsky preamp. That bass would rule. GL with your project.
Click to expand...
The bass sounds great as-is. I would consider a Pope Flex Core for it, but I already have one of those in a Jazz bass by a company that starts with "S." The "S" company preamp is two-band. I like three-band.
 
#12
Munjibunga said:
The bass sounds great as-is. I would consider a Pope Flex Core for it, but I already have one of those in a Jazz bass by a company that starts with "S." The "S" company preamp is two-band. I like three-band.
Click to expand...
That's interesting. I've been debating refinishing a Tobias 6 that is pretty worn and also considering the Pope. Tom Bowlus almost has me talked into it.
 
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#17
Well, I got the body back today and had to hurry to get is reassembled before I had to run off and lecture a bunch of grad students. I just had time to snap a quick one before I left. I'll get some better ones up in a day or two. Eat your heart out, MM.

Before:

FMTbodytb.JPG


After:

Green Bass 01a.jpg
 
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