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Help Evaluating Vintage Fender

Stefan4001

Stefan4001

May 19, 2021
41
218
Canada
www.stefancrsmith.com
#1
Hi, all -

I’ve got a chance to purchase an early 50s P bass from a city about three hours away and I was hoping some of the experts here could help me evaluate the bass a bit.

The seller says it’s a 54 and definitely has a replacement pick up and pick guard. Apparently it was used by a prominent local musician through the 70s and was modified somewhat at the time. I’m not sure what was modified, but there are clearly some weird holes in the neck and in the upper part of the body.

Thoughts?
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#5
This is a “player” bass and should be priced that way, not as if it were in original condition. That’s not a criticism - it has cool features and may be a great player, but make sure the mods are reflected in the price.
 
#7
My SWAG is the unusual pickguard covers a non original pickup routing.

The two extra holes in the neck heel look like they might have been screw holes for a paint stick for an old refin of the neck.

The saddle elevation screws seem to be quite long so they may be replacements.

Interesting that the neck is dated 2-52 and appears to have a T (maybe TG?) also.
 
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#10
Another thing...

Neck dated '52 and this is a slab body (no forearm contouring) that was introduced in '54, look at Stings Bass for reference. So, not a 1954.

You absolutely need to have it looked at to establish any type of reasonable price to make a deal, allowing that there are no deal breakers like neck issues, refret needed or no wood under the pickguard from some high-speed weight releaved body idea!
 
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#15
Interesting, I recognize that bass, because of the pickguard, from my web searches. ... Off hand I'd say, picture wise, it looks pretty good. ... In person should tell you if she's the real deal. ... I'd make the drive to check it out.
 
#18
Nobody commented on the capacitor. It looks like the kind I used to buy at Radio Shack.

Yes, the string spacing is off, but that is common with these bridges, IME.
No, the saddle bolts don't look originial, and I'd wager the saddles aren't either.

I wonder if the neck was refinished, too. It is hard to say for sure, but the positioning of the decal may not be quite right, and that is obviously a mark from a paint stick.

The red in the neck pocket is curious, and I agree there could be an extra pickup rout under the pickguard.

The truss rod doesn't look to have been adjusted in some time, but that doesn't mean it is frozen or bound.

None of this would stop me from going to take a look. If it is real, how often do you get to hold something like that in your hands?
 
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#19
I'd be concerned about the cracks around the bridge, could be finish only but some look deep.

If the price is right I'd go check it out personally, the neck looks like it would play real nice, if truss rod still works well, there's no warp and frets don't have too much wear/are level, it could be a keeper.
 
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#20
I'd say the wiring harness is WAY non-original (plastic coated green wire, ground "bars", etc.). I agree that this could have had a different pickup configuration at some point. A little more under-the-hood looking is necessary.

I've never seen anything like the copper ground bars before. Is that, or was it, a thing? Seems way overkill.
 

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