I would if it wasn't alder. I'd go Roger Waters on it and spray it black with a BWB pickguard.
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help please; just bought a "vintage" fender p
- Thread starter JoePlaysDaBass
- Start date
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
from the color in the neck pocket, it looks like it was origianlly vintage blonde or olympic white.
if it were mine, i'd shoot it back to stock and make it look like this (only with a rosewood board of course):
vintage white:
or olympic white with a tort guard:
if it were mine, i'd shoot it back to stock and make it look like this (only with a rosewood board of course):
vintage white:
or olympic white with a tort guard:
from the color in the neck pocket, it looks like it was origianlly vintage blonde or olympic white.
if it were mine, i'd shoot it back to stock and make it look like this (only with a rosewood board of course):
vintage white:
or olympic white with a tort guard:
+1
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
another, much less expensive option would be to leave the body as is and install eother a parchment guard like this:
or a tort one like this (only this one's body is amber tinted ash, but it would look pretty similar):
or a tort one like this (only this one's body is amber tinted ash, but it would look pretty similar):
Congrats I'd pay that for the neck alone. Wait no I wouldn't but if I had money I would. It looks like it was finished w Elmers School Glue. Share more pics when you're done with refinishing it--if you do
Hey, that's a picture of my '75 amber tinted ash P-Bass! I love what John K did with it. I agree with the Olympic White or amber tint ideas. If the bass was only $350 you shouldn't feel too bad about putting a few more bucks into it to make it "perfect."
A few more pointers from a long-time P-Bass owner (mine is a 59, has been refinished and refretted but all else original):
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- If you really want to get the true P-bass sound, go with flatwound strings (I know, that comment could start another version of WWIII). Right now I have mine strung with La Bella Tapewounds and it kills.
- Get on Amazon and buy a copy of the book called the Fender Bass: An Illustrated History. Full of information and will give you lots of ideas about color combos, should you decide to refinish it.
- You can probably find someone good locally to do the refinishing for you, I had mine done by a local guitar/bass builder who specializes in restoring vintage Hofners and he did a beautiful job for around $400 (guy's name is Dan Dachel). For a bass like that I wouldn't spend the big bucks for a vintage nitro finish - it will always be a players bass, not a collector. For now I'd second what others have said - just put a tortise pickguard on it and enjoy it for a while. Take your time on other choices.
- Welcome to the P-bass world, you will grow to love this bass. They really have a sound and feel all to their own.
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when you are ready to have some fretwork done on it, make double-sure that the luthier knows what he is doing with respect to the fret sizing. There are several different variations on P-bass fret sizes. I don't know enough about the details to know what works for a 72 but find someone who really knows what they are doing. From the pictures, they don't look that bad so a dressing/cleanup of the frets might hold you for a while.
- If you really want to get the true P-bass sound, go with flatwound strings (I know, that comment could start another version of WWIII). Right now I have mine strung with La Bella Tapewounds and it kills.
- Get on Amazon and buy a copy of the book called the Fender Bass: An Illustrated History. Full of information and will give you lots of ideas about color combos, should you decide to refinish it.
- You can probably find someone good locally to do the refinishing for you, I had mine done by a local guitar/bass builder who specializes in restoring vintage Hofners and he did a beautiful job for around $400 (guy's name is Dan Dachel). For a bass like that I wouldn't spend the big bucks for a vintage nitro finish - it will always be a players bass, not a collector. For now I'd second what others have said - just put a tortise pickguard on it and enjoy it for a while. Take your time on other choices.
- Welcome to the P-bass world, you will grow to love this bass. They really have a sound and feel all to their own.
If I ran across a deal this sweet and a solid instrument like this, I think I would send it to johnk for a refinish.
Those photos he posted of possible refinish color combinations were great.
Congrats on a REALLY GOOD DEAL!
Those photos he posted of possible refinish color combinations were great.
Congrats on a REALLY GOOD DEAL!
I would paint a mural of a wizard killing a two headed dragon, with a scantily clad, buxom woman in the foreground.
OK, no I wouldn't.
OK, no I wouldn't.
Mr. John K, the photo of Olympic white with tort is really speaking to me...
A few more pics on Flickr. A ruler confirms that the nut width is 1.5 inches. That really helps to expplain why this neck feels so comfy in my smaller hands compared to other p's I've played.
My phone's camera isn't doing a great job of capturing the finish, the photos from the Craigslist ad are a much better representation.
I'm going home to Chicago on leave for Christmas, gonna try to move some things up there to help fund fretwork and a refin on this one. I may be putting all my eggs in one basket... but I'm falling in love with this basket.
A few more pics on Flickr. A ruler confirms that the nut width is 1.5 inches. That really helps to expplain why this neck feels so comfy in my smaller hands compared to other p's I've played.
My phone's camera isn't doing a great job of capturing the finish, the photos from the Craigslist ad are a much better representation.
I'm going home to Chicago on leave for Christmas, gonna try to move some things up there to help fund fretwork and a refin on this one. I may be putting all my eggs in one basket... but I'm falling in love with this basket.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Just bought an skb flight case and a bwb non fender pickguard as a temporary fix. Every time I look at the piece of wood on there I see an oven mitt, it has to go. Pics on Flickr soon as its installed.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
if the non fender guard's mounting screws don't line up exactly, i wouldn't recommened drilling any new ones in the body to make it fit. just an FYI, a fender RI will fit without any modifications.
The screws line up perfectly, no problems. Checked that when I picked it up. However, I was somehow oblivious to the fact that there aren't any holes for the pickup guard or finger rest, so those will be off for the time being. All set up and strung with fresh rotosounds, great piano ring and midrange edge for days. Having a great time digging in with a pick right now 
