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Help. So many holes. Why so many holes?

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by captainofsmooth, Jun 15, 2020.

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  1. Jun 15, 2020 #1
    captainofsmooth

    captainofsmooth Weight? Supporting Member

    Oct 6, 2009
    Georgia
    Looking at getting a pretty decent deal on a Fender Select Precision Bass with some cosmetic damage. Usually small cosmetic stuff doesn’t worry me. But there’s something really really bothering me about this bass. A previous owner drilled the body for a thumb rest (weird) and at the same time, put 7 or so other holes before the p/up. Maybe for a ramp? I don’t know. What else could go there? The holes just seem random and oddly placed, even for a ramp. They’ve been filled with filler glue, says the current owner. But why do this to one of the most beautiful bodies Fender ever made? What purpose could these holes have actually served? What’s going on here? Why does my brain hurt really bad looking at it, when I don’t take a second look at most cosmetic stuff? Maybe if I just route a J in that spot it’ll cover most of it. But why would I do that to this gorgeous top? Man. Bassists. Sheesh.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Jun 15, 2020 #2
    Gsnorgathon

    Gsnorgathon

    Jan 15, 2020
    Sea Addle
    My only guess is too many of the wrong drugs or not enough of the right ones.
     
    Ed Byrnes, 4sight, SunByrne and 3 others like this.
  3. Jun 15, 2020 #3
    Ross W. Lovell

    Ross W. Lovell

    Oct 31, 2015


    Have you looked UNDER the pickguard? I'm thinking there might have been another pickguard and possibly some wood chiseling under there?
     
    Lownote38, robert43 and dopejohnpaul like this.
  4. Jun 15, 2020 #4
    captainofsmooth

    captainofsmooth Weight? Supporting Member

    Oct 6, 2009
    Georgia
    So the pickguard has been changed. I too thought the original might have been larger with a different pattern. But, the original is included and is the same shape. The current owner has also assured me there is no further drilling or chiseling under the PG, though I have yet to see pictures.
     
  5. Jun 15, 2020 #5
    iiipopes

    iiipopes Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    Anybody on the seller's side 'fess up to what the bass may have fallen on, or who may have gotten mad at it for some reason?
     
  6. Jun 15, 2020 #6
    sissy kathy

    sissy kathy Back to Bass-ics Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 21, 2014
    Arbutus, MD
    Unless I was getting it at Squier pricing I'd be too upset to play it. Even at that price I'm not sure I could really enjoy it. I wonder what it would cost to have a new veneer put on it.

    I have a pen I bought last month. It is normally a $5~600 pen, but this one is cracked near the end, so I got it for a C note. It doesn't affect the performance of the pen but it detracts from the value and irks me every time I look at it. Repair of the pen would cost about $100 and restore the value of it (I'd replace parts rather than repair), but then I wouldn't have this pen that I got a great deal on. It would just be a very good deal. It seems you really can't have your cake and eat it too.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2020
    Lownote38 likes this.
  7. Jun 16, 2020 #7
    vid1900

    vid1900

    Dec 12, 2019
    The old owner may have had a Bass-Mute installed, and kept it when he sold the bass.

    At least if anyone ever steals it, you will be able to easily identify it on CL.

    maxresdefault.jpg
     
    Mili and dopejohnpaul like this.
  8. Jun 17, 2020 #8
    captainofsmooth

    captainofsmooth Weight? Supporting Member

    Oct 6, 2009
    Georgia
    That’s the closest thing I’ve seen to a possible explanation yet. Can’t believe that didn’t cross my mind.
     
    vid1900 likes this.
  9. Jun 17, 2020 #9
    basebasser

    basebasser

    Jun 8, 2020
    Melbourne Australia
    It looks bad because the holes appear random and accidental. Get out the drill and add 4000 more holes all over the bass to balance it out. As an added bonus it will be lighter to wear.
     
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  10. Jun 17, 2020 #10
    captainofsmooth

    captainofsmooth Weight? Supporting Member

    Oct 6, 2009
    Georgia
    So, that bass is listed on Reverb at $1200. He’s local and said he’d take $850 cash. These Selects usually sell in the $1200 range here on TB. There are a few listed in the $1200-1300 range currently (plus tax, fees, etc on Reverb). There’s one listed here on TB at that same price ($1200), and while it’s much cleaner, it almost bothers me more because the flame grain seems to go hemispherically perpendicular (different directions on each half). I don’t know if it’s quarantine, too much time, and not enough money, but I haven’t been this picky over a bass purchase in years.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Jun 17, 2020 #11
    FrenchBassQC

    FrenchBassQC Supporting Member

    Jul 13, 2011
    Gatineau QC CA
    Yeah I can see that the top on the OP looks so much better than this one except for the holes in it... :meh:
     
    dopejohnpaul likes this.
  12. Jun 17, 2020 #12
    Mechayoshi

    Mechayoshi

    Dec 7, 2015
    Tennessee
    Off topic, but are you a fountain pen user? What was the pen?
     
    dopejohnpaul likes this.
  13. Jun 17, 2020 #13
    Lownote38

    Lownote38

    Aug 8, 2013
    Nashville, TN
    Unless you are getting an INCREDIBLE deal on this bass (like $550), don't do it. The guy ruined what makes it a "Select" model.
     
    Beej and 96tbird like this.
  14. Jun 17, 2020 #14
    captainofsmooth

    captainofsmooth Weight? Supporting Member

    Oct 6, 2009
    Georgia
    You have no idea how frustrating and mind boggling this has been. The universe is telling me to stop looking at Selects and go back to the drawing board lol
     
    96tbird likes this.
  15. Jun 17, 2020 #15
    the_home

    the_home

    Jul 14, 2005
    Pensacola, FL
    My guess is a previous owner had a synth pickup installed at that location. I've seen that before.
     
    Reedt2000 likes this.
  16. Jun 17, 2020 #16
    FranF

    FranF Supporting Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Northeastern PA
    Why do the body and pickguard proportions look so out of whack down by the controls? I've never seen so much space between the edge of a guard and edge of a body, except on non-Fender bodies....
     
  17. Jun 17, 2020 #17
    FrenchBassQC

    FrenchBassQC Supporting Member

    Jul 13, 2011
    Gatineau QC CA
    I know but they look so nice... 0170306703_gtr_dtl_002_nr.jpg I don't blame you to be inclined to buy one of them...
     
    dopejohnpaul likes this.
  18. Jun 17, 2020 #18
    sissy kathy

    sissy kathy Back to Bass-ics Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 21, 2014
    Arbutus, MD
    Yes I'm a user, the pen in question is a MB Miesterstuck Classic in burgundy
     
  19. Jun 17, 2020 #19
    Mechayoshi

    Mechayoshi

    Dec 7, 2015
    Tennessee
    Fancy! I'll stick with my Lamy 2000, Pelikans, Pilots and assorted Indian pens though. I'm on a budget. :)
     
  20. Jun 17, 2020 #20
    sissy kathy

    sissy kathy Back to Bass-ics Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 21, 2014
    Arbutus, MD
    You should check out Jinhao, a Chinese company. IMO they are as good as any pen produced they average about $4.00 apiece. Splurge and spend $7 on an X450. You won't be disappointed. They're heavy though, 28~35 grams.
     
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