I've seen a lot worse than that totally restored by a good luthier. In theory he should be able to make good on it -- i.e. touch it up in a way that's scarcely visible to the eye.
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Glad you were able to come to an agreement over the battery compartment. Of course, I would have had a little fun with him like "You sure you can do that without @#$%ing it up?!!!"Yes, I do too. I just told him to go ahead with that. It's not what I originally had in mind, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
That's what you get for wanting a PJ Bass. Kidding...Two weeks ago I dropped off my bass for modification by a well respected luthier in my area. He has always done a great job for me in the past. He is also a very nice human being, and although I have never seen him outside of doing work for me, I consider him to be a friend. He replaced the stock pickup in my American Standard P bass with an active EMG P bass pickup and I was delighted with the results.
This week, I brought the bass back to him to have an active EMG J pickup installed in the bridge position.
While at my gig this afternoon, I got a text from him saying that he was making good progress on the bass until he drilled through the back of the body. He said if I want to get another bass body, he will pay for it, or if I want him to look for one, he will do that.
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There are many different ways to approach this problem. I will start by having a couple of stiff drinks first.
Man, that's horrible! You don't have to tell me who the guy is, but what became of that bass?That's what you get for wanting a PJ Bass. Kidding...
At least he's willing to eat it. Have those drinks and then call Fender for a new American body.
Then, let him finish for FREE if he wants to salvage his reputation.
A few years ago now, I commissioned a luthier for a custom spec Jazz Bass. Well, he managed to have it painted the wrong color and mounted a DEFECTIVE Hipshot bridge on the body. The factory admitted to a run of bridges that had the mounting holes drilled in the wrong place, so all the saddles had to sit at a diagonal in order to line up properly. So, this guy drills the 5 mounting holes in the wrong place. Not only did he not want to do anything about it, like give me a new body, the prick wanted me to pay for a new set of strings as I brought the bass back with strings removed to show him the problem.
Sorry for venting but I've been wanting to tell this story. PM me and I'll tell you who he is.
Well, he mounted a vintage threaded saddle which managed to work out as there is so much adjustability with the threaded barrels, so I grudgingly took it but couldn't get the bad taste out of my mouth and didn't want to advertise his product on stage so, after a few months, I sold it for an $800 LOSS. Never again.Man, that's horrible! You don't have to tell me who the guy is, but what became of that bass?
If I still had a mind I could tell you a thing or two, sonny boy!NOTE: A mind is a terrible thing to waste..

I'd be looking to add more luthier business cards to my rolodex after this.