My first bass resurrected (including back-story)

[Jon Clegg]

As someone who still owns his first bass, and also did a thread on resto-modding it, I'll be watching this!

 

[T_Bone_TL]

? ... not sure how to resolve this...

Triangular inlay? Something pyramid themed? Hazard triangle of choice? Or plane it off and glue on a veneer...Or a big semicircular inlay.

I still own my first bass, but it's only 10 years in my care, and I waffle between letting it be (Factory mist purple with a few major dents/scars as purchased) or going to the effort of stripping it only to find paint-grade alder. Since I mostly play the bass I don't own, it's not that urgent, though.

I did sell my first trombone down the river, though. No regrets - it was a crummy student model, and the Blessing is not.

 

[JIO]

One observation about the pickup. My first bass was similar to this one, only short-scale, and I have had several similar (log-scale P knockoffs) since. I do not believe those magnets in the pickup were ever glued down; they were held in place by adherence to the metal "core" with the pole-pieces inside it. But the pic does strongly suggest that, cover aside, this is the same pickup as the gold-foil pickup which the earlier basses had.

Also, stringing may prove quite an adventure. The tuners of most of these basses did not have pilot holes to anchor the strings, and the capstans are so short that any thoughts of getting more than two wraps around them should be abandoned.

Yes, I've already encountered that. Two wraps for the E & A for sure - possibly 3 on D & G. I used the over & under wind to make sure it stays put.

 

[JIO]

Triangular inlay? Something pyramid themed? Hazard triangle of choice? Or plane it off and glue on a veneer...Or a big semicircular inlay.

I still own my first bass, but it's only 10 years in my care, and I waffle between letting it be (Factory mist purple with a few major dents/scars as purchased) or going to the effort of stripping it only to find paint-grade alder. Since I mostly play the bass I don't own, it's not that urgent, though.

I did sell my first trombone down the river, though. No regrets - it was a crummy student model, and the Blessing is not.

I was thinking along the lines but I'll probably just plane it off from the neck platform up.

 

[Engle]

Glad to hear the neck is decent! I'd be happy to make a decal if you can find a clean image (or draw it).

 

[GretschWretch]

For the triangle, you could always slap an image of the food pyramid on there.

 

[JIO]

For the triangle, you could always slap an image of the food pyramid on there.

yah.., no.

 

[JIO]

One observation about the pickup. My first bass was similar to this one, only short-scale, and I have had several similar (log-scale P knockoffs) since. I do not believe those magnets in the pickup were ever glued down; they were held in place by adherence to the metal "core" with the pole-pieces inside it. But the pic does strongly suggest that, cover aside, this is the same pickup as the gold-foil pickup which the earlier basses had.

Also, stringing may prove quite an adventure. The tuners of most of these basses did not have pilot holes to anchor the strings, and the capstans are so short that any thoughts of getting more than two wraps around them should be abandoned.

Maybe originally, but someone glued them at one point. I went by that logic as the way they were glued is opposite polarity. Also, to make sure each magnet is equally under the 2 poles - gluing isn't a bad idea. I used super-glue, but it could easily be removed if need be.

 

[1n3]

Man, I remember that era. Arlan's department store for me, plus the Sears catalog. I was mostly interested in the guitars then. I figured the ones with 4 pickups must be the best.

Look forward to seeing your treatment of this.

 

[JIO]

Man, I remember that era. Arlan's department store for me, plus the Sears catalog. I was mostly interested in the guitars then. I figured the ones with 4 pickups must be the best.

Look forward to seeing your treatment of this.

Yep, I remember seeing the Silvertone guitar/amp case at Sears and thought it was so cool! The '60s R&R era was all about selling guitars/basses etc to young people and the Japanese did it like nobodies business!

The major brands had 3 pu's - so we'll do 4!

 

[MCF]

For the triangle, you could always slap an image of the food pyramid on there.

Or this:

 

[Medicine Man]

That's awesome. I just found out my original bass started gigging again in the hands of my oldest friend's son who is a freshman in college. Good to hear the old MIJ Jazz is back in action.

 

[JIO]

Awesome. I love your guitarchaeological expeditions @JIO

Always glad to have you aboard Beej!

 

[JIO]

That's awesome. I just found out my original bass started gigging again in the hands of my oldest friend's son who is a freshman in college. Good to hear the old MIJ Jazz is back in action.

This is the thing about musical instruments - they are less "owned" than leased, to be part of the bigger continuum when we part with them.

 

[Medicine Man]

I always donate gear I'm done with to young musicians. The karma is worth more that guitar center/pawn shop trade in prices.

 

[JIO]

Or this:
View attachment 5039561

...yah, no.

 

[mapleglo]

Very cool project, looking forward to updates.

I really wish I had kept my first bass. A Hofner single cut, hollow body. A 60's version of the club bass. I bought it used for $100 in 1969. It would likely be worth thousands today.

 

[GretschWretch]

Yep, I remember seeing the Silvertone guitar/amp case at Sears and thought it was so cool! The '60s R&R era was all about selling guitars/basses etc to young people and the Japanese did it like nobodies business!

The major brands had 3 pu's - so we'll do 4!

View attachment 5039542 View attachment 5039543 View attachment 5039544 View attachment 5039545 View attachment 5039546 View attachment 5039547 View attachment 5039548 View attachment 5039549 View attachment 5039551 View attachment 5039552 View attachment 5039553 View attachment 5039554 View attachment 5039555 View attachment 5039556

Rocker switches, slide switches, and wafer control knobs. I mean, how much more cool can you get? If only back then we had known about truss rods, set up, and intonation. Most of us just assumed the instrument as we got it from the store was set up like it was supposed to be.

 

[GretschWretch]

Or this:
View attachment 5039561

But not this.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[MCF]

Rocker switches, slide switches, and wafer control knobs. I mean, how much more cool can you get? If only back then we had known about truss rods, set up, and intonation. Most of us just assumed the instrument as we got it from the store was set up like it was supposed to be.

Yeah. But intonation was a crapshoot with the mostly two saddle bridges. I used a tuning fork to help tune up. E on the D string.

But it was so much fun!