NBD - pawn shop MIM Precision Bass

[Rico67]

I picked up this mim precision bass at a pawn shop. It came with a case of which I've never seen. I got fairly good deal as it had a lot of play wear but it shows it was giged and played a lot. I made a couple adjustments, and it plays very well. I'll probably change the strings in a couple days.

It has a Seymour Duncan pickup but I'm not sure what model it is (Steve Harris Signature?). I'm not familiar with this model. Measured 13k+.

At first I noticed the pots spun round and round, but found out the set screws are missing. Anyone know where to get replacement set screws? Or are new knobs the same as a bag of screws...?

Anyway, I like it despite all the wear. Oh underneath one of the poly chips is a metalic copper color???

I'm still new to bass, coming from guitar but I love it.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

good pickup that is. nice looking P bass for sure

 

[Matt Liebenau]

If you’re in the US take one of the knobs to ACE or TruValue hardware and try the set screws. They’re probably 6-32 or 8-32 if fractional and 4mm if metric. Get ones just shorter then the depth of the threaded hole. Stainless set screws will probably cost less than the gas to get to the hardware store.

 

[Rico67]

If you’re in the US take one of the knobs to ACE or TruValue hardware and try the set screws. They’re probably 6-32 or 8-32 if fractional and 4mm if metric. Get ones just shorter then the depth of the threaded hole. Stainless set screws will probably cost less than the gas to get to the hardware store.

There's a TruValue across the street. I'll give them a try.

 

[JRA]

that ax looks like it's ready to be gigged! cool find, nice score --- congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[Rico67]

There are two holes on either side of the bridge. What would that have been?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

There's a TruValue across the street. I'll give them a try.

In that case the screws might be slightly more then the gas…

The screw holes by the bridge were probably for a bridge cover.

 

[Killing Floor]

That looks ready to rock.

There are two holes on either side of the bridge. What would that have been?

Chrome ashtray cover for the bridge. Most people remove them then and now. I think they look cool. You can get replacements easily.

 

[Clark W]

At first I noticed the pots spun round and round, but found out the set screws are missing. Anyone know where to get replacement set screws? Or are new knobs the same as a bag of screws...?

Hit up your local music stores, should be able to just get a new set of knobs fairly cheap. As far as trying to find set screws that small at a hardware store, I've never tried. I have a GC 12 miles from the house so getting parts has never been an issue for me. Another option until you can get some screws is to put a couple of wraps of masking tape around the pot shafts to tighten up the fit. You'll have to put enough to to keep the knobs from slipping, so it'll be trial and error. Not enough it'll slip, too much you won't be able to get the knobs on. Good luck on your search at the hardware store. Let us know what you find out. If you can't find any screws there's always online.

Straight from Fender, 7 bucks.

Set of 24 nickel set screws (8-32x3/16") for mounting most Telecaster®, Precision Bass® and vintage-style skirted amplifier knobs on solid-shaft potentiometers. Also fits American Vintage '62 Jazz Bass® control knobs.

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Congrats on your pawnshop find!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Congrats! A white P-bass is never wrong. Classic!

The pickup looks like a SD Steve Harris with the individual coils swapped around, and the one with the SH signature upside down. I'm not sure why anyone would do that?

I don't think I've ever tested the SDSH pickups but as far as I know they are standard alnico P-bass pickups (although at +13k quite a bit overwound) with no bar magnet under the coils. And I think both coils should be identical. If this is the case I guess swapping the coils and flipping one of them upside down shouldn't affect the orientation of the magnets or coils, so it shouldn't affect the tone or the hum-cancelling properties of the pickup, right?

Still, if you're willing to do a tiny bit of soldering it should be a relatively fast&easy job to re-install the pickup the correct way, if it bothers you.

 

[Wyrdlow]

Great looking bass, mate - congratulations. I love my MIM P bass. Nice case too - looks like it's seen some action! Good find. Enjoy!

 

[Tommy Sparks]

Cool bass and I like the case too!
Welcome to the low end.

 

[Lowbrow]

Nice one, enjoy it!

 

[Wesley R]

Dandy man!

 

[prndltech]

Well that’s pretty cool!

 

[NKBassman]

That looks like a Steve Harris pickup to me. I had one for a short while, honestly can't even remember what I thought about it lol.

Nice bass! I'd play that.

 

[OnTheDownLow]

I picked up this mim precision bass at a pawn shop. It came with a case of which I've never seen. I got fairly good deal as it had a lot of play wear but it shows it was giged and played a lot. I made a couple adjustments, and it plays very well. I'll probably change the strings in a couple days.

It has a Seymour Duncan pickup but I'm not sure what model it is (Steve Harris Signature?). I'm not familiar with this model. Measured 13k+.

At first I noticed the pots spun round and round, but found out the set screws are missing. Anyone know where to get replacement set screws? Or are new knobs the same as a bag of screws...?

Anyway, I like it despite all the wear. Oh underneath one of the poly chips is a metalic copper color???

I'm still new to bass, coming from guitar but I love it.

I would definitely get an ashtray cover to put back on over the bridge. I love ashtrays and since it already has the holes, why not? I can say that I haven't ever seen a fender case like that before but I really dig it!

 

[Rico67]

Congrats! A white P-bass is never wrong. Classic!

The pickup looks like a SD Steve Harris with the individual coils swapped around, and the one with the SH signature upside down. I'm not sure why anyone would do that?

I don't think I've ever tested the SDSH pickups but as far as I know they are standard alnico P-bass pickups (although at +13k quite a bit overwound) with no bar magnet under the coils. And I think both coils should be identical. If this is the case I guess swapping the coils and flipping one of them upside down shouldn't affect the orientation of the magnets or coils, so it shouldn't affect the tone or the hum-cancelling properties of the pickup, right?

Still, if you're willing to do a tiny bit of soldering it should be a relatively fast&easy job to re-install the pickup the correct way, if it bothers you.

I'm good with mods and soldering. I didn't realize they were not installed correctly. I'll have to look at it. The pots are scratchy so I may use some contact cleaner and see if I can get that corrected.

 

[Rico67]

I'm not crazy about the mint ice cream color pickguard. I like the more vintage mint pickguard that is more gray in it. Should I leave it, or what color pickguard on white with maple?

 

[Rico67]

Hit up your local music stores, should be able to just get a new set of knobs fairly cheap. As far as trying to find set screws that small at a hardware store, I've never tried. I have a GC 12 miles from the house so getting parts has never been an issue for me. Another option until you can get some screws is to put a couple of wraps of masking tape around the pot shafts to tighten up the fit. You'll have to put enough to to keep the knobs from slipping, so it'll be trial and error. Not enough it'll slip, too much you won't be able to get the knobs on. Good luck on your search at the hardware store. Let us know what you find out. If you can't find any screws there's always online.

Straight from Fender, 7 bucks.

Set of 24 nickel set screws (8-32x3/16") for mounting most Telecaster®, Precision Bass® and vintage-style skirted amplifier knobs on solid-shaft potentiometers. Also fits American Vintage '62 Jazz Bass® control knobs.

Invalid Link Removed

Congrats on your pawnshop find!

I just have the knobs off for now. I'll check the hardware store to see what they have. It's literally a 1/4 mile from me. If not I'll order the bag of set screws or new knobs. I thought I had an extra set from a telecaster but I may have used them on a build I long since sold off.