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NDB: 1961 Fender Precision

#101
Congrats!
Looks amazingly close to my 60' that is alder and refinished with what looks like shellac.
I am surprised that the pickguard didn't shrink more as the screws in mine are at an angle and the aluminum plate is clearly visible in places.
Do you mind mentioning what that beauty cost?
 
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#102
Jim C said:
Congrats!
Looks amazingly close to my 60' that is alder and refinished with what looks like shellac.
I am surprised that the pickguard didn't shrink more as the screws in mine are at an angle and the aluminum plate is clearly visible in places.
Do you mind mentioning what that beauty cost?
Click to expand...

I don't want to compromise the OP but it's still on the website if you're really curious. That was an excellent deal.
 
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#105
DavidBassista said:
Ok, since several people have been asking and it was just mentioned above, the bass is still posted online:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I paid $3,995.
Click to expand...

Great deal. Just so you know, I recently sold a body only blonde refin '59 (though all original parts with original covers and case) for double that. I think you did very well.
 
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#106
Dynacord said:
Great deal. Just so you know, I recently sold a body only blonde refin '59 (though all original parts with original covers and case) for double that. I think you did very well.
Click to expand...
Yeah, considering the bass was being sold by a boutique music store in Manhattan and had been professionally looked over and set up, I think it was a really good price. The fact that I was able to try the bass out in person and buy from a reputable dealer was also worth a lot to me.
 
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#107
That may be the best looking P bass I have ever seen.

It's the look of my "old" P bass, a stripped '83 MIJ, with all the extra everything.

Play that well and often. :)


edit- 20200824_134604.jpg
 
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#108
Totally fair deal!! Really happy for you.
It will always have the same or better resale plus "IT'S THE REAL THING", and not some recreation.
I will admit that the 1 3/4" nut is sometime hard for me, and I just can't bare to take it out to dive bars anymore.
I have yet to see an early 60's Fender that was stock (assuming the neck was OK) record anyway but beautifully.
Always believed in used vintage Fender's over the custom shop models.
And thank God it doesn't have the original paint as they become unaffordable for most players.
 
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#111
Dynacord said:
I don't think this was sunburst.
Click to expand...

I was looking at the back of the bass just now while I was playing it for the N'th time today. And I noticed in some of the deeper grain that there is a white color paint residue. This could be remnants of a former blond finish? Or of a grain sealer and pre-coat? Anyone have thoughts? Also, what are those little squiggly lines? I see those all over the back of the bass.

IMG_5526.jpeg
 
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#113
DavidBassista said:
I was looking at the back of the bass just now while I was playing it for the N'th time today. And I noticed in some of the deeper grain that there is a white color paint residue. This could be remnants of a former blond finish? Or of a grain sealer and pre-coat? Anyone have thoughts? Also, what are those little squiggly lines? I see those all over the back of the bass.

View attachment 4074598
Click to expand...
Calling @FranF
 
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#114
DavidBassista said:
I was looking at the back of the bass just now while I was playing it for the N'th time today. And I noticed in some of the deeper grain that there is a white color paint residue. This could be remnants of a former blond finish? Or of a grain sealer and pre-coat? Anyone have thoughts? Also, what are those little squiggly lines? I see those all over the back of the bass.

View attachment 4074598
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure someone used a dark stain or paint to highlight the sunken grain - same idea as ceruse finished (paint or stain and then wipe or sand to remove from the high spots leaving the contrasting color in the grain) before doing clear over that. If having someone restore it who really knows what they're doing they would probably bleach it as part of the prep before recreating the original finishing process. As to the white - who knows? Maybe some of the old blonde finish it it was charred rather than stained - same basic process.
I'd be anxious to check the cavities to see if there's any of the original finish there (and the date in the pickup cavity).

I think the squiggly lines are just scratches from when it was stripped which held some of the stain the same way as the grain.
 
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#115
Richard I said:
That may have been the white under layer, I don't know how it's called in english.
It could have been Fiesta, or another solid colour.
Click to expand...

At that time ash was pretty much reserved just for blonde finishes on everything but telecaster guitars - their wood was ash by default as blonde was the standard color. Alder was standard for sunbursts and solid colors (solid colors usually had a white primer/basecoat - sometimes other colors).
 
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#116
DavidBassista said:
I was looking at the back of the bass just now while I was playing it for the N'th time today. And I noticed in some of the deeper grain that there is a white color paint residue. This could be remnants of a former blond finish? Or of a grain sealer and pre-coat? Anyone have thoughts? Also, what are those little squiggly lines? I see those all over the back of the bass.

View attachment 4074598
Click to expand...

These squiggly lines could be traces of tools that removed the original paint.
Great catch though :)
 
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#117
Dynacord said:
At that time ash was pretty much reserved just for blonde finishes on everything but telecaster guitars - their wood was ash by default as blonde was the standard color. Alder was standard for sunbursts and solid colors (solid colors usually had a white primer/basecoat - sometimes other colors).
Click to expand...

Hi!
Yeah, I do know the role of blonde finishes during those years.:)
But I’ve never seen a 60s Fender Bass in blonde!
50s of course, and some 70s (although really different and not so nice, imho)
 
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