Need help with 1966 P-Bass

[Nek07]

I really like the look of that bass, count yourself lucky that it is not a museum piece because you will be able to enjoy and play it without fear for it's value.
Personally, I would go with a black pickguard on that bass, would look badass!

 

[petermwright]

It's been through some changes.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/need-help-with-1966-p-bass.1642460/#post-28246569

I wonder if one could lightly sand off a little of the black, and see what’s underneath that.

 

[SJLee]

I wonder if checking inside the screw holes would reveal anything of the original color?

 

[Nek07]

I wonder if one could lightly sand off a little of the black, and see what’s underneath that.

I would not do that, there is the risk of having issue with the setup afterward, plus it also risk to compromise the wood on wood contact if done with a heavy hand. There is other spots like the pickup cavity to do that.

 

[friskinator]

I'd have MJT do a beautiful relic sunburst, than get an aged tortoiseshell pickguard from Avant Guards.

Agreed, except I'd do a period correct custom solid color if it were mine.

 

[wraub]

OP- Nice bass.

My stripped P has an ano gold guard, but I also have just a control plate that covers the control cavity. It's good to have options.

 

[Dynacord]

I wonder if checking inside the screw holes would reveal anything of the original color?

I've had luck scrapping through layers of overspray in the pickup cavities (it's a PITA stripping the paint out of those to begin with so they are very often just sprayed over).

On the pickguard issue, if doing a solid color other than white (or blonde if it was ash), I'd use a 3 layer white guard. Tort on custom colors in that era screens obvious refin (there were a few on originals but very uncommon).

 

[Auer]

I've had luck scrapping through layers of overspray in the pickup cavities (it's a PITA stripping the paint out of those to begin with so they are very often just sprayed over).

On the pickguard issue, if doing a solid color other than white (or blonde if it was ash), I'd use a 3 layer white guard. Tort on custom colors in that era screens obvious refin (there were a few on originals but very uncommon).

I think white looks great on natural. A 3 layer (if "worn" in this case to match) would work very well.

Personally, I think the PG should be lighter than the color of the bass. Or close to the same color.

Mint would look really good too IMO.

 

[Dynacord]

I think white looks great on natural. A 3 layer (if "worn" in this case to match) would work very well.

Personally, I think the PG should be lighter than the color of the bass. Or close to the same color.

Mint would look really good to IMO.

Agree. And they can be faux aged to take the new edge off.

 

[micguy]

A matter of taste, I guess. Fender replaced tort with black PG on their sunburst finished basses in the 70's and the 80's (the dark ages of Fender history ), but then went back to tort. Tort is used, together with white on pretty much everything Fender is making today. Do they use black on basses?

PS: Fender didn't use much tort in the 50's.

Tort was used a lot of other places in the 50's - actually it was around a long time before that - the 1920's had a lot of real tortoise shell eye glasses. Fender was very late to joining the fad when they started using tort.

There are a couple of colors of American Pro II's that use black 'guards. "Dark night" would look really silly with a tort guard.

 

[jnewmark]

If anybody is interested, here's a '66 for sale on Reverb, just for reference sake.

1966 Fender Precision Bass - Sunburst - OHSC | Reverb

 

[bassdude51]

Mine is also a Feb. '66. Original CAR finish.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Mine is also a Feb. '66. Original CAR finish.

View attachment 5371331

!!!!!

 

[SJLee]

I've had luck scrapping through layers of overspray in the pickup cavities (it's a PITA stripping the paint out of those to begin with so they are very often just sprayed over).

On the pickguard issue, if doing a solid color other than white (or blonde if it was ash), I'd use a 3 layer white guard. Tort on custom colors in that era screens obvious refin (there were a few on originals but very uncommon).

I would do the same.

 

[Matt O]

View attachment 5370633

Looking at the shot of the neck heel again and seeing that rusty truss nut, I’d be careful about making adjustments to the truss rod. Chances are high that the nut is rusted to the rod threads. You might consider a few drops of penetrating oil and leaving the neck heel pointing up to the sky for a while.

 

[roller]

MJT Finishes out of Missouri could put a killer vintage finish on that... any color you want + checking and any amount of "wear" you want.

They truly do fantastic stuff... good guys.

www.mjtagedfinishes.com

 

[Swerve]

There are a couple of colors of American Pro II's that use black 'guards. "Dark night" would look really silly with a tort guard.

I bet someone has done it!

 

[micguy]

I bet someone has done it!

probably....

 

[Swerve]

probably....

Found it!

 

[74hc]

I wonder if one could lightly sand off a little of the black, and see what’s underneath that.

I'm thinking that thick black paint was put on for a better neck fit. Perhaps the neck pocket was sanded during the refinish a bit too much?