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NOBD: 1963/64 Olympic White Precision Bass

Tonegasm

Tonegasm

Fast cars and vintage guitars.
Mar 22, 2010
2,988
914
NJ
#1
Scored this baby locally. Went to the guys house to cut the deal and he had the most amazing and extensive collection of vintage basses I have ever seen. Among them was an extremely clean '55 P Bass, '61 Jazz stacked knob, a white/gold '58, a burst '61 slab, and '62 and '64 bursts with unreal wear on them. I didn't want to take photos and give off the vibe that I was staking the place out. I just played them, smiled, and took it all in. I digress...

The neck on my bass is a December 5 1963 but the neck plate dates to 1964. It must have been assembled then. Original Olympic White finish, all original hardware, and original case. The only things out of the ordinary are a plugged screw hole on the headstock where some numbskull mounted a string tree in the past, a missing bridge cover, and an extra tiny screw hole through the pickguard into the body which the tug bar totally conceals.

After I got it home I strung it with Chromes, set the intonation, mounted a spare tarnished bridge cover I had laying around, and immediately busted into some Motown tunes. I'm pleased to say that, if God rocked a bass, this would have to be it. WOW.

Here's a link to the photo album as well as some teaser photos. Enjoy!

Link to Photobucket album

Edit: Recorded a quick clip comparing my '71 and my '64. '71 goes first, '64 at 0:35. Volumes and tones open full bore, both strung with D'Addario Chromes (64's are fresh), no effects other than compression.



More clips can be found in this thread

1964
IMG_2927_zpsbf2a7de9.gif


1971
00029B85-DC0D-4B81-99B6-E73EAC4C0D2A-1000-0000004B9012B8AB_zps8533943c.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#8
Lublin said:
Scored this baby locally. Went to the guys house to cut the deal and he had the most amazing and extensive collection of vintage basses I have ever seen. Among them was an extremely clean '55 P Bass, '61 Jazz stacked knob, a white/gold '58, a burst '61 slab, and '62 and '64 bursts with unreal wear on them. I didn't want to take photos and give off the vibe that I was staking the place out. I just played them, smiled, and took it all in. I digress...

The neck on my bass is a December 5 1963 but the neck plate dates to 1964. It must have been assembled then. Original Olympic White finish, all original hardware, and original case. The only things out of the ordinary are a plugged screw hole on the headstock where some numbskull mounted a string tree in the past, a missing bridge cover, and an extra tiny screw hole through the pickguard into the body which the tug bar totally conceals.

After I got it home I strung it with Chromes, set the intonation, mounted a spare tarnished bridge cover I had laying around, and immediately busted into some Motown tunes. I'm please to say that, if God rocked a bass, this would have to be it. WOW.

Here's a link to the photo album as well as some teaser photos. Enjoy!

Link to Photobucket album

IMG_2927_zpsbf2a7de9.gif
Click to expand...
Nice!:bassist::hyper:
 
#10
I have a '64P so it's interesting to compare. The action looks really low and that's what sets these basses apart is the neck shape and playability of the instrument. Mine is a lot more beaten up than yours. My scratchplate is warped and tone/volume knobs point in different directions!

I see the pots are 6309, which means that the bass parts have spanned a whole year, which is interesting. The only unoriginal part on my Precision are the pots so I'm looking for replacements!

The bass really is super and super-original and so enjoy it.

PS: don't tell anyone but I've put on Gotoh Res-o-lite tuners as the bass is very light and this cured a very small neck dive tendancy. I think I'm about 8 lbs.

Well I'm 168 lbs actually but you know what I mean!
Davo
 
#11
Thanks, everyone! A very awesome addition to my collection. Playing a C width neck will take some getting used to, but the bass makes really makes it easy. The action is awesome and the neck is silky. The only way to describe the tone is thunderous and huge!
 
#13
Beano_z said:
Wow, gorgeous, love it with the tort guard, and it's extremely clean! I confess I do have a weak spot with white basses...

BTW, the 5 is actually the indication for "Precision Bass" on the 5th day of the month, of no importance at all but thought you might be interested.
Click to expand...

+1
Beautiful score!!!
 
#17
That is just gorgeous and I hope it plays even better than it looks. There is nothing like that aged white and tort. I had one that looked exactly like this but mine was a '65--it was a sad day when it went for the rent and can never be replaced; and I'm sure you will never ever let this go! Wow.
 

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