• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

SCORE!!! 1962 Precision content

UPDATE! PICS ADDED ON PAGE 2

Just goes to show, whether you're buying or selling, you have to do your research...I would've posted this sooner, but I've been playing the CRAP out of this thing. I can't keep my mitts off of it.

Found this on Craigslist last week - the guy actually HELD onto it for me until I could make it out from the city to see despite other offers from people wanting to come check it out and ultimately buy it. I guess he said I contacted him first via email before anyone. What a nice guy, I think I'll send him an Xmas card this year.

Coincidentally, the seller was 5 minutes from my parent's house and I was visiting this coming Easter weekend. Unfortunately for him, this guy didn't know what he had or what it was worth and he gave up on the bass a while back to play keyboards. He thought the neck was original, but not sure about anything else. I happily met his asking price of $950 with cash in hand...:eek:

You never know what you can find if you're patient and know what you're looking for. (more pics below)

basswcase.jpg


THE GOOD:
Original slab neck w/ clay dots (2-62 handwritten on heel), tuners, neckplate (76XXX serial), pickguard, bridge (not mounted but in hardshell case w/ 4 orig screws), and even a bridge cover that appears original!
P pickups have serious BALLS - but I'm not sure if they're original, but they sound incredible though. Also the poles look very old and dirty, so I'd guess they are original. Haven't taken them out. Not really planning on it because it sounds so good and is set up perfectly right now.

Also, he threw in a Fender hardshell case - he didn't think it was original, but I've since dated it to a 71 because of the "swoosh" under the Fender logo and interior layout. And it just smells old haha.

THE UNKNOWN:
Routed for a jazz PU. Not sure what kind it is...can anyone identify it from the pics?

PU's are wired strange, but no extra routes or knobs added, so that's cool. Both for wired volume, one for P PU's, one for Jazz PU. Both PU's wired for tone on full blast (sounds like it to me anyways). Also not sure about the knobs. One is very shiny chrome, the other is almost brown from corrosion. Also, kind of scratchy, so I'm thinking the pots could be original.

Body might be original? Definitely a nitro refin - a poor one at that - there's cosmetic issues, globs of paint that you can see up close, rough spots, orange peel, etc.

The inside of the lower horn isn't as round as I'd think. I'd guess if it's an original body, the person who took the original finish off sanded it unevenly/poorly. But it's hardly noticable unless you're feeling for it. Sound weird or normal to anyone?

Came with Badass II bridge mounted. Plays and sustains amazingly, I'll probably leave it on there.

Defintiely a player's bass. Which is exactly what I plan on doing with it. I promised the seller I'd play the crap out of this thing, and that's just what I intend on.

Studio stuff, rehearsals, but probably no gigs - otherwise I'd have to chain the case to my belt and walk around with it all evening. No way I'm ever letting this bass out of my sight.

Bass Face (you can see the case in this pic kinda)
face.jpg


Havin a celebratory whiskey drink with Dad :smug:
basswdad.jpg
 
Thanks! how can u tell the PU's aren't original by the front? What is there to look for? I should just take them out, but like I said, everything is in place so perfectly right now...


Big pole pieces.

The 80's MIJ basses had these pups. They were fender's answer to the duncan qps. I'll try to find a good pic.

Edit: See... prolly a fender replacement pup, or came outta a fender mij bass
IMG_08503.jpg
 
Big pole pieces.

The 80's MIJ basses had these pups. They were fender's answer to the duncan qps. I'll try to find a good pic.
... prolly a fender replacement pup, or came outta a fender mij bassQUOTE]

Yeah i see that in the Jazz PU, I know that's not original, but what about the Precision PUs? I'm trying to figure out how to identify them w/out taking them out.

Thing sounds ballsy as all heck tho
 
If the uneven-ness under the lower horn is a bump/ridge where the neck beds into the body, this could be an original pre-CBS body. I was told this bump was caused by Leo breaking the pattern and not fixing it correctly. Apparently CBS fixed the mold or made a new one, hence bump under neck at top of lower horn space indicates pre-CBS. Of course someone could've been pulling my chain!

Re P PUP, I am told pre-CBS PUPs had noticeably smaller diameter poles than PUPs in later 60s and beyond.
 
If the uneven-ness under the lower horn is a bump/ridge where the neck beds into the body, this could be an original pre-CBS body. I was told this bump was caused by Leo breaking the pattern and not fixing it correctly. Apparently CBS fixed the mold or made a new one, hence bump under neck at top of lower horn space indicates pre-CBS. Of course someone could've been pulling my chain!

Re P PUP, I am told pre-CBS PUPs had noticeably smaller diameter poles than PUPs in later 60s and beyond.

this is exactly what I was thinking. You just described it perfectly.

looks great i wish i could find one like that. im not really digging the j pickup though. if i had a bass that old and valuable i wouldnt have routed it out for a j pickup

ha, yeah I don't think anyone knew how valuable these guitars would be. I'm sure the mod was done in the 70's or 80's - not by me or the guy I bought it from. Not ideal, but for the price I paid, it's fine with me ;)

I really think the P pickups are orig. The patina on the poles matches the wear on the screws and bridge perfectly. I just plugged her in again and man does she sing! Doesn't sound like my 62 RI w Fralins - but MUCH more like my buddy's 66 P. So clear and precise piano like tone.