I kinda like that. Not sure why, but I actually do. Something about it.interesting relic job...
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SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!
- Thread starter JIO
- Start date
dayum where did you find that orange jazz?
whatever it is, I'm down. wonder if it's on reverb.....
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
If legit - looks like an early '60s J - has mute holes and ground strip. Could be an old refin or faded Fiesta Red as phangtonpower said. Needless to say, if it is 'for sale' - it is mucho $$$.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It reminds me of white frosting on ginger cookies - wasn't ever a favorite of mine but that's all I have to offer...
Posted pics of my 71 P ages ago but came across this pic again recently. been playing it at home with no gigs and i just love it.
I just saw it somewhere, likely a FB group. I liked it as well so I dragged it over here.
I think this is one of the coolest threads on TB (thanks, @JIO ).
I'm surprised by its longevity, but I guess a lot of folks dig seeing worn finishes, be they authentic or "induced".
TL;DR version:
Photos of the result of 60+ years of continuous use on an early 1957 Precision Bass. For a more detailed background, continue reading. Otherwise skip down to the photos below.
Long-winded version:
So...
I'll toss my hat into the ring with my '57 Precision. The neck is stamped August 1956 and the body September 1956, but every serial number decoder I've used (including Fender's own) dates it as a 1957. So I'm guessing it shipped from Fender early in the year just before they transitioned to the split-coil P-Bass design.
Anyway, I bought it from the widow of a jazz/session bassist who was apparently pretty renowned in the Chicago area. She told me it was her husband's number one electric bass (although he'd owned others) for 45 years until he passed, and that he'd purchased it brand new back in the day and always took good care of it. So I'm only its second owner. In the twenty-odd years since I've owned it, it's seen regular use, but most of the visible wear was put on it by this gentleman.
The amazing thing about this bass is that in spite of its age and almost non-stop use for over 60 years, the body's nitro finish is in remarkably good shape. It's original (it's been verified), but there are no huge chunks of lacquer missing, nor are there any spots where the finish has been worn through due to contact wear. Of course there are small impressions, dings and abrasions here and there, but nothing major.
Now, the body has some crazy finish checking and you can see in one of the frontal photos that the checking pattern is really kind of funky...something that would be nearly impossible to achieve on a "relic guitar".
The pickup and bridge covers, as well as the control plate exhibit a lot of pitting, which is also difficult to duplicate convincingly on a relic job. It shows up well in the photos below. Strangely, the neck plate, bridge and tuners have acquired the expected patina over time but don't show any pitting.
The finish on the back of the neck is pretty much worn away on the lower edge in the area of the "money frets", with the corresponding thumb wear near the upper edge. There are all kinds of scuffs and whatnot...but the back of the neck is totally smooth, comfy and surprisingly not sticky at all.
The original pickguard pretty much disintegrated about five years ago, so I had to get a replacement made. And the original pots finally died about four years ago, each within about a month of each other. Everything else is as it was when I acquired it.
I totally get why some people like relic'd instruments. It's like an old worn-in pair of jeans. Comfortable to play and no stressing over a ding or paint chip. This bass, in addition to being "worn-in", plays beautifully and sounds wonderful. I understand why it was the original owner's #1 bass for so long. Lots of "mojo" has accumulated in this one.
I'm surprised by its longevity, but I guess a lot of folks dig seeing worn finishes, be they authentic or "induced".
TL;DR version:
Photos of the result of 60+ years of continuous use on an early 1957 Precision Bass. For a more detailed background, continue reading. Otherwise skip down to the photos below.
Long-winded version:
So...
I'll toss my hat into the ring with my '57 Precision. The neck is stamped August 1956 and the body September 1956, but every serial number decoder I've used (including Fender's own) dates it as a 1957. So I'm guessing it shipped from Fender early in the year just before they transitioned to the split-coil P-Bass design.
Anyway, I bought it from the widow of a jazz/session bassist who was apparently pretty renowned in the Chicago area. She told me it was her husband's number one electric bass (although he'd owned others) for 45 years until he passed, and that he'd purchased it brand new back in the day and always took good care of it. So I'm only its second owner. In the twenty-odd years since I've owned it, it's seen regular use, but most of the visible wear was put on it by this gentleman.
The amazing thing about this bass is that in spite of its age and almost non-stop use for over 60 years, the body's nitro finish is in remarkably good shape. It's original (it's been verified), but there are no huge chunks of lacquer missing, nor are there any spots where the finish has been worn through due to contact wear. Of course there are small impressions, dings and abrasions here and there, but nothing major.
Now, the body has some crazy finish checking and you can see in one of the frontal photos that the checking pattern is really kind of funky...something that would be nearly impossible to achieve on a "relic guitar".
The pickup and bridge covers, as well as the control plate exhibit a lot of pitting, which is also difficult to duplicate convincingly on a relic job. It shows up well in the photos below. Strangely, the neck plate, bridge and tuners have acquired the expected patina over time but don't show any pitting.
The finish on the back of the neck is pretty much worn away on the lower edge in the area of the "money frets", with the corresponding thumb wear near the upper edge. There are all kinds of scuffs and whatnot...but the back of the neck is totally smooth, comfy and surprisingly not sticky at all.
The original pickguard pretty much disintegrated about five years ago, so I had to get a replacement made. And the original pots finally died about four years ago, each within about a month of each other. Everything else is as it was when I acquired it.
I totally get why some people like relic'd instruments. It's like an old worn-in pair of jeans. Comfortable to play and no stressing over a ding or paint chip. This bass, in addition to being "worn-in", plays beautifully and sounds wonderful. I understand why it was the original owner's #1 bass for so long. Lots of "mojo" has accumulated in this one.
Magnificent!I think this is one of the coolest threads on TB (thanks, @JIO ).
I'm surprised by its longevity, but I guess a lot of folks dig seeing worn finishes, be they authentic or "induced".
TL;DR version:
Photos of the result of 60+ years of continuous use on an early 1957 Precision Bass. For a more detailed background, continue reading. Otherwise skip down to the photos below.
Long-winded version:
So...
I'll toss my hat into the ring with my '57 Precision. The neck is stamped August 1956 and the body September 1956, but every serial number decoder I've used (including Fender's own) dates it as a 1957. So I'm guessing it shipped from Fender early in the year just before they transitioned to the split-coil P-Bass design.
Anyway, I bought it from the widow of a jazz/session bassist who was apparently pretty renowned in the Chicago area. She told me it was her husband's number one electric bass (although he'd owned others) for 45 years until he passed, and that he'd purchased it brand new back in the day and always took good care of it. So I'm only its second owner. In the twenty-odd years since I've owned it, it's seen regular use, but most of the visible wear was put on it by this gentleman.
The amazing thing about this bass is that in spite of its age and almost non-stop use for over 60 years, the body's nitro finish is in remarkably good shape. It's original (it's been verified), but there are no huge chunks of lacquer missing, nor are there any spots where the finish has been worn through due to contact wear. Of course there are small impressions, dings and abrasions here and there, but nothing major.
Now, the body has some crazy finish checking and you can see in one of the frontal photos that the checking pattern is really kind of funky...something that would be nearly impossible to achieve on a "relic guitar".
The pickup and bridge covers, as well as the control plate exhibit a lot of pitting, which is also difficult to duplicate convincingly on a relic job. It shows up well in the photos below. Strangely, the neck plate, bridge and tuners have acquired the expected patina over time but don't show any pitting.
The finish on the back of the neck is pretty much worn away on the lower edge in the area of the "money frets", with the corresponding thumb wear near the upper edge. There are all kinds of scuffs and whatnot...but the back of the neck is totally smooth, comfy and surprisingly not sticky at all.
The original pickguard pretty much disintegrated about five years ago, so I had to get a replacement made. And the original pots finally died about four years ago, each within about a month of each other. Everything else is as it was when I acquired it.
I totally get why some people like relic'd instruments. It's like an old worn-in pair of jeans. Comfortable to play and no stressing over a ding or paint chip. This bass, in addition to being "worn-in", plays beautifully and sounds wonderful. I understand why it was the original owner's #1 bass for so long. Lots of "mojo" has accumulated in this one.
View attachment 3993720 View attachment 3993721 View attachment 3993722 View attachment 3993726 View attachment 3993727 View attachment 3993728
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I think this is one of the coolest threads on TB (thanks, @JIO ).
I'm surprised by its longevity, but I guess a lot of folks dig seeing worn finishes, be they authentic or "induced".
TL;DR version:
Photos of the result of 60+ years of continuous use on an early 1957 Precision Bass. For a more detailed background, continue reading. Otherwise skip down to the photos below.
Long-winded version:
So...
I'll toss my hat into the ring with my '57 Precision. The neck is stamped August 1956 and the body September 1956, but every serial number decoder I've used (including Fender's own) dates it as a 1957. So I'm guessing it shipped from Fender early in the year just before they transitioned to the split-coil P-Bass design.
Anyway, I bought it from the widow of a jazz/session bassist who was apparently pretty renowned in the Chicago area. She told me it was her husband's number one electric bass (although he'd owned others) for 45 years until he passed, and that he'd purchased it brand new back in the day and always took good care of it. So I'm only its second owner. In the twenty-odd years since I've owned it, it's seen regular use, but most of the visible wear was put on it by this gentleman.
The amazing thing about this bass is that in spite of its age and almost non-stop use for over 60 years, the body's nitro finish is in remarkably good shape. It's original (it's been verified), but there are no huge chunks of lacquer missing, nor are there any spots where the finish has been worn through due to contact wear. Of course there are small impressions, dings and abrasions here and there, but nothing major.
Now, the body has some crazy finish checking and you can see in one of the frontal photos that the checking pattern is really kind of funky...something that would be nearly impossible to achieve on a "relic guitar".
The pickup and bridge covers, as well as the control plate exhibit a lot of pitting, which is also difficult to duplicate convincingly on a relic job. It shows up well in the photos below. Strangely, the neck plate, bridge and tuners have acquired the expected patina over time but don't show any pitting.
The finish on the back of the neck is pretty much worn away on the lower edge in the area of the "money frets", with the corresponding thumb wear near the upper edge. There are all kinds of scuffs and whatnot...but the back of the neck is totally smooth, comfy and surprisingly not sticky at all.
The original pickguard pretty much disintegrated about five years ago, so I had to get a replacement made. And the original pots finally died about four years ago, each within about a month of each other. Everything else is as it was when I acquired it.
I totally get why some people like relic'd instruments. It's like an old worn-in pair of jeans. Comfortable to play and no stressing over a ding or paint chip. This bass, in addition to being "worn-in", plays beautifully and sounds wonderful. I understand why it was the original owner's #1 bass for so long. Lots of "mojo" has accumulated in this one.
View attachment 3993720 View attachment 3993721 View attachment 3993722 View attachment 3993726 View attachment 3993727 View attachment 3993728
That's a beauty - I'm essentially 2nd owner of my very played '66 P. It was traded a couple times times by vintage guitar shops/biz's before I saw and bought it. It was love at first sight!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Pirated images as usual. Aaaargh. A couple are not to code as they are tidy but too sexy not to share. Aye aye.
