Took apart my 72 Jazz and found this....

[TomB]

...still worth a trombone if you ask me

 

[birminghambass]

That's very cool. They have the same base as the big clovers of the early 70's so either someone swapped them or they were one of those carry-overs from the 66-69 run. Either way you win!

I was told that some early CBS basses used older, leftover parts. I've seen a few other early 70s Fenders with these tuners.

 

[Blue Moose]

Bummer. It won't hurt the old gal's looks with her clothes on, but it will lower the resale of what is becoming a very valuable bass. I feel your pain...I have an old Gretsch that I owned for 15 years before realizing the pickups weren't original. Of course, I learned that while taking detailed photos when I decided to sell it. Like you, I bought mine thinking it was all original, and was about to sell it as original. Oh well, stuff happens.

 

[tbplayer59]

People complain that those 70's Fenders are too heavy. This is a solution.

 

[Joebone]

Chambering is a big deal on current Sadowsky and MTD basses…and here you are, decades ahead of the curve!

Acoustic effect? Maybe.

Lighter? Definitely!

Surprising? Aboslutely!

But in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? If you dig the axe, continue on enjoying it, now knowing that it has a little something extra special. Maybe this affects resale price/collectable factor, but if you dig the axe, it shouldn't be any less enjoyable now that you know how it differs from all of the rest.

I'd certainly not recommend filling it in...

 

[bobba66]

Just think of it as a tone chamber and get back to enjoying your bass.

 

[Kukulkan61]

The good side of it is it took a pound off of the weight..

 

[jwilson67]

To the OP - I'm sorry but this is kind of silly. You want to vomit?? If you like the sound of the bass why would this matter to you now? You make it sound comparable to someone finding out their wife is really a man after 20 years of marriage.

 

[paddydaddyo]

Looks like someone thought it would be cool to jam a strat pickup in it. Pretty funny, actually.

That's the shape of the standard single coil P-Bass/original Tele-Bass route ... I'd get a Basslines SCPB-3 and wire it up to a on/off switch just for the hell of it. if you like the sound, get a pickguard and route it for the pickup.

Regardless, that is a very well done routing job. cover it if you don't want to get it wired up ... but remember that the '70s was THE era of Franken-Fenders! COUNTLESS P-Basses were routed for J bridge pickups, Model 1 pickups at the neck, BadAss bridges, etc. Back then, the were just "old basses!" Lol

 

[petrus61]

At least it's one step closer to being a Precision bass!

 

[tbplayer59]

Did anyone ask: Why did you take apart your bass?

 

[Nev375]

First world problems...

 

[Milo Spleen]

I was expecting a cocaine joke

Yeah, that's a great place for your stash.

 

[groooooove]

after 20 years of playing it happily now that we see this we all know the basses sound has been ruined..

i'd just leave it, but it could be easily filled and painted if you wanted. you could put a pickup in there, but i wouldn't bother.

 

[Fxpmusic]

Best solution would be to put the pickguard back on.

 

[petrus61]

Buy another pickguard and route it for the SCPB. Keep it loaded with the pickup and swap when you feel like a change. Fralin makes an excellent split coil version. Make the best of it, or hide it from the world.

 

[StudioGC]

Looks like someone thought it would be cool to jam a strat pickup in it. Pretty funny, actually.

I'd bet my only mule that it had a SCPB in it. I once had a Frankentelebass that was routed for a split coil P bass pickup and also a SCPB and it sounded great.

Modify a pickguard and throw a SCPB in there and tell us how it sounds.

 

[RED J]

That's the shape of the standard single coil P-Bass/original Tele-Bass route ... I'd get a Basslines SCPB-3 and wire it up to a on/off switch just for the hell of it. if you like the sound, get a pickguard and route it for the pickup.

You know it ! No harm no foul. you might really like it, The SCPB has a different character to it than a j single.

 

[DavC]

i would think that would be a Good thing .. ! if you want a P/J , it's ready ... if you wanted to loose a bit of weight , it's been done .. !

maybe it want to be a Strat in a former life . ??

 

[hover]

Did anyone ask: Why did you take apart your bass?

I almost did. I never understood the fascination unless you're making a neck adjustment or a full refin.