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Which bridge & pickup for a '76 P-bass?

#21
sbpark said:
I just decided to keep it and ordered a new Fender vintage bridge with the threaded saddles. Yeah, they're not the same as the original grooved, but it seems like the threaded offer better options for string spacing and alignment over pup poles and don't slide around like the grooved saddles.

I also ordered a thumbrest, bridge and pup cover. They are all new Fender parts, so they aren't 1976 originals, but I at least think I'm doing this bass justice by attempting to restore it to it's original cosmetic glory, even if the new parts aren't original.
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I have a '76 P that I bought some years ago, and it also came with a BAII. Not really a bad thing but I liked the look of a bridge cover. I managed to find a NOS 70's vintage bridge, still sealed on a card, from The Brass Shop. This was Fender's line of brass replacement parts for their basses. It's a standard bent plate with the base and barrels made from brass. A lucky grab. I could now add new bridge cover.

The point is, I don't miss the BAII at all. The bass sounds as good as ever. I think you're doing the right thing by getting it the way you want it. It's not a collectible per se and you should have it looking the way it pleases you.

BTW, after several pickup changes I've currently settled on a Fender 62RI and I like it a lot. I also put on a Black Walnut pickguard cuz I like that too. I'm not worried about an original look.
 
#22
thedudebrah said:
Got any pics of the bass? I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to see it.

Mine is mostly original except for the volume and tone knobs and a tort guard I put on. However the body was routed for the EMG battery and there was once a J pickup in it, so I'm not terribly worried about originality, I'm more worried about how well it plays. And play well it does.
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#25
For the price you paid for the bass (originally) you could have bought all original parts and come out way ahead when you decided to sell it. That's the route I would have taken. Just don't get any ideas to change out the "rusty" pickguard screws because those are nearly impossible to find (original ones) and the new ones aren't anything like the originals.
 
#26
Dluxe said:
For the price you paid for the bass (originally) you could have bought all original parts and come out way ahead when you decided to sell it. That's the route I would have taken. Just don't get any ideas to change out the "rusty" pickguard screws because those are nearly impossible to find (original ones) and the new ones aren't anything like the originals.
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I have no intention of changing/replacing anything thats currently on the bass that's original. I just want to replace the bridge and pickup. Sure I could go on Ebay and buy the original pups, original bridge and original covers, but that would cost up around $500-$600. For a little more than that I could buy a second bass, like a Classic 50's Precision! I only spent $75 for the new vintage style bridge, thumb rest, and covers. Yes, they are not original from 1976, but they are new Fender parts, and I have no intention of selling the bass. At least this way I can play it in as close to original condition as I can without shelling out a ton of cash for parts, and in the mean time keep an eye out for deals down the line on replacing those parts with originals if I ever feel the need to.
 
#31
that bass is awesome.
I use 70's P basses and one has an original 60's threaded saddle bridge, the others have the grooved saddle, neither have ever slipped and I play fairly aggressively.
I just bought a Seymour Duncan SPB-1 (voiced like a 57 supposedly) and a Fender Original P bass pup Ri. both sound really good, the Fender has more aggressive mids, it may be the capacitor, not sure.
I wouldn't bother over paying for original used 70's parts, new Fender parts are still authentic Fender.
 
#34
Dluxe said:
Sure they are authentic Fender parts but will never sound like a grey bottom pickup. He's got $190 into the bass. I think he can afford to put the bass back to stock!
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I just checked the prices of 70's grey bottoms, $450.00-$495.00, kind of ridiculous.
I have three 70's P's with grey bottoms, never realized they were so desired all of a sudden, lol.
he's keeping the bass, not reselling it, so I can understand why he wouldn't want to spend more than double what he paid for the bass on a pickup alone.
 
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#35
I just upgraded an Am Std with a Fender Original Pup. Big, big improvement. I also upgraded a while back with the bottom bridge depicted in the original post (instead of the stock hi-mass). Also an improvement. I would have grabbed that top one in a minute if I had found one (what's the parts number on that one?). But I agree that you should go as authentic '70s as possible.
 
#36
Another +1 for EMGs on a P Bass. I had them installed on my 1976 P Bass rosewood fretless in the late '80s. They sounded wonderful and added a little more top end I wanted for soloing. They are highly recommended! I have only needed to replace the battery once over all these years.
 
#37
I mostly agree with @JimmyM but not this time. I like 70's pickup sound (don't like some other things at 70's P basses).
I would go for original (or new replacement) one slot barrell saddles bridge, and original pickup. If You can't found original pickup or it is to expensive, my chjoice would beFender Original, or CS'62.
 

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