Wondering where to go with this.

[ashtray]

Man, that thing is an ugly beast - and I wouldn't have it any other way!! That green headstock - oh man, you can't make that up. The Gretsch knob too? Just beastly.

Sure you could refin the whole thing, but then it would look like every other Jazz bass. You'd have to go for at least a light relic on a nitro paint job to make it look period correct. But you lose the story - you lose it's journey through life!

Crazy. Ugly. Crazy. Keep it and add your own history to it.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I like it but I would like it more restored. Sounds like you should sell me it and I can hand deliver it to John Kallas to restore it for me

 

[Tgb]

Please, please, please don't paint that headstock, it's what puts that bass over the top. If you feel a need for shiny things, go get a Squire and a chamois and take it out on that. Leave that thing Funky. Oh, and I wouldn't worry about a tortoise pickguard "clashing" with the headstock. That could be your contribution to this time capsule

 

[JoeWPgh]

I'm guessing that was Lake Placid Blue at birth, and turned green with age. If I was going to do anything to it, I would get some LPB and tinted clear coat from ReRanch. Get a couple of each. Then get a board, prime it white and test out how much tinted clear coat to lay over the LPB. Follow the recipe found there for painting/sanding/finishing. It's almost foolproof. I did LPB and tinted clearcoat on a parts bass, and it came out quite green.

 

[Fluid Power]

Leave it as is!!
That's one sick stick!
OSHA would approve of the grounding on that, might even pass CE certification

 

[Jughead6]

What Tgb said.

As you pan your eyes from the body towards the headstock, this bass goes from cool... cooler... cooler still... outrageous!

I love tort pickguards, but in this case please, please, please don't put a NEW one on it. If you do replace the pickguard, make sure the pickguard is really old and messed up. And possibly in two pieces.

 

[Gaolee]

If you were going to do anything at all, refinish the whole bass to match the headstock. That would be great, but not as great as it is now.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

INCREDIBLE DEAL, MAN!

I'd (carefully) sand off the headstock paint - it's nasty - and won't affect the value.

 

[fishdreams]

That is the awesomest jazz bass I've seen in years. Seriously. No harm in enjoying it as is.

 

[warrplayer]

Kenny, this is the ghost of James Jamerson talking....Put a water slide decal over the top of that green headstock, and BAM!!! Done.

 

[Kenny Wiebusch]

I can't imagine it was lake placid blue and turned green. The pics don't do it justice. It is not metallic. It is metal flake green-like a green bass boat or carnival ride. I can see my workin this bass thing up and gigging in my retirement! I always liked the feel of the Jazz neck.

 

[Sollie7]

They are great basses. What you do with it is up to you and its def got the cool factor green headstock or not. I need to start checking my local pawn shops.

 

[DwaynieAD]

i wanna put grounding wires like that on my basses.

 

[warrplayer]

i wanna put grounding wires like that on my basses.

I confidently predict that due to this very thread and the power of TB, this will be the most common standard modification done to basses within a few years.

 

[Kenny Wiebusch]

Well seven years ago I started this thread. I did change the ground wire to a strap but left the headstock. I have decided to let it go to a real bass player. I am now building acoustic guitars and my shop could use the funds. It's on reverb. Fender Jazz Bass 1963 | Kenny's Gear Depot | Reverb