Worth fixing up this thrift store pile of...?

[BadSanta1281]

Davison is one of those $100 or less basses on eBay, if it were on eBay. It is one of the less frequently-seen badges of the tribe of Ammoon seen on Amazon -- probably is quite light. When I was getting my Chinese cheapies 22 months ago the ones with the hook headstock were Crescent and Irin, and they were the best of the lot.

And I wish the body were the color of the pickguard, in translucent sunburst.

That's where I've seen that headstock shape before. They still have the Crescents on Amazon for cheap.

 

[BobKos]

I have to say that they don't make basses like they used to and that's just fine with me! In years past entry level instruments were absolutely AWFUL. Now instruments such as the OPs are quite playable and a great platform to mod as desired. Truthfully I think the mods are more to satisfy the need to tinker than to actually improve the instrument. That comes from a tinkerer so no offense intended to those that do. My point is that the bass will probably be fine with a minimum of TLC and rehab work. ENJOY! And respray the pickguard matte silver.

 

[Pilgrim]

The OP has a fantastic starting point to learn on!!

I wanted to try my hand at refinishing, defretting and changing electronics, so for $60 I picked up a crappy-looking bass in a local hock shop. It was covered with black runny spray paint, and was missing one string. It looked pretty hard used.

Now it looks like this:

 

[BadSanta1281]

Wow Pilgrim that came out looking awesome!

 

[jamro217]

The OP has a fantastic starting point to learn on!!

I wanted to try my hand at refinishing, defretting and changing electronics, so for $60 I picked up a crappy-looking bass in a local hock shop. It was covered with black runny spray paint, and was missing one string. It looked pretty hard used.

Now it looks like this:

View attachment 3352355 View attachment 3352356 View attachment 3352357 View attachment 3352358

Great job! You should be proud.

 

[jamro217]

^ See what can be done to rescue a seemingly moribund specimen?

 

[BadSanta1281]

^ See what can be done to rescue a seemingly moribund specimen?

I thought my linguistic skills were up to par but I just had to look up "moribund".

Well played.

 

[jamro217]

I thought my linguistic skills were up to par but I just had to look up "moribund".

Well played.

Thank you, Santa. One of the most rewarding hobbies IMHO is finding a neglected orphan instrument in a Goodwill or Salvation Army, paying to rescue it (thereby supporting the charitable work of the vendor), practicing your skills to resuscitate it, then passing it on to someone who will use that instrument to create beautiful music. By doing this you've enhanced society at every step, plus you've had the fun time working on an instrument (and in the process creating something unique you never would have attempted on a '63 Jazz Bass).

 

[BadSanta1281]

Thank you, Santa. One of the most rewarding hobbies IMHO is finding a neglected orphan instrument in a Goodwill or Salvation Army, paying to rescue it (thereby supporting the charitable work of the vendor), practicing your skills to resuscitate it, then passing it on to someone who will use that instrument to create beautiful music. By doing this you've enhanced society at every step, plus you've had the fun time working on an instrument (and in the process creating something unique you never would have attempted on a '63 Jazz Bass).

I'm getting into music very late in life but finding it to be a very rewarding hobby in so many aspects. Plus it keeps me out of the bars and casinos, unless I'm going there to listen to a band.

 

[unbrokenchain]

I'd go for a thin little strip of wood under the nut, pull the jack out and bend the little piece so that the connection doesn't pull out, throw some strings on that thing and then play the out of it!

 

[GretschWretch]

I'm getting into music very late in life but finding it to be a very rewarding hobby in so many aspects. Plus it keeps me out of the bars and casinos, unless I'm going there to listen to a band.

Or to play in the band.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

The problem with the loose jack output might be fixed by unscrewing the output jack, bending the tip connector inward, and screwing it back.

 

[wintremute]

Have fun!

 

[Ostie]

A slice o' tortloaf would be nice, but any of those that look good (not photo-tort) those might cost more than the bass.

True story. I checked on a tort for my Talman and it's $72.00.

 

[Scottgun]

How's the upper register intonation? I bought a cheap bass and even when the 12th fret was set in tune it got progressively flatter with each note above it, meaning they didn't set the frets correctly.

 

[Flamingo21]

True story. I checked on a tort for my Talman and it's $72.00.

Luckily, many Talman owners replace it with something different (custom made), so a used Talman tort should be somewhere near you for cheap.

 

[BadSanta1281]

How's the upper register intonation? I bought a cheap bass and even when the 12th fret was set in tune it got progressively flatter with each note above it, meaning they didn't set the frets correctly.

Do you mean the height or the distance between?
I haven't checked it yet. Ordering some strings today and then we'll get to work checking it out.

 

[Scottgun]

Do you mean the height or the distance between?
I haven't checked it yet. Ordering some strings today and then we'll get to work checking it out.

I mean the notes above the 12th fret are out of tune getting worse with each higher note.

 

[BadSanta1281]

I mean the notes above the 12th fret are out of tune getting worse with each higher note.

That part I understood. When you say they didn't set the frets correctly is what I didn't understand.

 

[Scottgun]

That part I understood. When you say they didn't set the frets correctly is what I didn't understand.

I'm guessing at the factory when they cut the slots on the fingerboard where the frets go, their measurement was slightly off. That's the only explanation I can think of.