Rick's Fine '52

A bit more done. I finished the checking to the front and sides, and a bit of edge wear. Last job is to form some sympathetic wear to the rear buckle rash area, and some forearm rub to the top of the body, and finally some yellowing to the white, the white still looks too bright, this will help soften the appearance of the checking. Anyway, a few update pics; [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20161002_204124_zps63n7fl4y.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20161002_204150_zps5q7wqdwg.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20161002_204259_zpsptio37sk.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20161002_205956_zpsgqkt7uew.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20161002_210111_zps6nkjcy7g.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20161002_210140_zps3cuppl1n.jpg.html"][/url] Nearly done.

Thanks Andy. I don't do this for others as a general rule, just my own fun. I do sell them on after a point though. This method doesn't work on poly, but there are alternative ways. I've PM'd you. Rick

[quote name='6v6' timestamp='1475268113' post='3144679'] I'm out but good luck with the project. [/quote] Sorry you're annoyed with the fact that I care about other people being able to make a living. Oddest post I've seen on bc yet. Goodbye there.

Thanks for the comments folks, much appreciated. I'll be finishing the checking to the top and sides this weekend, and maybe the ageing if time allows, so more pics to follow soon. I'm sure you don't really expect me to give out the techniques? There are people out there who make a living out of making good looking relics by what I assume are similar methods, and I wouldn't wish to deprive them of an income. I just do it for my own enjoyment, but others don't. It certainly doesn't involve a heat gun, although I have seen some quite ridiculous relic attempts which I assume started out that way!! Hopefully you'll appreciate my stance.

For me, there is no specific string type that works best with a vintage P, or any bass. I personally don't like flats at all, I find they have a lack of precision (no pun intended), a lack of flexibility, I don't find they respond to my fingering at all (to be fair, this could be more about my ability than the string though!). I do have flats on my rarer basses, as it protects the original frets, and I don't play them for hours on end, certainly not long enough for them to annoy me. All my regular 'players' basses are strung with rounds, I prefer rotosound personally, and can't stand heavy guage ones. The flats I use are Labella 1954's, I find most flats just too tight though. I've heard many say that Thomastiks are a lot slacker though, and may suit me better, I just haven't got round to trying them yet. I'd recommend using what feels right to you, not pursue a particular string that you think would suit this type of bass. For info, my '58 has roto rounds, and my '55 has Labella '54 flats. Good luck trying stuff out though, it's all good fun!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1474665848' post='3139805'] Impressed with your work but not your choice of footwear for this type of job. [/quote] It was warm....what can I say!

So, its not finished yet, the whole process needs to take time, and has many different stages, the first being the harshest, so it all needs softening, but thought I'd share. Weather checking simulated, and a little bit of aged roughing up of the edges. So far, not to bad; [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160923_194546_zpsrohjkod4.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160923_200907_zpsy4dozvel.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160923_200929_zpswcmyx9ph.jpg.html"][/url]

OK, so started the relic process this evening, only done half of the rear side of the body, but its coming along. Still lots to do, its a bit harsh, but will soften once I've finished. Here's a couple of before pics, so you can see how it started (Brand new, shiny transluscent nitro white); [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160923_201018_zpsaf2nqi3e.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160923_201009_zpsco2vrinj.jpg.html"][/url] Relic pics in a bit......

Thanks Oliver, not sure what you mean by 'Hybrid', but have emailed you regarding the number. Rick

Decided, the body is going to get a light relic.

Thought some would appreciate this. The bass is rare enough, but that condition is stunning, what a fab bass, and the case lining equally as nice, would be like opening it from new again. (No affiliation btw) http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_fender-jazz-bass-1966-mint-and-all-original-no-reissue_id4721171.html

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1473926396' post='3134107'] I was born in '66 and have always fancied a YOB bass. [/quote] [URL=http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/neckafter7_zpsbb819b97.jpg.html][IMG]http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/rosesguitar_2007/Slab/neckafter7_zpsbb819b97.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Some may recall I built one of these a few years ago. Just after it was finished, I managed to buy an original, so lost a bit of interest in the project, someone offered me a trade against the body only, so it was parted up, and resigned to the back of the cupboard. I recently had the chance to get another slab body, so thought I'd get it back together. The body is 2-piece ash, correct tooling for '66 P, with rout hump etc. Its finished in translucent white blonde, with some lovely grain showing through. The neck, is my old one, which is a very scarce maple-cap neck. It has original '66 tuners and string tree, and period correct decal. its been aged sympathetically with some amber tint, and looks original. These slabs just don't look right without a correct maple-cap neck!! I decided against fitting all the original '66 electronics and pickups, and make it more affordable, should I decide to sell-on. Pickups are Seymour Duncan Steve Harris Signature, which have a good tonal range, and generous output, Black 3-ply pickguard, repro '66 neck plate, reissue threaded saddle bridge, and chrome covers complete the look. The body isn't relic'd.....yet. Its so nice, I've put off getting stuck in. Not sure whether to or not? I think I'm going to weather check the body, and depending how that looks, do some light wear, to match the neck. Anyway, a few pics; [/URL]" class="ipsImage" /> [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160913_210714_zpsgtegn5xj.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160913_210648_zps5mievx8m.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160913_210727_zpsrrzh2gmu.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160913_210741_zps3uwogogj.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160913_210758_zpsqzfwyfrh.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rosesguitar_2007/media/Slab/20160913_211249_zpsnjsme4xw.jpg.html"][/url]

My pleasure.

[quote name='senmen' timestamp='1473186152' post='3127840'] All I can say on extensive research for two upcoming Magazine articles, that many facts yet distributed about the Slabs, Need to be corrected!! [/quote] Agree with you there Oliver!

My near mint custom colour stack knob is probably my most expensive bass, the '66 Slab would be the hardest to replace though, and the blonde blackguard makes me smile the widest when I open the original gig bag. Love them all, as all my instruments, equally, for varying reasons. Don't ask me what I'd keep if I could only have one!

[quote name='steviebee74' timestamp='1472295251' post='3120114'] Ok so this time, I took a close up from the actual book rather than google. I'm still convinced it's a slab! [/quote] The neck isn't maple cap. Probably not even a Fender. If he's letting kids play it in school, it's probably a typical cheap school copy, hence the poor contours.

[quote name='steviebee74' timestamp='1472248696' post='3119881'] On page 82, there is an image of a blues player named Johnnie Billington. Taken in 2001, this image shows him with some of his students at his blues school. The young bass player is clearly playing a slab-bodied p bass with a gold anodised pickguard [/quote] Looks like a regular P to me, '57 reissue. The Slabs had maple cap necks, so no truss rod tiger stripe, hence no walnut cap on headstock, like this one has, also looks like rounded body edges when you zoom.

Headstock and tuners look like Jedson?

Get a Fullerton 1983 Jazz. YOB Great playing basses Right width neck Will only increase in value too