Rick's Fine '52

[quote name='Seb_C' timestamp='1356000655' post='1905436'] Is the headstock thinner as a result of this, or is there more meat on the back of the headstock to compensate? How thick it the neck at 1st and 12th frets? [/quote] No, not at all, it's just the internal radius routing on the top side, is smaller, the headtsock thickness will be, and is, the same. The reissues, and even the original Telecaster basses have a much slower radius, which shows the walnut cap as much more elongated. Hope this makes sense, it just drops away from just past the nut, much sharper, less smooth than the newer ones. This profile was used, i believe, until the rosewood came in, in '59. The neck is approx 22mm at the 1st, and 12th frets (Tape measure used, as i don't have a micrometer, which would be more precisie obviously). nOt sure how that compares with my original, I must check, but i would bet it's very similar, it certainly feels the same. It's certainly not a V-neck like my '56, or super slim like my '58. Not a baseball bat either, like many say about the early P's. In my experience, thats a bit of a myth anyway, I've played clumpier necked Telecasters than the early P's I've played..

[quote name='tredders' timestamp='1356015000' post='1905738'] Well, if I change my mind about the Telecaster and don't plan on bringing anything back with me, I'll let you know [/quote] Cool. Which Tele do you have your eye on, or aren't you saying??

[quote name='Seb_C' timestamp='1355996720' post='1905364'] Very nice. How's the sustain with the phenolic saddles? I have read that they don't sustain as well as steel - but then with the foam mute that's not an issue! [/quote] No problem with sustain on these at all. I think the mass of the slab body, and through body stringing through the large ferrules helps. Obviously the foam muted bridge cover needs to come off, but it rings like a bell. Sounds like James Jamerson with the mute on actually.

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1355997300' post='1905374'] Is your Museum open on Bank Holidays? I promised the family we'd do something over the Christmas Period... [/quote] No, not bank holidays I'm afraid, but we're open again on the 27th!

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1355991237' post='1905289'] Great bass Rick, where did you source that one from? [/quote] Private ad, thought I'd strike while the iron was hot, he gave telephone number, inviting questions, so I called, had a chat, made an offer, accepted, collected same day. Done. Early Christmas present to myself.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1355957918' post='1905130'] Cool! Nice to see they stuck to original spec. [/quote] It is, I've had a few CS basses, and have always been dissapointed at their tardiness. They've really gone to town on this though, to even include the hump on the body routing shows the level of care they've gone to on this. It's actually very similar in every way, to my real one. Well chuffed to have stumbled across it!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1355964545' post='1905214'] Where do you live, Rick? Are you going on holiday soon? [/quote] You're more than welcome to come visit Mark, anytime, preferably when I'm there though!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1355962943' post='1905200'] that wall looks great! the 4005 look amazing. Needs a picture above the fireplace though! [/quote] Yeah, I have a few options for that, I also have a Fender Sales tweed clock, it basically looks like a tweed bassman, but has the hands of the clock on the grill cloth, nice Fullerton item, but yes, needs something there. I was quite eager to start hanging basses after the paint had dried!!

[quote name='mckendrick' timestamp='1355962306' post='1905193'] That's three fag burns, one of which is knocked askew and burns the varnish over the logo. The logos on these are laser printed - it isn't a decal. [/quote] Not sure about these later ones, but both my JV's are definitely decals, just like the originals. FWIW, the logo looks scratched to me, the way it follows the 'S', looks intentional. Great bass though, I bet it plays lovely.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1355956807' post='1905115'] Wow. Im must say I never really like the look of most the 50's P bass reissues I've seen - but this does look really nice! Good find, you've finished decorating the space for it to go aye? [/quote] Yep, the room is all finished now Luke (Apart from some new wall lights), and I've already started to hang my babies (Don't worry, no need to phone Social Services!!). Here's one wall, the pair of JV's on the right, and the pair of 4005's on the left, and some 50's tweed loveliness on the floor; oh and the Takamine; Here's the opposite wall, yeah I know, nothing there , the plan is to have a bit of a Precision history on the wall. Above the cases I'll be hanging the P's, from left to right: '52; '56; '58; '60; '66 (Slab build), something to represent each change I think. I'm hoping there'll be room for the Mando next to the '58 (It's tiny, so think it will fit just fine). The rest will go in the tweed rack on the floor. Finished work today, so have 2 weeks to finish off. the only problem is finding the String Swings to hang them from, I'm still 4 short, and postage won't happen in time now methinks, so hoping some local stores will have some??

[quote name='tredders' timestamp='1355864402' post='1903889'] I'm off to Dallas at the start of Jan with work, so just happened to be browsing the GuitarCenter website (as you do). Generally find time to pop in there and have a look around when I'm traveling over there, so thought I'd see if there were any offers on. Seems like there are some cracking deals right now. For example: - AV-62 Jazz for $1200 (£735) AV-62 Precision for $1160 (£715) Roadworn Jazz or Precision for $999 (£615) Add on 8% sales tax, and they're still great deals for brand new basses. Repeat after me "I don't need any more basses. I don't need any more basses" [/quote] They ahve some nice old basses there if you wanna bring me one back?? Obviously I'll pay for it!!

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1355954690' post='1905067'] As a young whippersnapper, I can't really see the appeal in vintage instruments . So see this post as simply a congratulations! [/quote] You have much to learn oh youngling!

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1355954042' post='1905052'] What are the saddles made out of Rick ? [/quote] They are described as phenolic, which is basically a resin compound. The originals were phenolic too, although the word used to describe them in those days was bakelite, which is a phenolic resin material of course. Its basically the same material used for the blackguards. The original '51-'53 saddles appeared in differing shades of colour, as the resin was hand mixed, and poured into the shaped moulds to form the saddles. I currently have two original '52 bridge units, and have owned 2 others, and they have varied from a true black, to a very light woody shade. Detlef Schmidt's (He actually owns the only other example of these reissues I've seen) book shows a good variety of the colour of these saddles. They did have a tendency to crack though, which makes them impossible to adjust the height, and therefore use, hence why they quite quickly changed to steel saddles. My original '52 is in such good condition, I've been tempted to remove the bakelite saddles, and leave them in the case, to stop them cracking, and replace them with some more useable ones, but never had the heart to take them off. One day maybe, hopefully before it's too late!!

[size=5][color=#000000][font=Calibri]Latest addition, a bit of an impulse buy yesterday, but it’s just stunning, so thought I’d share, can't put it down.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Fender Custom Shop 1951 Precision, 1 of 15 made. Closet Classic/mild relic.[/font][/color] [font=Calibri][color=#000000]This is the most period correct Bass I’ve [i]ever[/i] seen come out of the Custom Shop, and I couldn’t refuse![/color][/font] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]The Fender CS are not exactly known for their attention to detail, but this time they’ve spent the time and effort, getting it right, maybe because they only made 15, they could afford the extra detail.[/font][/color] [u][b][color=#000000][font=Calibri]Specs/detail;[/font][/color][/b][/u] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]One piece Ash body, Nocaster® transulescent Blonde, Nitrocellulose, cracked and weather checked, some chips and faded finish.[/font][/color][/size] [size=5][color=#000000][font=Calibri]Body even has the body anomoly hump, as appears on the earliest P's,where they didnt yet have the correct machinery to produce the tight radius rout to the lower horn/heel. Love that attention to detail![/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Quartersawn maple neck, Fingerboard Radius 7.25" , wear and lacquer missing from rear.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Warped Bakelite pickguard, this is just stunning, looks original 50’s.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Vintage deep radius headstock scoop, so small walnut cap evident, not seen on any previous reissues.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Reverse Klusons, smaller threads, slot head holding screws, and mounting screws.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Single screw maple lacquered thumbrest.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Chrome covers, with foam mute pad under bridge cover.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]PAT.PEND. Bridge with stamped, Serial Number, and phenolic, shaped saddles.[/font][/color] [font=Calibri][color=#000000]Slot head screws in all the right places, with 2/3[sup]rd[/sup]’s shaft threaded, vintage correct.[/color][/font] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Flat pole single coil pickup, vintage aged cloth, and earth wire stem, brilliant touch![/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Weighs 8lbs with the covers etc.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]CS certificate, signed by Mike Eldred, cloth, tags, and Fender embossed CS Black flightcase.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]It’s strung with flats, and looks and sounds the business.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]Here’s the pics;[/font][/color][/size] [size=3][color=#000000][font=Calibri][/font][/color][/size] [size=3][color=#000000][font=Calibri]Vintage loveliness. [/font][/color][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000] [/color][/size][/font]

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words, looking forward to soldering, and firing her up!!

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1355768074' post='1902516'] Ah, just realised its actually at the base of the neck, what I was looking at was the random brown blob where it would be on the headstock which now makes me wonder why the blob is there? [/quote] 'Blob'? Love it, made me smile, from now on, the walnut cap, will be called 'The Blob'.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1355745312' post='1902006'] I just want to dust off the little bits of sawdust on the front of the body where he's undone the screws. Grrr, that's really got my OCD going. [/quote] Jeeez, how do you get through the day, must be very stressful??? I jest of course, I think we all have varying degree's of OCD, and my Wife and Son would happily share the list of all mine!!

How much?,these normally fetch £4-500? Its not limited, and it's not a '54. A sunburst slab precision is just wrong, and isnt a reissue of anything Fender ever made? This still has almost 2 days to go, and its £820? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251196240138?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251196240138?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2649[/url] Even the blonde '54 Jap reissues (Which are very rare BTW, don't fetch anywhere near this one)

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1355532040' post='1899791'] there's a saying about showing off when you're under endowed.... (PS rick this isn't a PM ) [/quote] I must be more careful in future!!

Does this count? Always wanted one to match my '58 P, love it, they're actually much smaller than I thought, cute little tweed case too;

[quote name='MrFingers' timestamp='1342734357' post='1740337'] (routed all the way through, every hole was filled with a resin-like substance, logo scratched of the headstock with a chisel, no tuners,... Was it worth it to restore it? probably not, as this thing isn't really worth much, but the satisfaction of saving this thing that was destined to end in the dustbin: priceless! [/quote] Routed all the way through??? Brilliant, who, or why, do people do such things? Congrats on saving a perfectly decent bass, great job....as always!