Rick's Fine '52

Had a day off today, so decided to take some pics of some of my basses that i havent previously had time to take apart and photograph, can think of nothing better to do, its a rare treat to have time to tinker with my toys! My '56 (It's actually a 1/57 bass, neck and body both dated 1/57, but i call it a '56 when talking about it, so people know its the single coil version, anyway, here's a couple of pics, body is crazed to hell!!! Very cool, fell in love with it all over again today!! [attachment=91996:A'56 bass in case.JPG] [attachment=91997:body in case.JPG] [attachment=91998:body date.JPG]

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1319548693' post='1415561'] Yep, you got it wrong. But apology accepted. [/quote] OK my bad, time of the month!! I'll reiterate my apology. Soon be Christmas.....

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1319543335' post='1415411'] what sarcy comment? A post suggested trawling the music shops, so if we know the location a nearby basschatter could be up for joining in. Entirely relevant to the thread. Not sure why you think I haven't experienced friendly basschatters? [/quote] I think your reply was taking the piss, if not I've got it wrong. My bad. I've read it again, and it sounds like you are sarcastically implying that no-one would be interested in trawling local music shops for someone else. If you were being serious, then i apologise, doesnt read that way though, to me anyway.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1319534877' post='1415195'] this, because there's probably a friendly neighbourhood basschatter near you who wouldn't object to trawling the music shops with you. [/quote] errr, No, because i know someone who has a Squire Jazz bass, 5 years old, never played, with a Trace Elliott green carpet Boxer 65 combo, again untouched, and wants pennies for the set, so if this guy was local, it might work. Trying to help someone out, but as usual, not able to do that on BC without some sarcy comment from someone with no relevance to the thread. In future i will stick to responding to specific threads i'm interested in, and not waste time actually bothering to try and help people.who are new on here, and could maybe do with some advice, or a bargain pointing in their direction. Location is quite important when buying/selling gear, especially cheap gear, as the cost of shipping can often be more than the price of the gear. And yes, there are some friendly basschatters on here, although you probably havent experienced that, i wonder why?

[quote name='toaophil' timestamp='1319456779' post='1414229'] Yeah i'd be happy with a four. Cheers all. I'm an Ibanez fan so might search for some 2nd hand's [/quote] This is a cool looking bass for the price, and Ibanez too... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-White-Jet-King-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Good-Condition-/190592139058?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c602d3f32"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-White-Jet-King-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Good-Condition-/190592139058?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c602d3f32[/url]

Whereabouts are you based??

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1319185282' post='1410844'] Don't expect that to go out the house let alone offered for sale [/quote] Unlikely, and i hope i never need to sell it. I spent many years buying/selling/trading and upgrading to be in a position to get an original '52 in this condition, I certainly won't let it go without a fight!

Unsurprisingly, my '52. [attachment=91581:IMG_7821.jpg]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1318700156' post='1405422'] I think calling it a '70 is on the optimistic side. My '71's serial number is a couple of thousand lower. Very nice if it is what it is, though - the rosewood they were using around that time is beautiful. [/quote] SN looks correct to me for a '70. It could even be a late '69 with those tuners, be interesting to see what the neck date is. The only thing i can see as an obvious change is the pickup height adjustment screws. Its one of those basses that just looks like it's gonna sound the dog's bollox, fretless aint my thing, otherwise it would be tempting. Nice buy for someone though at that price.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1318407415' post='1401600'] [/quote] Maple neck and black blocks is just wrong, probably the worst combo Leo ever came up with. All a metter of personal taste of course!

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' timestamp='1318366971' post='1401324'] i have around 40 Bass Player (US) mags, 40 Bass guitar mags (UK) and 4 old Bassist mags (from 1999) Question is, are they worth anything? [/quote] To be honest, not really, purely because the postage costs are so high for sending them. This would probably cost £30 to send, and they are probably worth £15 as a job lot. I'd be interested, but not for £35. You often see sellers on eBay selling job lots of mags, but P+P costs put buyers off, hope this helps, although probably not.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1318344711' post='1400887'] Normally I try to refrain from controversial posts, but I finally get the chance to show my hatred for these truly AWFUL instruments! [/quote] +1 I made the mistake of having a go at Rickenbackers a while back. Tschhh, some people!

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1318325446' post='1400457'] Erm, no actually, because here is the ugliest bass in the world! [/quote] Thiis is a Fender Custom Shop Relic '57 P-Bass, made for Modern Music, based on an original one they had, and sold a few years back. A beauty.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1318325204' post='1400450'] Definitely in the eye of the beholder. I haven't seen a single bass in this thread that I like the look of. [/quote] Nor me. Awful creations. It would be dull if we all liked/played the same basses though eh!

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1318289958' post='1400244'] I'm sure it's a fine example of the luthier's craft but what has it got to do with music? It's a bit like people who'll pay £80,000 for a hand-made shotgun. Absolute stunning examples of workmanship, in both wood and metal, but they don't shoot any better than a plainer example costing just £1,000. Such items are really works of art rather than working tools, and not usually any better suited for the job either. [/quote] Surely you don't think people spend £80K on a shotgun because it shoots better, although i bet it shoots pretty damn good!

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1318283402' post='1400170'] Nice but not exactly original... unless you've never seen a Jazz bass dipped in toffee before. [/quote] Not for me at all I'm afraid, wouldnt give it a second glance in a bass shop, or first glance for that matter, anything remotely woody looking just doesnt do it for me, they always look home made, like someones dad has been busy in the garage with his new router, and destroyed your aunt mabels favourite dining room chair. One mans meat etc.....

[quote] Which takes us back to what I was saying before, the way to correct this is to either fit a different bridge with better lateral adjustment or you reposition the current bridge correctly ie. plugging the holes and re-drilling - which would be my personal preference. [/quote] Just like i said then, if packing doesnt work, re-locate the bridge.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1318196041' post='1399177'] Well, on a 57 RI I don't recall but the gold guards on the old American Deluxes are not drilled. I realise that's a different guard/different shape. [/quote] Completely different guitar, I'm talking about a '57 reissue guard.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1318194530' post='1399156'] Ok, but this one has the pickguard holes for tugbar and pickup cover but the body is not drilled beneath the pickguard. What do you make of that? [/quote] Normal. The scratchplates are made pre-drilled, I've never seen a gold anodized guard appear un-drilled. All the replacement ones you see advertised all come pre-drilled, maybe becuase they are metal, dunno, never really thought about it. I've never seen an un-drilled gold guard though. Have you?

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1318193237' post='1399131'] Hi Rick. I'd be very interested in hearing you're technique regarding fixing this with a screwdriver in 15 minutes. [/quote] [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1318193237' post='1399131'] Hi Rick. I'd be very interested in hearing you're technique regarding fixing this with a screwdriver in 15 minutes. [/quote] I think you know anyway, as you mentioned it in earlier post, just re-align the bridge. Before re-drilling though, i'd put two matchsticks in each of the existing screw holes, located on the side of the hole you want to move the bridge over, this will give you a 2mm gain, then , when stringing, put them as far over on the threaded saddles as you can, they won't slip once under tension, and see how that works. If it still needs more, then it will mean re-drilling additional bridge fixing holes, not the end of the world though, and not visible once the bridge is back on. I've only done this once before (Not on a Fender), and it didnt take long, and worked perfectly. The holes may be in the black section of the burst, so easily filled, painted, fine spray of nitro aerosol on the top, nice buff, and should be masked quite well. One thing i will say, is if you're paying top dollar for a bass, then you wouldnt expect this problem, and i wouldnt advise buying one at full price that needed this doing (re-drilling etc), but if you are potentially getting it at a very good price, then it would be well worth this small mod.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1318177471' post='1398879'] It's not drilled for the tugbar and for the pickup and bridge ashtrays. Should it be? [/quote] Domestic JV's, certainly after May '82 didnt have thumbrests or chrome covers fitted. Export JV's had these features until May '82, when Fender USA put a stop to it, and switched the large fender/small squire decals round, at the same time.

This is a very rare, 1st year, JV Precision, it's a domestic version i know, but even so, very sought after, especially in this condition. 15 minutes with a screwdriver, and a little care will have this problem sorted, and for the current price of £500, is still a great buy for someone. Well spotted though, i looked at this when it was first listed (I hoped it was going to be an export model with small Squire decal), and totally missed that!!