The Bass Doc

Assuming the neckplate and pots have followed the body, it may be a case of the neck being earlier i.e. 63-v-65. I've known of a few cases where owners have swapped necks and bodies within the pre-CBS period and it doesn't seem to affect the value [i]too[/i] much. Certainly as a player (as opposed to a collector's piece) it should be up there with other re-fins carrying [i]some[/i] non-original parts which I happen to think is a fair percentage of old Fenders which appear on the market.

For a late '64/early'65 I would have expected the neck to have pearl dots. And maybe the 'tighter' headstock logo. Any neckplate/number?

Met up with Tony to complete a neat little deal on a neat little Squier Bronco. Splendid chap.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1311530' date='Jul 21 2011, 01:54 PM']right tit [/quote] So we're back to discussing Jeff Berlin?

Good point. Last time I used a similar product it did need a few applications to 'take'.

Rustins do an ebony wood stain - should be able to find a DIY store that stocks it.

He's actually a nice man - he was my Rotosound rep when I had a retail outlet in the 90s. He would call in for a friendly chat even when he knew I wasn't going to order anything. Never pushy like some other reps. Mind you, I used to call time pretty soon after he picked up a bass to exhibit his undoubted skills. Best idea was to hand him a bass with 'Jamerson' flats.

Is this what the OP had in mind? (Apologies for the colour scheme). [attachment=82461:p_ray_001.JPG]

But I [i]am[/i] an over-rated leg-end and I still own it.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1254423' date='Jun 2 2011, 07:01 PM']Nice one! Did you fill the jack socket hole and refin the black around the outside?[/quote] (*in the style of the Churchill dog*) Ohhhh......yes - bit off a broom handle, small amount of filler and painted (deliberately not shiney). It'll be very hard to spot although I'm expecting some slight settlement and will offer a further re-fin if and when required.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1254338' date='Jun 2 2011, 05:48 PM']I had a bid on that bass! In fact I won it by a second chance offer the first time it was listed but I declined it. I was outbid on it's second time listed I couldn't chance anymore cash without seeing what the neck and frets were like so my 76' and 77' rootbeer hunt continues. Any pictures of it would be great in fact I started a pre EB porn thread a while ago for such beasties [/quote] I'll see if I can borrow it back for a photo session.

[quote name='Count Bassy' post='1254322' date='Jun 2 2011, 05:38 PM']We should remember that at the time of the upgrade the bass in question was something between 4 and 14 years old, and possibly didn't have the qudos currently attached to that model. So the 'Twit' in quesstion may simply have been making a logical upgrade at the time. After all there are whole threads on this site about how people have bought a bass, swapped this, fitted that, etc, and now it's a 'real beauty'. 'Upgrades' that might seem silly 30 years in the future when that bass has become something of a classic.[/quote] I agree, I knew of two people in the late sixties who dug out the clay dots on their pre-CBS stratocasters and replaced them with pearl so as to look more 'up-to-date'. Around 1970 I actually carved a hole out of a 1962 Jazz bass to add a Gibson EBO pickup in the neck position - stereo wired. It's only now that I give myself the 'Twit' label.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1253807' date='Jun 2 2011, 12:31 PM']£3.5K[/quote] If this turns out to be right, the buyer is a twit (unless of course it turns out to be a fellow Basschatter, in which case "Congatulations on your excellent purchase - you're a splendid chap and I hope you enjoy this recent aquisition and have many happy years playing it".............Twit).

[quote name='lowdown' post='1254110' date='Jun 2 2011, 03:09 PM']Thanks for heads up Bass Doc. Who is Higgie? and how can i contact him? Garry[/quote] He's a member of this forum! H.

I recently received a commission to restore a 1976 Musicman Stingray that some twit had converted to a 3-band circuit in the 80's. I contacted Higgie after seeing him mention that he could supply a circuit which should be the equivalent of the original 2-band jobbie and, VOILA! (as the Italians would say, Rodney), it gets big thumbs up from myself and, more signicantly, the end user who just happens to have a 1978 model to compare it with. (As an added bonus to the restoration the owner was able to have 3 'radio' knobs provided for the project from a secret supplier!). So if anyone has a project requiring pre-EB circuit capabilities, Higgie is your man.

I'll say £2.5K (maybe plus a gnat's bollock).

Splendid chap to deal with. He's not at all awkward. Bought some 6-string bass hardware form me recently. Paid promptly and then had the patience to wait quite a few days while I tried to recover a missing part that had managed to drop behind a workbench resulting in me having to dismantle said obstacle.

It's got to be real - you don't want to go forge something that never took off first time around. Collectors will like it, bit as a player's place? Nah - sorry Leo, it was one of the rare failures (imo) in an otherwise excellent range of innovations.

Them "Can you play anything out of the charts?" Us "Yes, this next one's been out of the charts for about 40 years".