franzbassist

Dirty Porn thread created [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/159894-1970-fender-precision-fretless/"]here[/url]

So, after Clarky spotted this bass on eBay I spoke with the shop selling the bass and bought it direct, as the opportunity to get a first production year fretless P was just too good to pass up. I received the bass yesterday, and I spent last night dismantling it, giving it a good clean, fitting an East P-Retro circuit, some aged Fender pickup screws (the orginal pots and screws were long gone, so I had no qualms doing this) and a set of medium D'Addario Chromes to replace the black nylons that had been on there since 1985! A quick set up later and we were in business. The bass was dirty, and I mean [i]very[/i] dirty, with lots of grime and oxidisation. A naphtha bath for almost all the metalwork cleaned things up no end, and although I got patches of the body to clean and gloss back up, a lot of it has resisted and stayed quite grimy. It's almost as if the muck has penetrated the finish and, in a couple of places, there are even fingerprints visible! I'll keep going at it to see if I can improve it, but at least most of this is confined to the back. There's quite a lot of checking in the finish too. The bass has a December 1970 neck with a lovely rosewood fingerboard. The neck is in great shape. The oval tuners and threaded saddles look original to the bass, even though they had been officially phased out by 1970 - perhaps it was an older body from around 1968 but finished with a new neck? The bass balances very well and weighs a shade under 9lbs. It plays beautifully and I have a nice low action with minimal curve to the neck. The sound? Deliciously woody and smoky in passive mode, which is I am sure how I will use it most of the time, but the P Retro in active mode may well come in useful for subtle changes of eq when I need to cut through. Overall though, a lovely bass. Some pictures for your pleasure.... 9/2012 Update: I removed the new pots and jack and replaced them with a genuine harness from 1968. Also now sports La Bella medium flats.

Just arrived. Needs a clean but first impressions are very good.

Anyone care to share how LaBellas compare to D'Addario Chromes?

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1319829369' post='1419178']Are they not ported? I'd assumed they were - probably incorrectly. Any comparison would be mightily interesting[/quote] Yes, there's a long port all the way down the right hand side as you look at the cab from front on.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1319732103' post='1417927'] I see a few places still have them in stock. I bet one of these would work well with my 100 watt Carlsbro valve head, especially as I'm not a fan of tweeters. I've been looking for something lighter than my old peavey 1x15 (about 27kg), as I live up stairs. I wonder if that 14kg weight is correct? [/quote] The webistes may say they have them in stock, but I doubt very much that they actually do! 14kg is around 30lb yes? If so, that feels about right for what my cab weighs.

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1319716654' post='1417607'] can any owners confirm that the LB212 does actually weigh only 14kg? [/quote] I have one and that sounds about right. I'm not sure the VS212, which replaced the LB212, has the same neo drivers in it though (plus it's 8 ohms), so if you can find an LB212 get one!

[quote name='moonbass' timestamp='1319357041' post='1412906'] Just wondered if anyone else has and what they did about it? I really love this head (STM900) and as its only an issue when changing the volume it doesn't seem that important, but if anyone's found a quick fix or that it gets worse with time it would be useful to know. Andy. [/quote] I just popped the lid and squirted contact cleaner into the offending pots. Sorted.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1319363387' post='1412987'] As you had discussions with them re authenticity, what's with the lollypop tuners out of interest? [/quote] Well, it's hard to know for sure, but it seems the bass is a bit of a transition model, as the neck stamp is the old style one that was being phased out at the time. A lot of stuff on the 'net suggests Fender were using up old stock at this time (not unusal to see 66 pots in 70-71 basses for example), so perhaps the same applies to the tuners.

This bass is now on its way to me The guys took it apart for me and photographed every single part of it they could use to reassure me of its authenticity (neck stamp, neck pocket, pickups, pots etc.). As already noted, the pickup adjustment screws are not original, and I assume the pots were replaced at some point many years ago with some square jobs made by Bourn, so I will be looking to correct that over time, but I figured a first production year fretless was too good to turn down... Oh, and the neck stamp is December 1970.

I regret starting this thread now

Haha, Vive la difference! I should add that I'd never buy it though, as the Streamliner (both of us have one) is a far more versatile amp if valve-pre/digital power amps are what someone is after.

Looks nice, albeit expensive at £719! The [b]Ashdown Little Bastard LB-550 Bass Amp Head[/b] is a Limited Edition Bass Amplifier Head, only 50 handmade heads built in Ashdown's UK Custom Shop will be available. The LB-550 features a new version of the much loved LB 30 pre-amp with added Gain control coupled with the 550 watt digital power section from the MiBass; resulting in stunning valve bass tone in a loud lightweight compact head. The Little Bastard LB-550 preamp stage employs ECC83 and ECC82 tubes and features High and Low gain inputs, front panel-mounted Effects Send and Return, rotary gain, Bass, Middle and Treble controls with Mid Shift, Bass Shift and Bright switching, Mute switch, rotary Volume control, balanced DI output and of cource, Ashdown's much loved VU meter. The Little Bastard 550 head partners perfectly with a range of Ashdown US Series cabinets. Each Little Bastard LB550 head will be numbered 1-50 and come with a Limited Editon certificate signed by designer Dave Green and Ashdown MD Mark Gooday.