andytoad

That's a good idea actually!

It's pretty corroded underneath, but seems to be earthing OK. See how we go i guess.

Update: Soldered the electrics back together, going to plug it in and see what comes out once it's back together. Maybe nothing?! Kind of liking the bridge even though its like a rotting corpse. I do have another on the way..

I could have what's purported to be Kent's best sausage roll for £3.50. I'm going to stick with that I feel.

I think it could be quite fetching in black. Got a cheap one laying about... it would certainly solve the tort dilemma (or tortgate as I now call it), not into the idea spending hundreds on a spitfire one ATM... That said, the colour of the thumb rest suggests it may have been tort - similar to @wateroftyne colour.

A shocker then??

What about this? https://reverb.com/uk/item/84471655-pour-fender-precision-bass-precision-low-thumb-70s-brown-turtle

Cheers Rob, I will have a look into those!

Is there one you'd recommend or is it that in general repro's just don't stand up? If it's the latter I will probably stick with it, but if there's better out there...

Ok so purchased this off Charles guitars, what's the opinion? It's better than what was on there certainly, but can it be better? I really don't know about scratch plates, it's supposed to be aged, it has light relicing scratches and browning. That said, I thought it would be 'duller' ie not quite so shiny.

Hi, I bought hardwood plugs, so presume they would do. I have plenty of muck left over from the drilling so was going to use the dust to help blend? It's pretty light, but diddnt weigh it before taking it apart. I will let you know when it's back together. I had a '69 once that was light a a feather, almost diddnt seem real. This comes close. Loved it, see my searching for post..

In response to the above queries of the bridge, a mere fool could google bog bridges and I quote: 'A bog bridge is a bass part cadaver that has been naturally mummified in a peat bog. Such bridges, sometimes known as bog bridges, are both geographically and chronologically widespread, having been dated to between 8000 BC and the Second World War.[1] The unifying factor of the bog bridges is that they have been found in peat and are partially preserved; however, the actual levels of preservation vary widely from perfectly preserved to rust particles and dead skin.[2]'

Love the pic 😃

This is local to me, looks great, I'm not a jazzer tho! https://www.wealdofguitar.co.uk/product-page/fender-jazz-bass-with-rosewood-fretboard-1971-sunburst-used They also have this... https://www.wealdofguitar.co.uk/product-page/fender-precision-bass-with-rosewood-fretboard-1974-sunburst

Ah cool that's nice of you! I really appreciate the offer. 🙂

Yup, it's on my mind, initially for some oil on the rosewood, but will look at that too! 😁

I just assumed wood glue, but if you have experience of tight bond as good, I will look into it. Got to say, I'm liking doing this thread, listening to the opinions, ideas, experience, it's almost like a community rebuild!

I'm tempted to retain the bridge now its 'cleaned up' 😅 if I can get it to earth properly.

Cheers Rob @ossyrocks, I can imagine there are a few who will say holy sh*t what's he doing??! But, I think in general its a fair way to go about it and gives some information on what I found worked and what diddnt.

Attempt 3: So, I then considered building a wooden clamp to fix the body in position and slowly pillar drill the remains out, but decided to option for the method suggested by @bremen via the stumac product. It is in the U.S and subsequently found it not fully available, so sourced an alternative: sourcing map 5mm Diamond Drill Bits Hole Saws for Glass Tile Porcelain Marble Ceramic Bottles Pots Brick 5 Pcs https://amzn.eu/d/imAbBRB I purchased 5mm and 6mm, but found 5mm to work perfectly removing said offenders. Still waiting on the hardwood dowels to arrive, fit etc.. Will keep you posted.

Attempt 2... After further Internet research techniques and tools, I though stuff it, drill the heads, remove the bridge, using one of these: 6PCS Broken Head Screw Removal Tool, Alloy Steel Remove Stripped Damaged Screw Tap Extractor Tool M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12 https://amzn.eu/d/aSQRkUs to remove the screw bodies, afterall, no corrosion now, just buried in wood right? Nope. Stuck in there good and proper, the Tool just would not grip. On a positive, I did get the rotten bridge off, earth wire intact, but due to bridge corrosion, not doing its job. Images below are post cleaning of the bridge, it was in an appalling state, you might say it still is!