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ACG Retro B ACG J Type fretless Anaconda Crusher (cruurent up for sale)

Kitchen foil works well enough. It's aluminium so very conductive. Maybe scrape a bit of the colour off the bottom of the bridge. Whatever the plating is to give the gold finish it will probably have a varnish coating over it.

Interesting. I do agree that the chrome one look a bit 'sudden' on the '77LE and thinking about replacing the ones on my bass with black items. Gold look great though... ...but I'd need a set for my 79LE too so looking more expensive by the minute

I actually have a spare ACG PB pickup (made by Armstrong). Dimensions are 100 x 50 mm so maybe you need to source one of the 40mm housing sizes. None of the ACG pickup range are in what might be termed std sizes so may not be the optimal solution.

I got a reply back in 2 hours, super helpful.

Here are a couple more with a reasonable degree of certainty: 29350 - Ordered late summer 2016; delivered May 2017 25665 - Acquired new from C&C in March 2016 - 2015 build xxxxx - Ordered July 2020; delivery anticipated very early 2021....

Just heard back from Sandberg ref my Electra VS4. s/n 22365 born on 31 May 2014. I probably have another point of reference or two, will check back later.

I don't believe that I've seen such a table but would interested to see it.

You may be able to centralise the p/ups with this option depending upon how offset the are.

Have you considered possible getting a luthier to extend the routing to a common size to give you a lot of choice e.g. EMG 40 size (102.1 x 38.4mm)?

Or maybe try one of the custom pickup shops? I had one of the Tanglewater variants but stayed with the std p/ups. Are the dimensions one of the common sizes? If so probably multiple options. Maybe measure up and check something like Bass Direct for some ideas?

Whilst being mindful the city is in lock-down now

Just in case the plan doesn't come together I'll be driving from Preston down to Wells, but not until 25th August.

I had one of the previous model Cali I VS4 passive basses. I though it was a cracker and easily the measure of any P bass. Eventaully sold it to buy a TT4 (passive). Still miss it tbh and keep looking out for it. Good to see Sandberg are offering the Cali II VS4 in passive now.

Very good isn't it, just purchased RR. Will investigate TTTT&TRE subsquently...

Thanks for the heads up. Not on my radar but I'll check them out.

Spector Euro 4LE '77 - OK, I know it's not passive but could easily be made so.

Special order I believe.

My new TT4 passive will have the Black Label p/ups and a Vol/Vol/Tone circuit. Best combo for what I play in the bands I'm in.

That sounds about right. I think there were a few 'transition' necks knocking about with combinations of dots and binding before the blocks and binding spec was settled in.

Never had the opportunity to play a J of this vintage. Interesting that '66 is seen by the collectors/purists as the start of the decline into CBS cost-cutting and yet there seem to be happy bunnies on here. Clearly a massively small sample size of course. George and Leo still involved of course but an interesting period for Fender instruments.

I did some basic recording of the '66 vs a newish Highway One (with Greasebucket circuit) and sound-wise there wasn't a great deal of difference even with slightly different strings on. All nickel rounds for the '66 compared to nickel-wound rounds for the HW One. Not done the full P bass on flats thing yet. In terms of general feel the vintage bass is lighter, has a nicer finish to the neck that tbf is probably due to it having been played over the years and so has worn down to a lovely silky finish. The profile is also slightly fatter and this suits me a bit more. When I bought it I went looking for a well used item on the basis that the fact it had been pre-loved and played as it was a good one. I think this is the case for the bass. I do gig it around the place, as much as when I had a more modern US Precision. The modern bass has long gone so I guess that re-enforces the above. I have a couple of old violins too and they also compare very favourable to the more modern instrument I have. It's entirely possible that there is a element of rose-tinted specs about the whole debate and the fact that these basses are costly may subconsciously mean some kind of justification filter is kicking in; who knows. I love mine and love playing it. Desperately coveting @Burns-bass 's '66J . That would be a lovely soul mate for my P bass.

Here's my '66P. I have dozens of pics of the various bits that would probably bore folks on here to tears but happy to share with the OP if of interest.