Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

'66 Slab Precision...Anyone seen one/got one?


Rick's Fine '52
 Share

Recommended Posts

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1332245886' post='1585399']
Is this yours, or just a pic of one??
[/quote]

I refer you to Johnny 's post...


[quote name='Johnnysonic' timestamp='1332281389' post='1586195']
I've owned two - one in original finish and one refinished. I am quoted in the Barry Matthews book (sorry Howard!) and I also wrote an article about them for Bassist Magazine in the late 90's. The pictures posted here are of my original finish one, which was used in the article.

Cool basses. Not sure they sounded any differenet but they looked great (though a bit cumbersome).

Cheers

Johnny
[/quote]

I posted them for the benefit of people who haven't heard of them.

Edited by dlloyd
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1332282868' post='1586226']
Oops, and in colour this time:-

[attachment=103078:IMG_0002.jpg]
[/quote]

Xlnt pic. Bonus that the bass on the pic is a r e a l Fender and not one of the preseries P/J/T..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1332282868' post='1586226']
Oops, and in colour this time:-

[attachment=103078:IMG_0002.jpg]
[/quote]

Cool picture but there seems to be a bit of 'Pauline's Pens' going on. ;)

Edited by Prosebass
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1332273315' post='1585983']
Cheers Rick, I'm afraid I don't own one now. My favourite presently resides with Barry Matthews.

He's a nice guy who may let you visit to try it out. If you need a number on him I can put you in touch via PM.

I note your point about twiddling to equalise the sound of a couple of Fenders but I meant to refer to the acoustic properties being different to begin with. I go along with the fact that the pickups/amp settings govern the final result but, on the other hand, if the bass rings differently before you plug in, the pickup/amp end can at first only amplify what's there to begin with (does that make any sense?).

Anyway, I like the fact that different opinions exist on this splendid forum.

Never forget what dear old Uncle Adolf said 'Opinions are like testicles - we've all got one'.
[/quote]

Thanks for the great info. I'm definitely with you on the acoustic thing, despite my earlier comments, you put it so much better!!

PM'd.

Cheers

Rick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1397476541' post='2424216']
I'm endlessly fascinated by these basses. Something I'm not sure of re: the neck - what is a rolled fingerboard, and how does it differ to slab-cut?
[/quote]

Slab board on the left, veneer on the right. I've no idea if slab '66s were slab boards:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

'Rolled fingerboard' usually means that the square edges of the finger/fretboard have been rolled so that they have the curvature of an old and used instrument rather than a new freshly cut one which would be squarer - it's a kind of good relicing.

But maybe what was meant in this case was the slab versus veneer above.

Edited by EssentialTension
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1397481473' post='2424301']
Slab board on the left, veneer on the right. I've no idea if slab '66s were slab boards:


[/quote]

What's the reason for the "veneer" style board? I can't help but think it would have made the production of the neck unnecessarily complicated - something which would have gone agains Leo Fenders philosophy when it came to building musical instruments.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1397499455' post='2424545']
What's the reason for the "veneer" style board? I can't help but think it would have made the production of the neck unnecessarily complicated - something which would have gone agains Leo Fenders philosophy when it came to building musical instruments.
[/quote]

An explanation (that I think has been aired previously) is that, in the case of some slab boards, occasional twisting occured as a result of the rosewood being a fair thickness tended to dry out at a different rate to the maple whereas in the case of the cambered board it was more of a veneer and did not interact with the maple to the same extent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1397499455' post='2424545']
What's the reason for the "veneer" style board? I can't help but think it would have made the production of the neck unnecessarily complicated - something which would have gone agains Leo Fenders philosophy when it came to building musical instruments.
[/quote]
Two explanations sometimes given are (1) it was cheaper because rosewood cost more than maple, which doesn't sound convincing, and (2) maple and rosewood expand and contract differently and so there's less likelihood of a problem if there's less rosewood, which also sounds unconvincing.

No doubt someone will be along in a minute with a better explanation.

And no doubt someone will say that one (or the other) sounds different and better, or not.

Edited by EssentialTension
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1397501817' post='2424586']
.
No doubt someone will be along in a minute with a better explanation.

And no doubt someone will say that one (or the other) sounds different and better, or not.
[/quote]

The second explanation is the most acceptable imo, particularly as Leo Fender told me himself ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1397502530' post='2424596']
The second explanation is the most acceptable imo, particularly as Leo Fender told me himself ;)
[/quote]
Go on, show us the picture again in case anyone missed it. ;)

Do you think Leo was correct then because the slab board is still around on my 62 reissue neck?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1397501456' post='2424581']
An explanation (that I think has been aired previously) is that, in the case of some slab boards, occasional twisting occured as a result of the rosewood being a fair thickness tended to dry out at a different rate to the maple whereas in the case of the cambered board it was more of a veneer and did not interact with the maple to the same extent.
[/quote]

AFAICS every other manufacturer of basses with maple necks and rosewood boards seems to be capable of making them without the necks twisting. In fact this is the first time I've actually come across this explanation. I's have thought it would have been simpler just to season the wood properly before constructing the neck. Does anyone actually have a twisted Fender neck with a slab rosewood board?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...