njr911 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 (edited) Update! I've bought a Fender 2001 Precision Bass in Sea Foam Green in good condition. It was a decent deal I think. Now for the negatives - Filthy rosewood board, Frets need a good clean and have some very minor wear, Sratchy tone pot Badly in need of a set up and new strings. Here's what it looks like under the hood, a messy bit of earthing, are they all like that ? Now having trusted all my other bass's to the local luthier I might do this one myself... **************************************************************************************************** Anyone know anything about them ? I've been offered a P bass in good nick and was just wondering over the quality, pickups and anything else I need to know really. Is it an S1? Whatever that is, not sure if it's good or bad! Also what the value is? I've been told it's in good condition but with a non fender hardcase. Edited May 1, 2015 by njr911 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 A US Model - which it will be if assembled in the Corona plant - then you`d be looking between £550 and £800 assuming it`s made from late 90s onwards. There`s no rhyme or reason for this, they just seem to vary that way, though the newer post 2008 models seem to be the ones fetching the higher prices - they did upgrades in 2008 and have to say they are very good basses. The S1 switching is a feature where you can put the pickups in a different mode, making it sound more Jazz-like- not particularly useful imo as on the Precision it reduces the volume so live it wouldn`t be of much use. But you don`t have to use it, and for studio work it`s nice to have the option. Condition wise, well as long as the truss rod works and the electrics work, I`m never that fussed about dings or scratches etc, it`s a question of do my hands like the bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Wasn't the California series a P/J or am I mixing it up with something else? Have you got any pics or more details? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 not many more details. It's a bog standard P looking bass in a custom colour. through body stringing made in the early 2000's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 Corona California on the neck plate and a Z serial number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I once owned one of these California Series basses. They are exactly the same as the Mexican ones - one here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/261158-fender-precision-special-pj-car-maple/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/261158-fender-precision-special-pj-car-maple/[/url] - the parts used on both basses are the same, the difference is that the Mexican one is assembled in Mexico by Mexicans and the California Series is assembled in USA by Mexicans and gets a Made In USA stamp and a USA serial number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 [quote name='njr911' timestamp='1430419679' post='2761321'] Corona California on the neck plate and a Z serial number [/quote] Then it's a standard American Precision like Lozz said rather than a California Series like Gareth had. You'll know if it has got S1 switching if you can push the middle of the volume knob in and it latches. I agree with Lozz, not much use on a Precision but you can get £50 selling the switch on eBay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 Great I'll pick it up tomorrow and post full details. Thanks to all for the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 New bass Day BUMP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Or is it surf green? I'm not sure this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 You got it then, nice one! I picked up a mid 90s one once in similar condition and it became my favourite bass so I hope yours works out. Looks good from the pics but I'm not sure what the original colour is either. It does look like its had new set of pick ups in it, hence the messy soldering, but you can obviously swap them out or keep them depending on how they sound. I hope it was a bargain. Clean it, set it up and stick it a Hiscox case and you've got a great bass. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Looks like one of the original Highway One Precisions in Daphne Blue to me. Always wanted one in that colour! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Highway 1 was mex I thought? I'll try post a picture of the pick ups in a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 highway was USA and had a thin nitro finish but neck with truss rod at the wrong end - the head nice bass BTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 The original Highway 1s weren't string through either, were they? The newer ones had a BadAss bridge and the old 70s logo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Played it at my gig tonight and it's great, you really can't beat a USA P bass with rounds for rock and indie. My set up was adequate but I need to do a bit more work on it tomorrow. Scratchy pot has cured it's self after a bit of use. I took the guard off to see if I could tell what the pickups were but not got a clue if they are original or not ? Not sure what those markings mean either. There's no shielding under the pickups but the guard is fully shielded. The pickup covers are not attached to the pickups and the foam is stuck tot he bottom of the pickups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Any one got and idea if the pickups are original? Also is it surf green ? Looks sonic blue in that picture but there's more green in real life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 That bar code tells a story. 0056190 - Body, Am P-Bass, solid color 7 - standard case 51 - sky blue Still no idea about the pickups. Look genuine. Maybe there was a replacement at some point or maybe a pot change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Facinating thanks Muppet. I've never heard of sky blue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Me neither but it makes sense for your bass. Here's the Fender colour chart - number 51! http://www2.fender.com/support/color-chart/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadilla Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Sky Blue was a standard colour for a short time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I'd completely forgotten about sky blue being offered as a standard colour! I stand 100% corrected! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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