BrunoBass Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 I’m looking for a detailed specification of Paul Simonon’s famous Precision bass - the maple necked model he smashed on the cover of London Calling, not the rosewood necked model he still plays today. It looks like it’s a Seventies model and I assume it’s all stock, but can anyone shed any more light please? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) I think it was an early to mid 70's job. (and stock) The one he plays now I think was a fretless (might even be a jazz neck) that he got fretted, seems the neck and body might be from different basses. Not sure but that's my guess. Edited September 25, 2019 by Highfox 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Doesn't look like the guy who did Graceland.....😉 2 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) According to this guy, it was an early 70s model... He liked heavy basses, so probably ash body, stock US spec. http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-story-behind-paul-simonon-his.html?m=1 Edited September 25, 2019 by hooky_lowdown 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 One careful owner. May benefit from new strings and a setup 7 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Not meant as a tribute but I always think of Paul Simonon when I pickup my battered 63AVRI 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Cat Burrito said: One careful owner. May benefit from new strings and a setup I’m going to see that in a few weeks when the exhibition opens! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 10 minutes ago, tayste_2000 said: Not meant as a tribute but I always think of Paul Simonon when I pickup my battered 63AVRI That looks like the bass that Paramore gave away in a competition (after having kicked it around a car park). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Looks like a job for... 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 1 hour ago, BrunoBass said: That looks like the bass that Paramore gave away in a competition (after having kicked it around a car park). It is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 23 minutes ago, tayste_2000 said: It is I thought it might be. Did you win it or did you acquire it later? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Acquired it later from the girl who won it as she didn’t play bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Two piece body, by the look of it! 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Good interview with Paul here: Where he mentions the weight of the bass and how the one he smashed up was the better bass. Definitely sounds like a 70s ash body. Cannot beat a white 70s Precision, just screams Paul or Dee Dee (in a good way).... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydra19 Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Anyone know what strings he used? It sounds like rounds on some and flats in other songs. The white bass he still uses today seems to be strung with d'addario rounds but the bass he smashed and is on museum display seems to have flatwound strings with red silk so probably roto flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 (edited) On 25/09/2019 at 14:19, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Looks like a job for... Julyan Wallis, who does the fretted instrument repairs for that, has a workshop just outside Penzance. I took nearly all my instruments to him for setups when I lived in Cornwall. Sound bloke and excellent luthier. Edited November 2, 2022 by asingardenof Grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 It’s got the serial number under the Fender logo, so 76 onwards. Could be 76 if it starts with a 6, or 76 onwards if starts with a S. Hard to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 (edited) A close up pic looks like S8 -78 , and they look like flats Edited November 2, 2022 by Reggaebass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 It's a '78 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 I went to the Clash exhibition just before COVID. Serial number is S875618. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterMute Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 On 25/09/2019 at 11:09, Cat Burrito said: One careful owner. May benefit from new strings and a setup That'll buff right out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarlscharisma Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 So really an almost new bass to him back in 78/79 when London Calling was made and released. No one cared about vintage this and that back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 On 25/09/2019 at 14:19, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Looks like a job for... Did you see the one they did? They took every bit of character out of it and made it like new. I could have cried at the result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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