Vintage Fenders

[Old Man Riva]

6 hours ago, peteb said:

 

This was very common with Fenders, especially from the 70s that were not thought to 'vintage' until relatively recently!

 

I've got my 78 P bass on a stand next to me right now. These days it has a Badass bridge, a different p/up, new pots and (I think) a new nut. It's also had a re-fret and the back of the neck now has a satin finish. The only original things left are the wood, the scratchplate, the knobs and the tuners, which still work great.  It looks, sounds and feels like a 70s Fender, just it's had a few tweaks over the years to ensure that it plays and sounds how it should! 

 

A similar tale here. The ‘73/‘74 Jazz I’ve had since the early/mid 80s has had five different sets of p/ups in it - the originals, 70s cream coloured DiMarzio, first generation EMGs, a sourced set of ‘74 p/ups, and currently a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity. The original owner was responsible for the first two sets, and I’ve piddled around with the rest!

 

I took off the tug bar and covers (as most people did at the time) and left them in a wardrobe at my mum’s decades ago. She then had a clear out and they ended up at the main Coventry tip! The original case is long gone too.

 

It’s been played to within an inch of its life, and I still love the thing as much today as the first day I had it… 

[tauzero]

6 hours ago, Old Man Riva said:

A similar tale here. The ‘73/‘74 Jazz I’ve had since the early/mid 80s has had five different sets of p/ups in it - the originals, 70s cream coloured DiMarzio, first generation EMGs, a sourced set of ‘74 p/ups, and currently a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity. The original owner was responsible for the first two sets, and I’ve piddled around with the rest!

 

I took off the tug bar and covers (as most people did at the time) and left them in a wardrobe at my mum’s decades ago. She then had a clear out and they ended up at the main Coventry tip! The original case is long gone too.

 

It’s been played to within an inch of its life, and I still love the thing as much today as the first day I had it… 

 

My fretted mid-70s P got a diMarzio (I'm currently trying to sell the original pickup) and there's a rout under the scratchplate where I put an active EQ and battery, which I subsequently removed. I also hacked the scratchplate around and removed the remnants of the rather battered sunburst finish. I part-exchanged it in 1988 - I occasionally wonder what happened to it. It wasn't unusual for mods to get done to them, like J bass bridge pickups. Nowadays it seems that doing anything like that is regarded as sacrilege - even a decent refin so it doesn't look like it got towed to every gig (why are Fender finishes so fragile?) is regarded as an evil deed.

[mikeswals]

On 24/10/2025 at 00:05, Pow_22 said:

So the Rickenbacker is really not bonding with me (or vice versa) so im considering trading it it and going back to a fender (either P or J).  Initial feeler searches have thrown this up locally@-

 

https://www.sellusyourguitar.co.uk/product-page/fender-jazz-bass-natural-1976-vintage-electric-bass-guitar

 

Ad states replacement volume pots and a refret.  Doesnt seem to mention the pickups.

 

one nit pick: the chrome neck pickup cover is for a P, its wider than a J cover

[mikeswals]

On 01/10/2025 at 13:37, rwillett said:

What's a CAR please?

 

Burst & CAR

[dodgnofski]

‘Candy Apple Red’ - my least favourite finish ever! - no offence😂🙈

[rwillett]

3 hours ago, mikeswals said:

 

Burst & CAR

 

I suppose if nothing else, I'd force myself to accept a CAR Precision if somebody ever gave me one.  It would be a struggle but I reckon I could handle it. I'd probably need to be given the burst as well so it all balances out. 

 

Is there a list somewhere I add my name to?

 

Rob

[Mrbigstuff]

14 hours ago, mikeswals said:

 

one nit pick: the chrome neck pickup cover is for a P, its wider than a J cover

Out of interest what’s the measurement difference?

[mikeswals]

19 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Out of interest what’s the measurement difference?

 

Here's the two side by side:

The J cover is 47mm wide, the P cover is 57mm wide

Edited 6 hours ago by mikeswals