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 Friday at 03:22 by mikeswals

[JazzyJ]

Another moment of madness, never mind.

A November '63 Jazz. Refin at some point in early '70s. I believe it could have been CAR originally. Apart from that all looks good. I had it taken apart to confirm (photos to follow later on this week).

Rusty strings, frets aren't great, sounds superb plus some provenance.

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Do You think it was orinally Dakota red?

[JazzyJ]

11 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Do You think it was orinally Dakota red?

Maybe, I just saw a fleck of red under the refinish.

I'll pop some more photos up tomorrow

 

[BassAgent]

It was probably originally sunburst. CAR was a custom colour in those years AFAIK, which would have meant it had a white pickguard.

 

But it looks amazing! Love the wear on the neck, and the fact you have photos of the original owner add to its mojo. Enjoy that beautiful instrument.

Edited 8 hours ago by BassAgent

[Stub Mandrel]

10 hours ago, JazzyJ said:

 

 

This is clearly pre-refin, the dark tone in a b&w is right for a deep red.

 

Great to have such a record and his wife seems pleased it's gone to someone who cares.

Edited 7 hours ago by Stub Mandrel