Vintage Fenders

[BassAgent]

Honestly, I would ask your luthier. If you have a good one that knows about vintage Fenders he'll advise you what is best for your bass.

[snorkie635]

52 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

Ok chaps, I'm going to get my '73 sunburst/rosewood/tort Jazz bass refretted.

 

What is the modern equivalent wire these days which compares to what was fitted originally?

 

Also, would you go slightly bigger, and what would you use if you did?

 

Thanks muchly,

Rob

Dear Rob,

 

I have no idea regards fret-wire, but am happy to offer my services to find out for you. If you care to post your bass to PO Box 666, Chelmsford, I will personally take it around the world until I find a match. I estimate that this should take us well into the 2030s, but I am sure you will be more than pleased with the result.

 

 

Snorkie635

Just outside your back door, checking the locks work. (You never can be sure).

[MrFingers]

3 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

Ok chaps, I'm going to get my '73 sunburst/rosewood/tort Jazz bass refretted.

 

What is the modern equivalent wire these days which compares to what was fitted originally?

 

Also, would you go slightly bigger, and what would you use if you did?

 

Thanks muchly,

Rob

The closest would be the 6150 (0.105 x 0.042) or the 6200. They are rather wide, and not that high. You can always take a vernius and ballpark the original frets in terms of size, and work from there.

 

 

 

Anyway: here's mine. A 1966 P-bass that has been carefully played by the first owner (I'm the 2nd). Not babied, but you notice it came from someone who took care of it. 5MAY66C, pots from week 23 1966 (2nd week of June), and greybobbins from the 19th of September of that year.

 

It's not the best sounding or playing P-bass that had the misfortune of being the subject of my grubby hands. It's very distinctly indistinct, as it's one of the thousands that were spewed out of Fullerton that year. It's not a bad instrument at all, but it's nothing mythical. I dare to argue my American Original '60 is, objectively spoken, the better instrument. The '66 has a thinner neck, which feels a bit more relaxed. But apart from that: It does exactly what you would expect from a P.

 

Then why?!?

• Because I could. (and because it doesn't have a deadspot on the C#).

Edited Monday at 18:51 by MrFingers

[Mrbigstuff]

2 minutes ago, MrFingers said:

The closest would be the 6200 fretwire (0.084x0.038).

 

 

 

Anyway: here's mine. A 1966 P-bass that has been carefully played by the first owner (I'm the 2nd). Not babied, but you notice it came from someone who took care of it. 5MAY66C, pots from week 23 1966 (2nd week of June), and greybobbins from the 19th of September of that year.

 

It's not the best sounding or playing P-bass that had the misfortune of being the subject of my grubby hands. It's very distinctly indistinct, as it's one of the thousands that were spewed out of Fullerton that year. It's not a bad instrument at all, but it's nothing mythical. I dare to argue my American Original '60 is, objectively spoken, the better instrument. The '66 has a thinner neck, which feels a bit more relaxed. But apart from that: It does exactly what you would expect from a P.

 

Then why?!?

• Because I could. (and because it doesn't have a deadspot on the C#).

Because you could is a great excuse and one I hope to use one day. If the sound isn’t there, maybe it could benefit from a pickup rewind?

[MrFingers]

9 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

If the sound isn’t there, maybe it could benefit from a pickup rewind

Don't get me wrong, the sound is there, directly on tap. It's a very lively sounding bass, and exactly what you would expect from this year (I have the impression that 1966 P-basses are a bit more punchy and aggressive compared to previous or later years). But it's not a sound worth 1000's of monies. I dare to say that with the amp-settings that I play at, my assembled mogrel with the Vintera II '60 pickup has a superior sound in terms of girt & dynamics.

[Reggaebass]

16 minutes ago, MrFingers said:

It's not the best sounding or playing P-bass

Ive been looking at a few 66 Precisions so Ive been using my AVRI 62 more lately to see if I can get comfortable with the wider nut , it’s going alright really, can I ask what it is that your not liking about the sound or playing of yours 

[MrFingers]

3 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

can I ask what it is that your not liking about the sound or playing of yours

You can, and there is nothing wrong. It is a good sounding bass, but not 1000's euro's better in sound than a modern instrument.

[Geek99]

3 minutes ago, MrFingers said:

You can, and there is nothing wrong. It is a good sounding bass, but not 1000's euro's better in sound than a modern instrument.

This. ^^
Total sense. 

[walshy]

The pick ups in 66 tended to be a bit hotter than usual due to the extra wind they got that year, thats why they are my favourites. I have had fair few P based through my hands and the site and 66 always comes out on top for me. Hey, it would be a boring world if we all liked the same thing I guess

[Mrbigstuff]

2 hours ago, MrFingers said:

You can, and there is nothing wrong. It is a good sounding bass, but not 1000's euro's better in sound than a modern instrument.

That’s fine, just thought it was worth putting the idea forward because you said it wasn’t the best sounding.
 

I don’t think anyone could argue with that. As a Sire owner, I can attest that any bass will only sound or play marginally better (better is obviously completely objective). But it depends how much you are willing to spend to reach nirvana. Bonus of the vintage basses are that, for the moment, they’re also a steady investment.

Edited Monday at 21:43 by Mrbigstuff
Debatable destinations

[peteb]

53 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

But it depends how much you are willing to spend to reach Havana

 

Prices from £265 from London... 

 

[rwillett]

7 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

Prices from £265 from London... 

 

Havana is very, very nice. Lovely architecture, very friendly people. Well recommended. I reached Havana via Houston. 

[Mrbigstuff]

29 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

Prices from £265 from London... 

 

God dammit! 😂
 

@rwillett it seems auto correct would agree

Edited Monday at 21:42 by Mrbigstuff

[Reggaebass]

Anyone near Stromness, 1966 P bass on gumtree, 3k

[Burns-bass]

5 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Anyone near Stromness, 1966 P bass on gumtree, 3k

 

If it looks and smells like a scam...

[rwillett]

3 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

 

If it looks and smells like a scam...

I have a feeling this came up a year or so ago. Might be a different one though. Stromness is as difficult to get to as can be and the chances of somebody actually going to collect was minimal. I replied and said I was in the area as I was diving  Scapa Flow for the WW 1 German wrecks, I was a scuba diver and have dived Scapa a fair few times so if they asked any questions I could answer them, and would love to see it. Never got a response. 

 

Ping them and ask

Rob

[Reggaebass]

8 minutes ago, rwillett said:

I have a feeling this came up a year or so ago

I think you’re right ,  now you mention it I think I remember a 66 jazz for sale somewhere near there 

[ossyrocks]

23 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

Ok chaps, I'm going to get my '73 sunburst/rosewood/tort Jazz bass refretted.

 

What is the modern equivalent wire these days which compares to what was fitted originally?

 

Also, would you go slightly bigger, and what would you use if you did?

 

Thanks muchly,

Rob

 

Further to this. I have had a Luthier recommended to me by Ged Green in Cheadle. Ged was the man in these parts for top notch work, and I've used him for decades, but he has now hung up his tools to retire.

He has recommended Jim Fleeting - https://www.jimfleetingguitars.com/
In my conversations with Ged, he recommended I use Jescar 47104 fretwire, and in a subsequent conversation with Jim, he said the same, so that's what I'm having fitted. It will also get a new bone nut. I drove it down to his workshop this morning and dropped it off. I'll post pics of the completed work and my first impressions in a few weeks when I get it back.

Rob

[Sparky Mark]

51 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

 

Further to this. I have had a Luthier recommended to me by Ged Green in Cheadle. Ged was the man in these parts for top notch work, and I've used him for decades, but he has now hung up his tools to retire.

He has recommended Jim Fleeting - https://www.jimfleetingguitars.com/
In my conversations with Ged, he recommended I use Jescar 47104 fretwire, and in a subsequent conversation with Jim, he said the same, so that's what I'm having fitted. It will also get a new bone nut. I drove it down to his workshop this morning and dropped it off. I'll post pics of the completed work and my first impressions in a few weeks when I get it back.

Rob

Are you going for the stainless steel or nickel steel frets? SS will last forever.

[ossyrocks]

24 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

Are you going for the stainless steel or nickel steel frets? SS will last forever.

Nickel. I'm 60, it's not my only bass, and I play flats. They'll see me out.

 

I've had stainless fitted on 6 string guitars, and I can really see why that makes sense. Bending strings is a whole new ballgame on stainless, effortlessly smooth.

However, with stainless, the feel does change quite a lot, and it's going to take enough getting used to going from very low frets to new ones, plus I do like the feel of nickel on basses.

 

Rob

[Pow_22]

On 24/10/2025 at 15:17, Mrbigstuff said:

A chambered fender bass before sadowsky or anyone did it 😂 https://bassbros.co.uk/product/1976-fender-precision-bass-4/

 

So i eventually succumbed to this......

[Mrbigstuff]

38 minutes ago, Pow_22 said:

 

So i eventually succumbed to this......

Wish I could remember what it looked like! Hopefully it’s a great bass.

[briansbrew]

55 minutes ago, Pow_22 said:

 

So i eventually succumbed to this......

Any pics 

[Pow_22]

8 minutes ago, briansbrew said:

Any pics 

its en route - will update once it lands.  I just felt for the price that i could live with a hidden route and changed pots.  Now its about string choice - my usuals are Elites Flats but in this band I've found Elite Halfwounds more fitting and give a bit more growl

[briansbrew]

15 minutes ago, Pow_22 said:

its en route - will update once it lands.  I just felt for the price that i could live with a hidden route and changed pots.  Now its about string choice - my usuals are Elites Flats but in this band I've found Elite Halfwounds more fitting and give a bit more growl

Look forward to seeing it, if you ever get a chance try the Ernie Ball flats