What finish? What body?

[BassoContinuo]

Hello! This is supposed to be a fender body from the 90s apparently alder, but can’t seem to find anything about the finish, anyone knows the name? Maybe it’s not fender?…could it be Antigua?

Thanks for helping!

Edited Thursday at 19:59 by BassoContinuo

[LeftyJ]

Love that oldschool Kahler 1026-BD Heavy Resonator bridge! Looks a lot like the bridges on the 1980 Precision Bass Special, Fender's first active offering, but the saddles are different. 

 

I'm a bit thrown by the hole below the bridge. I've seen those on 1980s US Fender bodies, and on few else. Do you have pics of what it looks like underneath the pickguard? I'm wondering if this actually could have been a Precision Bass Special. That would be routed like this, with an extra channel to a battery box on the back (but minus the bridge pickup route, which was added later), but I don't think it came in Antigua:

 

 

Edited Thursday at 21:54 by LeftyJ

[Pea Turgh]

Yeah the bridge pup was definitely added later, otherwise it would be painted too.  Also, the grain looks like ash to me.

[Grooverjr]

Could it be a P special that has been modded to be a PJ at a later date? That third knob (furthest from the jack) looks to be in the wrong place. Looks like a decent job, mind you. 

[BassoContinuo]

Hello and thank you for your ideas! Yes it’s most definitely a modified BITSA! Active EMGs are post factory. Main question is about the finish. 

[Bassassin]

On 08/01/2026 at 21:47, LeftyJ said:

Love that oldschool Kahler 1026-BD Heavy Resonator bridge! Looks a lot like the bridges on the 1980 Precision Bass Special, Fender's first active offering, but the saddles are different. 

 

These come up from time to time, apparently in the early 80s Kahler made them for DiMarzio. Had absolutely no idea they were still available new! Not sure I've seen another bridge where the strings anchor in the actual saddles.

 

https://kahlerusa.com/product/brass-factory-1026-bd-tone-chambered-heavy-resonator-fixed-bass-bridge/

[BassoContinuo]

Hi again, here are the solicited pictures, still don’t get the hang of the finish 

[LeftyJ]

That does indeed look like an early 1980s Precision Bass Special. The routing channel to the battery box on the back checks out, even if (strangely!) it is not being used and the battery for the EMG's is in the control cavity!

 

Edit: Most likely a refinish, the Special never came in Antigua - although custom finishes have been known. John Deacon of Queen had one in Sahara Taupe (which was used on Under Pressure, among others), but the standard colours were only Lake Placid Blue, Candy Apple Red and Arctic White, according to Google. I must add the finish does look convincingly like some aged Antigua basses from around 1980 that I've found online. 

Edited 7 hours ago by LeftyJ

[HeadlessBassist]

It does look rather cool - it's a sort of faded Antigua. Noice!

[BassoContinuo]

Thank you! I wonder if black or white pick guard would fit best…

[Pea Turgh]

Ooh, initially I thought black, but some sort of off white would work well, too.

[HeadlessBassist]

1 hour ago, BassoContinuo said:

Thank you! I wonder if black or white pick guard would fit best…

 

I'm wondering whether one of the Fender mint ones would fit..? They look really good as a contrast with paler colours.

[BassoContinuo]

1 hour ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

I'm wondering whether one of the Fender mint ones would fit..? They look really good as a contrast with paler colours.

Not a bad idea!