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Post subject: I'd like to get a '51 Precision...
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:58 pm
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I like them because they look different... I already have a bass, but I'm sort of tired of it. It's an Ibanez, with active pickups. It sounds alright, but it's really 80's style... a sort of a light greenish, aqua, sparkly color.

I plan to trade it...

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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:44 am
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51 Re-issue is a great choice but, for a great deal for less cash, you may want to look at Squier, they make the Classic (51) or the Vintage Modified Telebass. Both of these are very well made, I had the Vintage Modified but sold it toward purchasing my 51 but I am thinking of buying another one

Here is myne anyway.

[img][img]http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/acs565/Bass/51-3.jpg[/img][/img]


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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:40 pm
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Hi,

After playing my '54 re-issue (blue/pink flower), I decided to get a '51 RI as I was keen on a 2-tone tobacco burst finish and single coil pickup. (I wasn't keen on the neck on a Sting signature bass).
Just so you are aware, after a few gigs I did struggle with the fact that it was a slab body on the '51 without the contoured cutaway.
In the end, I used the body of a Sting bass together with the neck of my '54 RI and I now have my ideal P Bass !
Cheers,
Jim


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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:24 pm
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Yup, when you say slab, you are not kidding. I was surprised myself when I got 51 how thick it was and thick all over but I am getting used to it.

cheers.......

J_F


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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:00 am
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I bought a '51 new in '06 and have gigged with it and a Classic '50s P. I'd definitely go with the Fender as opposed to the Squier. It will cost more in the beginning but the resale value of the Squier will evaporate as soon as you take it out of the box.

I wouldn't mind contours on mine, but the slab's not a deal breaker. What I love about it the punch and the round tone.

Over 2-1/2 years I have modified mine to improve it: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickup (same character, just more of it), American Deluxe four-saddle bridge (some people insist on the look of the original, but I prefer intonation, and this bridge drops right in, with holes for the through-body string loading), Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats (now on all my basses) and finally -- and most recently -- an "Electrosocket" from Stewart-McDonald that replaces the flimsy original output jack cup.

It's the Thump King, and a nice alternate to my two split-coils (fretted and fretless), plus, the "butterscotch," as ugly as it is, glows under stage lights.

One last thing: I bought a Fender Vintage hard case with the brown Tolex and yellow plush lining. I had it in a tweed case, but the yellow/yellow looks better than the yelllow/red. Just me, maybe, but I put my fretless in the tweed so every body's happy.

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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:33 am
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floyd pepper wrote:
Hi,

After playing my '54 re-issue (blue/pink flower), I decided to get a '51 RI as I was keen on a 2-tone tobacco burst finish and single coil pickup. (I wasn't keen on the neck on a Sting signature bass).
Just so you are aware, after a few gigs I did struggle with the fact that it was a slab body on the '51 without the contoured cutaway.
In the end, I used the body of a Sting bass together with the neck of my '54 RI and I now have my ideal P Bass !
Cheers,
Jim


Oddly enough, you aren't the first person to do that neck swap. What did you not like about the '54 Flower?


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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:41 am
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Grreat. I also change my bridge for better intonation, also was thinking about the pickup but , don't know yet

J_F


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Post subject: Re: I'd like to get a '51 Precision...
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:27 am
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dbrodie wrote:
I like them because they look different... I already have a bass, but I'm sort of tired of it. It's an Ibanez, with active pickups. It sounds alright, but it's really 80's style... a sort of a light greenish, aqua, sparkly color.

I plan to trade it...


Hi DB, Well if you can afford to keep both you would have a backup. Just a suggestion. Lots of times you won't get what your trade is worth...of course it depends on the dealer! Plus there are times an active bass is just the ticket.

I've not played the Squier versions, but I have never contemplated resale value before buying a bass either. That probably would be my last consideration. Maybe I just don't have a head for business. My advice is if you find one you totally love I'd buy it. It is REALLY hard to find a bass you connect with. I've had bunches of basses but only really two that I really connected with.

Moving from the Ibanez neck to a '51 will take some minor adjustment, but I think you can do it. I have an Ibanez SRX700 and I can switch back and forth between them with no big problems. I don't switch often but sometimes I need the active EQ or the single coil bass is picking up neon sign noise or something like that and I need the humbuckers.

From the color your Ibanez bass almost sounds like an SRX400. That is a really decent Korean bass! They were made up until a couple of years back. They are sort of retro.

The 51 is different. Besides the slab body others have pointed out you also have reverse tuners to play with and the 2 barrell bridge.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:02 pm
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Resale, or trade-in, value is important because I tend to do a lot of horse-trading, and I don't like to invest in an instrument and then end up not getting anything for it later, when I trade again or sell. Although, in this point in my life, I may have finally settled on my ultimate lineup, with 10 guitars and basses....

But, by accumulating gear that has reasonable resale value, I got some pretty nice gear over the last few years without being too out of pocket to get what I wanted. Luckily, the local Fender dealer is amenable to swaps, so a lot of stuff changes hands and not that much cash.

Others feel differently, but I assure you that I came to my conclusions after having practiced otherwise when I was younger. Luckily I also acquired some gear that appreciated.

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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:16 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
floyd pepper wrote:
Hi,

After playing my '54 re-issue (blue/pink flower), I decided to get a '51 RI as I was keen on a 2-tone tobacco burst finish and single coil pickup. (I wasn't keen on the neck on a Sting signature bass).
Just so you are aware, after a few gigs I did struggle with the fact that it was a slab body on the '51 without the contoured cutaway.
In the end, I used the body of a Sting bass together with the neck of my '54 RI and I now have my ideal P Bass !
Cheers,
Jim


Oddly enough, you aren't the first person to do that neck swap. What did you not like about the '54 Flower?


Nothing...that was the problem. I loved it but I was after a slightly more understated design to fit with the band and loved the tobacco burst. The '51 had the neck but not the body and the 'Sting' had the body but I wasn't keen on the ultra gloss finish and smaller frets. Therefore.......


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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:53 pm
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I have a '96 51RI and the Squier. Both great basses.

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2007 Squier VM Precision TB, sunburst
Markbass CMD121H and ext cab


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:06 pm
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Thanks, everyone...

Let me just say, the fact that the '51 is a solid slab wouldn't bother me. I play a Telecaster, so that's what I'm used to anyway. As for the Ibanez, I really didn't bond with it. As I said, it plays well... but it's the color of a Chevy Geo...

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:38 pm
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dbrodie wrote:
... but it's the color of a Chevy Geo...


Yes it is...and an ugly one, at that.

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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:32 am
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OK, for those of us over the pond, just how bad IS a Chevy Geo?
:)

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1996 Fender Precision '51 RI, Blond
2004 Fender Precision Std, Black-as-yer-'at
2007 Squier VM Precision TB, sunburst
Markbass CMD121H and ext cab


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:15 pm
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Great bass! I've got one in Butterscotch and it's got great tone and a fantastic neck.


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