It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:39 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: help me identify and fix up this sweet P-bass (w/ pictures)
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:09 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:30 pm
Posts: 2
I picked up this used P-Bass for about 800$ because I've never seen another like it. It has no pickguard, has active PJ pickups, and 2 tandem knobs (where they are stacked). It says on the headstock that it is USA made, and it's serial number is N2 00047. I am wondering what year this bass was made, and any other information about the bass that might be cool.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

I recently picked up a brand new Ric 4003 which is my new main axe, and i now want to fix up this old beauty.
The first problem i had was that i was constantly snapping strings at the bridge. I admit that i do have a very aggressive fingerstyle attack, but even after sanding down the jagged edges on the bridge where the strings would presumably catch, the strings would still snap. It was never the same string either, i have snapped the low E more than once.

I bought a new black Badass bridge, but i need to file in the string grooves before i install it, so i was also wondering if you guys had any useful tips about how to file the bridge properly, and how to mount it (or should i just get a pro to do it for me).

Image

Image

I have also had some problems with the electronics, i get alot of noise when i turn some of the knobs, and it sometimes sketches out at the input jack even after i opened it up and tightened it. Any tips or insights about that would be great.

Overall I want to make this bass sound smooth and warm, James Jamerson style, and I'll use the Ric when i want crunch. I realize a big part of your sound is in the way you play, but i am wondering if active pickups is still OK if I'm trying to achieve this sound. Thanks to all who read and reply


Last edited by bassrocker on Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:27 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Welcome to the forum Rocker. To post photos here, follow the instructions on my site. Click the link in my forum signature below. Then click on the RED link on that page for ONLINE BASS COMMUNITIES. After links to some online forums is a section on posting photos here. Good luck!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:33 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Dang, forgot to tell you that it was made between July 1 1992 and June 30, 1993.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:02 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:00 am
Posts: 1226
Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
I think the bass is called a Precison Bass Plus. This model was made in the
early 90's and it was the sister bass to the Jazz Bass Plus.

The bass features a downsized headstock, very nice upgraded tuners compared to a standard Precision bass. I believe that the bass neck is thinner like a Jazz bass and the pickups are Lace Sensors.
I noticed that the LAce Sensor silk screened names have worn off of the pickups.

I rec. squirting some contact cleaner into the potentiometers to take care of the scratchiness. Tighten the jack with an icepick.

That's a nice axe. I hope you enjoy it.

Others may have more accurate info on this bass. I am just guessing as to the name of the model.

_________________
If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:27 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:24 pm
Posts: 2
that model of bass is actually called the Precision bass plus deluxe

the precision bass plus looks like this

Image


the P bass plus aka the boner p bass was produced between 1989 and 1992 or 93. the plus deluxe was the following model, has some similarities like the p/j lace sensor pick ups, 22 fret neck, schaller fine tuning bridge, the schaller tuners, and i believe the schaller strap lock buttons.

the differences being the P bass plus is passive while the plus deluxe is active, different controls and they took out the pick guard.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:59 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Timmy Crack Corn wrote:
the P bass plus aka the boner p bass was produced between 1989 and 1992 or 93. the plus deluxe was the following model, has some similarities like the p/j lace sensor pick ups, 22 fret neck, schaller fine tuning bridge, the schaller tuners, and i believe the schaller strap lock buttons.

the differences being the P bass plus is passive while the plus deluxe is active, different controls and they took out the pick guard.


The Precision Plus had the following controls:

= 3-way pickup toggle switch

= master volume

= series/parallel push-push selector (for the neck pickup)

= master TBX tone

the jack is mounted on the pickguard

The Plus Deluxe uses:

= master volume/pan pot

= treble and bass controls

all the controls were stacked into 2 separate concentric knobs

the jack socket is side mounted.

Both basses were replaced by the American Deluxe with the big jazz bridge pickup which was introduced in July 1995.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:47 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:30 pm
Posts: 2
Wow thank you guys so much for the info, you nailed it all.
I have a feeling the "fine tuning" bridge is a big part of why i was snapping strings. The previous owner had somehow broken the top portion of the fine tuners and they may have been putting extra shear on the strings right at the weak point. It seems these bridges werent really the greatest idea... Anyway i definately want to replace it with the Leo Quan Badass II bridge i bought (but have been too scared to replace). I am mostly concerned with filing the slots for the strings. What do i use? An angle grinder? I think i will just dish out some money and get it done professionally.

As for reducing the noise, is contact cleaner somethin you can pick up at say home depot? Is it a really messy process squirting your electronics?

thanks again to all who helped me out!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:40 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:33 am
Posts: 7
Timmy Crack Corn wrote:
that model of bass is actually called the Precision bass plus deluxe

the precision bass plus looks like this

Image


the P bass plus aka the boner p bass was produced between 1989 and 1992 or 93. the plus deluxe was the following model, has some similarities like the p/j lace sensor pick ups, 22 fret neck, schaller fine tuning bridge, the schaller tuners, and i believe the schaller strap lock buttons.

the differences being the P bass plus is passive while the plus deluxe is active, different controls and they took out the pick guard.


Hey I just picked up this bass from a trade. I am seeing if we have the same type...but its obvious mine was tweaked by the previous owner. Does your serial start with an E?
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:13 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:00 am
Posts: 1226
Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
Cleaning the electronics means you are going to squirt contact cleaner inside of the potentiometers, (Volume and tone controls.)

Use Deoxit or Radio Shack makes a contact cleaner that will work.
Its no big deal to do this although you may want to have a paper towel to catch the overspray.

I forgot about the boner bass version of the P-bass.


NEw bridge:
Use a triangular metal file to file the slots in your new BA2 bridge.
Just start out slow and just make a slight cut where the string naturally falls across the bridge. I don't think the saddle has to be notched very deeply for it to work well.

_________________
If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Your Old Bridge
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 6:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:05 pm
Posts: 77
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
If you have replaced that old bridge and on't want it anymore, drop me a line. I'll buy it from you. I could use the saddles.

-Frank

fbb23451@aol.com


Top
Profile
Post subject: Keep the original bridge
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 7:01 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 1:02 am
Posts: 80
Always keep all the original parts, especially the bridge. Remember your bass will be considered vintage one day then you can sell it for a pretty penny in your old age. Keep it in your case so you never lose it.

If you can find a real guitar pro I would have him inspect the original bridge for problems.

In a way Badass bridges suck because some "Professionals" don't even know how to file them. Leo Quan doesn't feel the need to include instructions in the package. I asked Leo Quan how do I know if the professional knows how to file the bridge. He basically laughed at me. My point was if Leo Quan invented the bridge how is a guitar professional supposed to know how to file it if he has no training on it.

With that said I would have a pro do it because it is too easy to mess it up yourself. A pro should know how to file the bridge so the strings break at the proper point. Remember you want the bass to be properly in tune.

Leo Quan must not care about his customers at all as he won't even trouble himself to make a video of how to file a bridge, nor does he even have a picture of a properly filed bridge on his website . Even now some "Professional" guitar repairmen don't know you are supposed to file the saddles. Talk about horrible customer service. You would think Leo Quan would want people to know how to use their bridges.

The following is hidden on the Leo Quan website under "News".

For years, we have informed builders and players that each of our string saddles must be file cut with round files equal to the diameter of each string. (If the idiots would just put instructions with the bridge they could save themselves all that trouble) Sometimes the installers or resellers do not inform the players, and the result is a less than optimum sound.

Unlike Round saddles of most other bridges, we've maintained the need to custom fit every string to every instring. This results in the very best of tone transfer from string to body, and provides a precise "Speaking Point" ( a phrase we coined ) which is far more accurate than a prenotched rounded saddle. As they say, if you are a serious artist, you will use serious tools; so please take the time to have the work done properly by an experienced professional guitar repair person - you wouldn't believe how many saddles we sell to people who thought they could file the notches and save a few dollars and time :-( So, do it right the first time. Thank you.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: