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Post subject: Precision Special 1981, Should or Shouldn't
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:44 am
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Hi folks:
I about to buy a Precision SPecial from 1891, but is a little altered. They make a routing for a jazz pickup on the bridge and a I guess for the jack on the side, the owner has the original pickup and electronic, but for some reason a previous owner installd Seymor Duncan Basslines. What do you think, should I buy it or not and price?
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Post subject: Precision Special
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:36 pm
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I bought a Precision Special this week, and just finished setting it up.
Do you have access to this instrument? Does it play well? If so, the mods probably won't hurt--maybe help.

One thing I'd check: the bridge saddles are not in proper alignment, which may be an indication that the truss rod is out of alignment. If so, it's fixable--at least mine was. Or maybe the intonation is off, and they simply need to be adjusted. Dunno. . . .

Good luck!


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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:24 am
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That bridge Jazz pickup with the third pot added in place of the jack and the jack location moved to the bottom side of the lower bout is a very popular arrangement. This is primarily because T-Bone Wolk modified his sunburst P-Bass like that and played it on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live" house band 1986-1992. He used that same bass on numerous hit recordings, most notably on many of the Hall and Oates hits. He had many basses, but played that one the most. The bass line to "Maneater" is a classic. The Fender Custom shop recreated his vintage modified P-Bass in a "relic" version and presented it to him mere months before his death. He was by all accounts delighted with it.

If this bass PLAYS well and SOUNDS good then I'd give it very serious consideration. The neck should be the primary consideration as about anything else can be fixed easily but neck issues such as uncorrectable bowing or even worse...twisting or a non-functioning truss rod nut are deal breakers.

Due to the modifications it is worth somewhat LESS than it would be worth if totally stock, but where where I live in central NC, asking $850 to $1,100 would not be out of line. If original figure this bass would be worth about $1,200 to $1300 here. Values vary wildly depending on location, so in L.A., NYC, or London it would bring way more. I was glad to see some slightly rising values at the recent guitar show at Metrolina Expo in Charlotte or 70's and early 80's Fenders a few weeks ago. I do mean slightly, but at least they've stopped going down.

Repeating, if there are any issues with the neck then I would pass. Another one will come along.

(edited to correct typos!)


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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:20 am
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brotherdave wrote:
That bridge Jazz pickup with the third pot added in place of the jack and the jack location moved to the bottom side of the lower bout is a very popular arrangement. This is primarily because T-Bone Wolk modified his sunburst P-Bass like that and played it on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live" house band 1986-1992. He used that same bass on numerous hit recordings, most notably on many of the Hall and Oates hits. He had many basses, but played that one the most. The bass line to "Maneater" is a classic. The Fender Custom shop recreated his vintage modified P-Bass in a "relic" version and presented it to him mere months before his death. He was by all accounts delighted with it.

If this bass PLAYS well and SOUNDS good then I'd give it very serious consideration. The neck should be the primary consideration as about anything else can be fixed easily but neck issues such as uncorrectable bowing or even worse...twisting or a non-functioning truss rod nut are deal breakers.

Due to the modifications it is worth somewhat LESS than it would be worth if totally stock, but where where I live in central NC, asking $850 to $1,100 would not be out of line. If original figure this bass would be worth about $1,200 to $1300 here. Values vary wildly depending on location, so in L.A., NYC, or London it would bring way more. I was glad to see some slightly rising values at the recent guitar show at Metrolina Expo in Charlotte or 70's and early 80's Fenders a few weeks ago. I do mean slightly, but at least they've stopped going down.

Repeating, if there are any issues with the neck then I would pass. Another one will come along.

(edited to correct typos!)

thanks, the neck is fine, he is asking for 1000.0 I think its a little high for it considering the mods.


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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:24 am
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I don't think the price is out of bounds at all. If the neck is true and stable, it might be a deal.


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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:27 am
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diomar wrote:
brotherdave wrote:
That bridge Jazz pickup with the third pot added in place of the jack and the jack location moved to the bottom side of the lower bout is a very popular arrangement. This is primarily because T-Bone Wolk modified his sunburst P-Bass like that and played it on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live" house band 1986-1992. He used that same bass on numerous hit recordings, most notably on many of the Hall and Oates hits. He had many basses, but played that one the most. The bass line to "Maneater" is a classic. The Fender Custom shop recreated his vintage modified P-Bass in a "relic" version and presented it to him mere months before his death. He was by all accounts delighted with it.

If this bass PLAYS well and SOUNDS good then I'd give it very serious consideration. The neck should be the primary consideration as about anything else can be fixed easily but neck issues such as uncorrectable bowing or even worse...twisting or a non-functioning truss rod nut are deal breakers.

Due to the modifications it is worth somewhat LESS than it would be worth if totally stock, but where where I live in central NC, asking $850 to $1,100 would not be out of line. If original figure this bass would be worth about $1,200 to $1300 here. Values vary wildly depending on location, so in L.A., NYC, or London it would bring way more. I was glad to see some slightly rising values at the recent guitar show at Metrolina Expo in Charlotte or 70's and early 80's Fenders a few weeks ago. I do mean slightly, but at least they've stopped going down.

Repeating, if there are any issues with the neck then I would pass. Another one will come along.

(edited to correct typos!)

thanks, the neck is fine, he is asking for 1000.0 I think its a little high for it considering the mods.


IMO once you modifiy a guitar/bass you really "kill" the value of it these P bass specials go for around $1000.00 with the rarer walnut body one going for $2-300 more. I wouldn't pay more than $600 for a modified one assuming the neck is still good, if the neck is "dead" I wouldn't pay more than $450


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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:33 pm
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Nice bass. I wish Fender's American Standard basses would go back to the style of tuners on display here.


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Post subject: Re: Precision Special 1981, Should or Shouldn't
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:49 pm
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did u buy that bass?, I just picked one up in a five lot purchase, electronics r screwed, the body looks like a rottweiller(sp) attacked it, but the neck is wonderful, the gold tuners are excellent. I hope to get it working in the next little.


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Post subject: Re: Precision Special 1981, Should or Shouldn't
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:44 pm
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kanuk wrote:
did u buy that bass?, I just picked one up in a five lot purchase, electronics r screwed, the body looks like a rottweiller(sp) attacked it, but the neck is wonderful, the gold tuners are excellent. I hope to get it working in the next little.

no I didnt


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Post subject: Re: Precision Special 1981, Should or Shouldn't
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:05 am
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Personally I prefer keeping the stock layout with the top-mount jack.

For a PJ setup I would rewire the electronics as follows: master volume/pan/TBX tone-active presence, with the 2-way toggle serving as a series/parallel switch affecting both pickups.


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Post subject: Re: Precision Special 1981, Should or Shouldn't
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:39 am
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It all depends on how much you like the bass.
$1000 is not much if it becomes you main axe. If you are looking for an investment then I would look for an unmodified Precision bass or Precision Special.


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