It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:44 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:32 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:21 pm
Posts: 4
Hi, i have a 1968 tele bass that i bought used in 1975. Serial number 246447. Plays great, but i'd like to refurb it as it was missing a lot of gear when i bought it (pickguard, bridge cover, pickup cover). anyone know where i can buy this type of stuff to fix it up? Also, the original owner painted the headstock black (dingbat!) so will need to sand that down.

Big project. Any suggestions?

regards
Cliff
San Diego


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:49 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:20 pm
Posts: 263
Location: Rhode Island
You should be able to find just about everything on ebay. You may be able to get some repro stuff to keep the cost down. Even possible a decal for the headstock. Original vintage parts may cost you more than repros but it all depends how much you want to spend.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:13 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:21 pm
Posts: 4
Hi. Thanks, I agree. Anyone know a good manufacturer of that kind of stuff? Pick guards, decals, bridge covers, etc ?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:44 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:06 am
Posts: 18
if you're looking for new, just buy it from fender!

they manufacture replacement products that will fit your instrument perfectly.

guitar center stocks replacement pickguards, chrome pickup covers, and chrome bridge covers (even thumbrests) for cheap.

the chrome pieces are about 12 to 15 bucks, thumb rests are 4 bucks, pickguards are about 15 bucks...

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Prec ... 1133574.gc

see? easily available.

now, if you want actual vintage items & case candy, the only way to get that is Ebay.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:40 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:21 pm
Posts: 4
Thanks for your input. Guitar Center has some P bass stuff, but that's different than my 1968 Tele bass. I did find some new stuff on ebay, but having a tough time finding a pickguard. i don't want to spend $500+ for a vintage one. I don't plan on selling the bass, and i don't mind some reproduction parts on it.

Let me know if you know of any one-stop shops for fender reproduction stuff. I really am slammed for time and just don't want to spend hours surfing the net looking for it if i don't have to.

adios and thanks again,
Cliff


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:20 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
The Tele Bass pickguard is smaller than a vintage P bass pickguard. They look alike in a picture but they are different- I think the number of screw holes is different too. A vintage style P bass guard like a Sting or whatever will fit down on your Tele bass but the screw holes won't match/ line up right. Been dare dun dat!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:36 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
It is really hard to un-paint anything. A vintage restoration expert like Curtis Novak or Gord Miller are two people whose opinion I'd recommend seeking for the headstock issue. Both are well respected, but neither are what I'd call cheap. They will have access to decals. You would have to go onto the black market to get a repro one or contact Fender Consumer Relations to initiate a genuine replacement decal process and I'm doubtful they actually have the correct one.

However, I urge you to do NOTHING to the headstock until you can get it restored professionally by an experienced restoration specialist. They've seen this sort of thing if not the exact same thing before and know what the best options are. You actually can make it WORSE by doing the wrong thing. I'd just leave it as it is until you can fix it right. Without knowing what kind of paint the dingbat used, recommending anything would be irresponsible. Besides, it makes it unique doesn't it?

When I bought my brand new '68 T-Bass the case candy consisted of a terrible gray cord, a vintage style strap, a useless manual and a Fender polishing cloth. None of this stuff was usable for long.

Aftermarket pickguards to replace the real first generation P-Basses are offered by several sources. See the PICKGUARD section on the UPGRADE/REPLACEMENT PARTS section of my website from the link in my forum signature below.

The currently available pickup and bridge covers are only available because they are used on Custom Shop reissues and are nearly identical to the original. I'd get mine from Angela Instruments or from Darren Riley's. Those links are also on my site. Darren Riley has the finger-rest also for sure.

The original pickguards on these were a unique nitro formula which for some reason rapidly developed bizarre issues and most were replaced years ago as they shrank and crumbled. Few 68 Tele Basses have original guards. In the process of their decay, the guards gave off a gas that ate through the nickle plating on the screws causing premature rusting. Often this rust started within 2 or 3 years. It couldn't have been doing the pickup any good either.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:13 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:21 pm
Posts: 4
thanks Brother Dave, very helpful info and links. when i bought the bass around 1975 the pickguard was already off, maybe the thing was already decomposing.

i'll follow your suggestions and get some estimates. however, i may just opt to play the thing as it is, even if the body and headstock look ugly. i bought the thing for around $150, not sure i want to put $500 - $1000 into making it look nicer.

any idea where i can find out which color finishes and pick guards were used on this type of bass originally. i seem to see a lot of tan basses w white pick guards. but i'd be interested in some other options.

i'll see if i can send you a photo of the bass through your website.

thanks again, i really do appreciate it a lot!

Cliff Keller
San Diego


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1968 tele bass to refurbish
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:06 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
What you now call tan was actually Fender Blonde on ash bodies. It yellowed up over the years due light exposure. Fender Blonde was the standard issue. Custom colors were available but very seldom ordered. One in a custom color is much more rare than the blonde and usually brings more money. The Blonde 68's came with white pickguards. However you are free to go with whatever color you like. White was stock but I'd consider the pale mint green which is how white pickguards of that era usually now appear due aging. Also I'd consider black since I think black looks best on Fender Blonde.

I've pickguard shopped for you, Pickguard Heaven has one for $38. It is pattern 17. It also states a tracing of the original guard is required. In your case I think a tracing of the body with the screw holes marked would probably work. Fender changed pickguard specs mid year on these. The link is http://pickguards.us/pricetele.html

I again encourage you to leave the headstock as it is until you can get professional help on that. I don't think it would really be $500 though just for the headstock restoration. Congrats on such a great find! I don't have to tell you that even with the headstock issue it is worth quite a bit more than you paid for it.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 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: