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Post subject: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 3:42 pm
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I posted a couple of questions earlier regarding shielding a single coil p-bass and got some great feedback; thanks again BrotherDave. I thought I would share a few pictures of my results in hopes that it might give someone else the courage to tackle the project. I was really apprehensive doing this to a brand new bass, but I figured I might as well have fun with it since my wife will sell it in a garage sale for $15.00 when I'm gone.

I'm not going to bore you with a lot of details because there's nothing I can write that hasn't been covered elsewhere. But I do have a few comments to add. I did this in three steps so I could hear the difference between each modification. First, I shielded the controls cavity leaving about 0.10" above the edge and rolling it over onto the top. I was surprised at easy it was to work the copper tape, but I was also surprised at what little difference it made in the noise. The second mod was to shield the pickup cavity and again I was surprised at how little it improved the hum. Finally, I ran a short piece of copper tape from the pickup cavity shielding to the hole where the pickup cover attaches. Strangely, this seemed to make the most difference of any of the three of shielding components. Regardless, I can certainly tell a difference in the final results. I should mention that the place that I stand when I practice is about 5 feet from the meter box on the back of the house. I can take it in any other room and it's as quiet as a mouse.

I also changed the stock bridge with a Fender Deluxe and am really impressed with the beefiness of the replacement. It sure is a heck of a lot easier to adjust string height and intonation than the stock, plus the bridge cover fits over it so it still appears completely stock, but this is also true of the shielding mods.

Thanks again for helping me out.

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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 6:26 pm
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Neat job. I usually use a wire to the pickup cover but that works just as well and actually is probably faster and easier. Might just use the foil next time. Innovative!

I tried the same bridge on a 51 RI and had problems intonating it. Tried everything, shimming neck, different strings, etc. Had to change to one with longer saddle travel.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 7:34 pm
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Nice bass. I'm suprised you had to shield anything after having a pickup cover.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:53 pm
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Dalembic wrote:
Nice bass. I'm suprised you had to shield anything after having a pickup cover.


The single coil first generation P-Bass pickup is quite sensitive to RF, not like having 3 of them on a Strat but at least as sensitive as the bridge pickup on a Telecaster. Unshielded they will hum like a Jazz Bass with one pickup soloed with no way to stop it. Actually it is a bit more RFI sensitive than the Jazz so they pick up more RF. The pickup cover does help but is not as much help as a grounded pickup cover over a shielded pickup cavity.

These first generation P-Bass single coils are in fact so RFI sensitive that even a perfect shielding job like the one nickbtx pulled off won't cure 100% of the RFI or make them as immune as a Split Coil 2nd Generation P-Bass pickup but does eliminate a lot of the RFI sensitivity. I had one that was so sensitive it would pickup nearby state trooper car radio transmissions with the pickup cover on it. No joke, truth.

The shielding makes it more usable in a variety of situations plus allows you to turn the treble up way more than was possible when it was unshielded. On any single coil bass and especially on first generation P-Basses it is really a cheap mod that I consider not only beneficial but essential. It is totally reversible since you can just pull the tape out with no harm done whatsoever. This is the one mod I have done on all four of my first gen instruments including a 1968 Telecaster Bass, 1954 P-Bass, 1951 RI and 1954 based Frankenbass. I also have done it on several Jazz Basses I've owned over the years and it was beneficial on them also.

So it doesn't eliminate 100% of the RFI but it does help a lot. It is one mod that is absolutely worth the small cost.

Copper shielding and better tone capacitors are probably the two best bang for the buck mods but also the two least frequently done. If Leo Quan or Seymour Duncan sold tone caps or copper tape shielding kits then maybe more people would get hep to it.

It is doubly time consuming to do it on a Jazz as a first generation P-Bass is the simplest and cheapest to shield since you only need a very small quantity of copper tape. There is only one pickup cavity, a small control cavity and you do not have to shield the back of the pickguard. On a Jazz you have a larger control cavity, an additional pickup cavity and you have to shield the back of the pickguard also. If I was charging someone to do it I'd want twice as much to do a Jazz. You also need the large solid copper sheet in addition to the tape.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 9:46 pm
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My shielded 51 RI. It ain't purty but it's mine.

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Two more shielded single coils:

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I didn't copper shield the one on the left below, didn't need it.

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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:37 pm
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BrotherDave is about as pure Fender as one can be.

I'm still adjusting to the tone capabilities of my new bass..so I haven't yet purchased an amp. You'res would do fine, I'm sure.

Sorry to derail..I just have serious love for the Precision Bass(especially the California Series).


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:48 am
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brotherdave wrote:
My shielded 51 RI. It ain't purty but it's mine.


I don't know why you'd say that, I think it's gorgeous. They all are for that matter. One of the projects on my list is to make a tortoiseshell pickguard for my '55. I think the white is very cool, but the tortoiseshell has a classy look to it. It only takes a couple of minutes to switch pickguards so it's all a matter of am I feeling classy or cool.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:19 pm
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nickbtx wrote:

...One of the projects on my list is to make a tortoiseshell pickguard for my '55. I think the white is very cool, but the tortoiseshell has a classy look to it. It only takes a couple of minutes to switch pickguards so it's all a matter of am I feeling classy or cool.


I just wish I could get some authentic vintage and era correct tortoise guards. The real ones are way different from the reproductions. The Fender '62 RI P-Bass guard was the closest I've seen but still exactly not the same and probably being discontinued. In the late 60's and early 70's there were these awesome tort guards with great big chunks of different colors floating around including yellow and they were absolutely breathtaking. Hardly ever see them anymore.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:35 pm
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Nice!

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Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:38 pm
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This is my Fender 62 RI Pickguard up close.

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This is the real 62 Pickguard.

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I mean it is obvious!


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:05 pm
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I put the same bridge as the OP on my Sting. It works like it should. I didn't shield anything on it (mine). It has a Duncan Qtr. lb'er. Stangley no buzz or hum. I haven't stood next to my breaker box and played it though. I don't remember- maybe the Qtr pounder is wired like a little humbucker.


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:12 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
I put the same bridge as the OP on my Sting. It works like it should. I didn't shield anything on it (mine). It has a Duncan Qtr. lb'er. Stangley no buzz or hum. I haven't stood next to my breaker box and played it though. I don't remember- maybe the Qtr pounder is wired like a little humbucker.
ut

Yeah I just got "unlucky." I shielded the bass I have with that very same pickup long before installing it. But I don't think the SCPB3 has stacked or split coils. It is too bright for that. Love that pickup. You are just lucky! LET'S GO TO VEGAS!


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Post subject: Re: 1955 Precision Bass NOS - Making it my own
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:32 pm
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Okay- Nascar was there today. Nice.


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