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Post subject: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 3:51 am
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I think it does, but it's been a while since I cracked open a Fender that had 4-bolt microtilt. The neck looks pretty legit to me, and given (as far as I know) that there are no aftermarket body folks making these kinds of bodies I think it's legit. I also lean toward the school of thought "if you were gonna fake something, why that?" It came in the original case (thermoplastic style). I put the tortoise on it while I had it apart, came with single ply white guard. It's supposed to be a 1983 American Fender Precision Bass (don't think they had come out with American Standard yet).

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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:26 am
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Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
Yes, that's what a neck tilt looks like. Notice that it is still a four screw neck along with the neck tilt. That is what Precision basses used for a neck tilt.

The Jazz basses of this time period had three bolt necks with a neck tilt.

It actually works very well but don't use the tilt unless you need it. Let a good repair man make that determination when you have the bass set-up.

Good luck with your bass and more pictures would be appreciated.

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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:02 pm
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Agree it appears correct.


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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:50 am
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Thanks for the replies, I cruised around the interweb a while and found three different black 83 basses with pics and they all look just like mine..I appreciate the help.


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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:32 am
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Took a good bit of polishing to clean the frets, it's a real closet classic....near mint condition but corroded from sitting for years. I shimmed the neck, I prefer a shim to using the microtilt. I didn't need much, but it is 30 years old now.

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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 10:55 am
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I just put my 83 P bass back in it's case. I think it is a very well built and very good sounding bass. Don't get rid of the white guard. These basses are worth 1000 and climbing. Your maple neck version may be a little more than that- if it's all original. The 83 has a pretty wide string spacing.

Anyway nice bass ! Mines black too but with a rosewood board. :D

If you want to get rid of the rusty screws I'll take them !!! :)


I have one question- What exactly was the reason for the shim?


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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 4:03 pm
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Shim to achieve proper neck angle, some basses (and guitars) settle over the years, some are just made with a neck pocket that's not exactly what it should be from the beginning. The microtilt is Fender's answer to that, but I prefer a shim......if it's cut right, it will provide a larger surface contact area for the heel of the neck to set on. A more invasive and non-reversible procedure can be performed by someone that really has the skill-set and tool set to match. You can alter the neck pocket or heel of the neck, again non-reversible and you really need to know what you're doing. Shim does it for me. The rusty screws are what came on the bass, the only thing not stock is the pickguard (I have the original) and strings.
The average acoustic needs a neck-set about 20 years in.....some need it sooner, some may go 30 years or longer, wood is wood.....it's not a flaw typically, just the natural property of wood and considered maintenance like re-frets etc...


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Post subject: Re: Help, does this look right?
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 8:54 pm
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I was just wondering if since the bass sat for a long time it may have a "heel up". I've had that a couple times. Once I just replaced the neck rather than spend the bucks having it planed or etc etc.... The other time it was very slight and I just filed the last few frets so I could have lower action with no buzzing. Then with my 74 - quality control creeped in on that and I shimmed it and no problem since. The pocket was out ever so slightly.

I even had a neck that when I bought it I didn't notice but it was warped sideways. I'm not kidding. Don't feel like typing all about that though. Right? :D


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