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Post subject: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 6:14 am
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Hi all

Ive recently been left this fender precision bass. From the serial number on the backplate it seems to be from 1963.

Image

Image

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I assume that the original finish has been stripped off and the wood varnished and im assuming that the pickups and scratchplate have been replaced as well


anyone able to give me any more info on this based on the photos?


Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:13 am
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The serial # dates to 1963 for sure. Too bad someone stripped the original finish off. Really hurts the value of the bass. Still, it's a pre-CBS P-bass - very cool.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 11:23 am
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Nice player class pre-CBS Precision, that needs some work. Are you a player or a seller?

While selling posts are a no-no here, it's no crime to state your intent. :wink:

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One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:06 pm
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I would like to see more pictures! You are correct that a previous owner made some changes. Besides the body finish, they added a string tree between the E and A strings, changed out the pickups, put on a new pickguard, replaced the knobs (?). Cannot confirm originality of the neck, body or electronics without more pictures. Not saying there is an issue there, just say I cannot confirm it. The serial number on the neck plate is fine. Both the bridge and pickup covers are missing.

Since the pickups have been changed we know the solder on the pots has been changed. A look at the pots inside to determine the dates, the heel of the neck and inside the neck pocket, would all be great pictures to have, but the more the merrier.

There are professional appraisers out there, most notably George Gruhn in Nashville. His team can make a fair determination based on a good photo group, for very little money. Call, and ask for the exact shots they would like. Can all be done by email from there. http://www.gruhn.com.

I am holding a 63P while I type this. Great instruments.

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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 5:23 am
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Thanks for your replies guys

I know my uncle bought it new when he was 15 in the UK in 1963 and he had it ever since. He moved to Germany in the late 60's so its been there since. He played it alot so i assume the changes were necessary to keep it in a playable state.

It still has the original case with it (although its not in great condition) but i dont think the bridge/pickup guards are around anymore and i have no info on how much of the electronics he changed.

Im going to get it cleaned up here in london in the near future so il ask then to check the neck stamp and electronics and take more pictures, as im not comfortable doing that myself!

not too bothered about value as its sentimental value is way higher to me. Its cool to have an instrument that someone used their whole life and it still plays great and sounds great even tho its in need of a good clean up!

Thanks again!


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:44 am
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Speaking for myself, I'd rather find one like this than a near mint one. The ones in like new shape are that way often because they never got played and usually that was because they were not exactly good playing so they got relegated to being backups or closet queens that disappointed their owner in some regard compared to others they had available. Many people who own pristine collector class Fenders don't play them, they just hoard them. Some even keep them in vaults. They fear a little scratch, bump etc. They are mere investments to these people. While I enjoy seeing them I'd be skittish about actually playing one out too.

Examples like this one have more character to me and are more affordable. It is a pity about the refinish, but when it was done it probably seemed like a good idea at the time as nobody foresaw today's collector market being what it is. Being outside the USA will actually increase the value of this thing because pre-CBS stuff even modified stuff is really scarce in Europe. I wouldn't sell it either, I'd play it and keep it playable.

If I had it I'd give it a thorough cleaning, new strings and full setup. So you are going in the same direction I would. I'd then consider replacing the pickguard with the 62 reissue tortoise guard, adding reissue chrome bridge and pickup covers, installing the finger rest, and swapping the EMG pickup pair for the Fender Original pickup pair. In fact adding a reissue chrome pickup cover would negate the cosmetic benefit of a pickup change. The frets might need some attention but I leave that sort of thing to techs with the proper tools and experience at that. There's nothing really wrong with the EMG pickups and they are a popular modern modification but they do throw the vintage look off. There isn't much you can do about the added string retainer so I'd leave it instead of having the screw hole and impression mark that removing it would leave. Other than those changes just cleaning it and setting it up with new strings and then playing it a lot would be good to do.

If I was going to play it out I'd find a new case to fit it. Nothing attracts attention from instrument thieves like a vintage case. Plus as cool as a beat up vintage case is to use, I'd not want the already beat up vintage case to get totally destroyed. It may be a good idea to retire the original case from transport duty, but keep it in a climate controlled environment so if you do ever want to sell the instrument you have the original case to go with it which adds more value than you might think. Even a really beat up original Fender case has significant value today and will have more value tomorrow, so there is no sense in totally destroying it. Modern SKB, Gator and the G&G made Fender branded cases are affordable and durable. Used modern cases are even more affordable with eBay being a good place to find them. To me a newer case would be a sensible alternative to using the original case for actual transport. I use Fender gig bags a lot for around town by-hand transport of most of my instruments but probably would not do that with this one. I'd want a hard case for this one. The instrument shaped one made by SKB is more compact and that would be a good choice for me. Rectangular cases have a lot of wasted space. In Europe you may have different case choices than here in the USA. Selmer who distributed Fender in the UK around this time often imported instruments without cases and instead used their own UK case sources because it cut their overhead. Either way it is a good idea to preserve the original case whether it is a stock Fender case as issued in the USA or a Selmer sourced one.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:04 am
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The only thing that I would suggest you do is to ask the family of your uncle if any one knows of any guitar or bass parts that your uncle kept or stored in a workshop or storage space.

It would be great if you could find the original parts for his bass.

A long shot i'm sure, but the possibility of a discovery is worth the effort.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 8:59 am
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Thanks again for the replies

For now im going to keep it as it is. This is how he left it and id like to keep his modifications for the time being. At some point i might add the bridge guard and swap out the pickups but it sounds great as is it and just needs a set up and some new strings to get it up and running again. Id love to play it live, but its just too risky. A theft would be pretty devastating, so its going to be a studio/home use bass for now!


Frets all seem ok to me and everything up the headstock seems to be working fine. Id love to know what colour it was originally but noone seems to know for sure. Mum reckons she remembers it as being pale blue but theres no way to check that

really interesting to know that there arent many of these pre-cbs basses in europe. Like mentioned, it would be great to see it in its original glory, but its cool to have a instrument that someone played heavily and really valued rather than kept hidden away to preserve value

Ive been using a cheap squier jazz for live use recently, and the feel of this compared to that in so different! This just feels sturdy and the neck is really easy to get used to!

wont be selling this for sure!


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Precision Bass
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:41 pm
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Wow nice bass. Your Mum may have remebered correctly as there is a Fender color called Sonic Blue from around that pre-CBS era.

Also there may be evidence of the original color left under the pickups or where the neck connects to the body. If you have a pro take her apart, ask him/her to look for signs of the original color.

Good luck with that beautiful piece of history!

Joe


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