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Post subject: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 6:12 pm
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Hello all - I think I'm jumping the fence from the "J" to the "P". Since I got my first J bass, I've primarily been playing funk and soul. I'm finally realizing the P bass may fit the bill for me.

I've always loved the looks of the typical James Jamerson sunburst P bass with the tortoise shell pick guard.

The bass I'm looking at now is a CS 59 with closet classic finish. It comes with the gold anodized guard. Would it be foolish to swap it with a Fender tortoise shell guard (did the 59 come with a tortoise shell?)? I know the bass is not a real vintage instrument, but I'd still like it to be "correct".

Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 6:48 pm
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There are all original sunburst 59 P-Basses with tortoise shell guards.


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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 4:23 am
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Thanks! Now If I decide to go this route, I won't feel so bad swapping out the pick guard.

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 7:31 am
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Do it! I've always been a huge fan of "what if?" basses from the transitional years. Since Fender used parts until they were gone when changing specs, but then sometimes stumbled across more of old stock components and simply used them in production. There is no end to the weird concoctions that might have escaped. One of the coolest things about the early Fender days is the lack of hard and fast rules and dates. Nothing like today's manufacturing environments.

The picture in my profile is of my AVS 57RI with a WD 10 hole tort guard. As the Raised A and maple neck was phased out in 59, and the tort guard was added. It's kind of like a cool what if model. As at one time there could have been a bass with a maple neck, raised A and tort guard produced at Fender.

Remember, originally the tort guards had 10 holes, and were later changed to 13. I can easily recommend the 10 hole WD replacement. It's a great guard and looks like a million bucks.

Here are a few pics of my 57RI before and after. Honestly, I'm contemplating putting the guards on her and getting some foam for a mute. I bet it'd look even better.

Image


Image

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 6:48 pm
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The links you've had posted are not correct.

Image

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 5:04 am
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Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 2:28 pm
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I bought a tort guard for my Road Worn P and it fit great. That model is a late 50's with a 10 hole guard. Quality stuff from WD. A little pricey though.

I actually might switch back the aluminum guard and use the Tort from WD for another project. For the OP, if you look through Ebay be careful as some of those cheaper guards will give you fitting problems and most are 13 hole types.


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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 5:59 am
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jazzbassjo wrote:
I bought a tort guard for my Road Worn P and it fit great. That model is a late 50's with a 10 hole guard. Quality stuff from WD. A little pricey though.

I actually might switch back the aluminum guard and use the Tort from WD for another project. For the OP, if you look through Ebay be careful as some of those cheaper guards will give you fitting problems and most are 13 hole types.


+1 WD is pricey, but it was a perfect fit. One of the few instances anymore where you get what you pay for. JBJ, what color was your Roadworn? I always thought a Fiesta RW with a tort guard would look killer.

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 2:08 pm
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Silly question - what does WD mean?

Raised A?

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 5:30 am
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WD is for WD Music. An online pickguard and parts maker for instruments. They can be a tad pricey, but they offer a wide, high quality selection. I've used many guards from them. This being the latest and I've never, ever had an issue with one of their products. Unfortunately, Fender does not really offer much for the transitional 10 hole guard basses. (Classic and Roadworn 50's and the American Vintage and Custom Shop 57, 58 and 59s) Basically a replacement gold anodized and I think they were doing a black anodized for a time. One would think they'd at least do tort, perhaps the non-bevelled edge black faux bakelite black, and maybe a single ply white or mint. WD has the 10 hole cut and will add the tugbar and holes for the cover on any of the colors they make. Which includes the tort you see a pic of. I'm extremely happy with it, and it gives the bass two very different looks I can choose from. The traditional 57 look, or the later 50's look. Both very, very cool.

The Raised A is the first split coil P bass pick up. Appearing in 57 and running until sometime in 59, I believe. (Dave would know better) The Raised A (string) poles being a carry over from the original single coil Precision design. Whether due to their design or their winding these pick ups are generally rich in mids and are very punchy but not in a heavy or overbearing way. (where as the famous 62 is very bass rich, and fat and thumpy) I believe it was sometime in 59 that the raised A was replaced by a more familiar even pole design pick up which is the pick up recreated for the Custom Shop 59. A great pick up also.

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Post subject: Re: Considering a CS 59 P Bass, pick guard question...
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 9:25 am
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TheKingofPain wrote:
jazzbassjo wrote:
I bought a tort guard for my Road Worn P and it fit great. That model is a late 50's with a 10 hole guard. Quality stuff from WD. A little pricey though.

I actually might switch back the aluminum guard and use the Tort from WD for another project. For the OP, if you look through Ebay be careful as some of those cheaper guards will give you fitting problems and most are 13 hole types.


+1 WD is pricey, but it was a perfect fit. One of the few instances anymore where you get what you pay for. JBJ, what color was your Roadworn? I always thought a Fiesta RW with a tort guard would look killer.


Hey 'Pain' forgot I commented on this post (typical!)

My Road Worn is 2 tone Sunburst. I am a sucker for sunburst and tort. :P ...But saying that I got used to the aluminum guard-look. Classic ya know.
You give good advise on that WD guard. I had much trouble finding a 10 hole before I found the WD. Yes it is worth it.

Funny how you mentioned Fiesta and tort..... I am building a parts bass using a Fiesta red Road Worn Precision body, WD tort guard and probably a Nate Mendel neck (still undecided about that as the Road Worn spec P neck is really feeling good). You have mentioned before and I am starting to agree that the 57 RI, classic series or Road Worn are really what a Precision should feel/sound like (for me anyway). Still have my late model American Standard but that old school sound/feel is where it's at!

On this project P I am currently working on, I would like to get close to the Custom Shop Pino Palladino Fender makes. It will not be exact, but I am going to try and get close!

Still unsure of what pickups. Maybe Road Worn or "Original '62" or maybe one of the new ones Fender is selling like the '58 or '63.

Just picked up Gotoh res-o-lite reverse wind long stem tuners and gave them a muriatic acid fume bath to oxidize them (keeping with the slightly worn look). Trying to keep the bass at just over 8 lbs. I do love the Road Worn's slightly thinner body but kind of wish it had less relic going on.

Either way I will post this beast when it is finished.


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