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Post subject: P Body shape
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:41 am
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Body shape?

I'm trying to build a Precision based on Paul Simonon's (The Clash) bass. I am using a Japanese Jazz Special neck, that has a black headstock. I bought an Affinity series bass just for the body - was planning on replacing everything except the wood!

I received the bass, and to my surprise, the shape of the body is very different from, say, an American Vintage. On the Affinity all the edges are much sharper, and at the belly cut, the body has not been sanded round over the edge as a classic precision body. I'm returning it. I went to guitar center and checked out the differences in precision bodies side by side. Some Mexican basses have the same 'hard-edged' body, and some Squiers also. (I'm not talking about the 50's slab style).

However on the Squier Classic Vibe precision made in China, the body has the correct old shape with soft sides and edges. To me it looked the same as the American Vintage. So it seems it's not as simple as choosing by country of manufacturing.

How do I get my hands on a precision body with the "old style" soft rounded sides and rounder edges? (For less than $200)

How about the 'Genuine' arctic white Mexican body you can get from Fender? What 'shape style' does it have?

Or is it better to get an All Parts body?

Thanks for any help and input!


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:18 am
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Simo's basses were usually just 70's model precisions. So I would think any poly mexican series Precision body can get you there. Check the ebay shop stratosphere. They part out tons of fenders at all levels. A Standard Series Fender Precision should have the body you are looking for.

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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 11:32 am
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Thanks for the reply, and yes, that's also what I thought before going to guitar center. But the Mexican standard they have hanging there has the same hard edges as the Affinity. Not soft like AVRI or the Squire Classic Vibe series. I don't care if it's poly or nitro, I just want that 60's-70's shape.

Thanks again


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:03 pm
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I've never seen a Mexican P bass without the rounded body edges other than The Dirnt. According to the Fender site the Standard still has the rounded edges. So I don't know what your shop is trying to sell you, but it's not a Standard series mexican P. There aren't many basses Fender sells with the forearm and belly cut, but without the rounded edges.

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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:54 pm
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I don't know what the op is talking about exactly. I need pics. Maybe it's just a very slight difference. The only bodies I've seen with hard edges -- old British P-- early 50's P-- Telecaster bass-- Dirnt P-- Dusty Hill etc.


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:37 am
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It is small differences but nevertheless. It bugs me.
I can try to take pictures.
I am not talking about 50's style slab bodies like the telecaster or Mike Dirnt.


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:34 am
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Here's one with the correct shape:
http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/11-27 ... 0740_1.jpg

Here's one with the harder edges, cheap looking in my opinion:
http://www.pssl.com/images/ProdImage02/ ... 00-525.jpg

Can someone shed some light on this?


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:08 pm
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I think it may be that the difference in the bodies is related to what method of cutting and prep work is done. The sharper edge contour may be the CNC thing. The other old bodies may be getting the hands on approach-- shaped and sanded old world style. The bodies from Squire and some of the other older Mex bodies( maybe even new ones) are processed thru the fully automated system with the CNC deal.


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:26 pm
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Thanks for replies. It did some more research, went to a vintage guitar store in brooklyn, and saw p and j bodies from various eras.
Most of the older bodies are softer in the shape, some of the newer (80's) are more edgy.
I did see one beautiful 67 precision that was just as 'hard' in the shape as my new Chinese body.
My own conclusion is that the shape varies a lot regardless if it's 60's, 70's or new. Like you just said, it has to do with how much sanding is applied after routing, and the sanding range from barely touched to heavy handed in some cases, and what is 'correct' is hard to say.
I'm keeping the body.


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:06 am
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Glad you got that settled. I used to play a 78 P bass during my days in punk bands and it certainly wasn't well finished in the sanding sense. The reality is that Simo had a few Precisions. Most notably the one he smashed in the Pennie Smith photo that ended up as the cover of London Calling. If you take a good look at the back of that bass you will see that it wasn't very smooth and had the harder edge. Which was typical of the later CBS era as they were always looking to cut cost and maximize profit at the expense of workmanship. So if you're looking to do a Simo style tribute. You are probably good to go anyhow. Nice to meet a fellow fan of his work. He had a lot of influence on me picking up the bass when I was a kid. Great guy. Good luck with your build and if you can update with photos of the build and finished product. I'd like to see how it turns out!

Image

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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:34 am
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OK, since you asked for it, here are some pics! I wanted the look of Simonon's bass, but i like Jazz necks, and i also wanted the PJ setup.

The body is the Squier Affinity PJ. I ditched everything except the pickguard screws!
I found the neck on ebay for $250, and it's the best neck i have ever had. (including AV 62, my 77 Jazz and several StingRays.) It's from a Japanese Jazz Special from mid 80's. So if anyone is considering a Jazz neck, the price of a whole 80's Jazz Special is well worth it just for the neck, in my opinion.
P pickup is DiMarzio, obviously. J pickup is a SD.
Pots are CTS, with a WD mini pot for tone due to space constraints. Spraque cap.
0-11 speed knobs as per Simonon!
Tuners are nickel plated Schaller.
Badass II bridge. - The 70's Fender bridge spacing is a little tight for me, maybe i'll get a vintage 60's with threaded saddles to get wider spacing.
F neck plate with gasket.

The bass sounds absolutely amazing. P bass thump and bottom with J growl.

I still have a couple of problems with the body. (you get what you pay for.) I'm considering an AV olympic white body. First of all the hard shape, but also the bright white color. I don't understand why Fender calls this 'Olympic' white, when it's clearly not.

On the picture of the side of the body you can clearly see my problem. The transition from front to back is super hard edged.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Here's Simonon:

Image


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 11:59 pm
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OP- your bass came out nice I think. What exactly do you think is wrong with it?

I have a mid 80's MIJ jazz special that's all black- black p body, black j neck with painted headstock & back of neck (see some pics in my thread here ---> viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95981 )

I really like my jazz special neck. It feels great. Fast, comfortable to play, and looks nice to boot.

The one you put together is very similar functionally with the p/j pup setup, and the p body/j neck combo. I think that is the best of all worlds really. If you could only have 1 bass, it's the one to have I think.

I like the knobs you used. Where did you get them?


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:54 am
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Southpaw1969 wrote:
OP- your bass came out nice I think. What exactly do you think is wrong with it?

I have a mid 80's MIJ jazz special that's all black- black p body, black j neck with painted headstock & back of neck (see some pics in my thread here ---> viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95981 )

I really like my jazz special neck. It feels great. Fast, comfortable to play, and looks nice to boot.

The one you put together is very similar functionally with the p/j pup setup, and the p body/j neck combo. I think that is the best of all worlds really. If you could only have 1 bass, it's the one to have I think.

I like the knobs you used. Where did you get them?



Thanks!
I got the speed knobs at guitarpartsresource.

I agree about the PJ setup.

My problem with the shape is the hard edges. If you look at picture 4, the top side of the body; where the tummy cut transitions to the front of the body, there is a flat side.
On most 60's and 70's bodies the tummy cut is deeper, so that edge is a full round.

Basically the body is very hard-edged, whereas older bodies are much more hand finished to a fluid organic shape. This body looks very clunky and 'busy' from certain angles. Does it make sense?

Nice bass you have. I used to have one like that all black, but fretless. Very nice.


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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:28 am
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Wow, that came out absolutely killer! Very well done! A fitting tribute for sure!

As far as the Oly White. Both paints may actually be Olympic White, but the difference is that one is Poly and one is Nitro. Or even that one has a Nitro sealing coat, and the other is Poly/Poly. A modern Poly/Poly coated body will stay white and it will look pure white for a long time as long as it's cared for. The in between years where there is the poly paint and nitro clear coat the color would yellow but not usually wear through because the nitro would get tainted but the Poly was like a bullet proof egg shell. Lastly the old school Nitro/Nitro would obviously yellow and wear through right down to the wood with time or abuse.

So if you want a bass that you can play the hell out of and have it end up looking like Simo's in a few decades I think you are on the right track with the American Vintage Oly White body. The 62 or 63 Precision body will check, yellow and wear through. The more you play it the more original it will become. If you don't care about the wear and the yellowing and just want a more rounded body. The older Classic 70's Precision that I used to own had nice curves on her. That model has been discontinued. (A shame as it was a great model. Probably should have kept that. :/ ) However, the same bass without the black blocked neck is set to be released as a Dee Dee Ramone Signature model very soon. So those will be out there.

Good luck in the search for that last finishing touch, and very nice work again.

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Post subject: Re: P Body shape
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:38 am
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If you want a look at the Classic 70's to save yourself a bit of cash on the body. Here's the listing from when I sold mine. There are some pictures in there. Two of which might be really helpful for you.

https://reverb.com/item/116421-fender-classic-70-s-precision-bass-2011-olympic-white

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2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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