It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:55 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 5:07 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:52 pm
Posts: 5
Hey there! So, I just recently purchased a used P. Bass. I've looked all over the internet (i.e. these forums and beyond) in order to find out exactly what model it is, but have yet to find out anything. The serial number dates it to 2002/2003. I'm assuming 2003...? I really have no idea. Anyway, it looks a reissue '62: pickup cover, bridge cover, tug bar, vintage brown shell pickguard and 3 tone sunburst. However, I haven't found anything that confirms that Fender made reissue LOOKING models in Mexico during that time. Did the previous owner modify it or did Fender make reissue '62-LIKE models in Mexico? Also, any information on the pickup specs and so forth would be absolutely fantastic. Thank you for looking this over and your patience with the question! If a picture would help, let me know!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 10:13 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Yeah, a picture could help a lot!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:35 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:52 pm
Posts: 5
...for sure. Here they are (sorry 'bout the size!):
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 11:24 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
You can and should email Fender's Consumer Relations and ask for all information for your serial number.

It looks to me that a previous owner has gone to great lengths to give that bass a true vintage Fender vibe, and I'd say he succeeded gloriously. A lot of love there. If the pup had adjustable pole pieces I'd say it was a DiMarzio. But I really can't tell.

You may have lucked into a truly fabulous piece if the electronics were upgraded as well as the exterior. Rock On Brother Bassman! 8)

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:39 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:52 pm
Posts: 5
So, I e-mailed Fender and this is what they told me:

Quote:
Serial MZ2086575 is attached to the Standard Precision Bass in Brown Sunburst from 09/2002, made in Mexico. While we have run some Classic Series out of Mexico, such as the current 50's/60's Strats and Teles, we haven't done any Vintage Reissue series out of that location. I'll get you a full spec sheet below, but this looks like it had some decent mods done after-market.

Model Name: Standard Precision Bass
Model Number: 013-6100-(Color #)
Series: Standard Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape,
(Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Rosewood (9.5” Radius/241 mm)
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 34” (864 mm)
Nut: 1.625” (41.3 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Standard
Bridge: Standard Vintage Style
Pickguard: 3-Ply White
Pickups: 1 Standard Precision Bass Split Single-Coil Pickup (Mid)
Pickup Switching: None
Controls: Volume, Tone
Colors: (506) Black,
(519) Sage Green Metallic,
(529) Blue Agave,
(532)* Brown Sunburst, *add $50.00,
(573) Midnight Blue, (Disc. 1/2002)
(575) Midnight Wine,

(580) Arctic White,
(Polyester Finish)
Strings: Fender Super Bass 7250ML, NPS,
Gauges: (.045, .065, .080, .100),
p/n 073-7250-005
Case: None
Other Features: "New" Knurled Chrome P Bass® Knobs
Source: Mexico
Accessories: None
U.S. MSRP: $570.99
INTRODUCED: 7/2001
DISCONTINUED: 1/2006
WRENCH SIZES: Truss Rod 3/16" p/n 0038467000,
Saddle Height 1/16" p/n 0021109000
NOTICE: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice


I also opened up the bass to see if any upgrades had been made. And there was! Here are the pics:
Image
Image

I don't know much about Curtis Novak's pickups, but they sound pretty great. Anyway, thanks for the help and I'm glad I got myself a solid, modified P Bass!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:59 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
If my memory serves Oxfan did a similar job on a sunburst MIM Standard Jazz Bass he had.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 8:04 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:58 pm
Posts: 1051
Location: SW Florida
Curtis Novak pups are very nice. I met him through BD when I was looking for a top notch refinisher. By the time I got to him he no longer did refinishing work and just concentrated on pups. No problems there, that's for sure.

_________________
Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 3:05 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 2:49 am
Posts: 560
Location: Perth, Australia
:D Yeah, I got a pair of Curtis Novak WRHB in my JM, and they sound sweet, so I am certain your CN pups do that bass good.

_________________
GUITAR: Fender USA JazzMaster.
BASS: Fender USA 58'AVRI
AMP: Fender USA SuperSonicTwin - Blonde.
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:58 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
You really are blessed Big Time 8)
What a great find on a perfectly modified bass with the best of everything already done. I wouldn't change a thing except strings. May you both have many happy years together. :)

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 2:50 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Depending on what tone you want, I might consider changing that tone cap from 0.10uf to 0.05uf. It would make it sound brighter when the tone is wide open and about the same when it is rolled off. Would just give you more tonal options. Really cheap upgrade and easily reversed if you want the original back in it.

I would suggest either a 50 volt vintage ceramic or a 100 volt paper in oil Vitamin-Q type as they are the most stable.

The one in there now appears to be a reproduction of the Cornell-Dubilier "Phone-Book" paper in wax cap used in the very early 1950's in the single coil P-Bass. Should sound pretty smooth but over time these are not as stable as a paper in oil Vitamin-Q type or Ceramic Disc type. I say this one is a reproduction because it looks way too new to be vintage and there are oodles of reproduction caps on the market that LOOK like real Cornell-Dubilier znw1p1 caps and labeled as such, but are not "the real deal." I don't know what is inside them and never tried out one of the repros because I don't like the instability.

HOWEVER the 0.10uf values were definitely used in 51 & 52 P-Basses which also incorporated a resistor in the tone circuit. After introduction of the split coil P-Bass pickup Fender switched to the 0.05 uf value. Having the 0.10uf cap on a second generation P-Bass usually muddies it up a great deal unless you have a very bright pickup and are looking to tame it. I suspect you may feel like your tone control isn't doing much. So I think that unless the Novak pickups are incredibly bright you'd possibly be better off with a 0.05 cap, which usually means a 0.047uf cap. 0.047 is so close to 0.05 that it doesn't matter. Finding a true vintage 50 volt 0.05 or 0.047 uf ceramic is easy. Usually they are less than one dollar. A genuine Sprague Vitamin-Q in 0.047uf value will run you at least ten times more. A Vitamin-Q type made by anyone else, especially Soviet ones, will be much cheaper than the genuine Sprague. Also Sprague made them alsoOEM for brands like Philco, Raytheon, etc which you can ID by the Sprague hallmark of a "2" inside a circle. Whether you use a ceramic disc or a paper in oil cap either one will give your tone control more to do.

A vintage ceramic disc will add a little grit to the tone while the Vitamin-Q type has the lowest distortion. A good source for both is axegrinderz.com.

Curtis Novak is a swell guy and while I've never used his pickups he is genuinely sincere about his love of vintage instruments in general and tone in particular so I'm suspecting if these were crafted to precisely replicate whatever year was specified by the buyer. If I hadn't already found "MY SOUND" elsewhere I'd give his a try. They should compare very favorably with Lindy Fralin's pickups. If I ever upgrade another instrument for myself, which at this late juncture seems unlikely, then I'd like to try Novak's. I've tried other custom made ones but not his. He's a fellow North Carolinian and I have a lot of respect for him based on his restoration work. Apparently making pickups is more profitable though so he gave up restorations.

I'd also consider changing the pickup covers to black ones to match the era of the other cosmetics.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 10:28 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:52 pm
Posts: 5
Hey, thanks brotherdave for the insight...and thank you to everyone else who helped me out! I may try out the .047 Vitamin-Qs. You caught my attention with the tonal differences they provide, so I may try those on for size. At the very least I'll have some modifying options to choose from in case I want modify anything else in the future. Also, that axegrinderz.com site is legit. Thanks for that reference as well.

I've unfortunately ran into a hiccup with the pickups. Somehow they were shot in the bustle of me removing the pick-guard n' such. In my defense, I was super careful, but somehow something didn't sit right with them and they decided to give off a huge buzzing signal, making it super bright and thin. The volume isn't as strong and the tone nob turns the volume way down as the tone gets softer. I took them in to a local repair shop and we narrowed it down to the pickups, which sucks....BUT, luckily, Curtis Novak is cool and willing to rewind them for me!

All that to say...awesome bass. Awesome information and support here and thanks again. You all rock.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Precision Bass Model (MZ2086575) Info/Specs?
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 12:32 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:10 am
Posts: 40
I have a question though;

Would the tuners on a Geddy Lee or Nate Mendel bass (the 70s style ones) fit a MIM standard neck well?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: