My New '74
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 11:16 am
Last year, I managed to score a February '74 4001 in JG. I already own an April in MG - I love it, so couldn't resist this one when it came up.
It had been owned by a UK bass player, who had a been a member of an up-and-coming indie band during the 80's. They had recorded some singles, a John Peel radio session, and also appeared on 'The Tube', an (in)famous music show at the time.
The band split, and he seemingly never played again. The bass was very unloved - the grime alone had sat festering for the last 30 years!
It was original - apart from the tuners, which had been replaced many, many years ago with a set of wide-bore Schallers.
The back of the neck had suffered an impact - it hadn't affected the bass structurally, but it had lost a fairly big section of paint, leaving the wood uncovered. The same had occurred on the front of the headstock. After discussions with my Luthier, we decided to refinish the headstock and neck. Mainly as the neck was quite uncomfortable to play where the paint had literally, cracked off in a single lump. The headstock looked pretty bad too, so we agreed it best to do the job properly whilst the bass was apart.
It has also been re-fretted, as the old frets were well and truly cooked.
Anyhow, here she is - a complete transformation from what she was, a true diamond in the rough.
It had been owned by a UK bass player, who had a been a member of an up-and-coming indie band during the 80's. They had recorded some singles, a John Peel radio session, and also appeared on 'The Tube', an (in)famous music show at the time.
The band split, and he seemingly never played again. The bass was very unloved - the grime alone had sat festering for the last 30 years!
It was original - apart from the tuners, which had been replaced many, many years ago with a set of wide-bore Schallers.
The back of the neck had suffered an impact - it hadn't affected the bass structurally, but it had lost a fairly big section of paint, leaving the wood uncovered. The same had occurred on the front of the headstock. After discussions with my Luthier, we decided to refinish the headstock and neck. Mainly as the neck was quite uncomfortable to play where the paint had literally, cracked off in a single lump. The headstock looked pretty bad too, so we agreed it best to do the job properly whilst the bass was apart.
It has also been re-fretted, as the old frets were well and truly cooked.
Anyhow, here she is - a complete transformation from what she was, a true diamond in the rough.
