Back to the Future - My Take on a P Bass

I've been a hardcore Fender bass [and guitar] player for my whole adult life. And, like a lot of us on this forum, I've owned my share of basses & guitars. Teles, Strats, Jazz basses & one P bass, which was the longest standing instrument as far as length of ownership. Pretty much every instrument that went thru my hands was [as in had to be] modded in some way. My first P Bass was a '73 that I had a whole $225 into brand new[w/OHSC]. Right from the beginning it was a real headache. Bad pots, sub-par pickup and a bridge that would allow the A-string to abandon you right in the middle of a gig. [One minute it was there and the next it was laying flat on the neck.] I played it pretty much for 11 years until I walked away from music to pursue another passion - photography.

Once I got back into playing & gigging I went thru a string of decent instruments but something was always lacking. Sterile, lifeless, great but not my thing. It wasn't until a few months ago that my lovely wife insisted on buying me "something special" for my 60th B-day. I told her it wasn't necessary. After all, we'd just spent several weeks in India celebrating the day at the Golden Temple in Amritsar but, she insisted. I went thru the current list of goodies: Fuji X10; iPad, etc.,etc. When it finally came down to just what I wanted it turned out to be a cross between my old P Bass and the myriad of Jazz basses I'd had over the years.

This is my personal take on a P bass realized by David Cirtin [www.certainbass.com]. Its special due to it's subtleties like an oil finish* - neck, body & maple pickguard. Jazz neck with a nice U contour [that just lays in your hand like it's been there forever] and an exquisitely cut nut + rolled edges with a very nice grain that fits into the tightest neck pocket I've ever seen. Alder body, standard bridge & tuners, CTS pots with a uniquely mounted output jack that has no contact with the pickguard itself. David & I went over a the important [to me] details and he rose above & beyond what I expected. Strung it up with a set of D'Addario ENR70's and it's good to go.

And the sound? It rocks! Old school able to rise to the occasion - if ever the occasion arises. Kinda like me :wink:

Photos? You got 'em:

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/548/medium/20120103_14_18_19.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/548/medium/20120103_14_23_33.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/548/medium/20120103_14_23_47.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/548/medium/20120103_14_20_36.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/548/medium/20120103_14_28_58.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/548/medium/20120103_14_27_41.jpg

*If you ever want to play a guitar that feels like it's been played for 40 years - go this route. There's nothing more pleasing IMHO than picking up this bass and feeling nothing but WOOD. What a concept . . . :eek:

Very nice!

Thanks.

I like your take on it. I have been toying with the idea if getting a cheap bass to learn on. Makes me wonder about grabbing a Squire CV 60s P Bass and doing a similar finish.

I like your take on it. I have been toying with the idea if getting a cheap bass to learn on. Makes me wonder about grabbing a Squire CV 60s P Bass and doing a similar finish.

My '73 P bass had a stripped finish on the body, which was cool, but the neck was coated in poly. The biggest difference here is the neck. Don't get me wrong. I've stripped my share of bodies because I just never understood the whole nitro/poly debate. Just don't use ANY paint is my opinion.

I'm not a big fan of pickguards either. David's suggestion to use a maple p/g seemed a bit over the top and a potential liability from my POV, but it turned out so well that it would be a shame not to have it. The point is: Its ALL of those pieces coming together thru the able skills of Mr. C that really makes for a special playing instrument IMHO.

Besides, the Squier 60's CV P bass in Fiesta Red is the coolest looking and best playing production Fender bass that I've tried in a long time and probably partly responsible for me going this route to some degree. That said, get the CV. Play it. Like it, love it or leave it but don't strip it. Especially, if you end up not wanting to keep it. You'll might just kill a potential classic and end up losing the resale value as well. Just my 2¢ . . .

If you can get thru the usual EVH dreck at about 1:10 he comments on the "unfinished" neck on his new line of guitars:

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Wow, she's a real cutie.
I rally like the whole 'woodity' (or 'woodness' if you will) it has. :razz:
Really nice mr. Dave's job.

Very nice.

The above link is busted, try this one: www.certainbass.com