A small but notable change in the world.

[Pilgrim]

I have a 1963 P that I got in 1967. I've never changed strings on it since I had the neck replaced about 1972, so the strings are more than 50 years old. They still sound great, but I have noticed that the heavy gauge strings are getting harder to play. I don't recall what brand they are (the silks might make them Pyramids) but they're fairly heavy gauge, as was popular in the 70s.

SO - after long debate and vacillation, I'm going to install my favorite light gauge Labella Deep Talkin' flats (760FL) on it and see how I like them.  I'm sure it will take months for them to settle in to my satisfaction.

And I'm NOT throwing out my well-aged, still wonderful old flats. They're going into safe storage.

Watch out, I'm going in!!!!!

[4stringer77]

Good luck with the new strings. Joe Osborne and James Jamerson never wanted to change their strings either so you're in good company.

[Ken]

Is the setup out of whack after changing the strings?

[Grog]

I haven't changed strings on my origional Hobit in over 35 years. I was talking about putting a set of Chromes on it & our guitar player chimed in; "Don't ever change those strings!". I'll never live long enough to break in another set of strings like that!

[patman]

In a few weeks, the Labella's will sound great also...

[Pilgrim]

Well, I finally installed the light gauge Labellas - it seemed to me that the output of the old strings was starting to diminish. They feel good, and the tone knob now has more range of treble than it did before.

There's a very perceptible difference in gauge - the 1960s/70s strings were much heavier - but the new strings sound good, and surprisingly didn't drop more than a half-step overnight after I installed them. They're perceptibly brighter, but they'll settle in over the next few months.

I saved the old strings. Never know if I'll have a change of heart. 

 

[morrow]

Do you still have that original neck? Whatever happened there?

[Pilgrim]

Do you still have that original neck? Whatever happened there?

OK, now I get to tell a story.

It's 1972, Saturday morning about 9:30 AM.  Monday night I'm playing bass in a band that's providing music for the state Junior Miss pageant (lots of cute girls, nice gig, pays well.) I'm in Pullman, Washington, about 80 miles south of Spokane.

I need to brush up on my set list for the pageant, so I pull out my 1963 P-bass and start tuning it up.

And the strings are WAY off the neck. I mean they're practically unplayable they're so far off the neck. The truss rod had broken some time over the past couple of days. Big problem.

The nearest music shop is 80 miles away in Spokane. I call them and ask if they can help - they say yes, they have a repair guy and another neck if needed, but he will only be there until noon. By now it's close to 10 AM and that music shop is 90 minutes away when driving normally.

I'm about four miles out in the country, and need to go through town to get to Spokane. I call one of my best friends, and ask "Wanna go to Spokane?"

He responds, "Sure...when?"

My response to him is "Step out your door; I'll be there!"

I grab my bass, slap it into the case and throw it into my 1966 GTO, then disappear from sight. About 3 minutes later I come sliding to a stop in front of his house. He jumps in and we launch.

I made it the 80 miles to Spokane in just under 70 minutes. I remember one long straight where I passed 3 cars in one swoop, arriving just in time to have the shop's repair guy diagnose it and install a new neck on it.

Whew! Mission accomplished.

On the way back, my friend and I were feeling smug and fast...then a '69 Chevelle SS 396 went flying past my GTO. OK, mister, it's on! I gave him about a 3/4 mile lead to find any state patrol cars for me, and followed him cruising at an average 90-95 MPH. We made it back to Pullman in an hour. There are few things more invigorating to the ear than the sound of a Pontiac 389 through dual glass pack mufflers hammering down the road at speed.

Fastest round trip I ever made between Pullman and Spokane, and that neck is still on my 1963 P.

 

[morrow]

Wow.

[Pilgrim]

Wow.

It's one of those experiences one doesn't forget. Thanks for giving me an excuse to tell it.

[Alanko]

Did you get to keep the pooched 1963 neck? I imagine somebody could forensically repair it without leaving a wood fibre out of place.

Was it a 1972 neck that was drafted in to replace it?

[Pilgrim]

Did you get to keep the pooched 1963 neck? I imagine somebody could forensically repair it without leaving a wood fibre out of place.

Was it a 1972 neck that was drafted in to replace it?

In 1972 it was just an old neck. Never occurred to me to hang onto it. The replacement was a new neck, and has the logo that's appropriate to that year. Having a '63 P with a '72 neck (and a repaint) isn't exactly a hardship. I'm sure it's worth a few bucks less, but I'd still guess it would sell for a couple of grand.

[morrow]

The necks were disposable , by design. Easy to screw in a new one , problem solved.

[Pilgrim]

The necks were disposable , by design. Easy to screw in a new one , problem solved.

It never crossed my mind that I needed anything but a good neck. Remember in 1972 very little was collectible, nor was there a premium on old Fender basses.  They were just old. for that matter, locating a 1963 neck would have taken weeks or months of combing ads in newspapers, and just maybe, any specialty publications. IIRC there was a quirky guy in CA that specialized in parts such as necks and bodies later that decade, but I'm not sure he was in biz then. I don't recall his name at this point.

[Alanko]

The necks were disposable , by design. Easy to screw in a new one , problem solved.

Both my P Basses are parts mitts made with AM Pro II parts. One has a Jazz neck.

It is why I don't get the whole vintage Fender thing. They are Lego instruments assembled by factory workers. The beauty is in their mid-century production line design and aesthetic, to me.