LeftyBassist.com

http://www.nstuffmusic.com/p-33212-fend ... MgodtEQA7Q

1978 Fender Precision Bass Left-Handed *Vintage*

Good Condition - All Original

Includes: Original Hardshell Case

looks like a refin, no?

maybe it's a pale mocha finish

Looks legit to me. I've got a '78 fretless P in that finish. I think the flash of the camera's making the finish look lighter.

I'm guessing it weighs at least 11lbs with that northern ash body Fender loved to use back then.

Darn it. I knew there was a reason why it's not a good idea to visit this forum every day. I had posted a long rant (and deleted it) about why I shouldn't get this bass, but impulse (better known as G.A.S.) got the best of me.

O.P.: Thanks for posting about it anyway!

I got all kinds of info from the store and it seems like a nice piece: Only 9 lb with the covers on (put some Hipshot Ultralites and take the covers off and this sucker will be at 8.5 lb or less), frets and neck are in good shape, and 10-day return policy (VERY IMPORTANT. . . ). I just hope their scale is accurate because as we all know, these usually are boat anchors.

This finish is called walnut and it's pretty common of this era.

I should have it in my hands in the next 4 days. I'll give it my special "magic touch" setup and see how it feels and plays.

I'm buying this more for collection purposes than every day playing, but I'm concerned about how thick the neck will be and if it will be enjoyable for me to play. The thing is, the more I play new basses the more I like old Fenders. . .

Stay tuned for a full report.

Congrats on that bass. All P besses from that era, that i have tried are great players. I bet you'll realize soon you have to gig it.

I picked up a 78 P bass from Matt here on the forum a few months ago and it's the exact duplicate of that one (well, almost the exact) The bass is a MONSTER! Best playing P bass I've owned in a very long time. If this bass is anything close to the one that I got from Matt, play it! A LOT! You'll really dig it!

So I got this baby in my hands:

-It is 9 lb - - - pretty light for a '70s P-Bass. Like I mentioned, changing the tuners to Hipshot Ultralites will make this an 8.5 lb. Effing yes!
-It is an honest, true and all original bass, unmolested. Original pickups, pots, solder, pickguard . . Pickups and pots date this as a '79 bass.
-Finish is definitely original - it looks gorgeous to me.
-Rosewood has exceptional grain pattern, really nice. Frets are in exceptional shape. I think this bass had a fret dress and level a few years ago, but really well done.
-I can tell this bass was not played hard. Really good condition, hardly any nicks. It's not mint, but very clean.
- Neck is super straight and the truss rod nut is not pushed in. It came strung with heavy gauge flats, which gave the neck a bit of relief, but with light gauge strings the neck straighten itself.
-Sounds REALLY good. The pickup might be microphonic, which has always been the case with every old Fender I've had. Not a big deal. Drop in a replacement or have Lindy Fralin wax the original.
-The pickguard's screw are rusty and many are stripped (the hole is stripped). Very small thing to fix.

-Now the deal breaker for me: the neck profile is a bit thinner than most '70s P-Bass, but still a P-Bass, which my hands just don't agree with. I kinda knew this, but I hadn't played a '70s P-Bass in years, so I wanted to confirm it. I can't even get along with modern P-Bass (which are very thin). I must have a Jazz neck. But I think still is very playable to most of you, certainly thinner than the full C necks. This is a B neck at 1.62".

So, I have a local friend who might be interested in checking it out, but I won't know until Monday. If he doesn't take it, it's going back to the shop. By the way, the shop's customer service is really good. Nice people to deal with.

So heads up. By my standards and after having played maybe ten '70s Fender, this is a good one, guys. I'll let you know what's the deal on Monday.

Lefty007 - You wouldn't happen to live near Seattle?

Please do. Love the Walnut and may pick it up.

So... My local friend picked it up; it was love at first sight. She gone.

Sounds like it went to a good home. Smiles all around.