OffsetGuitars.com

At my local pawnshop, I often browse the racks of guitars, usually cheap junk from the last 5-10 years. I did a double take when I saw a Fender P Bass there, then my heart sank because it had been majorly messed up - a 5 string conversion with some weirdo hacked-off scratch plate. Looked pretty ugly but I checked closely and there was actually very little damage / alteration beyond the nut, bridge and screwholes in the body. Oh and a large tuner hole punched through the headstock. But the price was right so I took it on. Flash forward a couple of months and some time spent sourcing parts, I now have a mostly-restored 1986 F serial P Bass (with FENDER neckplate). Debating whether to get a bridge/pickup cover to give it some more bling.

As I got it:


... strip and rebuild:



(don't worry, I finished the nut afterward!)
... and done:

Nice one!

Great job, that looks really nice.

I think you may have an addiction to Japanese Fender instruments

hm, you might be right there ...

Although this one was really a combination of killer price and wanting to take on the challenge. I reckon I will sell it on after a while - I've done my part, it's back in good shape.

Wow ! Did it even work as a 5-string ?

Yep, I think it was done a long time ago because there’s fret wear in the 5 string pattern, and the bridge is a Schaller which hasn’t been available for about 15-20 years. It played pretty well but looked bad and 4 strings is plenty for me.

Awesome work! I also have a passion for Japanese Fenders.

It's a fine obsession to have!

MatthewK wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:35 am

Yep, I think it was done a long time ago because there’s fret wear in the 5 string pattern, and the bridge is a Schaller which hasn’t been available for about 15-20 years. It played pretty well but looked bad and 4 strings is plenty for me.

4 strings is the right number of strings for a bass. Unless we're talking about a Hagstrom 8 stringer beast.

I'm quite partial to VI strings as well!