Jack's Instrument Services:
Next bass in is a rare Fender V - the first 5 string bass made! - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Such a strange body type with a humongous neck joint. - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
This Fender V 5 string bass has been re-finished recently and had a new decal applied. Interestingly, the Fender V had a high C string instead of a low B string. The idea was that you could get the same range from this bass with the extra string as a regu
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Unconventional body shape, only 1000ish made. When the fender V was discontinued in 1970 the bodies were used to make the equally ugly Fender Swinger! - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Fender V Bass headstock Decal design - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
The first ever type of 5 string bass bridge, The Fender V wasn't so successful party due to the string spacing - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Fender V Bass neck plate, larger than your average neck plate... - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Such a long neck pocket extension, the neck joints the body at 10th to 15th fret - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Such a long neck pocket extension, the neck joints the body at 10th to 15th fret - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Back view of the Fender V Bass' headstock - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Fender V Bass - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Anyway, so right this bass needs some new frets. The original ones have long gone and someones used very large fretwire. I'm downsizing it. Here's me removing frets with the help of my soldering iron - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
The frets are coming out very easily with the soldering iron melting the glue. The mess you can see is just old glue - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
The new fretwire is being bent into shape, the fretboard radius is 7.25" (very curved) so I need to over bend the fretwire to help it seat best it can. We've since made a new solid aluminium fretwire bender this was my crappy old one's last job!
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Over-radiused fret wire tested on the Fender V bass before installing them - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
1 fret to go! I'm re gluing and hammering the frets into this old Fender V Bass. It's a super tight 7.25" radius so you've got to be extra careful when putting the new frets in - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Fender Bass V Refret nearly complete, heres me "re crowning" the tops of the new frets I've just put in. - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Fender V Bass split humbucker pickup arrangement! - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
What a freak. Strange shaped Fender V 5 string bass - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Here's what the Fender V bass looks like from behind - Jack's Instrument Services
Jack's Instrument Services:
Here's a close up of my new frets I've installed with finger prints on.... you can see how sharp the curve in the fingerboard is just from this photo - Jack's Instrument Services
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All done, been a pleasure having this rare bass in to work on - Jack's Instrument Services