60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Dodgy rythym and thick strings here...

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StrummersOfThunder
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60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

So I acquired an old Jansen telecaster bass neck and body of trademe.
It's got p bass pup routes which is good, as that's the sound I like in a bass.

The neck is straight and the truss works, but it has been de fretted and changed into fretless.
I've gone ahead and ordered some fret wire. This will be my first bass Refret. I've done guitars, but I'll be getting an experienced friend to help here (thanks jvpp)

The most exciting part thus far is learning something very cool about the body. My plan was to refinish in vintage whe
It's. But when I examined the look and grain of the wood very closely , it became obvious this Was not your usual pine or alder. It really looked like NZ kauri. Kauri is our foremost wood, and used to be present in abundance.

Looking up some info I learned that early on In Their production Jansen used recycled kauri from demolished buildings for their guitar bodies! So cool! So not only is this body made in the 60s , it's very likely that the wood from building that was demolished was significantly older than this. A real price of kiwi history :)

Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong about it being kauri, but I think that's so cool.

So I'm gonna do a natural finish, tone rider p bass pickups, black pickguard, vintage fender style bridge medium jumbo frets tel style control plate without the switch ( I've found and up drilled plate with no switch slot)

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by Lostininverness »

Excellent project, good to see you're going natural too, although less sparkly. Looking forward to your progress!

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Lostininverness wrote:Excellent project, good to see you're going natural too, although less sparkly. Looking forward to your progress!
I plan to wear body glitter and tiny lasers on my nipples during the restoration process.

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by Lostininverness »

Is there also going to be interpretive dance?

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by Jay »

Unread postby StrummersOfThunder » Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:59 pm

Lostininverness wrote:
Excellent project, good to see you're going natural too, although less sparkly. Looking forward to your progress!


I plan to wear body glitter and tiny lasers on my nipples during the restoration process.
You sure you want me to help you?
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

jvpp wrote:
Unread postby StrummersOfThunder » Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:59 pm

Lostininverness wrote:
Excellent project, good to see you're going natural too, although less sparkly. Looking forward to your progress!


I plan to wear body glitter and tiny lasers on my nipples during the restoration process.
You sure you want me to help you?
Well I'm not gonna be able to do the laser show AND operate the smoke machine now am I ?!

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by RobRoyMcCoy »

Wow excellent score! Certainly looks like Kauri. Great call with the natural and black pickguard. That will look amazing.
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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by kdawg2a »

You're right about the Kauri body, wood from an old building across the road story. As far as I know they used Kauri for all their solid bodies and Nelson Birch for the necks. Denche would be the guy to ask, he's writing a book on the history of Jansens. Should be out soon. Looks like a cool project.
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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by Jay »

Denche would be the guy to ask, he's writing a book on the history of Jansens. Should be out soon. Looks like a cool project.
Soon? Did he not start that 20 years ago?
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

I don't want to ask denche. I'd have had this neck and body for a hundred dollars less if it wasn't for him :)

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by kdawg2a »

jvpp wrote:
Denche would be the guy to ask, he's writing a book on the history of Jansens. Should be out soon. Looks like a cool project.
Soon? Did he not start that 20 years ago?
I was being all LOL and junk.
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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Refretting

Spent a nice afternoon yesterday prepping and refretting the neck. Previous owner had filled the fret slots with resin to make it fretless so that was a little chore re cutting the slots. Otherwise all went fairly well.

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by GrantB »

nice work! great to see another resto thread...been too long.
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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Thanks, had a bit of guidance from jvpp ...watchful critique etc
Gonna be busting out the sander and making a start on the body today.

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Re: 60s Jansen Beatbass restoration thread

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Nice grain
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