Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

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laurie
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Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

Post by laurie » Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:36 am

Picked this up for CAD$50 (USD$38) on sale at one of the local thrift stores.

It wasn't working (the reason for it being donated, I think)... the jack was loose and one of the wires had broken off. A 10 minute fix.

There isn't much on the WWW about these. It appears they were made under license by Cort back in the 1990's.

The neck is superb. Flat, straight. Feels just like a P-bass. It has fret-sprout because of the lack of humidity, but that's an easy fix. Over the winter I will dismantle it, clean it, swap the pick-guard (the existing one is yellowed with the yellowing in the shape of some stickers that were on it for 20 years), and replace the flimsy wiring.

It sounds good, and I'm petty sure this will become my beater/practice bass and my massively more expensive Stingray will go back into it's case.
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fernieite
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Re: Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

Post by fernieite » Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:07 pm

Right on man! Great deal! :D

You know, you might be able to restore the yellowed pickguard with this product. Its basically a stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide. They have locations in Calgary.

Just totally submerge the pickguard in the liquid, (outside in a clear plastic container in the direct sun) and check it every 15 minutes until the discoloration is gone.
(Then thoroughly rinse it off with water, and maybe neutralize it with a bit of liquid dish soap and water with a soft cloth)

It only took 1 hour to clean up my white 1959 Telecaster pickguard. It was really badly yellowed and discolored from the last 60 years or so!

Yours shouldn't take that much time at all, judging by the photo.

https://www.sallybeauty.ca/hair-color/o ... CAR67.html

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laurie
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Re: Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

Post by laurie » Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:03 pm

Thanks! I ordered a vintage pearloid pick guard that I'll fit. I think it will improve the look.

The yellowing is minimal, but close-up there is definite "Def Leppard" writing in yellow in the plastic.

Once I have the origianl pickguard off I'll try to whiten it with peroxide. If it works, I'll have a spare. If not, no harm done.

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Re: Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

Post by Pepe » Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:47 pm

Cool! I didn't know that there were instruments with the CRATE label.
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laurie
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Re: Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

Post by laurie » Tue Jul 19, 2022 12:46 pm

Pepe wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:47 pm
Cool! I didn't know that there were instruments with the CRATE label.
I had never seen one or even heard of one. For the price it was easy to take the gamble.

It was literally covered with stickers when I got it. Almost every square inch front and back. I should have taken a picture. I was pleasantly surprised by the look of it once I stripped them off.

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Re: Another thrift store find - Crate Bass

Post by Pepe » Tue Jul 19, 2022 2:21 pm

Oh, a picture of the initial condition had been a good laugh! :)
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