Evaluating a RC Stromm P-Style Bass

Here's a sunburst RC Stromm P-Style four-string bass that's been sent in for an evaluation and repair estimate minus a gig bag. Although I've immediately noticed quite a few issues that need to be addressed, the owner is only worried about the high action and general unplayability. Well, brother, there's a whole lot more to be worried about. 

As the bass still has strings on, I've plugged it into an amp just to see if it works. The good news is that it does make a sound. The bad news is that the output stays the same with the volume control dimed, fully off, or anywhere in between. There's definitely something wrong with the wiring, the volume pot itself; or both. Watch the short video below, and you'll see what I mean.

Now that introductions are over and done with, let's take a closer look at the hardware. Starting at the headstock end, you'll notice that the tuners and lone string retainer are cruddy and in dire need of servicing. To make matters worse, all sixteen mounting screws are terribly corroded.

Tuners and String Retainer

Rusty Tuner Mounting Screws

Moving on to the strap buttons, there's a remarkable similarity in condition when compared to the tuners and string retainer. All that corrosion and crud suggests that this bass has been sitting on a stand or hanging on a wall collecting dust. Which makes a lot of sense since it doesn't even have a gig bag.

Upper Horn Strap Button

Rear End Strap Button

Think I'll take the three-ply pickguard off now and see if there are any surprises lurking underneath. But wait, I can't even unfasten the screws. Guess why? Yes, sir, it's because the slots on all eleven are too corroded for a screwdriver to get a firm grip on. Half-an-hour later, and I've managed to unscrew the lot. There's rust spots and loads of grime on the underside of the pickguard, but nothing a good scrub with soap and water can't take care of.

Eleven Rusty Pickguard Screws

Underside of Pickguard - Image 1

Underside of Pickguard - Image 2

Underside of Pickguard - Image 3

The bridge on this bass is a typical vintage-style with four barrel saddles. There's a nice blanket of cobwebs and dust coating every square inch, so thick that it looks like fur. Let's unscrew the saddles and see if anything needs to be serviced or replaced. Well, I can't say I'm surprised. The intonation screws, springs and height adjustment hex screws are cruddy, discolored, and corroded. It's a wonder I managed to get them off at all.

E and A Saddles

A, D and G Saddles

Saddles, Screws and Springs

Cobwebbed Bridge Plate

Close-Up of Bridge Plate

Rear End of Bridge Plate

Back to the pickguard, then. As expected, electronics comprise nondescript volume and tone mini pots, as well as a generic open frame output jack. The wiring has been duly checked, and found to be sound. This being the case, the root cause of aforementioned output anomaly is definitely the volume pot itself.

Mini Pots and Output Jack

Close-Up of Volume and Tone Pots

Close-Up of Output Jack

The split P-style pickup is most certainly in working order, as can be heard in the video at the beginning of this post. Are there any issues of concern, then? Oh yes, there are. For one, there's the sheer amount of dust and grime coating the covers. Then again, those rusty height adjustment screws and pole pieces cannot be ignored.

Grimy Pickup Cover and Rusty Screw

Rusty Pole Pieces - Upper Pickup

Rusty Pole Pieces - Lower Pickup

Last but not least, something needs to be said about the fretboard and frets. Yes, that's a pretty cruddy slab of wood we're looking at. The tarnished frets, meanwhile, display the typical discoloration brought about by oxidation. If you guessed that whoever used to play this bass never bothered to wipe down the strings and fretboard after use, you're spot on! 

Cruddy Fretboard

Close-Up of Tarnished Frets