help indentify this fender neck please

wfmandmusic · #1 11-20-2011, 06:25 AM

I bought this off ebay. It is a 57 reissue vintage neck. I'm not sure how to read these markings on the neck. The main reason I'm concerned is the water slide decal is not under the finish. I can scrape the edge of the decal with my fingernail. Did Fender ever do this??? Thanks for the help.

john grey · #2 11-20-2011, 11:21 AM

No Fender's decals (from what I've seen) would not scratch off with a fingernail.
I certainly can't speak for the specific neck but there are two or more companies in China that sell all sorts of decals (Fender's included). TTBoMK the decal was under the nitro finish. The use of computer bar-codes was certainly not in use during that time. However I suppose that's not the issue. if the neck is well made & straight and you got a great price for it; does it really matter?
The term "re-issue" is a misnomer as the company manufactured copies of old products, they did not have cartons (of near-million) half century-old parts and then assemble them; they copied what had been a production instrument. I deeply doubt that Fender would have 50 yr old necks sealed up somewhere. They (contractors or Asian copy design firms) make them according to older design specs. Your neck there has some questions in the tuning pegs, decal, & what appears to be the word "shave" written on it.
If the neck was inexpensive and straight, with well inserted frets; it shouldn't matter. But as for coping a 1957 neck, it has some detailing to do - if that's significant.
Play it. Enjoy it. Then make up your mind as to any idiosyncrasy that may be of issue. Necks are made for playing.

Turnaround · #3 11-20-2011, 11:34 AM

Sometime in the mid to late '60's, Fender started putting the logo decal under the finish. Before that time the decal was applied on top of the finish. US-made vintage re-issues once again have the decal on top of the finish.

wfmandmusic · #4 11-20-2011, 01:20 PM

Thank you both very much for taking the time to answer my questions. Yes the neck is nice, and I agree they are meant to be played and enjoyed BUT, I don't like to pay for something that I think is one thing and it's not. Not because it would stop me from enjoying it but if I was to ever sell it, I would not want to mis-represent what it is. I had no reason to not trust the seller, I am just not overly familiar with the various necks and where they are made. Plus I did not get a great deal on it. As long as I am happy with the neck and feel like I know what I have all is good. The decal information was important because that was my concern. I also found another neck of the same model on here and the last 3 bar code numbers were the same. Once again thank you so much for the response. I mounted the neck this morning on my 62 RI P body. I need to tweak the set up a little more. After that it looks like it will be an awesome bass.

bassie12 · #5 11-20-2011, 01:28 PM

Looks like Fender American Vintage RI '57 p-bass neck. My 83 AVRIs both have decals above the finish as do my '05 custom shop, '59, '64, '66 Ps and 66 J.

johnk_10 · #6 11-20-2011, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassie12

Looks like Fender American Vintage RI '57 p-bass neck. My 83 AVRIs both have decals above the finish as do my '05 custom shop, '59, '64, '66 Ps and 66 J.

+1. they didn't start finishing over the decals until 1968, and all of the AVRI's have it on top of the finish just like the originals did. the CIJ's and MIJ RI's have them under the finish.