4-bolt neck on 1975 Fender Jazz Bass?

[Jabassman]

I thought that 1975 jazz basses had 3-bolt necks with bullet truss rods. Take a look at these 1975 Jazz basses. One has a 4-bolt neck with a bullet truss. The other has a 4-bolt without bullet truss. Are these original?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[RickenBoogie]

All the '75 re-issue's I've seen were 3 bolts, and so it would seem the real ones, (from '75) should also. Fishy.

[Kenny Allyn]

Contrary to the common belief that all 1975 Jazz Basses were three bolt, a few of the early ones were 4 bolt.

Fender had a habit of using up any old parts they may have had in inventory and then shippng it. The one below I use to own the neck dated Nov 74 the pots last week of Dec 74, the neck plate dates it as 1975, it would have shipped in early 75.






Here is an old auction I ran across with a similar neck



... Not the 1st or last time Fender did this kinda thing I recently saw a 1980 Jazz with a 1978 neck it was all original.

[king_biscuit]

The real question here is did Fender ever ship four bolt neck plate Jazzes with bullet truss rods.

[tdizzle]

One must also realize that many 3 bolt necks have since been converted to 4 bolt. So, there are many bullet truss rod Jazz Basses out there with a converted 4 bolt neck. It would not surprize me that Fender might have had a few four bolt necks kicking around that they put the bullet truss rod on.

[Jabassman]

In this example, let assume that it was a conversion.
How would that explain the serial number on the 4-bolt neck plate?
The serial number shows that it is a 75. Perhaps he just got a 4-bolt from another 75 that actually had one so it has a serial number. What do you think?

check it out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[king_biscuit]

One thing you could do, John, ask the seller for a photo of the back of the neck heal. A conversion would be obvious.

[Kenny Allyn]

Originally Posted by tdizzle

One must also realize that many 3 bolt necks have since been converted to 4 bolt. So, there are many bullet truss rod Jazz Basses out there with a converted 4 bolt neck. It would not surprize me that Fender might have had a few four bolt necks kicking around that they put the bullet truss rod on.

Yeah knowing Fender there might be ...

Never seen one though, Elderly Instruments currently has a 1981 Jazz in stock, with a "S 8" serial number indicating the neck is a 1978. The 1980 I saw had a bound neck with "dot" inlays something normally only seen on a 1966 Jazz ... you never know what Fender may ship and when.

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[deekay911]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

The real question here is did Fender ever ship four bolt neck plate Jazzes with bullet truss rods.

I have seen at least one other 75 with a maple neck, skunk stripe, bullet and 4 bolt plate. 74/75 was a transition year so almost anything is possible with Fender.

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by Kenny Allyn

Yeah knowing Fender there might be ...

Never seen one though, Elderly Instruments currently has a 1981 Jazz in stock, with a "S 8" serial number indicating the neck is a 1978. The 1980 I saw had a bound neck with "dot" inlays something normally only seen on a 1966 Jazz ... you never know what Fender may ship and when.

...

Any Jazz Bass with a bound neck and dots, and an S8 serial # is almost certainly from the early 80s. This was done up until 83. Most that you see will be from 82 or 83.

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by deekay911

74/75 was a transition year so almost anything is possible with Fender.

A clear photo of the back of the neck heal would settle any doubt in this case.

[73jbass]

Just another one of those transition era basses.

[Jabassman]

So would this 75 jazz with a 4-bolt neck and bullet truss rod be worth less than a 75 with a 4-bolt and heel truss?
Should I pass on this one?

[Jabassman]

I agree a photo of the neck heel is a good idea.
I wish I would have thought of that sooner.
The auction is about to end.

[Kenny Allyn]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

A clear photo of the back of the neck heal would settle any doubt in this case.

I dug up a couple of shots of my old 75 ...

You can clearly see this one is not a conversion.





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[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Kenny Allyn

I dug up a couple of shots of my old 75 ...

You can clearly see this one is not a conversion.

But, did it have a bullet truss rod?

[Jabassman]

I just got a response from the owner about the neck:

"John, the neck plate is the original as best I know it to be. I can tell you that when I first looked to purchase the bass back in '75 I loved the bass but was not happy with the neck. The dealer sent it out to have the neck replaced before I purchased it. Also, the neck plate does have the serial number 605597 stamped on it, which would indicate that it was manufactured in the Fullerton, Ca. plant in 1975."

What do you think about that?

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Jabassman

I just got a response from the owner about the neck:

"John, the neck plate is the original as best I know it to be. I can tell you that when I first looked to purchase the bass back in '75 I loved the bass but was not happy with the neck. The dealer sent it out to have the neck replaced before I purchased it. Also, the neck plate does have the serial number 605597 stamped on it, which would indicate that it was manufactured in the Fullerton, Ca. plant in 1975."

What do you think about that?

I think that's a fishy story on a now overpriced bass. Walnut is a really common color, and $2200 is top price (according to the vintage price guide) for a 75 walnut. John, there are plenty of others out there, I'd keep looking.

[gimmeagig]

I've got a 75 Jazz with a 4 bolt also.

[Kenny Allyn]

The gap on the neck pocket would kill the deal for me ...



My old 75 had the same issue, my current 73 and and old 3 bolt 76 are/were both very tight.

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