Late 70s P Bass with Claw Bridge

[metron]

Check this thing out. I heard the claw bridges were available from Fender as an aftermarket part in the late 70s but this one looks factory installed.

http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3597216185.html

[Gord_oh]

never seen one of those before, not even in any of my vintage fender books.

[droskobass]

Holy Crêpes, now that's something you don't see every day!!!

[smcd]

The "Claw". A legit Fender aftermarket bridge. But that bridge was definitely not factory installed.

[Ric5]

Don't pay $3000 for a 78 Fender p-bass.

Also there is no case.

[metron]

Originally Posted by smcd

The "Claw". A legit Fender aftermarket bridge. But that bridge was definitely not factory installed.

How do you know? They pulled the bridge and the screw holes look legit. No extras. I suppose they could have been painted over though.

Yeah $3k not so much. Just thought it looked interesting, if factory installed.

[the art guy]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Don't pay $3000 for a 78 Fender p-bass.

This. Even if it is factory. IMHO.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by metron

How do you know? They pulled the bridge and the screw holes look legit. No extras. I suppose they could have been painted over though.

Yeah $3k not so much. Just thought it looked interesting, if factory installed.

There is no documentation of any kind that indicates that Fender factory installed these bridges. None. Now, if someone is going to claim that this bridge was factory installed, that would be a first. But the burden of proof is on them.

[AdamR]

Doesnt look factory installed to me. It looks like it used the factory 5 screw holes plus to extras and the paint is all chipped off around those to extras which would indicate they were drill after it was painted.

[Mojo-Man]

I remember these, they are an aftermarket product.
Never installed at factory.

[the art guy]

Originally Posted by AdamR

Doesnt look factory installed to me. It looks like it used the factory 5 screw holes plus to extras and the paint is all chipped off around those to extras which would indicate they were drill after it was painted.

Yeah, that's a good point.

I would say that to someone who's interested in the coolness factor of that bridge, this might be worth slightly more than a regular '78 P. If it's a good player, my judgment tells me that we're looking at about a $1,200 bass to the right buyer. It's got plenty of wear and a brass (not factory) nut.

[lowphatbass]

You can see an indentation where this bass has had a standard bridge mounted at some point. It was also by a TBer suggested that this may have been repainted for some reason when this was posted before.

My first decent bass was a MIA '83 Jazz. I went back to the authorized fender dealer and had them order/install an "elite" bridge with the fine tuners. While it wasn't factory installed it was still a Fender part installed by an authorized dealer. That's probably what happened here.

[P. Aaron]

$3k = 3 brand new Precisions in any colors you like!

With case & documentation...warranty.

[tbplayer59]

I remember seeing those back in the days when "sustain" was the ultimate goal and brass ruled the world.

[smcd]

"Fender part installed by an authorized dealer" sounds better than "Fender part installed by Mother Lode Music in Jackson CA".