NBD HELP! Is my "1975" P Bass legit?
 

Just got this P Bass sold to me as a 1975 Fender from a national chain and I paid what I should have for a 1975 in this condition.

First off.... the pickups have been replaced with Fralins, and the work was done in the shop being Lindy is a local guy. Good news is the original pickups are in the non original fender tweed case along with the covers, period correct fender strap and the original warranty card matching the SN.

Here is what concerns me...the black plastic plate under the neck plate (dont think they used those in 75)...no date stamp in the neck pocket or on the neck.... the neck looks like the frets were dressed but it is just too damn clean of a neck for a 75 unless it was in the case for a long time. And the body looks too new to me.

Please see the photos below of the neck pocket ect. Is this a real 75 or a nice knock off fake?

Looks completely legit to me. No worries!

I'm as far from an expert as you'll find on this forum, but I thought they used those plastic spacers as far back as '73 on bodies made of softer woods.

My '76 has that black plastic spacer on the neck plate and it's absolutely original.

Yeah after a little bit of internet searching...it seems that much of my concerns and what I "though I knew" about older Fenders seems to be inaccurate at best.

Thanks for the quick reply's folks!

Looks good to me. Nice purchase! Good luck!

I was the same way. I bought my '76 blind, had no clue what year it was until I got into my car and checked the SN, and when I got home learned the SN's for those years were put on the neck plate with the 'F' logo, and later moved to the headstock and lost the 'F' on the neck plate, and your neck pocket looks just like mine with similar/same stamps, etc. Tuners are the same as well with the Fender logo.

Very nice looking bass!

Everything looks legit from here. I've seen necks in this era with no stamp, or the ink so light it's almost undetectable.

Thanks folks....I am just really skeptical of Sam Ash. My first attempt today was a 1978 Jazz. WHen I got it home and looked under the bridge cover there was an extra set of wholes drilled for a bridge and the bridge on it was non original. SO I took it back and it was between the 75 P and an almost identical 76 P that was way more worn. I started thinking the 75 was in too good of a condition for it to be all original. The neck has almost no wear but I do see the tell tale signs of legit age in the green funk in the fret grooves.

+1. Sometimes it's a green stamp, but the stamp is so light it's un-readable.

My Lakland 44-02 had green funk in the fret grooves when I got it used and it's a 2007 model, so don't look at that as a telltale. Cleaned that crap out with Lem-Oil and some Q-Tips.

All three of my 74's and my 76 have the black spacer.
My 71 does not. Does it have the router bump on the inside of the lower horn?

What is the router bump?

Inside the lower horn, near the neck pocket, there is a "bump" on the original template. Apparently they cut these bodies, but not all of them, on a pin router that was following a steel template, and the template was hand-made in the mid '50s. It's my understanding that they made the first bodies without the pin router so the bump isn't on the earliest P-basses.

I also think that when they switched to a CNC router the bump went away, but they put it back on the RI bodies.

I might be very wrong.

It's hard to explain without a picture, and I don't have one.

I just looked at my '75 p-bass and everything is the same as yours. I bought it used in '78 from a reputable dealer, so I have no doubt about it's authenticity. The only thing not original are the pups that I replaced with DiMarzio's somewhere around '78 or '79. I used it as my main bass for about 10-11 years, so there's alot more "roadworn" to the sunburst finish. Also the face of the headstock has changed to a darker color, which I understand isn't unusal.

Thank you.... I found it and yes it does have the bump going out towards the horn or a dip going in towards the body. It just really surprising to find a 70's P that is this light (sub 9 lbs) and the neck is so clean, but it also has a mile case of fret sprouts which I think developed over a long period of being in a case.

I'm sorry to say it looks like someone sold you a fake. If you want I will pay you $100 to take it off your hands, and try to erase a bad experience. :D

Looks legit to me, enjoy!

Man, I know I seem like a newb and partially paranoid...LOL.... but I distrust Sam Ash and that much. I think you really have to weed through their "vintage" gear because lots of people try to unload "problem children" there. When I was a teen I had tons of 70's P's and J's but my memory must be going :hmm: