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Fender Prototype P-Bass

M

macdougall

Aug 13, 2009
7
0
#1
Hi there,
Can anyone help me find a way to authenticate an unmarked, unsigned Fender Prototype P-Bass. I received this years ago as a gift from a dear friend but he passed away before I received the authenticity paperwork. I was told this was made in the late 1940's possible 1950.
Any help or direction to possible sources would be greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance for any help!
 
#2
Detailed photos would help. Parts can be pretty much narrowed down to a general era (usually within a few years). Other than that, someone like George Gruhn could probably help. Even Nacho Banos, though he's more an authority on early Teles, Esquires, and Broadcasters may be able to help - he knows early Fender stuff and Leo's "methods".

At any case, it will likely have a pine body, a pickup that is closely related to a lap steel pickup, fairly crude hardware (bent plate 2 saddle bridge), router pin holes that have been plugged on the back, etc. Also, it will either have no trussrod, or if there is one, it will have a slothead end. Knobs will most likely be heavily...repeat HEAVILY knurled dome knobs.

I hope this helps...I can probably help a bit more if I can see photos though .
 
#4
The Fender Forum (Invalid Link Removed) has some very knowedgable members who own extremely early Precision Basses.
Again, detailed pictures would be essential for preliminary verification. In hand examination by an expert like Gruhn would be necessary for positive identification.
 
#5
Thank you to all who took the time to answer my questions. I will now attempt to attach photos, I apologize about the quality of the photos.
 

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#9
macdougall said:
Thank you to all who took the time to answer my questions. I will now attempt to attach photos, I apologize about the quality of the photos.
Click to expand...

It certainly has possibilities. One thing that is interesting is that the tuners have what looks to be a shorter shaft than the early P Basses. Here's a photo of a 52 to compare to yours -

2308900949_138bd39c0f_o.jpg
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There's a lot "good" about your bass as well - pine body (compares well with my friends original early pine Esquire), slot screws, proper (though different from production) control plate, wider pickup (more like a lap steel design, as I suggested above), large roundovers on the body (my friends Esquire has this as well), etc. Lots of things that say "there's a very good chance it is correct".

If you can take more (and more detailed) photos, I could give more info, but I would definitely recommend talking to a friend of mine. I'll PM you with his info. He's the guy with the pine Esquire.He's a straight shooter, honest guy.
 

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