1973 P Bass

[Frank Orlando]

I own my 1973 P Bass for over a year now. I dated it by the neck code, neck plate serial number, pot dates, pick up codes and the fact that the tug bar is located near the G string and there are no additional holes in the body to indicate it was ever relocated. The bass is sunburst with a maple fretboard and an "A" profile neck. The interesting thing about the bass is that it has a black pick guard (B/W/B) that looks original to the bass.
I remember reading in the past that more than one owner had a 1973 sunburst P Bass in their posession that originally came with black, rather than the common tortoise, pick guards. I wish now I had kept in touch with those owners now that I have this really amazing bass because I would like to hear about the history of their basses. I am the 3rd owner of mine. The person I bought mine from had it a few years and bought it from the original owner who stated the bass was purchased new just the way I received it.
Does anyone presently own an un-modified circa 1973 sunburst P with a black pickguard that they believe is original to the bass and, having the tug bar at the G string? I know they are out there...

 

[bearfoot]

Really nice looking for '73!

 

[Farseer]

I can't answer your question but I must say, that is one pretty P. Is it a refinish?

 

[BassmanM]

I can't answer your question but I must say, that is one pretty P. Is it a refinish?

The person I bought mine from had it a few years and bought it from the original owner who stated the bass was purchased new just the way I received it.

Thank me later.

 

[rockdoc11]

Here's my '74, with the tug bar on the E string side.

 

[Farseer]

Thank me later.

Thank you

 

[MD Stingray]

A 1972

 

[FenderOli]

SOLD - 1973 Fender Precision Bass 8 lbs 14.6 oz Reduced to 00

Don't know if that 73 was original, its got that black pickguard with that thumbrest-configuration.

 

[Frank Orlando]

Thanks for the compliments everyone... it's not a refin. Those black guards with the tug bar holes by the G string were easily available back then because they came standard on the olympic white and the mocha brown P. When I bought it I figured the original owner must have changed the pickguard color like we do today with new Fender P Basses. But I saw a few others with black pick guards and similar stories by the original owners saying it came that way.

 

[Frank Orlando]

View attachment 3164417

A 1972

That's a beauty...

 

[Frank Orlando]

View attachment 3164847
SOLD - 1973 Fender Precision Bass 8 lbs 14.6 oz Reduced to 00

Don't know if that 73 was original, its got that black pickguard with that thumbrest-configuration.

Nice but I don't see any truss rod notch. Probably a reproduction guard.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Black guards came out in ‘73 and by the end of ‘73 the tugbar under the G got moved to the thumbrest location above the E. OP, yours is a early/mid ‘73 with one of the first black guards (assuming it’s original) that left the factory, before they moved the tugbar. You don’t see very many of them like yours (and they usually seem to be found on walnut colored basses), but they do exist. Here’s a few pics of other original ‘73s with black guards and tugbars...

 

[Frank Orlando]

Black guards came out in ‘73 and by the end of ‘73 the tugbar under the G got moved to the thumbrest location above the E. OP, yours is a early/mid ‘73 with one of the first black guards (assuming it’s original) that left the factory, before they moved the tugbar. You don’t see very many of them like yours (and they usually seem to be found on walnut colored basses), but they do exist. Here’s a few pics of other original ‘73s with black guards and tugbars...

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Thanks! My understanding is that in 1973 the black guards were "routinely" installed on olympic white and walnut brown p basses by Fender... but not on the sunburst basses. The sunburst routinely got the tortoise. Since mine is an A-neck, which I believe was a special order, I am wondering if the black guard on mine was also installed by Fender as a special order. That's why I'm hoping to hear from someone who actually ordered one like that. Otherwise, it might just be that the original owner bought and installed an original Fender black guard back then the way we swap them around on new basses today. Wish I could have asked him. The second owner didn't question it. He was a player and not concerned with aesthetics. It is an exceptional player and has amazing tone.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Thanks! My understanding is that in 1973 the black guards were "routinely" installed on olympic white and walnut brown p basses by Fender... but not on the sunburst basses. The sunburst routinely got the tortoise. Since mine is an A-neck, which I believe was a special order, I am wondering if the black guard on mine was also installed by Fender as a special order. That's why I'm hoping to hear from someone who actually ordered one like that. Otherwise, it might just be that the original owner bought and installed an original Fender black guard back then the way we swap them around on new basses today. Wish I could have asked him. The second owner didn't question it. He was a player and not concerned with aesthetics. It is an exceptional player and has amazing tone.

I’ve bought/sold several ‘73 sunbursts with original black guards. You could still get them with tort and white guards in ‘73 and ‘74, but black was also used on all colors in those years.

 

[BurningSkies]

There's a model change that happens in 1973, so there's a handful of slightly different looking instruments then, and since the factory was a bit mix and match about their assembly. What goes with that change is black v. tortoise guard, positioning of the thumb rest, and a change to the under-guard routing.

The earlier 73's are the same 'model' version back to 68. So basically you're getting the same instrument from 68-73, which is why I bought one, knowing you pay a premium for something that said 6-whatever for a date.

I find the later ones get heavier as well. Here's a couple pictures of my 73, before I sold it. although I have better more detailed ones that I haven't put up.

 

[Jim C]

I have 2 73 P's
72' was the guaranteed lower tugbar
As I understand it early 73's have it lower, but most do not
Generally pickguard colors were finish specific.
I bought a Natural finish in 73' and the pickguard is white.
My other 73' (CAR) came with the wrong guard
My 74' Jazz in Olympic white came with a black guard
72' sunburst J has a tort guard and lower tug bar
My untouched blonde 72' has the lower tugbar and what looks to be an original tort guard

John K once told me that he had seen the same finish with a white or black guard during this time period.
Fender did not have a super tight QC policy when it came to getting instruments out the door especially in the 60's to early 70's.
2 vintage dealers told me that mid 60's paint colors varied as sometimes the guy at the auto paint store didn't get the mix exactly tight (when looking under the guard)

 

[Stackpole]

^^^No truss Rod notch. Can’t be original pick guard so it’s all speculation on original PG color. Like others have shown here’s another ‘73 w/Black PG.