1978 fender precision bass question

[jaibeau]

A buddy let me use his mint 78 bedroom bass. Thing looks like new. But couple of questions…
1. Did these come with a brass nut? It seems really high. Fretting in the first 5 frets takes strength. Plus it’s not curving with the neck radius.
2. The gap on this neck pocket is huge, I’ve never seen that.

I feel like this was worked on but he claims he bought it new in 78.

 

[godofthunder59]

Brass nut is aftermarket and about as poorly done as it can be. Neck pocket gap, that is typical of what Fender was shipping in the late 70s, hard to believe but true. I was there at the great great House of Guitars when Fender sent us stuff like this.

 

[AGCurry]

First, it's not mint unless your friend kept it in the case and never used it or altered it.

Fender did not use brass nuts. That nut is really wrong.

Excessive neck-pocket gaps are not unusual on "vintage" Fenders. It isn't necessarily a problem unless you want it to be.

 

[jaibeau]

Brass nut is aftermarket and about as poorly done as it can be. Neck pocket gap, that is typical of what Fender was shipping in the late 70s, hard to believe but true. I was there at the great great House of Guitars when Fender sent us stuff like this.

Ok then I’m not crazy, but he said it was set up, which was a horrible set up. When I went to see it up I noticed that first. So they must have added it and not told him. Crazy. Thanks for the reply

 

[Killing Floor]

Nut looks high but knock it off and file it down. Brass nut mod was really common in the 70s. The one in my avatar, for example. People like to say I have brass nuts. That’s why.

 

[ad9000]

I'd advise you to tell your friend to get a new nut asap, or at least get that one filed properly with the correct height. It looks like it was just slapped on there without any setup. That neck pocket gap is one of the worst I've seen, unfortunately. There are some good 1978 Fenders out there, but in general that year could be a contender for the low point in Fender quality.

 

[jaibeau]

I'd advise you to tell your friend to get a new nut asap. Looks like it was just slapped on there without any setup. That neck pocket gap is one of the worst I've seen, unfortunately. There are some good 1978 Fenders out there, but in general that year could be a contender for the low point in Fender quality.

Agree

 

[jaibeau]

First, it's not mint unless your friend kept it in the case and never used it or altered it.

Fender did not use brass nuts. That nut is really wrong.

Excessive neck-pocket gaps are not unusual on "vintage" Fenders. It isn't necessarily a problem unless you want it to be.

It’s mint, in fact I thought it was a RI until I looked at the S serial.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Did these come with a brass nut?

Yes - but not from the factory . But pretty much everyone put a brass nut back in the day!
(surprised it doesn't have a Badass & Dimarzios w/a series/parallel switch)
2nd that on just getting a replacement nut.

The gap on this neck pocket is huge, I’ve never seen that

Looks like the pocket on my '75 I got last spring. (it had a brass nut also)
I put an side-shim in to keep it from shifting, but that bass sounds great!
I wouldn't worry about it if sounds and Plays well (once it gets a new nut, that is).
Surprisingly the neck pockets on my '78s are actually pretty good, given the period.
Pretty "hit & miss", but it shouldn't affect anything.

 

[AGCurry]

It’s mint, in fact I thought it was a RI until I looked at the S serial.

"Mint condition": perfect condition : a state of being like new

The brass nut negates "mint."

 

[Zooberwerx]

*It was QC like this that brought the Asian imports to the forefront.

*Brass nut is ungawdly bad but an easy fix or restoration

*Gap is typical for this era. If strings are aligned / centered, great. If not, there's a good chance the neck can be shifted to the left by slightly mod'ing the screw holes thru the pocket. If it's good as-is, don't shim the gap unless you think it will improve the appearance. If your concerned about inadvertent shifting in the pocket, remove the neck and add a piece of screen to the heel / pocket interface. Also make sure the heel butts-up firmly against the end of the pocket.

Riis

 

[bobyoung53]

*It was QC like this that brought the Asian imports to the forefront.

*Brass nut is ungawdly bad but an easy fix or restoration

*Gap is typical for this era. If strings are aligned / centered, great. If not, there's a good chance the neck can be shifted to the left by slightly mod'ing the screw holes thru the pocket. If it's good as-is, don't shim the gap unless you think it will improve the appearance. If your concerned about inadvertent shifting in the pocket, remove the neck and add a piece of screen to the heel / pocket interface. Also make sure the heel butts-up firmly against the end of the pocket.

Riis

You can usually just loosen the neck screws and move the neck where you want it unless it's really bad and tighten the heck out of it, it won't move.

 

[H K]

WOW what a nut! That looks to just be a spare piece of brass someone just cut 4 grooves in. Didnt even round the corners.
Take that to a luthier and have it filed or replaced (with his permission OFCOURSE). It will improve the playability and value.

 

[devnulljp]

Put some of those little wire mesh discs they put in taps as particle traps in the neck pocket. They increase friction and stop it shifting.

 

[H K]

Put some of those little wire mesh discs they put in taps as particle traps in the neck pocket. They increase friction and stop it shifting.

Should leave some pretty nasty marks too tho? Why not use a non-abrasive material wedge?

 

[devnulljp]

Should leave some pretty nasty marks too tho? Why not use a non-abrasive material wedge?

I dunno, my 77 Jazz has an ... ambitious ... neck pocket and the neck shifted when I played it. I put those discs in, and it's rock solid now.
But the bass isn't exactly the sort of thing you'd notice the odd mark on any more. Besides, they're in the neck pocket.

 

[devnulljp]

Should leave some pretty nasty marks too tho? Why not use a non-abrasive material wedge?

I dunno, my 77 Jazz has an ambitious neck pocket and the neck shifted. I put those discs in, and it's rock solid.
But the bass isn't exactly the sort of thing you'd notice the odd mark on any more.

View attachment 4950423

 

[JimmyM]

Should leave some pretty nasty marks too tho? Why not use a non-abrasive material wedge?

That’s what I did in a bass I had. I used a thin piece of plastic. Held well for a long time. I suppose it still is, at least I hope.

 

[JimmyM]

I dunno, my 77 Jazz has an ambitious neck pocket and the neck shifted. I put those discs in, and it's rock solid.
But the bass isn't exactly the sort of thing you'd notice the odd mark on any more.

View attachment 4950423

Who says poly basses don’t look awesome when the finish gets beaten up? That’s a winner, that one.

 

[jaibeau]

Yea guys, my buddy is not a serious player so he had no idea- I’m taking it to my luthier. The neck pocket isn’t an issue, was just curious if that was a thing that year. The neck is amazing, super straight, so once the nut gets addressed, should be solid.