1979 Fender Precision - authentic or not?

[Jimbo76]

Hi there,
I’m interested in this 1979 Fender Precision, it’s around the £1,500 mark, which seems a pretty ok price, however I’ve no way of determining if it’s genuine or not.
Is there any way of telling by looking at the photos alone?
The seller has letters of authenticity however I would appreciate some advice.
Thanks
Jim

 

[godofthunder59]

Looks legit to me, late 70's Fender. I can't say for sureif it's a 79. A better shot of the headstock logo and serial number would help. Any chance you can remove the pickguard and date the pots?

 

[Jimbo76]

Looks legit to me, late 70's Fender. I can't say for sureif it's a 79. A better shot of the headstock logo and serial number would help. Any chance you can remove the pickguard and date the pots?

Looks legit to me, late 70's Fender. I can't say for sureif it's a 79. A better shot of the headstock logo and serial number would help. Any chance you can remove the pickguard and date the pots?

Thanks for the reply. I’ll request some extra photos.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I would not buy it without giving it a GOOD check. Late 70s was the time when QC was the most inconsistent, looks like Ash, so likely is very heavy, and that looks like it was played pretty hard.

 

[godofthunder59]

I would not buy it without giving it a GOOD check. Late 70s was the time when QC was the most inconsistent, looks like Ash, so likely is very heavy, and that looks like it was played pretty hard.

Definitely ash body. Could be a boat anchor. Also played hard, might of had a run in with punk.

 

[bkbirge]

That's pretty pricey for a late 70's P in my opinion, last time I bothered to look, admittedly awhile ago, that era of P seemed to be in the $1800 USD at most for top notch specimens. Looks like it's probably legit from the pics, maybe the pickguard is not original, hard to tell, looks matte black in some pics and with zero wear compared to the rest of the bass. If it speaks to you and sounds good though sure why not. If you are worried about resale value then yeah do more research. I gotta say the wear I see on some of these 70's basses makes me scratch my head, my '78 has wear but it's fairly minor and I've played the hell out of it since '84.

 

[Luckydog]

If it weighs 12 pounds or more, its likely to be authentic!

 

[Jimbo76]

That's pretty pricey for a late 70's P in my opinion, last time I bothered to look, admittedly awhile ago, that era of P seemed to be in the $1800 USD at most for top notch specimens. Looks like it's probably legit from the pics, maybe the pickguard is not original, hard to tell, looks matte black in some pics and with zero wear compared to the rest of the bass. If it speaks to you and sounds good though sure why not. If you are worried about resale value then yeah do more research. I gotta say the wear I see on some of these 70's basses makes me scratch my head, my '78 has wear but it's fairly minor and I've played the hell out of it since '84.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I’m enquiring about the weight, may shed some light on it, but the paperwork all seems legit. If I can get the price down might be worth a punt. It’s a bit far away for me to go and check it out first. I actually love the battered look of it, just hope it hasn’t affected to quality of the sound

 

[Jimbo76]

If it weighs 12 pounds or more, its likely to be authentic!

It weighs around 11lbs. Does that sound about right?

 

[Linnin]

It weighs around 11lbs. Does that sound about right?

Yes. Run the serial number through GuitarDater.Org, and see what that returns. An actual bill of sale of the original purchase from an authorized Fender dealer is your best document. The bass looks to have been deliberately beat to crap in an amateurish attempt to relic it. Since you like that look, all the better.

 

[saabfender]

I dunno. It’s doesnt look/feel right to me. The baked headstock doesnt match the neck. Also, the heel plate is clean while the back is half worn away.

I definitely would move on.

 

[patzilla83]

Hardware and pickguard look a little too clean for how beat up the finish is. Could be a parts bass. I wouldn’t pay that much for a parts bass.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

That's pretty pricey for a late 70's P in my opinion, last time I bothered to look, admittedly awhile ago, that era of P seemed to be in the $1800 USD at most for top notch specimens. Looks like it's probably legit from the pics, maybe the pickguard is not original, hard to tell, looks matte black in some pics and with zero wear compared to the rest of the bass. If it speaks to you and sounds good though sure why not. If you are worried about resale value then yeah do more research. I gotta say the wear I see on some of these 70's basses makes me scratch my head, my '78 has wear but it's fairly minor and I've played the hell out of it since '84.

Ive always been curious as to how it is possible to achieve the worn look even just by playing hard and not taking care of the instrument. I think you would literally have to had toured the world a few times over in a punk band without ever owning a case to put the instrument in to get it to look as worn as the OP's bass in question. If that is even possible.

 

[Stewie]

Looks like it's never seen the inside of a case, or even a gig bag. That ain't mojo, that's abuse, or "relicing"

 

[Engle]

Those chips on the bottom horn don’t look like natural wear to me. A 79 should be a poly finish right? That body is worn like it’s nitro.
If it’s legit, it would be interesting to know how it got like that.

 

[gln1955]

Hardware and pickguard look a little too clean for how beat up the finish is. Could be a parts bass. I wouldn’t pay that much for a parts bass.

This right here. Tuners and bridge are too pristine and not much fret wear that I can see from the pics. Yet the body is beat to hell. Doesn't add up.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Looks legit to me. I like it! At 11 lbs a little heavy though.

Would have to pull the neck and check the pot codes to be 100% sure.

 

[sconix]

Looks like serial is an "S8" which would be 1978. Looks about right for 40 years a playin'

 

[JimmyM]

I dunno. It’s doesnt look/feel right to me. The baked headstock doesnt match the neck.

That actually happens to a lot of those basses from that era. Something about the clear coat over the logo, I'm told. I used to have a 79 that happened to.

Also, while 11 lb basses did happen during the 70's, not all were that heavy. The 79 I had didn't come anywhere near it...closer to 8 1/2 lbs.

But at that price I wouldn't touch it.

 

[Luckydog]

I understand the decal dating system. But, even with an S8 number, the bass could be from early 80’s. Thats not a perjorative, its just saying that number doesnt make it a 78...but if original it is in that ballpark.