1979 Fender Precision - authentic or not?

[saabfender]

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

You understand it’s pretty easy to fake a serial number/decal?

Nothing about this bass looks like normal 40 years of wear. Maybe an owner had a barb wire belt buckle and used it to dig ditches.

 

[Amano]

My 75 sb Precision has the same wear. Played this bass for 27 years. Its my main bass. Chips comming of from the edges of the body. The paint on the back just getting thinner. Only the mirror shine hardware makes me wonder.

 

[tpaul]

Fender had an abundance of S8 serial number stickers. They used them until they ran out, well into the '80s. Use the neck heel date and confirm using pot code dating.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

The hardware looks odd. Unless someone has taken it all off and had it cleaned in nasty chemicals (or maybe one of those ultrasonic cleaners?) it looks like new hardware. If T-cut and wire wool could do that, I'd clean up by 80s basses.Frets might be good polishing work by a luthier, or a refret. Looks like the player's belt might not have been barbed wire, but maybe one of those big Texas belt buckles in a country band?

 

[FC Bass]

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.

Iirc it's caused by cigarette smoke?

 

[saabfender]

My 75 sb Precision has the same wear. Played this bass for 27 years. Its my main bass. Chips comming of from the edges of the body. The paint on the back just getting thinner. Only the mirror shine hardware makes me wonder.

Did yours have any wear like the OP's on the body under the G string? That seems like an odd place for a wear-through.

 

[toomanyslurpees]

Wear under the G strig’s from a guy playing with a pic... looks legit to me. I have an 80 p bass and it’s as good a player as my Stingrays... everybody’s so quick to tell you everything from that era is crap.... someone liked this one enough to play it a bunch...

 

[DeliriumTremens]

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.

They used to finish the headstock in nitro and the rest of the neck in poly. That's a pretty normal look for a '70s Fender neck.

 

[Amano]

Did yours have any wear like the OP's on the body under the G string? That seems like an odd place for a wear-through.

Mine has exactly the same wear just above the E string. The spot I put my thump. I play fingerstyle.

 

[Alex Bass]

It LOOKS like a late 70's early 80's fender that was relic'd most likely. But make sure you ask whats the return policy JUST in case..... and DO NOT listen to folk that say 70's Fenders were crap other than an inconsistent neck pocket that dont effect the bass at all and the weight they are PLAYERS I've had over 10 sold them all kept 2 they are great!!!

 

[godofthunder59]

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.

The face of the headstock is shot in laquer because the then new poly finish wasn't compatible with the decal. The back of the neck was shot in poly.

 

[eccles77]

The colour looks like a late 70`s burst, the headstock colour is correct as is stated above. That S8 serial number was used into the early 80`s and I would like to see the date codes on the pots and body to verify it`s age. It has had a bit of a hard life by the looks of the body or else someone loved it enough to play the hoolay out of it: take yer pick!

The tuners look far to clean considering the condition of the rest of the bass. 11 lb is a bit on the heavy side for most people if you are wearing it for a couple of hours. If it is a dealer, the list price is not unusual but I would look to getting it for around £1200 to £1300. If it`s a private sale then they are asking too much and I would pass as there are mid 70`s P basses around in better condition for around the asking price.

 

[okabass]

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.

I read somewhere that the poly clear coat and the decal material doesn't work together. They must use nitro clear coat on the face of the headstock, and that yellows (or browns) with age.

My friend has a black '77 PB which was very light, like alder body 60's bass. It might be an old body found somewhere in the 7ender factory?

 

[buldog5151bass]

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

Punk, sunburst? Unlikely.

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.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[godofthunder59]

Punk, sunburst? Unlikely.



My thoughts exactly.

A true punk wouldn't care what color the bass was.

 

[Cree]

It looks right to me.

I have a Precision from the same era. Serial number 1979, pot codes 1980. The body on mine has plenty of wear, gouges, etc, and the tuners and neck plate are in pristine condition.

These bases were shipped with a bridge cover, pick up cover, and a thumb rest. All of which, as you can see, are missing in the photos. However, all of the screw holes are visible, and in the right places.

Mine is heavy and I played it as my main bass for over 20 years.

I bought it used for $249 during the hair metal era when no one wanted a “vintage” instrument.

 

[buldog5151bass]

A true punk wouldn't care what color the bass was.

A true punk would have bled all over it so you couldn't tell.

 

[LT131]

That's almost 2K US. No way in that shape. It's either beat to hell, indicating it was poorly taken care of, or a bad attempt at relicing. Both hurt the value quite a bit IMO.

 

[MIMike]

It all looks to be period correct to me. The pickgard is the right color with the thumb rest screw holes in the right place. As mentioned already the serial number could easily be correct. If I recall there should be a sticker on the underside of the pickgard that would have the same serial number as on the headstock (if it original to that bass).

 

[Eric Swaim]

I have owned a load of old Fender Precision basses. The bass appears to be original other than the inability to see the bottom of the pickups. The pickguard has the thumbrest holes in the right place the headstock aged look in very normal and the knobs appear to have the pattern of the 70's. If the pickguard is original there will be an oval sticker that has the serial number on it. If it says great and sounds great,get it.