1983 Precision

[REDLAWMAN]

I'm just about to pick up a pristine '83 Standard, black/maple/white pick guard.

Can anyone tell me, please, whether there is/is supposed to be the usual notch in the pick guard in order to access the truss rod?

On this one, there isn't any notch at all and I'm trying to assess whether it's a non-original replacement.

Thanks

 

[LowEZ]

Truss rod adjustment on an '83 is on the headstock. No notch.

 

[klejst]

Depends, if the truss rod is adjusted at the base of the neck usually there is a little grove cut from pick guard for that purpose, but I have also seen basses where there is no cut. And obviously if the truss rod is adjusted up on the head stock there would be no groove in the pick guard.

As I was typing this looks like LowEZ pretty much summed it up.

 

[REDLAWMAN]

Thanks mate; much appreciated.

Incidentally, should there be a removable 'cap' in the aperture, or are they simply open?

 

[bstringrandy]

My 82 P-Bass has a notch and the truss rod adjustment is at the neck heel.

 

[REDLAWMAN]

The plot thickens.......

 

[Johnny Alien]

An 82 would have the truss rod access at the heel. It was in 1983 that they changed to truss rod access at the headstock. The one in the photo seems to be a transitional model that has the white pickup covers.

 

[moebass]

I have an american 83 pbass. the trus rod is at the headstock. no notch at the pick guard.

 

[bstringrandy]

An 82 would have the truss rod access at the heel. It was in 1983 that they changed to truss rod access at the headstock. The one in the photo seems to be a transitional model that has the white pickup covers.

That makes sense because the headstock S/N on mine is S9XXXXX, but the heel is stamped 09 82.

 

[ZoomBoy]

Original pickguard should be white single ply and the pickup covers should also be white.

 

[bigalbass]

My 83 Precision Elite has the trus rod adj at the top of the headstock.

 

[REDLAWMAN]

Should there be a removable 'cap' in the truss rod aperture/access point at the nut, or are they simply open?

 

[Johnny Alien]

Should there be a removable 'cap' in the truss rod aperture/access point at the nut, or are they simply open?

Just open. Like the current MIM line.

 

[chuck norriss]

Let's see it.

 

[REDLAWMAN]

When I have it, you shall.....

Thanks very much everyone.

 

[sloppy_phil]

not that i'm too up on those early 80s Fenders, but FWIW, i have a Ric from '84 that was a transitional sort of model. has mostly the old 70s stylings, but was called a modern 4003 (late '84 was when things changed IIRC); always possible that this particular P-bass is one of those weird ones.

 

[lowphatbass]

I had an '83 I got brand new that had black pickup covers and a white PG with no notch for the truss adjustment which was at the heal. I bought it in early 84, but AFAIK it was an 83 "standard".