80's Precision Special serial numbers

[taliesin]

Hoping one of the resident Fender experts can help me.

I recently bought a Precision Special for a decent price that's in pretty good shape for its age. The volume knob (and possibly the pot) has been replaced, the strap buttons were replaced with some kind of locking system I'm unfamiliar with, and the thumb rest is gone.

I can live with these or track down parts to revert it to stock, but the important thing is the original preamp is still there and working.

My question is about the serial - it is G022*** - I didn't notice it at first but when I did it was a bit of a concern. However another one showed up for sale locally that also has a G serial number.

My question is did Fender have G serials for basses in the 80's? Anything I've gotten on the lookup sites is no result or that it's a Strat Special from the same era - based on the G in the serial.

Does anyone know? I'm pretty confident the bass is legit and thought maybe there was a refin on the headstock with a new serial but seeing another Special with a G serial makes me think it could be the original.

TIA for any assistance.

 

[elgranluis]

This used to be found In the actual fender website, so take this as 100% accurate.

One thing though , my precision special actually had a walnut “burst” body underneath a lake placid blue finish. If it’s super heavy , you might have a walnut body .

 

[taliesin]

Thanks for that.

I don't think it's walnut - it's not super heavy for that time and the wear areas look lighter in colour.

But it's good to know they used G serial numbers for at least some basses at the time - and as it's G02 that would put it in '82.

And not to break TB rules a pic of the whole thing

 

[elgranluis]

Wow , beautiful !

There’s a sales brochure(if I recall correctly )where they say that fender used the original dimensions of the 1957 precision when they made this bass.

Great purchase , congrats !

 

[ajkula66]

Congrats on your "new" bass. May it serve you well.

I bought its maple-necked sibling new in London in '81. Long gone but still have fond memories of it as my "first good Fender bass"...

Play it in good health and enjoy!

 

[taliesin]

Wow , beautiful !

There’s a sales brochure(if I recall correctly )where they say that fender used the original dimensions of the 1957 precision when they made this bass.

Great purchase , congrats !

I found the site about these basses - I believe it's done by a TB member. On that one it says it was based on the '61 version - but either way it's quite a comfortable neck.

Congrats on your "new" bass. May it serve you well.

I bought its maple-necked sibling new in London in '81. Long gone but still have fond memories of it as my "first good Fender bass"...

Play it in good health and enjoy!

Yes I had a maple FB version in the 80's that I sold in the late 90's as I wasn't playing and needed the money so I'm happy to have one back in the fold.

Played it for a while today and with the preamp you can get pretty thunderous bass so I had fun with that for a while.

Thanks to both of you and looking forward to playing it more.

 

[mikeswals]

Yes it right, I had a G one, G is for '82.
Bodies on them are ash, obviously except for the walnut ones.

 

[taliesin]

Yes it right, I had a G one, G is for '82.
Bodies on them are ash, obviously except for the walnut ones.

Thanks for confirming that.

 

[mikeswals]

Mine has a more of a 50s style thick neck, just not with the V rear shape.
Early 60s necks were 1-3/4" wide nuts and pretty thin front to back.
My 82 is a hair wider than the 1-5/8 nut but not quite 1-3/4. And it is a thick U shaped front to back, very baseball bat feeling neck.

 

[TonH]

I found the site about these basses - I believe it's done by a TB member. On that one it says it was based on the '61 version - but either way it's quite a comfortable neck.

Yes I had a maple FB version in the 80's that I sold in the late 90's as I wasn't playing and needed the money so I'm happy to have one back in the fold.

Played it for a while today and with the preamp you can get pretty thunderous bass so I had fun with that for a while.

Thanks to both of you and looking forward to playing it more.

That's a nice Precision Special!
I see you already found my website: Fender Precision Special Bass 1980 - 1982
Enjoy playing this bass!

 

[taliesin]

That's a nice Precision Special!
I see you already found my website: Fender Precision Special Bass 1980 - 1982
Enjoy playing this bass!

Yes the site is really helpful - thanks for doing it.

Mine has a more of a 50s style thick neck, just not with the V rear shape.
Early 60s necks were 1-3/4" wide nuts and pretty thin front to back.
My 82 is a hair wider than the 1-5/8 nut but not quite 1-3/4. And it is a thick U shaped front to back, very baseball bat feeling neck.

My memory is that the one I had many years ago was kinda like that - the neck on this one is a 1 5/8" nut but doesn't feel very clubby so quite nice. The rosewood board may help to tame the top end which can be pretty aggressive if you boost the treble control.

And it really doesn't feel as heavy as I remember my previous one being.

I'm happy with it and it'll be in the regular rotation going forward.

 

[DDawg]

Mine's also a G022... I love the neck - thick and chunky, with a 7.25" fretboard radius.