So, hopefully someone out there can help me figure out whether or not my "1975 Fender Precision Bass" body is geniune, or not. As you can see from the attached pics, it has a name stamp in the neck joint and a (rather unusual looking) round cut-out underneath the bridge. Is this normal for a mid 70's P Bass, does anyone know? I bought it on eBay and have subsequently found out that the "original" pickup was made 13 years after the neck was! Just wondering how much else is non-original? Any, as usual, all opinions are welcome!
I think the cutout is just there for when they are paitning it or its on a rack or something? i forget.
Check this out; read the section about the "stick" screwed into the neck pocket. http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html Don't know anything about the round cutout under the bridge, though.
Yes, I do. But they're misleading, as the neck is certainly original, as are the tuners and bridge. The scratchplate was replaced by me and the pickup is from a 1988 US '57 reissue. I'm not too sure about the pots, but I'm not too worried about them. I've included another pic of the control cavity, anyway. I suppose the real question is, do any other owners of mid 70's P Basses have this kind of circular cut out underneath the bridge of their instrruments?
I'm not sure about originality there, but I just thought I'd mention that the pickups in those '57 reissues were always really nice, so I bet the bass sounds really good!
Body may be refinished? Do you have better pics.? To me fender would not be tha sloppy with paint. Could be overspray? But body routing, not original fender.
It does actually. That's the funny thing. I was knocked out with it when I got it, as I wasn't expecting too much, it's only recently that I've begun to have my doubts about the authenticity and (therefore) value of the thing. That won't stop me playing it constantly and enjoying it - I just want to be really sure about what I claim, if I ever come to sell it (unlike the bozo who sold it to me as "100% original and authrentic". :scowl:
I don't have any other pics, apart from the "finished article" (attached). As for the control cavity routing, it does join up with the pickup cavity, but isn't this normal on a 70's P Bass? My '62 (reissue) has a separate cavity for each, but I think that was normal from the beginning up until the CBS era (please correct me if I'm wrong).
Yes, the exact same shape and depth. The ground wire comes up through the hole, though I expect it was drilled in there more to give them a place to hang the body when they paint it, though they could have used the neck pocket like they traditionally did.
Thanks a lot Jimmy. Just one more question: Does the control cavity join up with the pickup cavity (like on mine)?
Whoo hoo! I'm off to sell it on eBay! Only kidding. That's great news, thanks. Now all I have to figure out, is whether or not it's been repainted? I suspect it has, as there is are two very thick layers of white paint under the black, one matt white (primer?) and one thicker off-white (original top coat?). Also, the black paint is on the inside of the cut out under the bridge, which I guess it wouldn't be if that hole was for hanging the body on during painting (?) Any opinions on that one?
Looks a bit different from my 73, and I don't remember the bit under the bridge, but it could just be my memory. I could buy that it's maybe a late 70's model though. I wouldn't sweat it too much anyway, it's the neck that holds the magic pixie dust anyway!
That phrase must always be taken with a grain of salt. Usually its not because anyone is trying to rip anyone off, its more like "the telephone game". The guy you bought it from heard from the guy that he bought it from ... etc. A good playing and sounding '70s P is a thing of beauty.
