Dating an old Fender Jazz Bass

[Matt Preacher]

Hello.
I just find this old Jazz Bass, Serial S731635, that seems to be an old 77.
I take some pictures of stamps in the neck and body, but don't find any explaination about the system use on it (4 numbers on each)

Sans titre

Sans titre

Some have maybe decrepit this system ?

Best regards

 

[Gougedeye]

Invalid Link Removed

Try that web site. The serial number dates to 1977.

 

[FranF]

Pickguard must be a replacement, since post-'74, 99% of the basses had black guards. But the pics look era- correct.

 

[Matt Preacher]

Yes, the pickguard is the only think (normally) not from origin

 

[Matt Preacher]

Sans titre

 

[Matt Preacher]

Invalid Link Removed

Try that web site. The serial number dates to 1977.

Thanks. But in fact, i try to use the "stamps" on body and neck to dating more precisely.
and the signification of the 1273 and 1575 if it's possible.

 

[Arizona Jones]

Looks like an original antigua pickguard.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Thanks. But in fact, i try to use the "stamps" on body and neck to dating more precisely.
and the signification of the 1273 and 1575 if it's possible.

The 1273 and 1575 are not date codes, just batch #s used in the manufacturing process. Fender stopped putting body dates on altogether in the early '60s and didn't start doing it again till the early '80. If there is a date code on the neck (and many in the '70s do not have one), it would be on the end of the heel. If not, the "S7" serial # will have to suffice for the neck date which is pretty safe to say it's a '77 neck because they went to "S8" sometime in '78 (although Fender did use S7, S8 and S9 ser #'d neck up thru 1982). The way you date the rest of the bass is by the date codes on the pots, and the codes that are typically stamped on the bottom of the pickups.

 

[Matt Preacher]

Thanks for all this informations , you rock !!!
I wil try to see on pots and bottom pickups

 

[Fresh Eddie]

It could be an Antigua bass someone painted black, too.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Looks legit - could be a refin. I'm DIGGING the black with antigua guard - actually never seen that before!!

 

[Thuddy Waters]

I dated an old Fender for a while. In the end, it just didn't work out because of our age difference. Now we're just friends.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Looks legit - could be a refin. I'm DIGGING the black with antigua guard - actually never seen that before!!

Looks legit to me too and that antigua/black color combo looks weirdly awesome

 

[hsp-sandiego]

So how does the instrument play and sound? or does it need a setup and strings?

 

[Flaked Beans]

Torres stamped neck and Cox stamped body, that's a legit '77 indeed. The antigua pickguard is from the late '70s as well.

 

[SilGarzaJr]

My bet would be late 77. I have a 77 and 78 and the neck pocket is very different on each. The 77 follows the radius of the neck butt (as it should), where as the 78 has the corners routed poorly leaving corner gaps . This is lazy in my opinion and probably the result of re-working the old jigs and not caring what was underneath the pickguard.

What does the routing on the neck PUP look like? Mostly likely rounded on the ends and not following the rectangular shape of the PUP itself. Both of these sound great but I did do some work to remedy the gaps.

Before pic - I glued in some veneers for a more solid contact.


After pic - although it's not obvious here, it's a very smooth transition.

 

[thmsjordan]

It could be an Antigua bass someone painted black, too.

Those 70's basses with Antigua finish would chip so easily. I remember selling Fenders in the 70's and we hated getting these things in because the finishes would chip if you looked at them wrong. So the repaint is definitely a possibility IMHO.

 

[Flaked Beans]

My bet would be late 77. I have a 77 and 78 and the neck pocket is very different on each. The 77 follows the radius of the neck butt (as it should), where as the 78 has the corners routed poorly leaving corner gaps . This is lazy in my opinion and probably the result of re-working the old jigs and not caring what was underneath the pickguard.

What does the routing on the neck PUP look like? Mostly likely rounded on the ends and not following the rectangular shape of the PUP itself. Both of these sound great but I did do some work to remedy the gaps.

Before pic - I glued in some veneers for a more solid contact.
View attachment 648264

After pic - although it's not obvious here, it's a very smooth transition.
View attachment 648265

Exactly, a '77 neck pocket should fit like a glow.

here is my '78 J's neck pocket:

 

[Fresh Eddie]

Those 70's basses with Antigua finish would chip so easily. I remember selling Fenders in the 70's and we hated getting these things in because the finishes would chip if you looked at them wrong. So the repaint is definitely a possibility IMHO.

Are you talking about the color layer? Mine was pretty worn when I got it, but there are definite white and black spots peeking through.

 

[MIMike]

If I recall correctly, the pickguards in that era had a sticker on them with the serial number that should have matched the one on the headstock. If you take the guard off and see the matching SN, then I would bet you have a bass that used to be Antigua and was refinished black.