Fender factory colors in 1978

[smcd]

Here's one:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Whatever that color is, that's a good deal on that bass.

 

[Lowbrow]

Here's one:

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That looks like the one I had... re. walnut variation: also should consider lighting variations, aging, etc. naturally. I was thwarted to find a pic in which my possibly wine bass didn't look opaque bright red.

 

[Dawntreader]

After careful consideration I am going to call my color Oxblood.

 

[itchy]

It's a coincidence for me that this topic came up, because I recently bought this 1978 P-Bass with the finish in question.

I assumed it was "walnut"...but when the bass arrived, it had such a burgundy cast to it (compared to to other "walnut" basses I've seen pics of) that I've been searching the web for info on this finish.

I'm bumping this topic in hopes of someone unearthing an answer.

 

[millsbass5]

Walnut Precisions were noticably and very brown.

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Damn, those look nice.

 

[SilGarzaJr]

BTW, "wine" is considered a custom color, while "walnut" is considered an option of "natural". So wine commands ~25-30% more $$. That is if the guy who's selling it knows the difference, lol.

Will keep that in mind. Thanks!!

A little something I picked from GC of all places.

1978

 

[svtb15]

I had a P bass that color and an old Music Man stingray. The proper name from Music Man was WALNUT.. even though the body was made of Alder or Poplar and not actual walnut... They called it Walnut...

HOWEVER Fender did make basses from walnut at one time..
This example was not actual walnut.. just had that name for the this particular finish...

Slang names have been Rootbeer, Trans brown, etc etc

I've been trying for years to get a definitive answer to what factory color this is. I've seen it on many many Fender guitars, but no one seems to know exactly what color it is. Can't even find a color chart for 1978 for reference.


The color is a translucent burgundy. Very much red, and not brown or mocha. It seems to be a color offered only in 1978. I've seen it listed as "Midnight Wine", but I've never seen any evidence that was a Fender factory color.

Anyone??

 

[2meterbassman]

Forget these discussions and all you read in this thread.

The bass is obviously green.

 

[Mcjt]

yeah, that's "wine". i worked in a guitar shop in the mid 80's and we had a strat in wine and it was sooooooo pretty! even had a bit of a fuchsia hue to it, if i remember correctly.
The LEAD series were available in 79-81 ONLY in black and wine, so you see a lot of Lead's in this red.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Lead_Series

 

[9mmMike]

1978 Trans red -

 

[wraub]

Well, that is pretty red. Really, completely, awfully red. Not even slightly red, based on the pics.

As to the bass(es) in question for the OP, how about this:

Reddish, and brownish.

Problem solved, no?

 

[davenumber2]

Original post looks like this color to me with a little darkening due to age, which Fender calls Walnut.

 

[TinIndian]

In 79 my friend and I started playing guitar together. I bought a black 78 Musicmaster bass and he bought a Trans Red Fender Lead II. It was definately without question trans red in color. Not sure if his was a 78 or 79.

 

[TinIndian]

Not a bright red but as someone described earlier kind of like the Gibson Heritage Cherry color.

 

[gr8avocado]

The "walnut" ones seem too brown. The op's color has much more red in it. Looks "wine" to me. Gotta remember also, due to the differences in eyesight,monitors,laptop screens,phones and whatever. The color is gonna look slightly different to each individual viewer.

 

[gwangi]

I have a question, I had bought a Fender Precision in I think it was 1980 or 1981 and I absolutely loved that bass, unfortunately it was stolen in 1983 when I was living in San Dimas, California but anyways the color on this bass was and I'm serious when I describe the color was the best description I can give was Campbell Tomato Soup red, you no after you mix a 1/2 a can of water and 1/2 a can of milk to make the soup and the final look of the soup was exactly the finish on my Fender precision.
I never knew what this finish was called but I was hoping somebody on here that is a Fender finish fanatic would possibly know.

 

[davenumber2]

I have a question, I had bought a Fender Precision in I think it was 1980 or 1981 and I absolutely loved that bass, unfortunately it was stolen in 1983 when I was living in San Dimas, California but anyways the color on this bass was and I'm serious when I describe the color was the best description I can give was Campbell Tomato Soup red, you no after you mix a 1/2 a can of water and 1/2 a can of milk to make the soup and the final look of the soup was exactly the finish on my Fender precision.
I never knew what this finish was called but I was hoping somebody on here that is a Fender finish fanatic would possibly know.

A shot in the dark but that makes me think of Fiesta Red.

 

[gwangi]

A shot in the dark but that makes me think of Fiesta Red.

Hey thanks for the reply but I think I just figured it out, I happened to be looking at www.chicagomusicexchange.com and they have a 1980 Fender Precision for sale and the finish is called Dakota Red and that looks exactly what I used to have and miss very much.

 

[st0n3]

Hey thanks for the reply but I think I just figured it out, I happened to be looking at www.chicagomusicexchange.com and they have a 1980 Fender Precision for sale and the finish is called Dakota Red and that looks exactly what I used to have and miss very much.

Incorrect.
It is Morocco red from international colour series released in 1981.
Here you can see one:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[gwangi]

Incorrect.
It is Morocco red from international colour series released in 1981.
Here you can see one:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You might be right about the finish corresponding to the year buy honestly I looked at your link and that is not the finish I once had on the Fender P bass I bought brand new in 1981.
Here is the link to what I'm talking about, this is definitely the finish that was on the Precision bass I bought brand new, now unless Chicago Music Exchange is mistaken and calling this finish on this bass the wrong color but the finish on this bass is the finish that was on the bass I bought in '81:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]