Fender pre-CBS Club: pics mandatory!

[DirkP]

View attachment 4683270 View attachment 4683269 View attachment 4683268 View attachment 4683267 View attachment 4683266 View attachment 4683265 View attachment 4683266 View attachment 4683267 View attachment 4683268 View attachment 4683269 View attachment 4683270 Here’s my ‘63 all original P Bass. Glad to join the club - I’ve wanted one of these for a long time.

Not to question the authenticity, but I'm surprised that a nitro finish ages like this. I always thought, aging nitro looks different and that a finish that comes down - if it comes down - in flakes like on yours underneath the g-string is a clear sign of a poly finish. Nitro rather looks like - pardon my english - "scrubbed through". Is there an explanation for this?

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

That chipped out place under the G looks to me like a case of enthusiastic use of a flat pick.

 

[Neo1]

I recently acquired my first pre-CBS Fender (yeah!). Here's the obligatory pics on this thread from a few days ago:

NBD – Pre-CBS ‘64 Fender (birthyear, too!)

 

[stevieg]

Can I be number 13?

My 59' blondie...

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Your P-Bass is a twin of the one I own.

 

[stevieg]

No number needed. Just sharing pics of my cousin's 63 Jazz in Candy Apple Red with matching headstock. All original.

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I have a J-Bass very similar to this. Candy Apple red, four felt mufflers and both ash trays. It does not however, have matching paint on the headstock. I have been trying to determine its age for years. I was advised that the 1962 series did not have painted headstocks. The deck could be a replacement.

All suggestions most welcome.

 

[stevieg]

Well, today was a big day. My 1956 P-Bass arrived (Chicago Music Exchange). After a quick tune up, I plugged into my '67 Ampeg SB-12 and started walking... This bass is in very good shape, and soinds great. I have found my Holy Grail Number please
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Very nice.

 

[stevieg]

1962 Jazz Bass, Gruhn's wasn't 100% sure on finish. Original owner just recalls really wanting it pink. I tend to hope for original, but know deep down it's probably just a quality refin, based on what I've discussed with his daughter since obtaining it two years ago.
(Still talk with her, & occasionally get new stories of her dad's playing days) Gained an awesome bass, & have gotten to know his great family as a result.


Best hundred bucks I've EVER spent!

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Nice!!! I love Shell Pink. Also, your post may have solved a puzzle that has been vexing me for decades. When I was at university I bought a Candy Apple red J-Bass from a friend for $150.00. I have been having trouble determining it birth year. Unlike most of the vintage Jazz Basses I have seen, mine does not have painted headstock to match the body. I though the neck may have been changed. Then someone pointed out to me that the '62 series did not have matching headstock. Yours is a '62 and does not have painted headstock. So

 

[stevieg]

As I was saying... The lack of paint on the headstock of your '62 may add credence to the person who dated mine as a '62.

In any case, thanks for sharing the photos. Shell Pink never fails to impress. In all fairness I also have a weak spot for Seafoam Green. I'm also a SCUBA diver so there may be a relationship emerging.

 

[Lucky Chuck]

Then someone pointed out to me that the '62 series did not have matching headstock.

Don't mean to rain on your parade, but my '62 Jazz in LPB had matching headstock. Purchased used, but has been confirmed to be legit by a knowledgeable dealer...

 

[5StringBlues]

hummada hummada

 

[Dynacord]

I have a J-Bass very similar to this. Candy Apple red, four felt mufflers and both ash trays. It does not however, have matching paint on the headstock. I have been trying to determine its age for years. I was advised that the 1962 series did not have painted headstocks. The deck could be a replacement.

All suggestions most welcome.

Matching headstocks on custom color Jazz basses generally came in in later '62 - so either way is correct for '62. The four felt mutes continued into early '63 and the brass ground strap a little longer.

'62 is early for Candy Apple Red though - generally consider as introduced in '63.

 

[TomB]

Not sure this is totally relevant here, but my Dakota red ‘61 P-bass does not have a matching headstock.

 

[Todd Larson]

Not sure this is totally relevant here, but my Dakota red ‘61 P-bass does not have a matching headstock.

To my knowledge, matching headstocks on original pre-CBS P-Basses are exceedingly rare, if they exist at all. Could be special ordered no doubt. I’ve seen refins, but that’s it.

 

[Pandastylebass]

Hello Everyone,
I'm very happy to present my entry into the club
1960 P Bass
Body Refinish Blonde
Neck Refinish Amber
Replaced Pots and pickup leads in 1978
Nut Original
Tuners Original
Knobs Original
Pickguard Original (with replaced piece at the input jack
Bridge Original
Original Pickup and Bridge cover came with it in the original case

 

[Mastermold]

Hello Everyone,
I'm very happy to present my entry into the club
1960 P Bass
Body Refinish Blonde
Neck Refinish Amber
Replaced Pots and pickup leads in 1978
Nut Original
Tuners Original
Knobs Original
Pickguard Original (with replaced piece at the input jack
Bridge Original
Original Pickup and Bridge cover came with it in the original case
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Nice! And congrats! Club #93 is yours!

 

[Gary franson]

I have a question for anyone with an original custom color p bass
Is there a body date visible in the pick up cavity or due to the fact that it is a custom color is it painted over.
I understand with sunburst you can still see them but I have never seen a custom color to know for sure whether that is the case.
The bass in question is a desert sand 1959 p base it appears to be drilled for both the 10 and 13 hole pickguards
all electronics seem to be correct. Pot dates 16th week of 59 et cetera
pick up Seems original
no date on the neck butt
the body date if one exists has been painted over
The only other thing that seems a little off is the fact that instead of the fine saddle bridge it had ithe later one with the courser saddles
I hope to be getting comprehensive photos shortly but thought I would check about the paint in the pick up cavity before proceeding much further.

 

[kurpak]

The course bridge saddles are correct for 59, the finer ones are on 57-58 basses.
Being a 59 it could have originally been an anodized 10 hole guard, hard to say since there is no body date if it originally had the anodized guard or tortoise (the switch happened mid year in 59, approximately July.)
I have one of the earliest tortoise guard 59's with the first experimental hole pattern before they moved the screw near the volume knob further up, the body dates to August 59. To confuse things further, this hole pattern can appear to be both for 10 and 13 hole, so it's possible this bass had one of the earliest tort guards at one time (I can fit a 10 hole on mine without drilling any extra holes.) Can't answer the question on if they pencil date marked custom colors under the pickups, I've never had a custom color 59 to look at. I would be looking at the neck pocket and cavities for evidence of refinishing.

 

[Gary franson]

The course bridge saddles are correct for 59, the finer ones are on 57-58 basses.
Being a 59 it could have originally been an anodized 10 hole guard, hard to say since there is no body date if it originally had the anodized guard or tortoise (the switch happened mid year in 59, approximately July.)
I have one of the earliest tortoise guard 59's with the first experimental hole pattern before they moved the screw near the volume knob further up, the body dates to August 59. To confuse things further, this hole pattern can appear to be both for 10 and 13 hole, so it's possible this bass had one of the earliest tort guards at one time (I can fit a 10 hole on mine without drilling any extra holes.) Can't answer the question on if they pencil date marked custom colors under the pickups, I've never had a custom color 59 to look at. I would be looking at the neck pocket and cavities for evidence of refinishing.
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Thank you for the reply. I wasn't even aware that they had tried different screw patterns when they changed over to the tortoise pick guards
I will look in the areas that you suggest when I get the pictures. I do know that it currently has a non original pick guard Since mirror pick guards were probably not in circulation at that time period

 

[kurpak]

The early screw pattern tort basses are pretty rare, I've only ever seen two other examples. They changed pretty quickly to the more traditional 13 hole pattern we see today soon after launch. If it has a newer pickguard like you're saying I would expect it has the standard 13 hole pattern holes drilled and impossible to know if it had the early tort, later tort, or anodized originally. Maple to rosewood happened early in 59, then a short period of rosewood + anodized, and finally rosewood + tort around July or August 59.
16th week pots would suggest a rosewood board with anodized guard, but pots don't really peg a date exactly because they just grabbed them out of bins

 

[Gary franson]

The early screw pattern tort basses are pretty rare, I've only ever seen two other examples. They changed pretty quickly to the more traditional 13 hole pattern we see today soon after launch. If it has a newer pickguard like you're saying I would expect it has the standard 13 hole pattern holes drilled and impossible to know if it had the early tort or anodized. Maple to rosewood happened early in 59, then a short period of rosewood + anodized, and finally rosewood + tort around July or August 59.
16th week pots would suggest a rosewood board with anodized guard, but pots don't really peg a date exactly because they just grabbed them out of bins

Do you happen to know when the control cavity route occurred?
I have seen pictures of one with A 5/59 Pick up cavity route which was the old boomerang style and 1 from 7 /59 which had the newer route but was still drilled for the anodized guard.
I suppose they may have used the anodized guards until they were all gone which would explain the later route and the earlier guard.
I'm still awaiting pictures so that I can figure out exactly what it might be.
Your information has been very helpful and I thank you.