Fender pre-CBS Club: pics mandatory!

[Ophiothrix]

Well this is pretty much 'Envy: The Thread' for me here.

Gorgeous basses folks, and I hope one day I might be able to join you guys as a card-carrying club member.

Time to start buying lottery tickets?

 

[DJJazzV]

Update for my 1960 Precision:
After a lot of time and work, the neck has been restored to remove all the varnish that somebody put on it a long time ago. The heel of the neck reveals “12 – 60”.
Truss rod works perfectly, with very low action. I added the Hipshot D tuner and polished the frets. Plays and sounds amazing.

 

[Arrow]

Very nice indeed!!

 

[Bluesgrunt]

Glad to see you git the neck issue worked out.
What did it take to get the truss rod functional again?
Were you able to remove the overcoat and get down to the original finish?

It does look great.
Hope yo get many years of enjoyment from that battle scared classic.

 

[Mastermold]

From last night, my '64 CAR refin ready to do its thing:

View attachment 1115024

Posted a pic of red "at rest" last weekend. Here's one someone took this weekend, red "at play."

 

[Arrow]

Red looks like she's enjoying herself!
I see flats?

 

[Mastermold]

Red looks like she's enjoying herself!
I see flats?

Yep, have had D'Addario Chromes on it for I think nearly two years now. Good match.

 

[DJJazzV]

Glad to see you git the neck issue worked out.
What did it take to get the truss rod functional again?
Were you able to remove the overcoat and get down to the original finish?

It does look great.
Hope yo get many years of enjoyment from that battle scared classic.

Thank you very much. Turns out, there was no truss rod issue. The truss rod nut was stripped. I installed a new one from StewMac, made the neck adjustments while the neck was clamped, and it works perfectly.
That brown finish was identified as some sort of varnish, not stain, so I was able to sand it off. Just took a long time doing it very lightly. I didn't use any chemicals. The bass is now ready for many more years of battle.

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

What exactly is Pre-CBS? Anything date-stamped before January 1, 1965?

Here is my '65 Jazz Bass; the neck stamp date is the first week of June 1965.

 

[ExaltBass]

What exactly is Pre-CBS? Anything date-stamped before January 1, 1965?

Here is my '65 Jazz Bass; the neck stamp date is the first week of June 1965.

Sweet looking bass! Close enough for me. Clay dots?
I had, and foolishly sold, a stack knob in Oly in '69

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

Sweet looking bass! Close enough for me. Clay dots?
I had, and foolishly sold, a stack knob in Oly in '69

Yes, clay dots. its fairly original ... a brass nut was added in 1980 (the old one broke on the G string side); all three pots have died and been replaced (I still have them in case they can be repaired) and the bridge pickup has been rewound by Lindsey Fralin. It still has the original case and both pickup covers. When I got the bass in 1977 it had the original Fender strap, but that was lost years ago.

 

[ExaltBass]

Yes, clay dots. its fairly original ... a brass nut was added in 1980 (the old one broke on the G string side); all three pots have died and been replaced (I still have them in case they can be repaired) and the bridge pickup has been rewound by Lindsey Fralin. It still has the original case and both pickup covers. When I got the bass in 1977 it had the original Fender strap, but that was lost years ago.

We need close ups! Old Fender Porn

 

[jim nolte]

What exactly is Pre-CBS? Anything date-stamped before January 1, 1965?

Here is my '65 Jazz Bass; the neck stamp date is the first week of June 1965.

Your bass is just 1 month younger than mine, MAY 65, all original except for pickguard and knobs.

 

[Mastermold]

What exactly is Pre-CBS? Anything date-stamped before January 1, 1965?

Yes--CBS took over effective January 1, 1965 so that's the point of demarcation.

Here is my '65 Jazz Bass; the neck stamp date is the first week of June 1965.

Absolute beauty!

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

We need close ups! Old Fender Porn

This is the only close-up I have access to right now. The covers are on for this picture.

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

Yes--CBS took over effective January 1, 1965 so that's the point of demarcation.



Absolute beauty!

Ouch! The value of my estate just dropped by $5,000!

I'll take a few "bass porn" photos this evening and post 'em ... assuming the big storm coming coming across Virginia cancels band rehearsal.

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

Here are a few pics of my June 1965 Jazz Bass. I've had it for 40 years this year.

 

[jim nolte]

Here are a few pics of my June 1965 Jazz Bass. I've had it for 40 years this year.

Can't tell from the pics, is it an "L"series? If it is I'm going to guess it's in the L9**** range.

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

No its not an "L" series but I wish it were ... the neck plate number is 102xxx ... the plate has four bolts and the large "F."

This seems to put it right at mid-1965 and corresponding to the neck-stamp date.

 

[jim nolte]

No its not an "L" series but I wish it were ... the neck plate number is 102xxx ... the plate has four bolts and the large "F."

This seems to put it right at mid-1965 and corresponding to the neck-stamp date.

Interesting, there is only a month difference between yours and mine but mine is still in the L range, L89***. I don't know how accurate the serial #s were but maybe the L series ended sometime in May '65. I always loved white/tort combos, beautiful bass !