Fender pre-CBS Club: pics mandatory!

[4-fingers]

Thanks DrFeelgoood When it comes time to look this Bass over, the website will be an asset.

 

[4-fingers]

Questions about the above mentioned Bass and what year it could be.....definitely one piece maple neck/fretboard and not a water slide decal. It's been a few years since I've held it and pretty certain the tort guard was original. Wide flat fretboard, shallow from front to back....much like my 57 AVRI....felt similar. In the new year I will text my buddy and see if he wouldn't mind shooting me some pics.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Questions about the above mentioned Bass and what year it could be.....definitely one piece maple neck/fretboard and not a water slide decal. It's been a few years since I've held it and pretty certain the tort guard was original. Wide flat fretboard, shallow from front to back....much like my 57 AVRI....felt similar. In the new year I will text my buddy and see if he wouldn't mind shooting me some pics.

Once piece maple neck, and not being a waterslide logo, sounds like it's a 1970's.

 

[96tbird]

I'll look for a shot of yours, that might look damn cool.
just the remote chance that Leo could have merely laid a hand on either of our basses just in passing makes anything from his era special, and these early ones were so scarce that the odds come up substantially that they at least shared such rare air.
for a big bass I find the V to be super comfortable, it fits like an old shoe and the neck is like home. I hope yours is that way as well, mine is different than any bass I've tried, it's rather perfect!

Yep mine is unbelievable in action and tone. The neck is impossibly thin and I marvel it survived 50 years without warping: really good old growth maple in those days.

 

[96tbird]

The refin if my !62 is done!! We needed to cover some screw holes and I like lots of red and a heavy black margin. Turned out just the way I wanted.

For your memory again before:View attachment 412298,
After:View attachment 412299

I'll look for a shot of yours, that might look damn cool.
just the remote chance that Leo could have merely laid a hand on either of our basses just in passing makes anything from his era special, and these early ones were so scarce that the odds come up substantially that they at least shared such rare air.
for a big bass I find the V to be super comfortable, it fits like an old shoe and the neck is like home. I hope yours is that way as well, mine is different than any bass I've tried, it's rather perfect!

Here’s mine again. The entire bass was stripped for the refin except the face of the headstock to preserve the decals. My luthier bleached the greyed spots on the neck where the finish wore through. Back of the neck came out like brand new.

 

[Mastermold]

Did they make P's with maple fingerboard in 64?

Nope--I assumed he meant by "on the top" he was talking about the side of the neck (the top while playing) where the fret markers are. But sounds like it's actually not a '64 or pre-CBS.

 

[Figjam]

Sorry to crumble your coffee cake dude.

 

[SJLee]

Did they make P's with maple fingerboard in 64?

Though rosewood was the standard fretboard wood used in the 60’s, a custom order could be placed for a Maple cap. Norm’s Rare Guitars had one in house a few years back. So though it’s not common, it’s not impossible.

EDIT: In fact, this is a picture that was advertised on the NRG website as a 1964 special order Maple cap precision bass which I just found in my library of bass photos.

 

[liverbird]

Almost how mine was found in the wild. I call mine a ‘62 because of the three knob layout: as I understand it, that was the ‘62 model change from stacked. But mine has a neck date 10/61. So, I’ll join you in reclassifying mine as a 61?

The earliest neck date I've seen on a 3-knob is 8/61.

Date it by the latest component that has a date on it - neck, body, pots. For example, my Blonde Jazz has 6143 pots but a neck date of 1 62. So it's a '62.

 

[cripula]

I don't know how many of you with all original basses share my experience, but I had been having trouble enjoying by '64 in any kind of band setting because of the low output. My playing style relies on a certain amount of headroom, and I've always used higher output passive pickups in my working basses. I found myself unable to get across whenever I'd bring my stock '64 to the practice room.

I'm obviously not going to modify the bass, so I tried one of these boost pedals at band practice last night and had a fantastic night.

I had the output and headroom I need to be comfortable playing in a band setting while enjoying the vibe, feel, tone and light weight of my old precision bass.

I thought I'd post this here in case any of y'all found yourself in a similar predicament. I'm certainly curious to hear if others have had the same experience.

My '64 has plenty of output, very aggressive P bass. My '60 also has plenty, but my '62 was fairly weak by comparison.
Over the years the magnets slowly lose their strength. I had that pickup re-magnetized and the change was very positive.

Just another option to consider. I wouldn't rewind an old pickup that wasn't broken, but that's me.
If the boost pedal is working for you, right on.

 

[ukulelelab]

Though rosewood was the standard fretboard wood used in the 60’s, a custom order could be placed for a Maple cap. Norm’s Rare Guitars had one in house a few years back. So though it’s not common, it’s not impossible.

EDIT: In fact, this is a picture that was advertised on the NRG website as a 1964 special order Maple cap precision bass which I just found in my library of bass photos.

View attachment 2860134

yes the guy from Artic Monkeys bought that one:

 

[SJLee]

yes the guy from Artic Monkeys bought that one:

touché.

 

[Mr.Fingers]

As for the "64" with the maple fretboard. It's easy to tell: if it's got a skunkstripe, it's not a '64. If it hasn't got a skunkstripe, it is indeed mix-sixties (1964-1968).

 

[ukulelelab]

Fretted Americana had a similar one from mid 65 (serial 'L91146', neck 5 JUL 65 C, pots August 1965)
Here it is:

 

[veebass]

I may have the opportunity to buy a '62 P Bass that had it's original neck replaced in 1965, so the story goes. Neck is all original 65 (excluding the tuners off the 62 neck that it replaced). Body is all original 62.

How should it be valued?

 

[96tbird]

I may have the opportunity to buy a '62 P Bass that had it's original neck replaced in 1965, so the story goes. Neck is all original 65 (excluding the tuners off the 62 neck that it replaced). Body is all original 62.

How should it be valued?

$1200. I’ll wire you the money immediately.

What is it’s neck date?

 

[veebass]

$1200. I’ll wire you the money immediately.

What is it’s neck date?

LOL.
Early 65.

I wasn't necessarily after a $ value- I was after a view on what should it be value as.

It's not really a 62 or a 65.

 

[96tbird]

The earliest neck date I've seen on a 3-knob is 8/61.

Date it by the latest component that has a date on it - neck, body, pots. For example, my Blonde Jazz has 6143 pots but a neck date of 1 62. So it's a '62.

View attachment 2860045

So mine’s a ‘61 then

 

[96tbird]

My '64 has plenty of output, very aggressive P bass. My '60 also has plenty, but my '62 was fairly weak by comparison.
Over the years the magnets slowly lose their strength. I had that pickup re-magnetized and the change was very positive.

Just another option to consider. I wouldn't rewind an old pickup that wasn't broken, but that's me.
If the boost pedal is working for you, right on.

Magnets can become demagnetized but really age has nothing to do with it. Environmental issues, yes, time, not really. Good read. Invalid Link Removed

 

[96tbird]

LOL.
Early 65.

I wasn't necessarily after a $ value- I was after a view on what should it be value as.

It's not really a 62 or a 65.

Pearloid dots or clay?