What are the neck widths and thicknesses like on P basses from 1963 to 1965? I'm thinking about getting a Musikraft neck for my parts Precision bass.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender pre-CBS Club: pics mandatory!
- Thread starter Mastermold
- Start date
Size "C" nut width (1.75") and a shallow to medium thick C shape profile.
My two '62 necks (June - Slab, Dec - Laminate) are both closer to 1-11/16 than 1.75. Front to back thickness on both are .820 at the 1st fret. Very comfortable!
That is the most amazing example of a blonde / maple neck P I've ever seen!
Truly "Bass Grail" territory, IMO.
My '58 didn't have a strap button on the back of the PH either. Pretty sure they didn't show up until '60'ish.
Beautiful bass, Ronnie!
Love the bold 3-Tone! If my '58 would have had that I wouldn't have sold her.
That should be correct and if I may quote from the "The Fender bass - an illustrated history" by Black & Molinaro on page 38:
'In 1960, Fender added the strap button to the back of the Jazz and Precision headstocks. (Traditional players used this button to help strap the bass vertically, allowing them to play as they were accustomed in their transition from doghouse to electric bass). By 1969 the button disappeared, creating yet another Fender mystery.'
Wow! looks awesome, I'm surprised with the date marking on the neck as most early 59's don't have dates marked there but do have is on the body (pick-up cavity).
Again I quote from Vintage Guitar Info on Fender neck dates (Vintage Guitars Info - Fender, collecting vintage guitars fender stratocaster, strat, telecaster, tele):
Fender Neck Dates, 1950 to present.
From the first solidbody guitars to 1976, Fender dated their instruments at the "butt" of the detachable neck. Here is a timeline of the format the dates, and how they were printed:
.........
- Early 1959: Due to a complaint by a Fender customer as to an obscentity written on the neck butt, no markings were used for the first part of 1959. I've seen dates of 6-59, so they started using them again at least by mid-year.
Yes, I know that story. Some have them some don't. It has the body date in the Pickup cavity, too. (though that's actually 2/59 - though the 2 might be a 5 as it's a little difficult to tell).
Yeah, mine only has the 4/59 under the pickup, so technically it could've been a later model as well, it seems the one consistent message out there is that serial numbering and dates are quite a mess early on at Fender.....
If you don't mind sharing, what are the first two digits of your serial? Mine starts with 38XXX
Absolutely true that Fender was consistently inconsistent and was not too concerned with dating minutia. The serial number plates were tossed salad. This one is 35XXX
I forget the pot dates but they were right in the same range.
Really nice figuring on the neck on yours (not often seen) and incredible condition!
Last edited:
Busted out the ol' vernier caliper and sized up my '64P. 1.75" at the nut. 0.82" depth at the first fret and 0.98" at the 12th fret (not including the frets). The combination of neck shape, low frets and neck wear makes it the most comfy neck I've ever played.
I thought It wouldve been a thinner C neck. Here is what I ordered from Musikraft. I’m gonna dye the walnut to get a nice dark rosewood look.
ORIENTATION: Right for Right Handed Players
HEAD SHAPE: J/P Style
HEEL SHAPE: Rounded J/P Style
NUMBER OF FRETS: 20 Fret (Standard)
NUT WIDTH: 1-3/4 P Style (44.45mm)
HEEL WIDTH: 2.4375 (61.91mm) Vintage Fender
TUNER HOLE SIZE: 2 Step 11/16 X 9/16 Vintage Fender
TRUSS ROD TYPE: Single Acting Adjust at the Heel
FB RADIUS: 7-1/4
NUT SLOT STYLE: 1/8 Standard Fender Style
SHAFT WOOD: Rock Maple
FINGER BOARD STYLE: Veneer Vintage Fender (20 Fret Only) Will Come With 50/50 Side Dots + $80
FINGER BOARD WOOD: Brazilian Walnut - Reclaimed Lumber from The Coney Island Boardwalk
TOP DOTS & INLAY: Imitation Clay
BINDING: None
SIDE DOTS: Imitation Clay 2mm
FRET WIRE SIZE: 6230 Vintage Small
FB EDGES: Semi Rolled Standard
BACK PROFILE: Thin C 83 X 92
FINISH: Thin Lacquer Sealer + $20
MOUNTING HOLES: Do Not Drill Mounting Holes
CONFIRMATION: Ok to Leave Without Being Signed For
COMMENTS: If so, replace this text with your own
ORIENTATION: Right for Right Handed Players
HEAD SHAPE: J/P Style
HEEL SHAPE: Rounded J/P Style
NUMBER OF FRETS: 20 Fret (Standard)
NUT WIDTH: 1-3/4 P Style (44.45mm)
HEEL WIDTH: 2.4375 (61.91mm) Vintage Fender
TUNER HOLE SIZE: 2 Step 11/16 X 9/16 Vintage Fender
TRUSS ROD TYPE: Single Acting Adjust at the Heel
FB RADIUS: 7-1/4
NUT SLOT STYLE: 1/8 Standard Fender Style
SHAFT WOOD: Rock Maple
FINGER BOARD STYLE: Veneer Vintage Fender (20 Fret Only) Will Come With 50/50 Side Dots + $80
FINGER BOARD WOOD: Brazilian Walnut - Reclaimed Lumber from The Coney Island Boardwalk
TOP DOTS & INLAY: Imitation Clay
BINDING: None
SIDE DOTS: Imitation Clay 2mm
FRET WIRE SIZE: 6230 Vintage Small
FB EDGES: Semi Rolled Standard
BACK PROFILE: Thin C 83 X 92
FINISH: Thin Lacquer Sealer + $20
MOUNTING HOLES: Do Not Drill Mounting Holes
CONFIRMATION: Ok to Leave Without Being Signed For
COMMENTS: If so, replace this text with your own
It should be mentioned that while the nut widths were standard, the front to back thickness/profiles varied all over the place even if there were general trends for certain years. While Jazz Basses rather than P Basses, I had 2 '65s at the same time - one was original Candy Apple Red and had one of the thinnest necks I've seen on a Jazz, The other, Burgundy Mist, was the fattest I've seen on a 60's Jazz. The back of the neck nearly being even with the back of the headstock. I think that was a "Friday afternoon" example.
There were other exceptions, too. I worked at Real Guitars in the early 90s and we got a near mint blonde/gold guard '57 (same bass is in Albert Molanaro's - still excellent - book) and the neck had a hard V carve. The only time I've seen one as extreme on a bass.
Last edited:
I've only had 3 pre-cbs P's but none of them were 1.75 nuts even though they were "supposed" to be.
