Fender pre-CBS Club: pics mandatory!

[Dynacord]

Not mine, but woah mama! 65 jazz in daphne blue.
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That one is just spectacular - it was recently for sale in the classifieds here and the seller seemed pretty desperate to sell. In the ad you can see those couple hits it took were serious.
No longer available - final pice drop before Evilbay on Sunday - 1965 Vintage Fender Jazz bass Custom color Daphne

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

If he’s do desperate to get rid of it, he should send it to me. I wanna join this club lol

 

[RockinRonnie]

Nice pics!

There's one bit in this context though I've always been wondering about on Clay Harrell's excellent site:

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.

Like the 4-59 date in the photo from Duck's bass, I seem to recall seeing other dates from the first half of 1959 or so. Whereas I don't recall seeing any from late 1959 - usually it's either blank or occasionally a handwritten "OK". Then dates from mid-1960 onwards again.

Anyone have different experiences?

I have 12/58 body with 1/59 neck

 

[bassmike2010]

If he’s do desperate to get rid of it, he should send it to me. I wanna join this club lol

I know. So hard to be on the outside looking in with not- quite- old- enough relics.

 

[Energy]

I wanna join this club lol

Not with a '65.

 

[SJLee]

May 7, 1965. Would that have been prior to the sale of Fender?

 

[Mastermold]

May 7, 1965. Would that have been prior to the sale of Fender?

Fender sold to CBS effective January 1, 1965 so "pre-CBS" are those instruments dated before then (i.e., 1964 and older).

 

[Dynacord]

Fender sold to CBS effective January 1, 1965 so "pre-CBS" are those instruments dated before then (i.e., 1964 and older).

Nit picking, admittedly, but the sale was effective January 5, 1965 - however, the 1st was a Friday so Monday, Jan 4 would have been the ONE "Pre-CBS" workday of 1965. Still, worth noting that neck stamps were applied at the beginning of the neck build process and are not the completion date.

 

[bucephylus]

Here is my '62 J.

The body is refin. Neck is original except for frets. Most of the electronics are original except the bridge pup which was rewound at Fralin, and where they did not return the rewind on the original bobbin. Long story, but water under the bridge.

I'll say this - determining authenticity of original vs refin can be a slippery slope. For example, I am dead sure my neck finish is original; but the back of the neck is NOT worn off; and it is definitely not a respray. Anyhow, assessing what has and has not been refin'ed is getting harder; and at some point may lose some of its relevance. My < 2c.

Figured I would update my pic. I ended up just putting the older “original” pickups in the case, and installing a set of SD SJB2’s, which sound better to me. Reversible change, so whatever.

 

[BergiaBurns]

THESE TUNERS ARE MANUFACTURED BY KLUSON CO. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. FROM 1957 - 1963

 

[brian579]

There's been a few pre-CBS Fender threads posting pics but seems no one's started a club for these yet--so I'm doing it. Post yer pics and get a number!

Here's my '64 P-bass to kick it off:

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[brian579]

1963 precision! My baby! Amazing instrument.

 

[mikeswals]

Nit picking, admittedly, but the sale was effective January 5, 1965 - however, the 1st was a Friday so Monday, Jan 4 would have been the ONE "Pre-CBS" workday of 1965.

All the elder vintage collectors and shop owners I've heard reported there was no pre-CBS work day in Jan because they took new years time off, so the first day back was as CBS. (Makes sense, why would Leo want one company ownershop day on his taxes)
Also, even though CBS ownership was official at the start of Jan 65, CBS was already moved into the building before the takeover date.

I have an awesome '65 Jazz, but cant be a member of this page as no matter how its sliced its not preCBS

 

[Dynacord]

All the elder vintage collectors and shop owners I've heard reported there was no pre-CBS work day in Jan because they took new years time off, so the first day back was as CBS. (Makes sense, why would Leo want one company ownershop day on his taxes)
Also, even though CBS ownership was official at the start of Jan 65, CBS was already moved into the building before the takeover date.

I have an awesome '65 Jazz, but cant be a member of this page as no matter how its sliced its not preCBS

Good info. I was just going by the calendar.

 

[Dynacord]

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THESE TUNERS ARE MANUFACTURED BY KLUSON CO. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. FROM 1957 - 1963
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These look to be the 1964 (possibly late '63) and later type. The way to tell it the backplates are punched so that the collars which hold the stems fit cleanly. The earlier type were drilled and one can see semicircles in the backplates by those collars.

Attached is an example of the typical 1957-63 type from my '59:

 

[liverbird]

These look to be the 1964 (possibly late '63) and later type. The way to tell it the backplates are punched so that the collars which hold the stems fit cleanly. The earlier type were drilled and one can see semicircles in the backplates by those collars.

Attached is an example of the typical 1957-63 type from my '59:

Had a look through my pics and the 1963s I have on file appear to already have the punched backplates, so maybe the changeover occurred a little earlier?

BergiaBurns, what's the neck date on your '63?

 

[Dynacord]

Had a look through my pics and the 1963s I have on file appear to already have the punched backplates, so maybe the changeover occurred a little earlier?

BergiaBurns, what's the neck date on your '63?

Could be. Most things Fender are far from an exact science!

 

[Energy]

These look to be the 1964 (possibly late '63) and later type. The way to tell it the backplates are punched so that the collars which hold the stems fit cleanly. The earlier type were drilled and one can see semicircles in the backplates by those collars.

Attached is an example of the typical 1957-63 type from my '59:

For comparison, my '56 P Bass (dated "2-56" on neck and body).
Note that the screws holding the gears are slotted, not Phillips type.

 

[BergiaBurns]

Had a look through my pics and the 1963s I have on file appear to already have the punched backplates, so maybe the changeover occurred a little earlier?

BergiaBurns, what's the neck date on your '63?

Jan 63

Can you see the difference:

" Attached is an example of the typical 1957-63 type from my '59":

My

64

 

[Dynacord]

Jan 63

Can you see the difference:

" Attached is an example of the typical 1957-63 type from my '59":
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My
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64
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Assuming you mean the notched corner of the backplate. I've seen with and without on both drilled and punched versions. No idea of the reason.

On that same '59, you can see the A string tuning machine was replaced with the type that is punched (with the notch)

In any case, it looks like the transition to the punched type was earlier than I thought - most '63s I'm looking at online have the later version. I did have a '63 Jazz with the earlier drilled type so there was some overlap.