Fender Precision 1968 legit or not?

[_Obra_]

I need an advice from those of you who know better than me about this matter.

I recently came across an ad for a 1968 Fender Precision for sale.
Although I myself own an original piece from 1968 I was interested in this one because of the beautiful Jazz neck with block inlays, binding and Lollipop tuners. Some would say (including me), a perfect combination!

This is the original text of the ad:
''Purchased from original owner. Original nitro cellulose finish in good condition for the age. It’s clearly been used a lot and body has some wear to it with lots of finish checking, looks amazing in the flesh. The neck is beautifully worn through on the back and feels amazing to play. Rare factory fitted Jazz neck, has correct P bass logo and date code for ‘68. Just had fresh re-fret by Huw Price. Truss rod all good with plenty of movement left. Serial number on neck plate dates to 1966. Pickups original although hard to read serial number, lead wires renewed and re-soldered. Very light weight for a P Bass.''

According to my knowledge and looking at the pictures, I would say that both things are independently original (with a suspicious of Precision logo on a Jazz headstock), but their combination worries me. The age difference from 66 to 68 is too big for the late 60s, unlike the late 70s and early 80s (S series).

My question is, was it possible to order a P bass body with a Jazz bass neck straight from the factory at the late 60s, or whether this merger was created later by the owner, which would make this bass a "parts bass"?

With the permission of the owner, I am adding images to this thread.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this issue!

 

[mikeswals]

The truss is clearly maxed out on that Jazz neck! There's no way it has room with the nut buried that deep.
However I call BS on the "factory fitted" neck. The headstock decal on an early 68 would have still been ontop of the finish, so easy enough to scrape off and install a new one.

 

[elgranluis]

It is my understanding that fender employees were able to order/ build a one-off instrument for themselves, but this is not the story you got from the owner.

However , swapping a j neck on a precision has been one of the most popular mods ever.

I have the same opinion as you do: this is a parts bass.

Finally , unfortunately , as these instruments get older and older , it becomes harder to authenticate them. A refinish done 50 years ago will have aged by now, for example. A mod like the neck swap could have been performed by the store before selling the bass , so to the owner , the bass came like that from the factory. 50 years later , we can only speculate.

 

[JIO]

It looks legit to me. Pretty cool bass regardless of the backstory on the neck. I'd rock it.

 

[_Obra_]

It looks legit to me. Pretty cool bass regardless of the backstory on the neck. I'd rock it.

Yes, I like it to. Now is the question of value regarding authenticity.

 

[Lownote38]

That's a total mutt. I wouldn't buy it. The neck is definitely a re-decal of a Jazz neck. Others have mentioned the truss rod nut. Also a red flag. Fender never put a Jazz Bass neck on a Precision Bass stock. That means, with the block inlays. They did put the "A" width necks on Precision Basses, but they wouldn't have the binding or block inlays... no way.

 

[Iridescentone]

Yes, I like it to. Now is the question of value regarding authenticity.

Without provenance re the "factory fitted" neck conversion, I think you have to treat it like an original '66 body with an original '68 Jazz neck transplanted onto it at some point, decal probably swapped at the same time.** With that, its value would obviously seem to be quite a bit less than either a complete '66 P bass, or a complete '68 Jazz (whatever those things are going for these days).

Still, as a parts bass it's maybe the coolest-of-the-cool mods for any old Fender P bass, especially for those who like blocked jazz necks. I haven't been at all interested in old Fenders for a while, but that one looks like something I wouldn't mind owning if the price was right (no chance of that though!). For the right price, I'd ignore the deep truss nut if the neck is straight right now, know that having it repaired someday would be worth paying for, if ever needed. I wouldn't care about the re-soldering/new wires either. The refret, if done well would be a plus to me, as I'd only want the very best tech handling a valuable, old bound Jazz neck.

** I don't think you can totally rule out the possibility of the bass having been sent back to Fender for a retro-fitted Jazz neck conversion, in which case Fender would likely have included a new decal. There would have been a paper trail/receipt for the work done, which is now long gone. Sans written proof, it's just another "story". Good luck, hope you get it.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I am sure Fender could have done that.
An A neck would be rare.
Having blocks would be unheard of.
Perhaps someone wanted it really bad and made an employee an offer they just could not refuse.

 

[_Obra_]

Without provenance re the "factory fitted" neck conversion, I think you have to treat it like an original '66 body with an original '68 Jazz neck transplanted onto it at some point, decal probably swapped at the same time.** With that, its value would obviously seem to be quite a bit less than either a complete '66 P bass, or a complete '68 Jazz (whatever those things are going for these days).

Still, as a parts bass it's maybe the coolest-of-the-cool mods for any old Fender P bass, especially for those who like blocked jazz necks. I haven't been at all interested in old Fenders for a while, but that one looks like something I wouldn't mind owning if the price was right (no chance of that though!). For the right price, I'd ignore the deep truss nut if the neck is straight right now, know that having it repaired someday would be worth paying for, if ever needed. I wouldn't care about the re-soldering/new wires either. The refret, if done well would be a plus to me, as I'd only want the very best tech handling a valuable, old bound Jazz neck.

** I don't think you can totally rule out the possibility of the bass having been sent back to Fender for a retro-fitted Jazz neck conversion, in which case Fender would likely have included a new decal. There would have been a paper trail/receipt for the work done, which is now long gone. Sans written proof, it's just another "story". Good luck, hope you get it.

Everything you said makes perfect sense and I agree 100%. Thank you for confirming all my thoughts

 

[yodedude2]

...
** I don't think you can totally rule out the possibility of the bass having been sent back to Fender for a retro-fitted Jazz neck conversion, in which case Fender would likely have included a new decal. There would have been a paper trail/receipt for the work done, which is now long gone. Sans written proof, it's just another "story".

this. any possibility this was an 'export' bass? maybe the possible 'factory neck replacement' was handled by an overseas fender distributor ... (as an aside, was a "68 A" neck stamp common back then? seems like there should be a day/month stamp as well ...)

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I think this bass just entered the how does it play and sound and is it worth the price to me category.

To me the only Fenders I’d pay super premium prices for would be pre CBS fully intact unmolested examples. A bass like this? Excellent player grade work horse I’d gladly own and play .

 

[Michael Milner]

I would consider it a classic example of "player grade". It is always going to be caveat emptor when you are dealing with an instrument like this.

 

[LHbassist]

Looks legit- the pickup looks a lot like one I have from an early 70's P-bass. The neck- obviously from a J-bass, Lollipop tuners and pearloid blocks puts it definitely post late '66, so the 1968 date seems plausible, as well. I've seen factory installed Lollipops on an actual Precision bass neck from '68. I've never seen them on basses post '68.The adjustment nut is a big issue there. I don't think I've ever seen one hog out and seat so far into the rod channel. If it adjusts o.k., and plays o.k., well, then it's cool. To repair that, a big intrusive job, binding and fingerboard removal, and a rod replacement. I'm a long time repair tech, and would not really like to have to do that.

 

[chris_b]

My 1968 Fender Precision, purchased, new in March 1969, by me, has an A neck. So yes Fender did fit Jazz or A necks to Precision basses.

My bass has clover leaf tuners, no blocks, TV logo and a 242*** serial number. I'm surprised that the OP's bass has a 144*** serial number and non TV logo, but I am no expert at all.

 

[gln1955]

The thing is, even if you are convinced this came from the factory like this, when you or your heirs go to sell it, the same questions will be raised. You will be another step removed from the original owner and no one at Fender can substantiate any of the story. You have to treat it as a parts bass even if it isn't and spend accordingly.

 

[ajkula66]

My 1968 Fender Precision, purchased, new in March 1969, by me, has an A neck. So yes Fender did fit Jazz or A necks to Precision basses.

A Precision with an A neck from the factory is very different option from a P-Bass with an actual JB neck with blocks and binding.

My bass has clover leaf tuners, no blocks, TV logo and a 242*** serial number. I'm surprised that the OP's bass has a 144*** serial number and non TV logo, but I am no expert at all.

TV logo appeared in the late '68, so yes, both of these can be true. As for the neck plate, it likely "belongs" to the body itself which may very well be from a different year altogether.

I'd treat it as a parts bass when negotiating the price as lovely as it may be.

 

[_Obra_]

My 1968 Fender Precision, purchased, new in March 1969, by me, has an A neck. So yes Fender did fit Jazz or A necks to Precision basses.

My bass has clover leaf tuners, no blocks, TV logo and a 242*** serial number. I'm surprised that the OP's bass has a 144*** serial number and non TV logo, but I am no expert at all.

Mine is 68 with, clover leaf tuners and AUG 68 B neck.

Is there any chance to post some pics of Yours with an A neck?

 

[chris_b]

Mine is 68 with, clover leaf tuners and AUG 68 B neck.
Is there any chance to post some pics of Yours with an A neck?

Here it is. . . . much modified. These are Schaller tuners but they are the same as the originals. I don't have any photos of individual parts.

 

[_Obra_]

Here it is. . . . much modified. These are Schaller tuners but they are the same as the originals. I don't have any photos of individual parts.

What is the nut width?

 

[J-Bass RMR]

First - that neck has to be addressed. What's the relief like now?
Is it just a matter of the wood being worn away, or is the neck "set"?
What's the relief like now, and can it be adjusted "normally" (once spacer washers have been added and the nut is brought flush to then butt of the neck. I'd want to be able to bring it into a slight back-bow under tension.)

Rare factory fitted Jazz neck

This statement bears the burden of proof.

It's not unprecedented, but without provenance to support it, it's a pretty big leap of faith.
(and there aren't a lot of faithful out there.)
I agree - the date discrepancy for that period doesn't lend credibility. ('66 dated pots being the exception)

But if the neck functions properly, and it plays and sounds well, I'd definitely be game for the right price....