HELP DATING A P-BASS!!

[bstringrandy]

Hey fellow TBr's

I'd like to put a definitive date on my P-bass. I've read several links and resources for info. I took her apart this morning and and here's what I have so far. The peg-head decal is S/N S 910505. The Fender page put's that as a 79 to 81. The pot numbers are 137804 and 137811 which dates them to 80 and 81. The neck is stamped 9 29 82 which would sound like an 82.

It's transparent sapphire blue on an ash body with a B profile maple neck.




Is it an 82 P-bass?

thanks,
Randy

 

[Trevorus]

Well, first you take jher out to dinner, then driks, then you just have to play it by ear, you know?

 

[bstringrandy]

Okay, I deserved that with the title!

 

[adrian480]

yes its from 1982

 

[TheSuzie]

Well, first you take jher out to dinner, then driks, then you just have to play it by ear, you know?

Drat! You beat me to it

 

[Stumpy]

what is the link to find out what year my p-bass is?

 

[bstringrandy]

Stumpy,

This link had a good bit of info:

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

It gets into date codes on components etc. The Fender web site only takes you to the peg-head decal S/Ns.

Randy

 

[mikeswals]

Yup, you take all the dates on the parts, and the last dated part is your year....1982.

 

[CrashClint]

Go ahead and date it, just make sure there are no "Strings Attached".

 

[bstringrandy]

Thanks everybody!

1982 it is. I have corrected my TB profile accordingly!

The next thing I want to research is how common were these "emerald" series colors? There's not quite as much info out there on this subject.

I don't think this is considered a "custom color", but does anyone know what other colors were offered and how many were produced? I've never seen another one like this anywhere else.

Randy

 

[jenderfazz]

The next thing I want to research is how common were these "emerald" series colors? There's not quite as much info out there on this subject.

I've never heard of this series of colours, but in general, Fender experimented a lot in the early 80s. Sienna burst, Sapphire blue finishes, one-piece pickguard/control plates, Strat knobs, bound neck with dotted inlays, etc. The fact that they aren't common reflects the fact that Fender was basically trying many different things at the time, and also incorporating new/old parts from the late 70s into their new models. It's hard to call them a "series".

 

[bstringrandy]

Thanks Jenderfazz. The next question would be, does the experimental nature make a 1982 P-bass any more "collectable"?

Should I cut back on the gigging out with her or leave her in the line-up to be enjoyed with the rest of the toys?

Randy

 

[jenderfazz]

Thanks Jenderfazz. The next question would be, does the experimental nature make a 1982 P-bass any more "collectable"?

Not yet, but they're already going for much more than modern MIA's. Give it another ten years and eBay will be full of "vintage 80s" Fenders going for 5000$+. So gig it all you can!

 

[DEEPENDMUSIC]

I hope it's a female. Or else

 

[alexit]

It's HAWT, that's what it is...

 

[Stumpy]

Stumpy,

This link had a good bit of info:

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

It gets into date codes on components etc. The Fender web site only takes you to the peg-head decal S/Ns.

Randy

Thank you... It looks like I have a 1991 MIM Pbass

 

[rusty66]

They had quite a few interesting factory colours in the early 80's. Ive got one (see pic below), would you call it a custom??? not sure. Nice blue though!!

Cheers,
Rusty

 

[joelb79]

1982. The neck date is pretty much your go by date for this bass.

 

[BurningSkies]

The 'jewel' finish fender instruments were not 'custom' and are not that uncommon. They did come in Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire, all transparent finishes...I played with a guitar player who had a strat in the ruby finish and the neck had crazy bird's eye (bought stock, not custom either). There are a few guys on TB who have emerald finished Fenders from this era.

 

[adrian480]

Thanks everybody!

1982 it is. I have corrected my TB profile accordingly!

The next thing I want to research is how common were these "emerald" series colors? There's not quite as much info out there on this subject.

I don't think this is considered a "custom color", but does anyone know what other colors were offered and how many were produced? I've never seen another one like this anywhere else.

Randy

The Sapphine Blue was a custom color

I have a old Fender catalog from 1982