From one Beagle to another.....
That's a nice 70s P.....
Rejoice!
But maybe swap out that white pickgaurd.......
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Help identify Fender P bass
- Thread starter Diego Aguilar
- Start date
From one Beagle to another.....
That's a nice 70s P.....
Rejoice!
But maybe swap out that white pickgaurd.......
Don't even sweat the neckplate. Back in the day, they had boxes of the plates, they just
reached in and grabbed one. So you can have a bass with a plate from a previous year
that was leftover.
reached in and grabbed one. So you can have a bass with a plate from a previous year
that was leftover.
See the big black "D" mark in the neck pocket and how it imprinted itself on the neck heel? That's a sign that the neck and body were together for a long time, i.e. since day 1.
That is a gorgeous bass!
My only (very slight) reservation is in the back of headstock pic, the G-string tuning key`s base looks like it is slightly protruding beyond the edge of the headstock. Probably nothing. Could just be the angle of the pic.
Either way, Great Find!
My only (very slight) reservation is in the back of headstock pic, the G-string tuning key`s base looks like it is slightly protruding beyond the edge of the headstock. Probably nothing. Could just be the angle of the pic.
Either way, Great Find!
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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There's nothing 'suspicious' about this bass at all. There seems to be this inherent fear of 'fake' or 'counterfeit' basses around here lately. Maybe only buy from trusted sellers if it's that big a problem.
Im no expert, but I feel like one could almost expect the pickups (and every other part) to have been made and waiting in parts bins until the day a bass is built.
Picture it, California Jan 1st 1975, fella comes in to work to start building a bass, he aint gonna wait for puckups to be built the same day that he assembles bass. the pickups were in a box, probably made several months (maybe years) earlier. and the date of said pickups would HAVE to be before 1975.
(I know, its an EXTREME EXAMPLE, as I know they probably weren't working on new years day in 1975., Twas for illustration purposes only, if I had picked the 1st work day in 75, someone would have said they could have been made last min, day before..etc., then Id have to come back and explain.. .. kinda..like ..im... doing.. right now.)
You get the idea..
T$
They churn guitars out by the thousands on a production line inspired by Ford all from parts bins. The bodies and necks are made on a production line too. To expect someone on the line to take time to stamp or write a date on either when he's a few minutes away from lunch or knocking off time is optimistic. It's not unusual around the early 70's to find one without anything on the neck end or neck pocket.
Same with the pots. They would just use up what was in stock.
And looking at the website linked previously to gauging age by pot serial numbers. There is a note on there that Fender bulk bought and stockpiled CTS pots in '66 and used them right up to '71. So there's certainly a documented precedent for different year parts within the same bass.
Funny story, i got my first Fender P bass when i was 17 in 1969 . It was my only bass and i loved it and played it day and nite for years. Later in the 70s i mailed Fender a letter to get information from them to see how old my bass was, serial # , neck date , descriptions etc, Though i didnt send pics even then id been around enough to know it was a Fender bass . They sent me a return letter and i was so excited to see until i opened it up and it said that they didnt know what i had but it wasnt a Fender due to the fact that the serial number started with an L. I wish id kept that letter but alas its gone as is that bass from my hands having sold ( i should say practically given it away) Yes later from common knowledge and photographs and reading materials on the subject of dating Fenders i found out it of course was a 1965/66 L series Fender Precision all original with case ,tort guard , finger rest, chrome covers ( mute inside bridge cover ) and sunburst finish with rosewood fretboard and the extra "hootenanny" strap button on the back of the headstock. Oh well , live and learn. 
( and dont always trust what somebody from Fender tells ya )
( and dont always trust what somebody from Fender tells ya )
You're very right....the G string tuner is slightly protruding from the headstock...seems like just a flaw to me. What do you think?
Beagles united!!!...and yes...I'm gonna swap out the pickguard. Black looks awsome.
Attachments
shows just how bad quality control was, and not only back then. I bought a new Precision in the eighties and the bridge was off centre. Took it back to the shop and took a really close look at the replacement instrument before taking it home.
In this case...The tuner base is VERY SLIGHTLY protruding. Doesn't really affect the sound. I own a Fender Road worn P bass which sounds amazing...but this '75 just sounds beyond amazing. Blows the road worn out of the water. The pups sound just a tad hot, but I don't really care. Growls like a panther.
It's perfectly normal to find Fender bodies and necks from different years on the same bass. They are manufactured in a completely separate process. Their interchangeability makes for efficient manufacturing.
Natural was as ubiquitous to '70s p basses as sunburst was to '60s. If it's around 10# consider it a light one.
