Help me identify this bass. What do I have?

[Smooth_bass88]

Here's an underneath the pickguard picture from an '81 P bass sold by Chicago Music Exchange

Doesn't even look like a fender body to me.

 

[dalkowski]

String tree looks to be from a Fender Precision Special '80.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I also feel like the model J is a good fit for a PJ.
Definately try rewiring before you change it.

 

[Bikeguy57]

Those Model j and P pickups are ballsy and sound good, I suspect wiring. I just built a PJ with a 3 way Fender switch instead of a blend. I can have a P bass wired like a P with no interference from the J pup, and if I want to add the Jazz, I want it all. Clean, simple, and sounds great in any position.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I don't think they did a factory PJ back then, but it was a very common mod, particularly on a fretless.

 

[tpaul]

There was an active electronics Fender Precision bass around 1980 which might explain the extra routing under the pickguard. Maybe someone converted this bass to passive.

look at these pics

Fender Precision Bass Sienna Sunburst 1981

Yep, that looks like it. Good work!

So, some mods and a passive conversion. Plus a very cool fretless neck.

 

[ajkula66]

There was an active electronics Fender Precision bass around 1980 which might explain the extra routing under the pickguard. Maybe someone converted this bass to passive.

These were called Precision Special, and did not come in Sunburst of any kind. LPB, CAR and some sort of white/cream, the name of the finish escapes me now. They also sported matching headstocks and didn't come in fretless version. I bought a CAR one back in '81.

To me, the bass in the OP seems like a standard early '80s P with a number of age-appropriate mods.

 

[bobyoung53]

That Model J is a great pickup and matches well with the P for output. There's a chance it's wired wrong, as they were a 4-lead humbucker. You could try it in series or parallel to see if it makes you happier.

That said though, if you're looking to get a single coil, not only would you be able to pick just about anything for specs you want, you'd have no trouble selling the Model J.

I like the one in my TF fretless, matches perfectly with the split pickup.