Help with PreCBS Jazz Bass

[drums1977]

You should see a photo gallery just by clicking on the link:

http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/roquefort2000/library/1965 Jass Bass?sort=3&page=1

 

[drums1977]

This is the photo I have of the pot cavity. As you can see, a couple of cables are loose. The pots, cables and other part look legit to me. The dates on the pots is 6638.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Congratulations. A further complication in dating this lovely bass. The pots may or may not be original to this bass. Whatever pots were in it when the refin was done would have been likely disconnected from the pickup leads and the control plate removed. The solder joints would then obviously be broken. The pots could have been replaced at that stage or later. I understand there are plenty of 66 pots around, so they are a likely candidate to be used in a restoration of bass of this age. On the other hand, they could be the original pots for that bass. Just saying I wouldn't bank on them as evidence of the age of the bass.
It will be very interesting to see the pickups and the wiring harness.
Again congratulations- looks great!

This is the photo I have of the pot cavity. As you can see, a couple of cables are loose. The pots, cables and other part look legit to me. The dates on the pots is 6638.

I think veebass is correct about the pots since they date to the 38th week of 1966. By the 38th week, even the early '66 bound and dotted necks had been phased out and Fender was on to blocks and binding by that time. This neck is too early IMO to likely have left the factory in late '66. I do believe that '66 pots in this bass would make sense if they were early, like 4th or 5th week though. Along with the "L" serial #, which doesn't make any sense either for anything but '65 (or perhaps really early '66 - but that would be questionable), this bass is almost surely a 1965 with replaced pots IMO.

 

[veebass]

^That's my feeling on the evidence so far. It will now be very interesting to see the pickups.

 

[drums1977]

I would love to see the pickups too. I am afraid I don't have a photo of those...

 

[drums1977]

Mistery solved! The Black JB arrived. Well, the pot dates are NOT 66, they are mid 65, which totally makes sense with the neck date (august 7th '65). AND the dots are pearl, which also makes sense with the period. Basically this is an early transition model, a few months after the big Fender sale in january 65. The PUs sound ir impressive, classic Jazz tone. And it is the lighter I have played. I am happy!