Is this Fender Precision a '75 or earlier?

[Thom Fioriglio]

Hi all, my drummer sent me a picture of this Fender Precision Bass that he found at his brother's house. He said his brother bought it new in 1975 and it's been hidden away. I will get my hands on it later today to check it out, but some quick research on my part says it may be a 1973.

Fender experts, please correct me if I am wrong, but some quick internet research show that the 75 precision sports a black pickguard and the thumb rest was moved. Same with a '74. The 73's I see look similar to this, with the tort pickguard and tug bar. Am I correct in my quick analysis? Here is a picture.

 

[Ghastly]

Based on the one photo, it could be a '73. What about the serial number? A look at the neck butt would probably shed a lot of light on this question.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Based on the one photo, it could be a '73. What about the serial number? A look at the neck butt would probably shed a lot of light on this question.

Yeah, when I check it out in person later today, I’ll get the serial number and, if my friend will allow, unbolt the neck and check the date.

 

[lug]

Tug bar (thumb rest) was moved to the top around 1974.

 

[Matt O]

Earlier than ‘75. Looks in great shape.

 

[spufman]

Is the g-string intonation screw longer than the rest? They shortened it in '72 or thereabouts I think.

 

[Jim C]

This all assumes the pickguard and thumb rest are original.
Is it a 4-bolt neck?
Either way, it looks like a nice bass.

 

[deff]

Also remove the bridge cover to look for the bridge position and long G saddle screw.

This thing looks to be in pretty pristine shape. I forgot to post the reply earlier and notice this was mentioned. I think the date in which they moved the template for the bridge screws was in 74/75. I'm fairly certain that everything older than 75 has the bridge in the correct position to intonate all of the strings.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Hello,

69-73 precisions are “my jam”. That bass is 100% mid 1973 or earlier. The tug bar was moved in the later part of 73, where some had black guards some had tort. If you take the bridge cover off, the g string intonation saddle should be longer than the rest. This was introduced around 1970-1971 or so.


It’s not impossible that he bought it new in 75, could have been sitting for a while in the store.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Hello,

69-73 precisions are “my jam”. That bass is 100% mid 1973 or earlier. The tug bar was moved in the later part of 73, where some had black guards some had tort. If you take the bridge cover off, the g string intonation saddle should be longer than the rest. This was introduced around 1970-1971 or so.


It’s not impossible that he bought it new in 75, could have been sitting for a while in the store.

Thanks so much. I appreciate the reply. This was my thinking too.

 

[Andy Marshman]

Someone commented on the tugbar/thumb rest moving to above the E string around '74. I just know that the headstock decal in the photo is from a 70s instrument. They didn't do that before, or since the 70s as far as I recall.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Thanks all. I got to look at the bass today. It needs to be cleaned up but looks in really great shape. The story is it’s been in a case for several decades. The finish looks like nitro. The screw for the G string intonation is longer. And the material for the tug bar doesn’t look like modern plastic.

So I would say ‘73. Here are some more photos.

 

[Killing Floor]

That’s sassy hot. Looks like he stuffed a White Castle burger under the bridge cover but that’s easy to clean.

Sweet find.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

The pickguard doesn’t look like typical modern plastic either. Would it be celluloid?

 

[Admiral Akbar]

I’ll go with 1973 for the win, based on the serial number in the 4xxxxx’s, and the thumbrest on the G-string side, and the appearance of the bridge saddles and even paint job.

you can always check the neck date and pot codes to confirm.

looks super clean and probably sounds wonderful! Enjoy the bass.

 

[mikeswals]

72-73.
As mentioned already; tugbar still on G side.
For 72, the tuners got the little registered 'R' on the logo. (71 and older tuners don't have that)

 

[Chickenwheels]

Get a professional setup done and it’ll sound like a million bucks.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I can't speak for the bass, but I'm gonna date that couch as anywhere between 1996 and 2002

 

[Johnny Alien]

Not a nitro finish but a really cool bass!!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi all, my drummer sent me a picture of this Fender Precision Bass that he found at his brother's house. He said his brother bought it new in 1975 and it's been hidden away. I will get my hands on it later today to check it out, but some quick research on my part says it may be a 1973.

Fender experts, please correct me if I am wrong, but some quick internet research show that the 75 precision sports a black pickguard and the thumb rest was moved. Same with a '74. The 73's I see look similar to this, with the tort pickguard and tug bar. Am I correct in my quick analysis? Here is a picture. View attachment 5405019

Wasn’t access to the truss Rod at the headstock end of the neck as opposed to at the body end of the neck in that era.