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MIssing Hootenanny strap button, 1960 Pbass.

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by OldSchool50, May 30, 2020.

  1. May 30, 2020 #1
    OldSchool50

    OldSchool50 OldSchool50 Supporting Member

    Mar 15, 2013
    Connecticut
    I'm trying to authenticate the neck on a presumably 1960 P bass. The headstock spaghetti logo is correct and there are
    no identifiable date markings on the heel. My question about the back of the headstock and lack of a strap- button.
    every other original '60-61 I've found has a strap bottom as shown in the small first pic.
    The second pic is the bass in question. it has only a darker dot that looks like the filled hole for the button. I've ready the bottons were a factory option but as I said, I've not found one without one, or with this type of filled in hole.
    Anyone have insight about this and whether the neck could still be genuine?
    I'm trying to authenticate the neck on a presumably 1960 P bass. The headstock spaghetti logo is correct and there are
    no identifiable date markings on the heel. My question about the back of the headstock and lack of a strap- button.
    every other original '60-61 I've found has a strap bottom as shown in the small first pic.
    The second pic is the bass in question. it has only a darker dot that looks like the filled hole for the button. I've ready the bottons were a factory option but as I said, I've not found one without one, or with this type of filled in hole.
    Anyone have insight about this and whether the neck could still be genuine?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. May 30, 2020 #2
    FranF

    FranF Supporting Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Northeastern PA
    Looks like it was there but removed. That said, many 1960 P's didn't have a button, or a neck date for that matter. Many examples documented. My March '60 has neither, and it was handed right over from the original owner.
     
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  3. May 31, 2020 #3
    KeithAlanK

    KeithAlanK

    May 29, 2009
    San Antonio Texas
    Looks like a filled hole to me. It sure is in the right place.
    My '62 had a heel date and the hoot button, which I hadn't seen before (I was 14).
    It made me laugh picturing the awkwardness of strapping a bass that way.
    As I got older and saw many period album covers and promo pics I kept on laughing.
    If I recall, mine also had the riveted (?) tuner keys in pic #2.
    Sorry I'm not much help.
     
  4. May 31, 2020 #4
    Templar

    Templar Rythm Wrangler Supporting Member

    Jan 11, 2005
    ...on the banks of my own lagoon
    Color me green with envy! 1960 was the one year of vintage Fenders that eluded me during my vintage mania days back in the 70's. 1960 was such a cool year for Fender.

    Have seen and handled plenty of them at guitar shows and at vint dealers. One thing I noticed about 1960 Fenders, was a lot of "no-dates" like yours, quite a few with serial numbers on the bottom of their neck plates, and a propensity for their 3-tone bursts to fade into 2-tone bursts, due to sunlight exposure. Seen several 1960 Fenders that had faded into 2-tone burst on the front, while retaining their original 3-tone bursts on the back. (I have a theory about why that may have happened) Cheers.
     
  5. May 31, 2020 #5
    FranF

    FranF Supporting Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Northeastern PA
    Yep, '60 seems magical to me. Mine is Blonde. My pickups aren't dated either. Black bottoms. Only way to date several of these 1960's are the serial and the pot codes. No neck or pickup dates. That frightens lots of folks, rightfully so!
     
    OldSchool50 likes this.