Just picked up another GC mystery bass. Beautiful natural body, plays and sounds nice, but trying to determine how original it is and can't identify the markings on neck and body. Fender says it looks like a transparent Alder, I say it is Light or some other Ash. The serial # on neck is Z0 (which would indicate 2000) and the many date stamps agree. Here's my questions; Fender says their records show the serial number is a black American Standard, and they say Alder wasn't a natural finish. The neck has P/J stamped on it, but I don't think a P/J American bass was made that year, and the headstock says Precision Made in USA on it. And the names "Gloria" and "Julia" stamped on the neck, what is that?? Does the body look to anyone like a 2000 Fender American P body (looking at the holes, especially the 2 large ones in neck pocket and under pick guard)? Does the neck look quarter-sawn? Body doesn't look like it was ever refinished, either. String through with bridge that works either way. Also see an "AV" in pocket. Anyone recognize these markings or have any idea what they indicate? What is it????
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Need help identifying 2000 American P bass
- Thread starter cimchazz1
- Start date
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- id precision bass
Just matched up my body number to another 2001 on Reverb that was "natural ash"
Fender American Standard Precision Bass Body 2001 Natural
Both bass bodies have exactly the same holes in neck pocket, so I have identified this now as a 2001 natural ash. Fender records show the headstock # was a (black) bass produced in January 2001. I'm guessing someone wanted a swap a rosewood for maple neck, so they found one from the same year and swapped it out. Still wonder if anyone can tell me what all the markings on the neck and in the pocket mean, especially those 2 names?
Fender American Standard Precision Bass Body 2001 Natural
Both bass bodies have exactly the same holes in neck pocket, so I have identified this now as a 2001 natural ash. Fender records show the headstock # was a (black) bass produced in January 2001. I'm guessing someone wanted a swap a rosewood for maple neck, so they found one from the same year and swapped it out. Still wonder if anyone can tell me what all the markings on the neck and in the pocket mean, especially those 2 names?
Agree with your assessment.
Pretty sure the stamps are either QC or work stage complete.
Neck looks quartered, but can't be sure because your butt photo is so blurry.
Pretty bass, I like it.
Pretty sure the stamps are either QC or work stage complete.
Neck looks quartered, but can't be sure because your butt photo is so blurry.
Pretty bass, I like it.
Thanks Charlie, I had a '73/5 with the same color combo and wanted a more modern American reproduction of those '70's natural ash basses w/upgrades for a "player" and this is it!! Guess they brought the natural or honey ash back from 2000-2003, from what little info I have been able to find. The guys in the band say it's "creamier" sounding and the notes are clearer, especially the higher ones. Could partially have something to do with the Ash/Maple and D'Addarios. I've been using an Alder/Rosewood Mexican P.
Looks legit. Like my '98 and '99 (N8 and N9). Ash was available in natural and transparent white. Both came with white pickguards. Only String-through and graphite rods.
example:
SOLD - 1998 American Standard Fender Precision - MIA - Natural beauty
https://artisanguitars.com/1999-fender-american-standard-precision-bass-natural-id-9066
SOLD - 1999 Natural Ash Fender American Precision Bass
example:
SOLD - 1998 American Standard Fender Precision - MIA - Natural beauty
https://artisanguitars.com/1999-fender-american-standard-precision-bass-natural-id-9066
SOLD - 1999 Natural Ash Fender American Precision Bass
Absolutely an ash body.
I'm surprised anyone would identify that as alder, especially Fender.
Nice Precision, BTW.
Congrats, and Enjoy!
I'm surprised anyone would identify that as alder, especially Fender.
Nice Precision, BTW.
Congrats, and Enjoy!
Wow, don't know why, but I really like the look of those Ash basses!! That '99 in your link looked like one piece in the pics, and the prices on these things right now are probably the best they will ever be. I've been watching prices close for about 6 months now, and I noticed Fender and G&L have both had price increases on new models, which you would think will bring these back up eventually. The Mexican go for around $250-$500 and Japanese for around $450-$800, so those 2 are bumping into the bottom end priced USA models now, great bargains IMHO. A "beater/made from odd parts" Fender '70's P clunker player bass goes for a low of around $1200-$1400, and that's if it needs work, from what I've seen. So I quit trying to get one of those when I found these late 90's/early 2000's in Ash. Mine has the modern "C" probably 12" radius, would like to try a 9.5" or 1/2" nut neck on this bass, but it sounds/plays great.
Well, one customer service guy told me, after I insisted it wasn't refinished ash, that Fender actually made Ash P basses from 2000-2003. Now after reading the posts here, I see there was Natural Ash in 98/99, too. So I don't know how reliable some of their info is. That's why I post here!! Would like to find someone who can decode all the
hieroglyphs on my neck and body, such as the 2 girls names on the neck and "AV" in the neck pocket. Fender had no clue, said the neck names weren't theirs. I wondered if "AV" (over the F53296 part number) was for "AnniVersary or American Vintage", but they had no idea. But no thumb rest or cover holes on body would probably rule out Amer. Vintage.
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In 2000 the Fender American "Hot Rod" Precision Bass was available with a P/J configuration - also the Bridge called "Deluxe Bridge" and was Top-Load/Strings-thru-Body.
Probably someone replaced the black alder (don't know if black was available for a Hot Rod) body to an natural ash.
Probably someone replaced the black alder (don't know if black was available for a Hot Rod) body to an natural ash.
Found this color code chart, I'm guessing my neck pocket number "34" in black marker might represent "Aged Natural" color on the chart?
Can't remember on mine. I have the Fender frontline Magazine from 2000 (black with chrome strat cover) at home, I will look if the color "34" was available at a PBass Am Std or Hot Rod.
Just found an expired eBay listing from a few weeks ago for a 2000 natural p bass neck, had all the same initials as mine, even the name "Julia", so I now know the markings are authentic. That neck had "pb" stamped on it (for precision bass), mine has "p/j", but Frnder says it is recorded as an American P bass, so I'd say they are wrong and there was a bass made in 2000-2001 that had both a J and P pickup that this was meant for possibly. The catalogue would show it
Looks like a MIM FSR ash body from the early 2000's, coupled with an MIA neck. The truss rod access looks almost like it was made post production and colored in black, but I'm no expert.
Turnaround
Commercial User
That is a 1998-2000 ish MIA body but with a swapped neck. I believe they only made that natural ash MIAs with rosewood during that period, or at least that is the only combo I have seen.
I have been on this lookout for exactly the bass you have. Congrats!
I have been on this lookout for exactly the bass you have. Congrats!
