P bass dating help

[J_WELF]

Going to purchase this p bass. Owner doesn't remember date - thinks it's a 73… I think it maybe post 73.
Any help is great

 

[MrRobert]

For these early 70s fenders, the usual way to date them is to go by the pot codes. I don't think the necks and bodies are dated in a legible way like the earlier 60s fenders are. The serial number can give a range of years but is not really accurate as to what year it was produced. The fender website has a serial number lookup function that can help with that. And you can email them for more info, but they'll probably use the same serial number lookup tool. Good luck!

 

[MrRobert]

My guess just by looking at the pictures is it's likely a 74 or 75… black pg, thumbrest on the bass side, and the gasket on the neck plate being the clues I can see.

 

[J_WELF]

Yeah thanks! I used the online tool and it came
Up with something Not close. Didn't know if anyone could sort of give me idea with looking at it -
Tuners, thumb rest position, etc.

 

[J_WELF]

My guess just by looking at the pictures is it's likely a 74 or 75… black pg, thumbrest on the bass side, and the gasket on the neck plate being the clues I can see.

Appreciate it. Was thinking 75 as well.
Anything else I should be aware of? I realize these basses can be hit and miss so I'm a little weary of neck. He is original owner and says it plays great.

 

[Mike Vee]

I never dated a girl who cared much about my P-bass, unfortunately.

 

[J_WELF]

My wife is also not impressed.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Pretty clean bass for a 70's. Closet queen? Looks great.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

Yeah thanks! I used the online tool and it came
Up with something Not close. Didn't know if anyone could sort of give me idea with looking at it -
Tuners, thumb rest position, etc.

Well, one guy already mentioned looking at the pots…

 

[micguy]

It's a 70's P, which places it squarely in the awkward part of Fender's history. Which year specifically doesn't much matter. The weight and whether the thing has a somewhat sloppy or very sloppy neck pocket are more important than what year it is.

 

[Dang75]

 

[Grinderman]

I think they're relatively low-maintenance and uncomplicated.

 

[J_WELF]

It's a 70's P, which places it squarely in the awkward part of Fender's history. Which year specifically doesn't much matter. The weight and whether the thing has a somewhat sloppy or very sloppy neck pocket are more important than what year it is.

I guess that means how neck sits in there? I'm no expert and will be traveling to assess so any further information would be great

 

[J_WELF]

Pretty clean bass for a 70's. Closet queen? Looks great.

Guy also has an EB-O which may have been his main.

 

[Bighouse]

I would suggest you date people instead of basses.

 

[Five or Six]

Pull the neck. Sometimes the date can be found stamped there, neck and or pocket. Someone already mentioned pots, so no point going with that.

 

[wysiwyg248]

This is what Fender's website is showing for the serial number in the picture.

 

[RGerhart]

I was really hoping this would be a funny post with some metaphor about trying a variety of P basses after being matched up online. Oh well.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Looks like a late '74 early '75. If it feels and sounds good it's a win, but barely played old basses make me wonder.
My only Precision for decades has been a similar '75.

 

[micguy]

I guess that means how neck sits in there? I'm no expert and will be traveling to assess so any further information would be great

70's Fenders are notorious for things being a bit sloppy in the wood shaping department - if you don't maintain tooling, that's part of what happens. One of the places that's most obvious is the neck pocket - look for the gap between the neck and the neck pocket in the body - if you can fit more than one business card in there, it's pretty sloppy. Warmoths, as an example of not being sloppy (they are built to Fender specs), you can't fit a single business car in there - in a lot of cases, you can put the pieces together, and lift the body with the neck, without any screws holding them together.