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Pre CBS Fender Photo Thread

#64
66fender003.jpg


I have to add here, since this is a pre CBS thread that, up to the point that I bought the 66 Precision neck,
I had been searching with serious intent for a pre CBS bass.
I had the coin to spend and it was burning a hole in my pocket.
I was open to a Jazz or Precision, but it had to be a real clean all original slab board bass. Or possibly something in the transition era.
I was visiting a music store in North Jersey with an incredible inventory of vintage guitars basses and amps.
Specifically stopping by there while on a delivery for my employer to see an old Precision.
The purchase of the neck didn't specifically halt my search for that old Fender bass. But it did give me some time to be even more critical in my selection of basses.

And after recently watching the thread get crazy about the windfall find of the custom color '62 Fender and seeing pics of
what can be done to bring junked up old Fender bodies to a point where they pass for correct looking aged originals,
frankly I have been scared away from seeking that holy grail pre CBS Fender.

As much as i would love to have and hold and play what I believe to be a wonderful Fender bass as old as me,
I just can't risk buying one and finding that it's not real.
I can now enjoy the feel of playing a 60's Fender bass and not have to deal with the mind-numbing intensity of the whole vintage authenticity thing.
 
#65
Echovox said:
It would be Nov. 7, 1962 the "A" is for a 1.500 nut width
Click to expand...

Incorrect, sir.
You would soon find after looking at every Jazz neck you could find,
that they were all, according to your post, made on the 7th day of the month.

Precision necks of those date stamp years all bear the number 5 before the month/year.
And yet there are examples of B and C widths all through the late 60s as Fender transitioned away from the C width.

Try to imagine Leo thinking that it was a good idea in a mass-production environment
to change the date stamp tooling daily instead of monthly.

Any Fender historians/experts want to chime in here?
 
#67
It's Definitely not the day

This discussion has been had at least 3 times since I've gotten into this bass adventure.
I'm 100% sure the 7 on mine was for Jazz.

The 5 I was iffy about cause I know nothing about the P Bass, but I've learned a thing or two going through the motions with this pink bass.

Theres no need for a vintage guy in this , I promise they'll say the same thing.
w/o a doubt.

They've all confirmed it several times, and it was discussed at Gruhn's during my visit to his shop in Nashville.
 
#68
TommyKnocker said:
I have to add here, since this is a pre CBS thread that, up to the point that I bought the 66 Precision neck,
I had been searching with serious intent for a pre CBS bass.
I had the coin to spend and it was burning a hole in my pocket.
I was open to a Jazz or Precision, but it had to be a real clean all original slab board bass. Or possibly something in the transition era.
I was visiting a music store in North Jersey with an incredible inventory of vintage guitars basses and amps.
Specifically stopping by there while on a delivery for my employer to see an old Precision.
The purchase of the neck didn't specifically halt my search for that old Fender bass. But it did give me some time to be even more critical in my selection of basses.

And after recently watching the thread get crazy about the windfall find of the custom color '62 Fender and seeing pics of
what can be done to bring junked up old Fender bodies to a point where they pass for correct looking aged originals,
frankly I have been scared away from seeking that holy grail pre CBS Fender.

As much as i would love to have and hold and play what I believe to be a wonderful Fender bass as old as me,
I just can't risk buying one and finding that it's not real.
I can now enjoy the feel of playing a 60's Fender bass and not have to deal with the mind-numbing intensity of the whole vintage authenticity thing.
Click to expand...

Aww don't give up so easy, all the dangers are part of the fun.
Just educate the crap out of yourself and make 100% sure you know exactly what to look for on the models your interested in.
 
#69
This might be helpful. From the Fender site:

There is occasional confusion about C, U and V neck profile designations and A, B, C and D neck width designations. From the early '60s to the early '70s, Fender referred specifically to the nut width of its instrument necks using the letters A (1 ½"), B (1 5/8"), C (1 ¾") and D (1 7/8"). These letters were stamped on the butt-end of the necks and had nothing to do with neck profile.
 
#71
steveg4330 said:
I'm amazed here. This is my '64 P Bass. Look at the neck information. It's the SAME day as yours, Dave. Also, our basses look like Twin Brothers. So Strange. I bought mine in 1970. It's been through a few wars, seemingly like yours ...
Click to expand...

Where you from friend? I guess you know where I'm from. I would love to know what the date is on your pots? Mine has been used by a pic player as there is considerable wear between the bridge and the pickup.

How wonderful to have a twin.

Cheers
Davo
 
#72
TommyKnocker said:
Incorrect, sir.
You would soon find after looking at every Jazz neck you could find,
that they were all, according to your post, made on the 7th day of the month.

Precision necks of those date stamp years all bear the number 5 before the month/year.
And yet there are examples of B and C widths all through the late 60s as Fender transitioned away from the C width.

Try to imagine Leo thinking that it was a good idea in a mass-production environment
to change the date stamp tooling daily instead of monthly.

Any Fender historians/experts want to chime in here?
Click to expand...
The information I posted was given from Herbie Gastelum, long time neck sander at Fender Guitars and also a personal friend. He could be wrong, it has been many years since Fender has stamped dates like this on necks.
 
#77
Wow, I wish someone would have told me sooner how much the string mutes restricted these basses.
I loved this Fender A LOT but last night I got the idea to try and take them off and WOW I had no idea there was that much of a difference w/o them.
She literally screams now and sounds absolutely incredible. I wish I woulda pulled them off weeks ago.

It's like a whole new bass w/o them.


On a side note; Excellent pics everyone and PLEASE keep em coming.
Feel free to post several, let's fill this thing up.
 
#79
The individual mute system was on some of the earlier 62RI Jazz. I've seen a few like that. I think it was an option. Usually there was a piece of foam rubber glued inside of the ashtray cover. A lot of players would take the ashtray covers off and stick piece of foam or a sponge under the strings to mute them with similar results. There seems to be a revival for those shiny covers.
 
#80
1bassplayin said:
The individual mute system was on some of the earlier 62RI Jazz. I've seen a few like that. I think it was an option. Usually there was a piece of foam rubber glued inside of the ashtray cover. A lot of players would take the ashtray covers off and stick piece of foam or a sponge under the strings to mute them with similar results. There seems to be a revival for those shiny covers.
Click to expand...
Now that I've removed them and had the chance to play w/o em I honestly can't see why anyone would ever want to have them on there.

I personally feel like they completely kill the beautiful tone these instruments put out.
 

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