Question about fender Precision claimed to be ‘64

[jmpiwonka]

Can’t say for sure unless you pop the neck off and check for a stamp.

It may be caused by perspective of the photo, but the dots at 12 don’t look like the correct spacing for a 64.

View attachment 5002732 View attachment 5002733

the strings on the bass in the first lost aren’t centered well on the bridge saddles. Also the neck might need a slight adjustment in the neck pocket to fine tune alignment.

 

[okabass]

Decal not ok for a 64.
The neck and tuners may be original. Headstock rifted at E-tuner. Body has a router hump. (as it should)
Be careful: there could be nasty surprises under the pickguard and paint. Like cavities for pickups and battery. And even the router hump could have been made of putty or like. Look carefully the paint at different angles, then you see, if there's some plug ins or like.

 

[roycroft_88]

Lots to indicate it has the bones of 63- 64. Like others have said router hump, Kluson tuners, clay dots(last year), hootnany button scar, E string tuner crack (common in this era), looks like a wide nut width and "laminated" fingerboard... Other than refinish, replacement guard and nut it looks legit.
Your friend has a killer bass.
I'd strip the headstock, get a new decal, and mint pickguard

 

[mikeswals]

No that was 1965.

End of 64 was the switch.

Last few months as I was shopping for a 64 Jazz, every Dec 64 neck I saw had pearl dots, and even a couple Oct 64 necks.
I wanted clay and bought a Jan 64 bass.

 

[Mastermold]

End of 64 was the switch.

Last few months as I was shopping for a 64 Jazz, every Dec 64 neck I saw had pearl dots, and even a couple Oct 64 necks.
I wanted clay and bought a Jan 64 bass.

64 was the transition year and you still see necks with clay markers into 65. They used what they had until they were done.

 

[4-stringB]

"....a hootenanny button "?!?
I've played bass since I was 16 (40 years) and how I managed to not hear of this is beyond me.

 

[bcbassman]

I think you have a good sense of what this bass is: A refinished bass with at least some original mid-60's parts. Its too bad that you are missing that G tuner gear as I am sure that will cost you a bit to replace it.
The decal is placed in the wrong place besides being a repro. That's unfortunate.
If you like what it is at the price that is being asked- go for it.

 

[Matt O]

the strings on the bass in the first lost aren’t centered well on the bridge saddles. Also the neck might need a slight adjustment in the neck pocket to fine tune alignment.

Cool, yeah the string spacing needs sorting out for sure, but I was talking about the spacing between the dots themselves, and the space from dot to edge of the board. It can be a “tell” on non-Fender replacement necks and later issue real Fender necks. Look at an AVRI reissue where it’s really obvious and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

 

[brianrost]

"....a hootenanny button "?!?
I've played bass since I was 16 (40 years) and how I managed to not hear of this is beyond me.

Why it's called a "hootenanny button"...notice the guitar straps. Putting the button on a bass was probably a way to deal with neck dive. Not many bassists used it, though.

 

[Thebiggestjerk]

Shouldn't that have a hootenanny button on the back of the headstock?

That’s not a button. That’s the peg with the gear.

Edit: Scratch that. Wrong pic. Definitely a button.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Would any of you peeps believe this to be correct?

I believe that is correct; (that your friend claims it's a '64)

Questions for the OP:
what does you or your friend know about the history of the bass?
are you looking to buy the bass?
do you have access to the bass?
is your friend willing to remove the neck & electronics to authenticate?