Some guy just told me

[mongo2]

In the mid 70s, Fender was digging through their parts bins putting instruments together. There are 3 and 4 bolt examples out there.

There was never a factory 3 bolt P bass. Jazz and Telecaster basses, yes.

 

[JesterJoker010]

and I thought this would become one of those Shrek memes...

Shrek is life!


There you go!

 

[Bass V]

I don't...

What was even the reasoning behind that?

lol you don't remember 'The Rack', Gibson's greatest failure?
all I can say is if it worked and kept that old warhorse in the game then it's pretty cool... but, yeah

 

[MikeD]

tell him it's a rare original factory prototype haha

Right. Then sell it too him for 10-times what it's worth.

 

[Furutan]

My 75 fender pbass wasn't all original because it had a 4 bolt neck.

That was a transitional time. Fender played with three bolt necks and the tilt screw for a while, but switched back to four bolts because of all the complaints about the three bolt system. Fender introduced the three bolt in 1971. If yours is from 1970 it's a four bolt. They didn't revert to four bolts until 1981,

 

[Speedhitter]

I lived through the 60's and 70's and remember nearly buying an early 70's Tele bass. I loved the neck but not the humbucker pickup or 3-bolt neck plate.

You can see two Tele basses on this web page. ... One 71 with 4-bolt and one 74 with a 3-bolt.
Also, while searching I spotted some 3-bolt Tele guitars. ...
Basses Archives - Willie's Guitars

 

[Speedhitter]

I lived through the 60's and 70's and remember nearly buying an early 70's Tele bass. I loved the neck but not the humbucker pickup or 3-bolt neck plate.

You can see two Tele basses on this web page. ... One 71 with 4-bolt and one 74 with a 3-bolt.
Also, while searching I spotted some 3-bolt Tele guitars. ...
Basses Archives - Willie's Guitars

1971 and 1972 were made in the USA. After that they went to Japan and to save money they went to the 3 bolt pattern.

 

[Acoop]

1971 and 1972 were made in the USA. After that they went to Japan and to save money they went to the 3 bolt pattern.

Fender didn't manufacture anything in Japan till the early eighties. ... Squire JV Series, Tele's, Strats, Jazz and & P-bass. About 84/85 Squire went to Korea and Japan made Fender's. ... No Tele bass till later in the 80's and I think, pretty much, just for their market but, the Paisley Tele's were popular from Japan.

 

[Speedhitter]

1971 and 1972 were made in the USA. After that they went to Japan and to save money they went to the 3 bolt pattern.

My mistake! I was thinking of the Fender Bullet. Which what I used for my custom Tele bass.

 

[Speedhitter]

Fender didn't manufacture anything in Japan till the early eighties. ... Squire JV Series, Tele's, Strats, Jazz and & P-bass. About 84/85 Squire went to Korea and Japan made Fender's. ... No Tele bass till later in the 80's and I think, pretty much, just for their market but, the Paisley Tele's were popular from Japan.

Had the wrong neck in mind. I have a 1980 or 81 USA Bullet.

 

[dog1]

Many, many smart and knowledgeable people lived through the seventies. Several jackasses made it through as well, it seems.

I was going to leave a comment for the op but you said it well. I won’t even go on and on about being an old fart myself.

 

[staurosjohn]

Them were the good ol days...you must be around 62.

Dang... I’m only 56!

 

[EVER BORUNDA]

I own a 72 Tele humbucker bass. It's got the three pattern micro tilt on the back. Never had an issue with it.

 

[gary mitchell]

I was 18 in 69, but stupid it what stupid does. I have never seen any Fender bass with a 3 bolt neck.

 

[Stackpole]

I was 18 in 69, but stupid it what stupid does. I have never seen any Fender bass with a 3 bolt neck.

You must have meant that you’ve never seen a 3 bolt/screw Fender Precision. Obviously Fender Telecaster basses and Jazz basses came with 3.