unexplained holes near bridge ( Fender Jazz )

[toiletbaby]

Im interested in restoring a Fender Jazz bass that I previously wanted to trade. Originally I thought it was 1973 because of the neck plate and pot dates.
After removing all the paint to see the original holes I found some unusual holes near the bridge. I have attached a pic and highlighted in different colors the spots of the symmetrical holes. The bass originally had a bridge w/5 screws and now has replacement with 3. FYI there has been some tampering with the p/u routes and near the bridge. Now Im thinking the tampering could have been done to incorporate 1973 parts to a body dated a bit earlier. The only legible letters in neck pocket end with RO. Any help would be appreciated. If not shes getting painted white.
Thanks for looking

 

[MasonMinor]

Those are from a bridge cover being taken off. Very common on old jazz basses

 

[MasonMinor]

Well, I should say the two purple ones are anyway. I don't know about the other non-bridge ones.

 

[chris_b]

Looks like there have been several bridges over the years.

 

[bholder]

Well, I should say the two purple ones are anyway. I don't know about the other non-bridge ones.

Looks like there have been several bridges over the years.

Yeah, several bridges, and I'm guessing the outer red ones are a different style bridge cover. Seem fairly normal.

 

[GIBrat51]

Yeah, several bridges, and I'm guessing the outer red ones are a different style bridge cover. Seem fairly normal.

Yeah - kinda hard to argue with this. Original bridge on my '78 P-Bass, but 2 sets of bridge cover holes...

 

[FranF]

I doubt it's an earlier body, not with the pickup route closer to the bridge like that. '72 or newer.

 

[toiletbaby]

Thanks very much for all the replies. I wish I could get a better read on the name stamped in pocket but all I have is the RO to off of.
Now that I look at the 62 bridge it wouldnt line up with the holes.

 

[clintrubber]

Thanks very much for all the replies. I wish I could get a better read on the name stamped in pocket but all I have is the RO to off of.
Now that I look at the 62 bridge it wouldnt line up with the holes.
View attachment 2467566

Old thread I realize, but just curious whether the 'trick' with the screws also holding down the upper part of the bent metal muting assembly results in effectively un-muting the strings, or still adds a degree of muting.

In other words, is putting the screws as shown in the picture making the degree of muting adjustable, or is it still on or off?

Thanks!

 

[clintrubber]

Meanwhile I ran into a 2nd hand (unsurprisingly unused ;-) ) set of these foam mutes.
No holes drilled in bass yet, but inserting them (one hand) and playing (other hand) gave a pretty massive damping, way too much so far. Curious to impressions of others.

BTW, the set came with the instruction paper for installing them. Pretty straightforward without, but in case anyone happens to be interested, can scan & post.

 

[elgranluis]

BTW, the set came with the instruction paper for installing them. Pretty straightforward without, but in case anyone happens to be interested, can scan & post.

please scan and post, thanks!

 

[clintrubber]

please scan and post, thanks!

Here we go!

Paper was pretty folded. I flattened it as best as possible before scanning, but you may need to add a tiny bit of distance (say a mm) to the pickup spacing.