vintage Jazz bass date mismatch?

[specker]

Picked up a nice old Jazz bass which shows neck to be made (via stamp on butt end) week 00 (I imagine that's the first) in 1975. The neck plate on the back of the body confirms 1975via serial number. The body is an old sunburst alder one, all pots say 1971. The previous owner though the whole bass was 1972, but clearly not the case.

Questions: If the neck was from the wee hours of 1975, could they have actually used pots from 1971 for the body? I've heard of Fender just having a bunch of them sitting around at the factory, but that seems to be way too long.

If the body is 1971/2 and the neck 1975, how does that affect the value? Not that important, as I'm a gigging musician and it sounds and plays great.

Thanks!

 

[johnk_10]

fender bought a ton of pots in '66 and they were used in subsequent years ('66-'70), however by '75 they were using '74 and '75 pots, so i would think that they were replaced at one time.

 

[mikeswals]

Unless this bass was pieced together by someone back in the late 70's or 80's sometime.
Could very well be a 71 body and 75 neck. Just like today, people part out instruments.

Is the previous owner the original owner?

 

[Bone]

3 bolt or 4 bolt neck? what is the complete neck stamp?

 

[cripula]

Thumb rest above the E string or below the G string?
Pics would help.

 

[specker]

4- bolt neck. Neck stamp: 0203.0053 "Herb G."

The thumbrest is below the G string.

I'll try to get pics up.

Thanks again.

 

[coreyfyfe]

The thumbrest change was in 74 IIRC. Maybe caca was on to something with the parts bass theory. Or just the pots have been changed. Got any pics?

Edit - checked my fender bass book, they say the thumbrest change was 74/75 in the timeline, but show two 74 basses side by side one with it below, one above. So somewhere in there.

 

[Bone]

Just guessing but could be a 71 jazz that had the neck replaced in 75. Check the pickup codes. Doubt it left the factory that way but it could be a Fender warranty replacement neck.

 

[elgranluis]

I',m with caca as well. I'm guessing it's a 71 bass with a 75 neck. You could, in theory, erase the neck stamp and place an ad on ebay such as "virginal solder joints, pots are dated to XXX, and this matches the neck plate. The neck date stamp faded with time, but I bought the bass new in 1972 and I can assure you that this is the original factory neck..."

Just kidding. I'm always suspicious of such ebay ads. If it's a player, (for peace of mind) I'd settle down with the swapped neck explanation.

 

[specker]

Had the neck pickup out recently - looks to be period-correct gray-bottom. Stamped "5 48"

Anyone know if that could indicate year?

Thanks again.