What's with Geddy headstock?

The Geddy Lee Jazz is a reproduction of a '72 not a '75, so I think the logo script should be a little different between the years.

 

On the '72 (Geddy) the lettering is bigger and bolder! Some say it's tacky, I like it.

--jeff

 

I like the style of the lettering, it fits with the '72 era.

Know what I mean.

 

I thought it was a 75 jazz,with a thined down neck like Geddys basses specs.oh well i cant ALWAYS be correct

 

Sometimes the dating of old Fender Jazz Basses can be somewhat like a Sherlock Holmes mystery if you don't have immediate access to look at the serial number (which isn't always accurate to the actual date anyways) or the neck stamp (which for some reason sometimes isn't on the neck at all on some early 70's necks??) A few quick clues to look for if you're unsure when wanting to purchase or just simply curious about an early 70's/pre '75 Jazz Bass:

1. Bullet truss rod at headstock was introduced around '71, but were only produced in small numbers (apparently by special order) until '74. In '75 it was "the standard."

2. Four bolt neckplates were used 'til '74, after that the 3 bolt "micro tilt" was standard.

3. Thumbrests were installed below the G-string 'til'73, in '74 the thumbrests were moved above the E-string.

4. Black/white/black pickguards replaced tortise shell pckguards '74.

5. Black block inlays on maple necks were introduced around the very late 60's, but were very rare as this was a special order option until '71. It was then standard 'til '73 on maple necks.

6. Of course there's the large script logo (topic of this thread) which changed around '75.

I really like the early 70's Jazz basses (own a few myself as well as a Geddy Lee) and this is just a quick checklist I use when looking at the ones I see for sale on e-bay and other websites trying to decifer "The Mystery of the Vintage Fenders." Of course none of this is a set rule written in stone and variances can be found. I'm no expert on 'em personally so if anyone else has noticed any other differences or corrections in my list for pre-'75 Jazzes please share.

Using this checklist compare the Geddy Lee and the '75 reissue. Hopefully the differences will stand out from each other now that you know what to look for and you'll get a little practice at sorting through those e-bay "100% original" deals which sometimes turn out as not so "original" . So as Sherlock Holmes would say: "Elementary my dear Watson"....Apparently he never tried to date a Fender, huh?