Need some help dating a Fender P Bass for a mate
Comments
Unscrew the neck, I'd think it'd have a date stamp on the back of the heel
I haven't got the bass here, and the owner has sent me these pictures; they aren't comfortable taking it apart.PeteBo said:Unscrew the neck, I'd think it'd have a date stamp on the back of the heel
I'd have thought you need to at least take it for dinner before considering screwing!PeteBo said:Unscrew the neck, I'd think it'd have a date stamp on the back of the heel
But seriously that serial number puts it squarely in 1975. Spec looks right for that as well, not that the P changed much after 1960. Black guard (if original) means mid 70s onwards so aligns with the serial
https://www.andybaxterbass.com/blogs/news/fender-serial-number-guide
https://reverb.com/news/how-to-date-a-fender#Fseries1965-1976
And the decal matches the 74 one here https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/128339-70s-fender-precision-timeline/#
Yeah, I thought it looked mid 70s, as that colour, serial number with F logo plate, and skunk stripe, etcstickyfiddle said:I'd have thought you need to at least take it for dinner before considering screwing!PeteBo said:Unscrew the neck, I'd think it'd have a date stamp on the back of the heel
But seriously that serial number puts it squarely in 1975. Spec looks right for that as well
https://www.andybaxterbass.com/blogs/news/fender-serial-number-guide
https://reverb.com/news/how-to-date-a-fender#Fseries1965-1976
Have you tried giving it some compliments & inviting to the cinema?
Almost certainly 1975 from the serial number, as stickyfiddle said.
If you don't want to take the neck off - bearing in mind not all 70s Fenders have the date 'in clear' on the neck - take the pickguard off instead... you don't need to even loosen the strings, just be careful not to pull on the pickup wires as you move the guard out from under them - and look at the pot date codes. If they're original they will have codes on them reading 137xxyy where xx is the year and yy the week of manufacture - obviously the bass can't be earlier than this, and will in most cases be a few weeks or months later.
If you don't want to take the neck off - bearing in mind not all 70s Fenders have the date 'in clear' on the neck - take the pickguard off instead... you don't need to even loosen the strings, just be careful not to pull on the pickup wires as you move the guard out from under them - and look at the pot date codes. If they're original they will have codes on them reading 137xxyy where xx is the year and yy the week of manufacture - obviously the bass can't be earlier than this, and will in most cases be a few weeks or months later.
It’ll never last!
If it was mine and I had it here, that neck would be off. I’ve told my mate I thought it was either 75 or 76. You have all given me some great information and so I have passed that on to him. Thank you all for your help, really appreciate you taking time to pitch in your thoughts on this. Nice one guys!
1975 I'd say ... and that classic mid seventies combo of black guard and 'Sunburnt Malteser' finish.
The pickup has been changed to a DiMarzio. It is possible that one of the pots has also been changed to a push/pull to allow series/parallel mode switching of the interconnection of the coils.ICBM said:… look at the pot date codes. If they're original they will have codes on them
Looks like CBS's so-called Walnut finish, referred to inaccurately by some sellers as Mocca and by me as Shit Brown.OilCityPickups said:'Sunburnt Malteser' finish.
Pretty much what’s been said above, I’d say it’s a 75 looking at the neck plate serial and the gasket underneath, large TV logo puts it before 76 when they changed to the S6 style ,it’s not the original pickguard as it doesn’t have the holes for the thumb rest above the E string from what I can see, the neck heel stamp would be more accurate to date the neck, pot codes and capacitor would date the electrics, it’s a cool bass, I’d have to change the odd tuner but that’s just me =)
Very cool instrument.
Serial range 6XXXXX generally aligns with manufacture between 1975 and 1976.
Serial range 6XXXXX generally aligns with manufacture between 1975 and 1976.
Good point. That makes me wonder if the original guard was white - otherwise, why change it - which would definitely make it earlier rather than later, as the black guards started in '75.Reggaebass said:
it’s not the original pickguard as it doesn’t have the holes for the thumb rest above the E string
All depends on how much bottom she has and whether she's a good pluck!pedalo said:It’ll never last!
Wonder why there’s an extra screw in the middle of the pickguard? I think that’s not original as there’s no screw holes for the thumbrest/tugbar
The screw in the middle of the pickguard is correct, but the lack of the two holes for the thumbrest does mean that the guard is not original.LukeFRC said:Wonder why there’s an extra screw in the middle of the pickguard? I think that’s not original as there’s no screw holes for the thumbrest/tugbar
As an aside, DIM SWEATIO means no sweat in Welsh for anyone that wonders wtf that's all about
It looks mid-70s to me...? However, I am no expert with P Basses.
Any help is appreciated, and he has sent me these photos (pickups were changed in the '90s, and he has owned it since around 1987)