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Post subject: Another 70's Jazz Bass Dating Questions
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:07 am
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First, hello to everyone: this is my first post on this forum.

Long story short; the folks at the local Guitar Center were salivating when I went in to pick up my Jazz bass after leaving it there to get it tweaked (setup, cleaned up, etc. - the setup guy there does great great work). I was told there were offers to buy it on the spot (I'm not selling, period - it staying in the family, so, mute point).

I bought the bass in late '75. I never really interest in dating it until the GC encounter. They told me the serial number dated it to '73/74. I was able to confirm that, but I got curious after reading some other posts on the subject of dating Fenders.

Hence: the pots info is 304-7116, which suggests, as I’ve read, 1971 (16th week). The neck and bridge pickups, respectively, are numbered 6012 and 3102. I read in one post that the 2 suggests 1972. The neck heel code reads 7 Jan 72 A, which suggests 1972 for the neck. The serial number is 403005 – that suggests 1973 or 1974. The heel neck has the name W. Jorres stamped on it. The neck saddle has the names L. Hughes and I Chambers stamped on it.

Opinions: 72 (I’m thinking it is), ’73 or ’74????

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Another 70's Jazz Bass Dating Questions
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:47 pm
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"Torres" is in my 72 and 74. Bro dave can questimate it the best but you seem to have anywhere from 72 to 75.


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Post subject: Re: Another 70's Jazz Bass Dating Questions
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:18 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
There really isn't that much difference between a 72 and a 73/74 model value wise so don't sweat it too much. Also it would help to know the body color and pickguard color. Also would help to see a photo of the case logo. The case logos changed in 1972 and late 1974/early 75.

Serials have been proven to be inexact for dating in more than a few instances. In the absence of other hallmarks though the serials are generally taken at face value when they are the only available dating information. In this case you do have some other codes that obviously predate the serial year.

When the serial is older than the instrument could possibly be because component date codes are newer then the serial date, then it would be classified based on the latest component date code found. It could not have been issued before the last component date and in these cases the serial is found to be misleading. This would be the case for example when you have August 1970 pots in an instrument with a 1969 serial. It couldn't possibly be a 1969 model since the parts on it are newer than the 1969 model year which ended July 1, 1970. This instrument would have to be classified as a 1970.

In a case where the components all date earlier than the serial then the year correlating to the serial is generally taken as the actual model year. The reason for that is because components such as pickups, pots and sometimes even unfinished necks are inventoried.

Depending on the era the component dates can run tight to the issue date or sometimes be years old.

Pre-CBS component date codes indicate they were sometimes made only a few weeks before serialization with the pot codes, pickup codes and neck dates all reading within weeks of each other and all matching to the model year of the serial.

On the other hand in the CBS era you could have a 1969 instrument with 1966 date coded pots, early 1968 pickups and a late 1968 neck. If the serial on that instrument was a 1969 serial then the instrument is classed as a 1969 model and the 1966 pot dates don't matter.

Using that standard practice then your instrument is a 73/74 model in spite of the fact the components date a year to two years earlier.

The J. Torres January 1972 neck code actually indicates this neck was made during the 1971 model year. The 71 model year ran from July 1 1971 through June 30, 1972. The newest component parts here are the pickups which were made in the '72 model year.

This instrument can safely be classified as a '73 model at the earliest and '74 at the latest. None of the codes matter really so long as they either match or precede the serial number's model year.

While it may appear that all the components point to 1972, I would classify it as a 1973/74 because of the serial. The neck being two years old is somewhat of a question mark and your question is quite valid. However nothing I can see in the information given actually conflicts the serial year.


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Post subject: Re: Another 70's Jazz Bass Dating Questions
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:55 pm
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Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:43 am
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The logo on my case is the "script" fender with the bar that decreases in thickness from left to right located beneath it. It looks like the one in this link:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=197 ... tedIndex=3

My case also looks like the one in the photo, black vinyl and leather trim with white stitching.

The body is black and pickguard is white I took the pick guard off some years ago, and it's not where I thought I left it. I can post a picture of it when I find it if that's needed.

Thanks.


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