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Post subject: Help solve 1971 (1974?) P bass serial number mystery!!!
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:38 am
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Hey guys
I recently bought a “1971” American P Bass with the neck plate stamped “306843” denoting, from Fenders own information, manufacture in 1971-72 (for 300,000’s) or possibly 1973 for (300,000’s to 500,000’s). However the pocket end of the neck is stamped in red ink “01 01 42 45”. I understand this code means 01=Precision 01=rosewood 42=42nd week 4=1974 5=Friday. How can this apparent dating discrepancy be explained?;

1) The body is original and was hanging around in the Fender factory for a couple of years before being married up with the neck (seems unlikely)
2) The body is original 1971and the 1974 neck was an equal replacement for the original neck.
3) Someone has deliberately created this “1971” P Bass from a lot of separate scrap, and maybe not original or American parts. Not good!

I would like to think that this great bass is the same as the day it left the factory, and I would really appreciate what you think about this, if you know of similar things happening before, or if you know of any other dating evidence I could get from the guitar itself or elsewhere to piece together what has happened. All ideas appreciated- this is really bugging me!!
Cheers
Iggy


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:00 am
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Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
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The first option is the most likely. Plate numbers are a horribly innacurate way of dating an instrument, as they we kept mixed in huge bins. Neck date is always more reliable, also there are date codes on the pots, or should be anyhow. If all the electronics are original, then checking the pot dates and comparing it to the neck date will give you a pretty solid idea of when the bass was slapped together. More then likely you just got a straggler neck plate from late 73' and it was mated to the neck right before shipping. So unless the pots reveal something different, you most likely have a 74' P bass. One more question, does the bass have a thumbrest or a tugbar (treble side thumbrest)? This would help to narrow things down a bit aswell.


D

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:40 am
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Hey KoP
Many thanks for that . I am going to have a reputable bass shop here in London England check the bass over so I'll have them look at the pots. There isn't a treble side rest but there may be the associated original screw holes under the (non-original pickguard). I'll have a look. Are you saying that evidence of this thumbrest would indicate a particular year, or just that this would support the body is indeed early 70's?
regards
Iggy


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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:20 pm
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I believe the move from Treble side to Bass side was made in '73, roughly. So if it's got a treble side rest, and the pot dates are earlier then 74; the neck "might" be a replacement. I'm still sticking by my guess that it's a 74' not having seen any pics. Good luck, and let us know what you find out. There's a small section of us who love 70's P's and '74 was the year I was born so I'm curious. In the end, if the bass plays really sweet, does the pedigree even matter. Sure it'd be nice not to be had, but as long as the bass is a real player, that kind of thing you can't slap a price tag on.



D

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https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:46 pm
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Thanks again KoP. I'll let you know how I get on once I have it back. Of course you are right that in a sense the pedigree doesn't matter if the bass plays and sounds great, but for me it is the icing on the cake knowing I have the real thing. Cheers


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