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Post subject: 1978 Precision Bass Special History
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:57 pm
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Hi,

For a few years now, I have had a 1978-79 Fender Precision Bass, and it appears to be a Special, as it has a Jazz Bass pickup in front of the bridge. It was definitely refinished, as it has a Badass Bass 2 bridge and the original bridge's screw holes are still visible but are painted over. It was refinished well though, in a sort of deep pearl blue color, and it has a black pickguard, pickups, and knobs, with a maple fretboard. It really is a very good-looking bass. In fact, when I saw this bass as a kid, it made me want to play bass in the first place. Years later the opportunity arose to purchase it and I did.

I've just been noticing that I don't usually see basses from those years in a Special format, and I couldn't find anything definitive when I attempted to research this. Does anybody know when Precision Basses with this configuration were introduced? Since I've never seen another one, I'm open to the idea that it isn't an original body. I wouldn't mind that much, this isn't a bass I'm ever going to try to sell, I'm just trying to find out a little more about it.

Thanks to anyone who might be able to help.


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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:42 am
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A picture would help identify your bass, but the fact that it has been modified from its orig. configuration and you are OK with it kind of makes it a moot point. You may have an original p-bass body with an added jazz pickup. This was and is very common.

Even though Fender never put J pickups on Precision basses, many owners added them later and the spacing and quality of the installations will vary widely. I think I saw my first P/J bass in 1972 and it was actually a converted Telecaster bass if I remember correctly.

The "Special" precision bass that you are referring to is the late 90's P/J bass that was made in Mexico with US parts.

Fender took a long time to actually make a bass with P/J pickups and the first ones were actually Lace Sensor pickups on the P-bass plus.

Around 1982 Fender made the first "Precision Special" model. It was the first active P-bass but it only had one pickup with white covers and it was made in White, LP blue and CA red as well as a solid Walnut bass.

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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:34 pm
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Couple things:

I don't know that it was modified from its original configuration, I just know that it was refinished. Honestly, the J pickups routing looks like it was factory-done. It's flawless, and in keeping with every other Fender P/J bass I've ever seen. Either the body was originally this way or somebody is unbelievably good at routing.

I'm only calling it a "Special" because that is the term I am most familiar with to describe a P bass with this pickup configuration, although I know it is not the only name ever used.

Thanks for that info so far, however, and I will post pics as soon as I have some.


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Post subject: dont forget
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:56 pm
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There was also the 82 and up Jazz bass special sometimes called P/J bass (as sometimes listed on the headstock in the first year or so's models)from the early Japanese series and I even seen a few JV Squiers made in the specs of the Jazz bass special and sometimes having 2 p-bass pick-ups,(totally lacking the jazz pick-up it was named after).
But for the most part the Special made in the early 80's made over here (not Japan or Korea)is the maple necked active pick-up model you just may have one with a professionally donejazz pick-up routed aftermarket,the Fender repairman I apprenticed under made many of these mods in the 80's its was a happening/cool/groovy ETC.. thing to do,now-a-days we add the bad-ass bridge,better pick-ups,relicing the bass ETC...that was their big up-grade mod.
I believe some good pics and the basses serial numbers in one of these pics will get you the answer you desire,at the least get you pointed in the right direction,it should'nt be too hard.
GOOD-LUCK! :lol:


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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:16 am
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BCbassman wrote:
A picture would help identify your bass, but the fact that it has been modified from its orig. configuration and you are OK with it kind of makes it a moot point. You may have an original p-bass body with an added jazz pickup. This was and is very common.

Even though Fender never put J pickups on Precision basses, many owners added them later and the spacing and quality of the installations will vary widely. I think I saw my first P/J bass in 1972 and it was actually a converted Telecaster bass if I remember correctly.

The "Special" precision bass that you are referring to is the late 90's P/J bass that was made in Mexico with US parts.

Fender took a long time to actually make a bass with P/J pickups and the first ones were actually Lace Sensor pickups on the P-bass plus.

Around 1982 Fender made the first "Precision Special" model. It was the first active P-bass but it only had one pickup with white covers and it was made in White, LP blue and CA red as well as a solid Walnut bass.


The Hot-Rodded American Series Precision was effectively an American Series P-Bass under a "Special" dress. There were some important differences between the Mexico Special and the American Hot-Rodded. The American Hot-Rodded P is better in terms of quality and construction than the Mexican Special, which has been followed by a Squier version shortly after.

Later, the P-Bass Special got active electronics and a Ceramic Noiseless pickup in the bridge position.


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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:10 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:11 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:13 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:14 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:33 am
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it's not a "special" if the bass is a 78/9. i bought a P new in '79 and in 81 had Phillip Petillo in NJ install a J @ the bridge and, yes, it was done as professionally as fender could have done it - except Phil is a world renowned luthier. so the one mentioned here was probably installed similarly. i did specify mine to be about 3/4" off the bridge so it really gets a crunchy tone - more so than a standard jazz.


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http://macakin.com/bass/78p/index.htm

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:48 am
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That's a very clean routing job on the jazz bass pickup.
I have Dimarzios in a Jazz bass and they sound great.

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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:43 am
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I put the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz replacements in my Jazz, along with an Audere JZ3 and it does sound great. I regularly get comments at gigs such as "how do you get that tone from a Jazz?"

I suppose when the subject involves a P-bass with a jazz pickup, a bit of forum cross-over is acceptable...


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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:10 am
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FretlessOnly wrote:
I put the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz replacements in my Jazz, along with an Audere JZ3 and it does sound great. I regularly get comments at gigs such as "how do you get that tone from a Jazz?"

I suppose when the subject involves a P-bass with a jazz pickup, a bit of forum cross-over is acceptable...


from the standard j bass pick up layout against a a p bass 'special', depending on the year of manufacture, the bridge pick up on the p can be an inch below the j's location which will significantly affect the tone to more biting. ...me likey!

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