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Post subject: What in the world is this?!?!
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 8:08 pm
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Hi folks, new to the Fender forums, but i've been a Fender man for life... I just picked up this bass, and I sure could use some help identifying it. Heres the ebay link... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

Ive never seen anything like this at all! Just when you THINK youre an expert hahahaha!!!!


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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 7:30 am
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The neck is a 1977-78 Fender, and probably liscensed to Schecter.
The body is a Fender and shows the S8 prefix, so it could be a 77 or a 78.
The bridge is a Fender aftermarket product.
Around 1979-80 Fender brought out the Precision Bass Special.
This bass showcased their new line of solid brass tuners, thumbrest, knobs, & bridges.
There was a specific ad in the guitar magazines that showed Mars cowling, of Pat Travers Band with a Precision sporting the same bridge on your ebay bass.
There were 2 bridges offered, one was the one on the 1980 Precision Special, and the other was the one you have.
The tuners are schallers.

Jim

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You Can Never Have Too Many Colors...

'74 Natural Precision
'80 Lake Placid Blue Precision Special
'83 Candy Apple Red '57 AVRI Precision
'83 Walnut Elite II Precision
'87 Pinkish Fiesta Red '62 Reissue Precision


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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:42 am
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Some of the stuff you've said makes sense... but it dosent explain away the logo on the headstock. I think Fender as a company would rather kiss a spider than let ANYONE use that logo, aftermarket or not. Would there be a custom shop in that era? And would it actually prefer to use a Schecter neck (they were superior in build at the time) over a house neck? OR was it not their decision to use the neck? I know im speculating here, but this bass, in my hands, does not look or feel like a parts bass. Ive never seen anything like it...

The logo on the headstock has me absolutely bats!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 10:22 am
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One thing I do know about the neck.
Schecter necks, at least in the late 70's said Schecter in large lettering. And had no Fender decals. The little "Neck by Schecter" could be a bogus add on to a Fender Neck. So could the labeling on the back.
You could email Schecter a pic of the neck and ask them.

Jim

_________________
You Can Never Have Too Many Colors...

'74 Natural Precision
'80 Lake Placid Blue Precision Special
'83 Candy Apple Red '57 AVRI Precision
'83 Walnut Elite II Precision
'87 Pinkish Fiesta Red '62 Reissue Precision


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 11:12 am
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well im further away than I was at the beginning... I called Fender customer relations today and the gentleman said "Im a fender bass expert, and we never even made a bridge like that". Interesting, because Jim so graciously said hes seen them before in advertisements. So now I know I cant even trust Fender to know their own products? I know thats kind of harsh but cmon guys if you cant answer a question find someone who can. I personally own over $30,000 worth of Fender gear... I guess customer service IS a dead art :(.

I also called Schecter, and their response was "we've been bought and sold 2 times since that era product". I dont know where else to turn... and I know what youre thinking, "another victim of a fake headstock decal". Ive been doing this a long time, and I would be willing to wager $1000 USD that this is NOT A WATERSLIDE, and that this silkscreened decal was put on before 1981. Can anyone please steer me toward someone who might know the provenance to this bass? I'll try PMing the forum moderator, maybe he knows where to turn next. In the interim, any other help would be terrific. I know its just a bass, but the mystery of this thing has me completely consumed.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 1:17 pm
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Here's a discussion on the unusual bridge:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=661132

Here's the Precision Special bass with the brass bridge Vintage7 mentioned:

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/adDetails/4


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 2:11 pm
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THANKS! Now we're getting somewhere... LOL. Heres a good pic of the headstock logo... its NOT waterslide, and I cant imagine why anyone would go to the trouble to silkscreen this logo that wouldnt add ANY value to anything... its not like theyre trying to "fake" a vintage logo or anything. I firmly believe that this bass is some type of prototype, made in conjunction with Schecter... any other opinions? Only two responders to something so cool?


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 7:34 pm
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acebase62 wrote:
Here's a discussion on the unusual bridge:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=661132

Here's the Precision Special bass with the brass bridge Vintage7 mentioned:

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/adDetails/4


Thanks, those links show what I was talking about.
Although back then, Fender described the "Claw" Bridge as a "Crescent" bridge.

One of the reasons I bought my 1980 P-Special was the brass hardware and the preamp featured in the 1980 ad.

As for someone at Fender saying they never made those, it just means that they didn't bother to research it or there just isn't any info at Fender on them.

The people you need to talk to are old timers who remember, and have witnessed these in person.
I saw an ad for the claw bridge back in 1980/81 and I saw Mars Cowling on stage with one on his Fender bass.

Accurate info is very hard to come by.

Jim

_________________
You Can Never Have Too Many Colors...

'74 Natural Precision
'80 Lake Placid Blue Precision Special
'83 Candy Apple Red '57 AVRI Precision
'83 Walnut Elite II Precision
'87 Pinkish Fiesta Red '62 Reissue Precision


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 7:37 pm
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stratcat070707 wrote:
THANKS! Now we're getting somewhere... LOL. Heres a good pic of the headstock logo... its NOT waterslide, and I cant imagine why anyone would go to the trouble to silkscreen this logo that wouldnt add ANY value to anything... its not like theyre trying to "fake" a vintage logo or anything. I firmly believe that this bass is some type of prototype, made in conjunction with Schecter... any other opinions? Only two responders to something so cool?


Now I have to figure this neck thing out.

_________________
You Can Never Have Too Many Colors...

'74 Natural Precision
'80 Lake Placid Blue Precision Special
'83 Candy Apple Red '57 AVRI Precision
'83 Walnut Elite II Precision
'87 Pinkish Fiesta Red '62 Reissue Precision


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:28 pm
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Jim... you rock bro! part of the mystery solved. The headstock is the part that might be unanswerable... I just have a hard time believing this is a figment of someones imagination, especially since its not waterslide and its aged appropriately with the rest of the bass.

Ice cold brew waiting for you right here Jim.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:29 pm
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stratcat070707 wrote:
THANKS! Now we're getting somewhere... LOL. Heres a good pic of the headstock logo... its NOT waterslide, and I cant imagine why anyone would go to the trouble to silkscreen this logo that wouldnt add ANY value to anything... its not like theyre trying to "fake" a vintage logo or anything. I firmly believe that this bass is some type of prototype, made in conjunction with Schecter... any other opinions? Only two responders to something so cool?


Where's the Pic?
Anyway, the little I've found on old Schecter 1976-1983:
Schecter Guitar Research was a custom shop opened by David Schecter, and they supplied replacement parts for Fender guitars & supplied parts to Fender.
So, it looks to be that they were licensed to use Fender designs, since the early necks were Fender in design.
So, what I'm proposing is, that as a Fender licensee, they were allowed to make, or have Fender make, Fender/Neck by Schecter" headstock logos.
And the serial number being applied on the back of the headstock.

Jim

_________________
You Can Never Have Too Many Colors...

'74 Natural Precision
'80 Lake Placid Blue Precision Special
'83 Candy Apple Red '57 AVRI Precision
'83 Walnut Elite II Precision
'87 Pinkish Fiesta Red '62 Reissue Precision


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Post subject: .
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 2:26 am
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..


Last edited by mikecain on Sun May 30, 2010 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 4:44 am
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Mikecain... please read thoroughly before you add your 2 cents...

-the pickups ARE grey bottoms dated 1980
-the pots are dated 80 as well
-has the cheesy wire that Fender used during this era, which is the first thing to go in most basses of this ilk
-the tuners are not Schecter, theyre Schaller, and I said at least twice that I thought they were aftermarket

$150? If youve been paying attention, youd know that those BRIDGES are selling for more, if you can even find them.

I hate to rip a person whos trying to help, but please if youre going to add your 2 cents, please have cash at the ready...


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 8:08 am
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Here's my thoughts on this.:
From looking at the pics again, I think that:

The neck is a genuine Schecter neck licensed by Fender.
Schecter did s/n their necks from 1976-83.

The body is a Fender Precision, and is probably 1979-80.
The decal is typical of that era. (I have the same one on my 1980 Precision Special).

The Bridge is a Fender High Mass Crescent Bridge from the 1980 line of Fender accessories.
This line of acessories has been reportly made by schecter for Fender.

The pots have been reported with 1980 date codes.

The pickups are reported with 1980 date codes.

The tuners are Schaller and were probably offered in the Schecter catalog in 1980.

So, I believe this bass is either a 1980 stock Fender Precision body that someone added a Schecter neck & Schaller tuners to.
Then added the Fender bridge.

or

Schecter built this bass for a client using a stock Fender body & the High Mass Crescent Bridge.

Either way I believe it's authentic.

_________________
You Can Never Have Too Many Colors...

'74 Natural Precision
'80 Lake Placid Blue Precision Special
'83 Candy Apple Red '57 AVRI Precision
'83 Walnut Elite II Precision
'87 Pinkish Fiesta Red '62 Reissue Precision


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Post subject: Where did you buy the bass from
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 11:06 am
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Where did you find the bass?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/msg/1761245561.html


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=661132


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