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Post subject: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:25 pm
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I own this P Bass that I purchased used back in 1984-85 basically in the same condition is now. I never made any changes or modifications to it but don't know if the previous owner did. It received a lot more use from the previous owner than it has on my hands. Based on the backplate # I understand is a 1976. By 1990 I stopped playing bass and it has been in it's case most of the time ever since. I decided to sell it and in my previous post was asking for some advice as to it's condition-originality-value. Someone suggested me to take it apart and check for some markings and stuff so here we go:

It's Olympic White w rosewood neck and tort pickguard (already someone mentioned the pickguard may be a replacement) Here is what it looks like:

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As far as the markings go here is all I could see:

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vol pot 032367 250k - A -1377 (the beginning of this one may be covered by a solder)
tone pot 137760 there is a solder covering a number that ends in 67 250k -A
cap = RMC 02Z 100V

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The neck end has some kind of a blue-green ink stamped number very hard to read may be = 5 42 41 B or 5 45 71 B or 5 ?5 ?1 8

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neck back only has a large B and 4 both handwritten

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neck pocket has a marker made B, 3164 stamped, some faded round stamp and at the deeper end some marking that looks like: 75PE2N or 75REZN

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there are no marks in on the pups cavity or behind the pickups. There is some tarlike goo comming off the pickups. The springs you see I just put in there, it had none.

What do you think?


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:31 pm
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Oops..........forgot the case logo

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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:37 am
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First. The good news on yours is that in my opinion the body and neck came together from the factory, which more often than you might think is not the case when I look at one. Pickups themselves look correct but can't say if they are original or not due the dubious solder joints (see below.) The foam oozing from under one makes it likely it hasn't ever been messed with before.

Now second. Here is some of what I see that does not look correct or that I can not confirm. The finger rest is in a non-stock position. Pity because of the extra holes to put it there. Ouchie.

The electronics (pots/cap/wiring) do not look like your typical factory soldering work. The cap looks original type though even if it isn't the neatest job ever with the insulation usually added to the cap leads missing entirely.

With incomplete pot lot numbers I can't confirm the pot dates.

Part of the shielding is gone off the back of the guard near the jack which looks like it has been messed with before.

Neck code starts "5" as that is the number for all P-bass necks.
Don't feel bad about this stamping being partly unreadable as over half of them are. There are some numbers missing in this code. For example the fretboard code is missing completely. There were several numbers missing in fact, but of the numbers that are visible they could fit for a January 77 manufacture which is in the 76 model year that ended June 30, 1977. So that possibility works. I can't make the numbers out any better here than you can there and I tried enhancement software too.

It is likely that the tortoise pickguard is not original to that bass. Mostly, if not exclusively, Fender specified black guards on Olympic White P-basses in 1976. The tort guard on this one was ordinarily seen only on a sunburst model. Otherwise the hardware would pass for stock. Especially the pickup mounting springs which are hard to fake and often neglected completely in knockoffs.

The case logo is post 1972 model year. The case logo changed again by '77 with the addition of the tiny "Made In USA" under the "FENDER" letters. So that case is probably original to the instrument, or at least period correct.

My verdict is that this bass is not 100% original. Maybe 95% original or less. Not a bad player! Fair condition player class basses like that are worth $1300 to maybe $1500 and perhaps as much as $1800. Other than the moved finger rest (which is a tough break for sure as it brings huge mark down), the incorrect pickguard and the question of factory original solder joints, it looks like original Fender parts but I'm pretty certain it is not all original.

I'm not the final word though. Just throwing my opinion out there. Anyone else see anything?


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:38 am
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first I'd get that thmbrest off there and then I'd get an old black pickguard of the era- put it on and then put the thumb rest where it's supposed to be. I'd either fill in the hole myself or take it to someone who can make it barely noticable- I can do it but if you can't there are guys that can. I would clean up the whole guitar. The electronis look like they have never been touched. Look at the body and see if the thumbrest is on the bass side or the treble side-- the bass looks old. If the holes for the t rest are on the treble side then it may be older than 76,


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:32 pm
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Stroker, on your 76 is there not insulation on the leads to the cap?


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:13 pm
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Thanks for your input guys!

I looked and the thumb rest holes and they are where your's have it Stroker. So I guess it is a 1976. One observation I want to make: I know is not the original place for it, and I'm not a good bass player...... but it is actually very comfortable to have that thumb rest where the previous owner put it. You just rest the butt of the palm of your hand there and your fingers will fall right where they should be. I mean the P bass was designed with a pickup cover and that's why they placed the thumb rest where they did, but most guys remove it and pick the strings further back closer to the bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:19 pm
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new looking messy soldering on the pots are normally a give away when looking for fakes,tho these may just be a pot replacement is all.
and how do you get an adjustment rod nut in such bad shape? i've had complete original '62s in better condition than this bass,it looks like its been stored in a very damp enviroment.


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:43 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Stroker, on your 76 is there not insulation on the leads to the cap?

No- it was changed around to aftermarket by the time I got the bass. Along with no springs. I didn't know springs were on any P basses.
longboarder wrote:
Thanks for your input guys!

I looked and the thumb rest holes and they are where your's have it Stroker. So I guess it is a 1976. One observation I want to make: I know is not the original place for it, and I'm not a good bass player...... but it is actually very comfortable to have that thumb rest where the previous owner put it. You just rest the butt of the palm of your hand there and your fingers will fall right where they should be. I mean the P bass was designed with a pickup cover and that's why they placed the thumb rest where they did, but most guys remove it and pick the strings further back closer to the bridge.


I take it that you play with a pick? I'd say whoever put the t rest there played with their fingers. No big deal about the pick or fingers- just my observation.

kruegger wrote:
new looking messy soldering on the pots are normally a give away when looking for fakes,tho these may just be a pot replacement is all.
and how do you get an adjustment rod nut in such bad shape? i've had complete original '62s in better condition than this bass,it looks like its been stored in a very damp enviroment.


does it smell funny? does the inside of the case smell like antique kind of moldy smell? That finish breaking down on mime was kind of stinky.


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:47 pm
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WAIT-- from what I remember the rosewood fret board is not suppose to be radiused to the neck. I thought that was only on vintage 60's models? Am I wrong on that or what?


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on this 1976 Precision w pics
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:19 am
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That is a rosewood veneer fretboard, sometimes called a laminate rosewood. The veneer got thinner as you went along. As Leo ramped up production just before CBS came in he went to a thin veneer instead of the slab. They Fender went back to the slab for a while but I'm pretty sure that by 71 the basses were getting the veneer/laminate again.


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