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Post subject: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:25 pm
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Hey guys, brand new to the forum! Hope you guys can help me out.

I have a fender P-Bass that's been passed down through the family and I currently play it in my band and I love it. I'm trying to figure out what year it may be and I'm almost 100% the pickups are the same, but the neck is NOT the original. I took it to a guy I know who knows a pretty large deal about guitars/basses and we removed the neck and looked inside for any other kinds of markings but there aren't any. He believes that it's from the 70's as it has the neck plate on the back with the Fender F and he also believes it's a 70's because the body had so many panels of wood.

This bass also has the thumb rest, not 100% sure if that matters or not.

I'm not sure if he's smoking crack or actually knows what he's talking about, but he's the only one I know with a good deal of guitar knowledge.

Do you all have any tips as to how I can figure it out?

I can post some pictures of all the parts if it would help, as well as the bass but for now, this is the best pic I have with the bass.

PS - I put the fender decal on the head myself.

Thanks guys!

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:42 pm
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A few more things... This bass weighs a ton, the neck pocket seems to be slightly too wide and then there is no serial number on the neck plate, just the F.

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:53 pm
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brotherdave would be able to narrow it down farther for you due to the finish most likely, but by your description and pic it looks to be a post 1976-pre1982 P bass in (whatever the official name for) Rootbeer is.

I used to have a black 1978. Weighed 13.5lbs, but sounded amazing. Running 8th notes on it was like letting loose with a machine gun. She looks like a beauty. These are heavy, but highly sought after by the old school punk/hard rock crowd for their aggressive punch.

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:12 pm
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Thanks for the input King! I feel like I'm already a lot closer to figuring this out!

I do have two more pics of it, not the best, but they were on phone and I figured it couldn't hurt to put em on here. I'll get better ones tonight!

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:17 pm
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On that last pic, take a look at how slanted that neck is! Look at the very bottom of the neck where it meets the pickguard and then look at how much room is on the left side of my E string and then look at the right side of the G string. It's honestly not as bad as it looks, although you can tell this neck isn't a great fit. It still plays nicely, regardless!

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 8:32 pm
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It looks bad dude. It prob needs some kind of guitar repair man to check it out for you. The pics don't do much good. Is there a guitar store near you that is not GC or Sam Ash that has been around for a long time? Take it there or call them first and tell them about it to see if they know anything about Fender basses. You could also wait for Brother Dave to come on here and fill you in a bit.


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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 8:29 am
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Agreed. That last pic is pretty bad. I almost wonder if that is an original body at this point? I've heard of CBS era instrument with decent sized gaps on one side of the neck or other, but they usually don't effect the string spacing or layout. Many people would shim them, but in reality as long as the neck is bolted on solidly the pick ups do 90% of the work on a solid body electric. Plus, these basses aren't know for their resonance anyhow.

To the point, Your G string looks like it's almost off the neck, and even though it's likely a combination of the angle that the bass is sitting at. That's NOT good! IF, and that's a BIG if at this point, that body is original and you want to save it. You may need to fill it, and redrill the holes for the neck bolts. If it's not original, but sounds and plays great. (minus the G string of course) My advice would be to get a replacement blank and take it to someone who can do the job right.

Edit to add: This is a horrible thought, but can you give us a pic from the headstock down the neck? That neck maybe twisted. If it is that's got to be one of, if not THE worst twist I've ever seen. If that is the case then the neck is pretty much done. Which is a damn shame as those late 70's necks are super fast and smooth from my experience. I'm hoping that this isn't the case, but man...the more I think about it, the worse it looks. :?

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:09 am
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The G string is in fact on the fretboard and I can play it all the way up and down the neck, but yes, it's obviously not where it should be. As I mentioned in the original post, this is NOT the original neck.

Should the body be 1 solid piece of wood or can it be made from 4 or 5 panels put together? I'm not 100% sure how Fender made them in the 70's if this is in fact an original. The owner who handed it down to me, said he knows it's a true fender but not sure of the exact year because the original neck was broken somehow and he knows this for a fact.

He is also a cousin and handed it down without charging any money as it is a family instrument. I highly doubt he would lie about anything, so my gut is telling me that it's a true fender, just a different neck. Minus how the neck sits into the pocket, it's very smooth and plays nicely and I enjoy the feel of it better than a neck of today.

I'll get some more pics this weekend!

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:48 am
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KyBassPlayer wrote:
The G string is in fact on the fretboard and I can play it all the way up and down the neck, but yes, it's obviously not where it should be. As I mentioned in the original post, this is NOT the original neck.

Should the body be 1 solid piece of wood or can it be made from 4 or 5 panels put together? I'm not 100% sure how Fender made them in the 70's if this is in fact an original. The owner who handed it down to me, said he knows it's a true fender but not sure of the exact year because the original neck was broken somehow and he knows this for a fact.

He is also a cousin and handed it down without charging any money as it is a family instrument. I highly doubt he would lie about anything, so my gut is telling me that it's a true fender, just a different neck. Minus how the neck sits into the pocket, it's very smooth and plays nicely and I enjoy the feel of it better than a neck of today.

I'll get some more pics this weekend!


A late 70's P? It's definitely possible that it could have made it off the line with 4 pieces of wood. Near the end CBS got really, really bad about cutting corners to save money. In looking at the pics again, this almost looks like a see through walnut finish, but it's hard for me to tell. Brotherdave would definitely be needed here to give you more definitive answers.

So from what your cousin said this is likely a late 70's P that somehow ended up with a busted neck, and someone replaced it with another 70's P neck? The body and electronics are the original part of the bass, correct? I'm not doubting your cousin's honesty at all. Just trying to sort out how this could have came to be.

It's most definitely possible that the original 70's neck worked just fine in that neck pocket, but this one wouldn't. Again, CBS really screwed the pooch in the late 70's in the QC department. Though there were many great basses that have their charm from that era. In reality, even with the tight QC you get at FMIC now days you could still do a neck swap and have it not "settle in" right. It happens a lot less now, and it happened a lot less when Leo ran things I imagine.

If it turns out the neck is twisted, and it's not original anyhow. I'd just try to get rid of it and find a good replacement. Wether you go with a true vintage, a luthier made copy, or just try to bolt up a modern neck is up to you. Either way, as the neck isn't original, but the body and electronics function well. I'd say it's worth investing a little money in to keep it playing for years to come and stay in the family. Who knows? The day may come when you want to pass it down yourself. Find out as much as you can, and write it down along with anything you do to the bass to get it back to right. A multi-generational P bass is something to cherish.

Looking forward to the upcoming pics. As I said, I used to own a 78 P. LOVED it. Breaks my heart that I had to sell it when my girl was out of work for a few years to get by. It did punk rock like no other bass I've ever played or heard. I recently just added a modern Fender FSR Antigua P to my stable that has much of the same vibe.


Edit: as to how it ended up with a broken neck? A late 70's P bass? I'm guessing you had a Clash fan somewhere in your family tree. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:12 am
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The neck that is on there that you see in the pics is not a fender neck, or at least I highly doubt it. I put the sticker on the head just to give it the fender authenticity look ;)

Other than the F on the Neck plate, a stamp on the original neck with date, or a serial on the head, are there any other ways to determine?

I'm gonna get some more pics to upload on my lunch break... stay tuned!

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 11:03 am
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KyBassPlayer wrote:
The neck that is on there that you see in the pics is not a fender neck, or at least I highly doubt it. I put the sticker on the head just to give it the fender authenticity look ;)

Other than the F on the Neck plate, a stamp on the original neck with date, or a serial on the head, are there any other ways to determine?

I'm gonna get some more pics to upload on my lunch break... stay tuned!



Generally with late 70's P's it's easiest to compare the neck date of the original bass, the body stamp (inside the neck pocket), and the pot dates. (there is a code on the volume and tone pot) One would generally compare all three and take the most recent date to give you a ballpark estimate of when the bass was assembled. As necks, bodies, and pots are all made or ordered at different times and in the case of CBS there could have been things sitting around for years before getting slapped together. It's hard to tell. If you don't remember the original numbers on the headstock, and have no pics of the original neck heel. Then you're missing one piece to the puzzle and that will hurt the accuracy of the date. However, as this is no longer a complete bass and it's a late 70's P it's value isn't really much in the grand scheme of things. Best bet? Check the stamp in the neck pocket, and the pot codes. That'll narrow it down a bit for you. If the pots or pups haven't been replaced that is.

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:02 pm
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Here are a few more pics I took with my camera phone - Sorry they are co crappy... I took them in my car as I didn't want to bring my bass into work, and also, it's raining out so I couldn't do it outside.

Hope some of these help with more opinions.

The neck seems to be bowed just slightly but a turn on the rod and that will be fine. I'll say one thing, for the neck being the way it is, this thing RARELY bows like it appears in the image and it NEVER goes out of tune unless you bump the tuner knob.

I'll check the pots and things like that this weekend for any stamps, dates etc.

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:03 pm
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Oh and there are clearly 4 panels of wood that make up the body.

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:49 pm
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Yeah, the 4 panels isn't a deal breaker by any stretch. CBS really scraped rock bottom.

The neck doesn't look overly twisted. Though it does seem to have a little bit of one. Nothing that should account for the issue you have with that G string, though. (twisted is different then bowed) A bowed neck can be fixed with a truss adjustment. Twisting cannot.

Honestly, that gap doesn't look all that bad to me in the neck pocket. I've seen basses with worse gaps that played and sounded just fine.

Can we get a pick of the bridge and nut? Maybe it's a bad nut? Like the G string slot was cut too far near the edge of the fretboard?

Honestly, the gap shouldn't matter. The neck doesn't look bad to me. Or at least not unplayable. My last guess would be the nut in terms of fixing the string issue.

The date will definitely require the above listed info, and it still won't be completely accurate as we have no idea bout the neck.

If it ends up being just the nut in terms of playability then it is DEFINITELY worth fixing, imo.

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Post subject: Re: Determining the year of My P-Bass?
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:28 pm
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So does BrotherDave have a like a bat signal or a "mating call" that will summon him to get on here? Sounds like he is the all knowing chief of the fender Precision bass Tribe. haha

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