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Post subject: More accurate dating for E646860 please
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:50 am
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Hello!

I've recently purchased what I believe to be a Japanese made, 1984 - 1987 P bass. I'm looking for ways to improve the accuracy of the date of manufacture and get some specific details about the bass itself, i.e. woods it's made from, tuners, electronics, pickups etc. It's black with what looks like a rosewood fretboard - black tuners and bridge. Under where it says PRECISION BASS (R) is written - MADE IN JAPAN (all in capitals).

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

Serial Number: E646860


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Post subject: Re: More accurate dating for E646860 please
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:38 am
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Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:44 am
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Probably accurate to state that 99.9 % of bass players know what a rosewood fretboard looks like, check your S/N Number against an online dating forum,Not " E Harmony " i might add....... :|


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Post subject: Re: More accurate dating for E646860 please
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:38 pm
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The serial won't get you any closer than you already are using online resources. You no doubt already checked the serial. I also get the same year span from the serial that you did using the resources I usually consult. There is a chance Fender might could tell you more. Click the SUPPORT tab and click the CONSUMER RELATIONS link bottom left of the page and contact them there with the same information you posted here. I know for USA instruments they have very specific information including specs and sometimes even the dealer it was shipped to, however I don't know if they have any such detailed information on Fender Japan instruments.

You can't really go by pot date codes because there are no date codes on the Asian made pots used in Japan, or if they do have codes I don't know how to decode them. Usually they are marked with the impedance and the letter "A" meaning audio taper and that is all.

There may or may not be date codes or other stampings in the neck pocket of the body, on the neck butt or in a very few cases marked on the bottom of pickups.

The problem with getting to the neck pocket and neck stampings or markings is that you have to take the neck off. Sometimes there are factory inserted shims between the body and neck and getting them back in the exact same spot isn't always possible. I really don't think it is worth it, but if you just can't stand it and want to know if it is marked then take the neck off and have a peek, at your own risk of course. There may or may not be anything there to more closely date it. Often on E series instruments all that is there is a P57 stamping which means Precision Bass, however in some cases there are date marks.

The Fender Japan models are difficult to date precisely because a serial sequence usually spans more than one model year. The E series Made In Japan ones are especially difficult to precisely date. To me the fact it is an E series is enough to know. They are all about the same value as the exact year makes little if any difference.

While Made In Japan marks seem more coveted than Crafted In Japan marks on Fender Japan instruments, it makes very little if any difference on a Fender Japan bass since the same plant, Fuji-Gen, has produced every Fender Japan bass I've ever seen no matter the mark. That is not the case with Spanish electric guitars made for Fender Japan. Initially the Spanish electric guitars were also made at Fuji-Gen and marked MADE IN JAPAN but when production of them was moved to Tokai and Dyna Fender Japan switched the origin mark to CRAFTED IN JAPAN and followed suit eventually on the Fuji-Gen basses also marking them CRAFTED. They resumed the Made In Japan mark for at least a full model year when Fuji-Gen resumed Strat/Tele production a few years later and then Fender Japan went back to a Crafted In Japan mark. However on a bass the MADE versus CRAFTED mark has no significance regarding anything other than the verbiage since Fuji-Gen has made every Fender Japan bass I've ever checked out.

Fender Japan has used a variety of woods. The necks are maple but the body woods have varied with alder, ash and basswood the principal body woods.


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Post subject: Re: More accurate dating for E646860 please
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:20 am
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Thanks brotherdave - what a detailed and very useful answer - much appreciated.

I'll have a word with support as you suggested.

Thanks again for taking the time guys.


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