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Post subject: Do You Know this Fender Bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:49 pm
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I have a Fender Bass and for the longest time don't know the most basic thing about it - such as model name and why it's built this way, etc. This thing has some kind of weird hybrid pickups (see link for pics) and I have no freakin clue what I have or how much it's worth (if anything).

On the headstock it says, "Fender Precision Bass" and back of the head says, "Made in Mexico" along with the SN.

I have included a link with Pics. As you can probably, I'm not really a bassist; but I have it and finally I decided to seek answers.

Cheers.

http://www.unclelam.com/Pic/Guitar/FenderPBass/FenderPBass.html


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Post subject: Re: Do You Know this Fender Bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:03 pm
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beb0p wrote:
I have a Fender Bass and for the longest time don't know the most basic thing about it - such as model name and why it's built this way, etc. This thing has some kind of weird hybrid pickups (see link for pics) and I have no freakin clue what I have or how much it's worth (if anything).

On the headstock it says, "Fender Precision Bass" and back of the head says, "Made in Mexico" along with the SN.

I have included a link with Pics. As you can probably, I'm not really a bassist; but I have it and finally I decided to seek answers.

Cheers.

http://www.unclelam.com/Pic/Guitar/FenderPBass/FenderPBass.html


Hi Beb0p, That is a Fender Precision Bass Special made in the mid 90's in Mexico. It has a the fairly common P/J pickup arrangement with Kubicki stacked knobs. Most of these are active with a battery in them. The top portion of the knobs on your example are NOT stock.

They are often referred to now as a "Cowpoke." I don't know who gave them the nickname long after the model was discontinued, but it stuck. This is the forerunner of today's P-Bass Special. At some point the decals were changed to "Precision Bass Special." I had one with the "Special" decal which was a 95 model and it was my second MIM Fender. I wish I had it back. I'm just guessing your serial starts MN4. Meaning 94. There is a really nice all original sunburst one on eBay right now. Just search ebay for Fender Cowpoke and you'll find it if you search before auction's end which is about 14 hours from now. These don't come up for sale as frequently as you might think. People who have them generally like them so they keep them. They are a perfectly viable bass and unique looking.

As for what it is worth, watch that auction and see. Also check completed Cowpoke auctions on eBay. I'd think anything under $350 would be a bargain right now. They are pretty neat. The headstock shape is the same small profile shape used on the Zone Bass made during this same period.


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Post subject: Re: Do You Know this Fender Bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:55 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
The headstock shape is the same small profile shape used on the Zone Bass made during this same period.


The Zone Bass didn't came into surface until 2003, headstock shape was the same used on certain US Deluxe Pluses from the early-to-mid 1990s.


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Post subject: Re: Do You Know this Fender Bass?
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:39 am
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chromeface wrote:
brotherdave wrote:
The headstock shape is the same small profile shape used on the Zone Bass made during this same period.


The Zone Bass didn't came into surface until 2003, headstock shape was the same used on certain US Deluxe Pluses from the early-to-mid 1990s.


BUT OF COURSE! MY ERROR! I BOW TO YOUR SUPERIOR AND INFALLIBLE KNOWLEDGE.


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Post subject: Re: Do You Know this Fender Bass?
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:22 pm
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Thanks so much, brotherdave. Wow, this sounds like a better bass than I originally thought. I intend to keep it but just curious about it. I bought it for a buddy years ago but he joined the army shortly after and we never got our "amazin" band going and I kept it all these years.

You mentioned that there is a battery.... Hmmm, there is no sound when I plug in the bass; I thought maybe the jack is busted but maybe I just need to change the battery? Will investigate when I get home tonite. I assume the battery is in the back where the electronics are?

Rock on!


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Post subject: Re: Do You Know this Fender Bass?
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 1:04 pm
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Remove the plastic cover on the controls on the back. It may have a dead 9 volt battery. Hopefully it hasn't leaked.


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