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Post subject: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:05 am
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Hey guys, been snooping here for a while trying to find answers about my old P Bass. I think all is legit except the knobs and pickups. Not sure about the brass bridge either as it looks like 2 additional mounting screws were installed in the front of it.

She plays and sounds great and dont really want to mess with her but....... after reading all of the expert comments on here I thought I would ask what is original and what is not.




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Last edited by Rocksauce on Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:07 am
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a few more


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:10 am
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I thought the bridge was just a beat up old gold bridge. I removed it to fix the ground under it and sanded the bottom and it is a nice shiny brass. I dont know much about these but is that common?


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:03 pm
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Your p'ups are DiMarzios and sound great. The adjustable pole pieces are wonderful. Pickguard is aftermarket as is the aluminium foil shielding, and the orange mylar tone cap. Bridge too, but it looks like a good one. There's no way that your intonation could possibly be correct with that setup. On the whole whoever modified that bass did a good job.

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:43 pm
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I've heard people say you don't or can't intonate a fretless. But that's horse hockey. I had to intonate mine. No doubt about it.


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:27 am
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74P fretless is a great bass. I don't know why, but that maple just seems so easy to play. You've got a keeper there, no doubt. Yes, there are mods, but the wood is what made that a superior intrument - imo.

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:43 am
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I just took it out of the closet after about 10 years of not playing. When I do play it's usually on a Warwick Fortress 1.

I never bothered to intonate it back then but I looked it up per your suggestion and just spent about an hour on it. Raised action a bit and intonated. I sounds even better now of course, thank you. I think the only thing I'll do to it is shine up that bridge or maybe a soft bead blast would look good. Keep it matte looking.

Any idea of the value of something like this with the original case?


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:28 pm
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In general, a mid 70s pbass in excellent original condition w/case would be valued in the neighborhood of $2K. The solid maple fretless actually sells for more than book value, if you can find a buyer. With the mods, yours would be a player class bass. In general, a player class bass will be worth no more than half of book value.

Also, while the neckplate indicates 73/74, the neck appears to be 76.

Perhaps someone else can give you a more specific number.

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:32 pm
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I think the body is sen ash, a Japanese wood they used overseas. It's likely a later 70's or early 80's Harmony.

The pics of the neck don't verify much.


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:35 pm
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I agree, the pics are not much help.

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:53 pm
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I will post more pbotos later. Can one of you gentlemen please verify the neck code from the picture. I may be wrong but I think it says maple fretted but it does not look like a defret job to me.


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 6:19 pm
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I am pretty darn sure I have seen 03 codes on fretless maples. Not sure I remember a rubber stamp with green ink however. Many timed the number is actually printed on the side of the neck heel, not the butts

There are guys on the board with good knowledge of those CBS era pbasses. Hang loose and wait for one of them. I may pull the neck off my 74 if all else fails because I find this one interesting.

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:04 pm
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Do these stamps look correct?




Body Stamp - Image

Neck Stamp - Image

Body w/ thumb rest holes - Image


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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:08 pm
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Not sure what you need to see on the neck but I am curious as well. This is turning out to be 1 helluva Frankenbass. apparently the pot #'s are from the 50"s?

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Post subject: Re: 1974 fretless P Bass?
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:27 am
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I did find another example of a date stamp in green on the heel butt, and I can also see an inspection stamp poking out from under the label. I'm okay with the neck.

The FRR stamp in the neck pocket is a Fullerton inspection stamp - but these have been copied. I can't read the two names in the pocket, just the green Tom stamp. I am not certain about the body, the wood looks different from mine, but I am not a wood guy, so I am going to go with it.

The CTS pot should have two more numbers after the 5, which would make it a 1975, with the last two numbers being the week.

In 1975 the Precision became available with a black PG, but I think it was a three ply, black/white/black. Yours appears to be single ply black.

In 1975 the thumb rest was on the bass side, your shows that.

The changes include pickups, hardware, shielding and pg.

I think you have a 1975 Fretless Precision Bass, with some modifications. The neck plate date can stretch to 75, the neck is made early in 76 so could still be model year 75, and the pots, assuming a 7 digit code, would further put it there.

I would value it, as is, at $1000-$1250.

Now we just have to wait. If I am wrong, a correction from someone will be coming soon. Either way, I have enjoyed digging around.

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