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Post subject: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:47 am
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Hi, has anyone seen anything like this before? I bought this bass in 1976 and it had this bird-shaped mark on it which looks like a burn or scorch mark. But it's UNDER the poly clear coat.

It's been bugging me for years. Anyone know what it is or how it got there? I'm thinking maybe it's part of the painting process or something. Any ideas?

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:11 am
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Looks like someone at Fender gave you the bird 39 years ago. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:18 am
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linnin wrote:
Looks like someone at Fender gave you the bird 39 years ago. :lol:

It's actually much more recently than that in fact, but least said the better. ;)


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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:38 am
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Okay, how about this for a wild, windy, Sunday morning guess.

To me, they look like burns, two major and a couple lesser. Based on the strap button, they look to be about the size of a cigarette.

If this bass was previously owned, or came from an unscrupulous vendor, it could be it was set down on a lit cigarette. It moved/rolled a little, creating the second major burn, as well as the minor burns, before it was picked up.

Noticing the discolored finish, clear coat burned completely through and rough around the edges, the owner lightly sanded it and gave it a new topper - then sold it to you.

I find it hard to believe the bass would have left Fender that way, but it would be equally amazing if my guess was right.

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:53 am
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Whatever the mark is, you have something that if it ever was lost and recovered could be identified by that marking.

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:01 am
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affprod wrote:
I find it hard to believe the bass would have left Fender that way, but it would be equally amazing if my guess was right.

Interesting guess, but I bought this bass brand new and the mark is under the clear poly coat. The store guy said it was 'so you can tell it's a real Fender' and as I was 16 at the time I believed him - in fact I always thought every Fender I saw subsequently must be a fake as it didn't have 'the mark'! :roll:
luckman67 wrote:
Whatever the mark is, you have something that if it ever was lost and recovered could be identified by that marking.

That is very true, and had already occurred to me. It's certainly unique! :)


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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:05 am
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How about some pictures of the rest of this bass :) .

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 10:07 am
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luckman67 wrote:
How about some pictures of the rest of this bass :) .

Anything to oblige...

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 1:05 pm
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Lovely! Great Photos!

Roll up a great big spliff and have at it!

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:40 pm
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The fact that the merchant lied to you about the (apparent) burn marks takes me right out of this conversation. Without the bass in hand I would not feel qualified to make any other comments. It is a shame that folks like that are around, but they are.

You have had the bass for many years, so you must like its sound, so I hope you continue to enjoy it. If you are looking to sell it, I doubt you are going to find an acceptable explanation for those marks.

Keep on thumping.

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 3:09 am
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affprod wrote:
The fact that the merchant lied to you about the (apparent) burn marks takes me right out of this conversation. Without the bass in hand I would not feel qualified to make any other comments. It is a shame that folks like that are around, but they are.

You have had the bass for many years, so you must like its sound, so I hope you continue to enjoy it. If you are looking to sell it, I doubt you are going to find an acceptable explanation for those marks.

Keep on thumping.


It was a long time ago. I doubt the mark would put off a committed buyer as it's very light for a 70s bass and sounds amazing. But it's not for sale anyway, I'm enjoying the thumping too much... ;)


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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 7:47 am
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I think it did come out of the Fender factory like that. It looks like the hot tip of some tool ( soldering iron, drill that has heated up from going thru hard wood...) made the mark. The person at Fender who would know the exact tool would NEVER tell you though. Ninety-nine out of a hundred Fenders with a flaw like that don't make it out the door, but you got number one hundred. In some areas (collectible glass i.e.) factory flaws are sought out by collectors. I think the burn marks are cool!!! Of course on the front of the bass would be a bit of a bummer. It would be interesting to know where the Fender dealer you bought it from was located and was it a high volume dealer. I have a feeling that a really profitable dealer would have returned this bass as non-conforming merchandise, but a little guy had to take what he could get from Fender. Or Fender knocked $50 off the price.
I often wonder why the rinky-dink music shop where I bought my Fender Performer had that bass in the first place. It was Perpich TV and Music in Virginia, MN a town of about 10,000 people with a depressed economy and way too many music stores. I have a feeling that there was not a lot of demand for the Performer and Fender kinda foisted it on the little guy dealers who couldn't stand up to Fender. I was sixteen when I bought my Fender just like you and I'm sure the Fender dealers loved it when kids came in with pockets full of summer job (or daddy's) money.


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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:15 am
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Brandreaus wrote:
I think it did come out of the Fender factory like that. It looks like the hot tip of some tool ( soldering iron, drill that has heated up from going thru hard wood...) made the mark. The person at Fender who would know the exact tool would NEVER tell you though. Ninety-nine out of a hundred Fenders with a flaw like that don't make it out the door, but you got number one hundred. In some areas (collectible glass i.e.) factory flaws are sought out by collectors. I think the burn marks are cool!!! Of course on the front of the bass would be a bit of a bummer. It would be interesting to know where the Fender dealer you bought it from was located and was it a high volume dealer. I have a feeling that a really profitable dealer would have returned this bass as non-conforming merchandise, but a little guy had to take what he could get from Fender. Or Fender knocked $50 off the price.
I often wonder why the rinky-dink music shop where I bought my Fender Performer had that bass in the first place. It was Perpich TV and Music in Virginia, MN a town of about 10,000 people with a depressed economy and way too many music stores. I have a feeling that there was not a lot of demand for the Performer and Fender kinda foisted it on the little guy dealers who couldn't stand up to Fender. I was sixteen when I bought my Fender just like you and I'm sure the Fender dealers loved it when kids came in with pockets full of summer job (or daddy's) money.


I think you're right, it looks like a tool burn. The fact it's exactly on the mid-line of the bass is probably a red herring. I think it's cool, too! It certainly makes the bass unique. I sent an enquiry to FMIC and got this reply from Brett Leasure of Consumer Relations:

'In all honesty, I have no idea what this is or how it got there. I had some experienced people also look at this and they were equally as confused as it is definitely NOT something that should have come out of the factory that way nor does it indicate that it's a real Fender.'

So it would seem you're also right about FMIC not telling me. :)

I bought the bass new from a shop whose name I forget in Montpellier, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK in 1976. I think it cost around £280 ($428). As I remember, it was not a high-volume dealer.


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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:12 am
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That is one mighty fine looking bass, burn marks and all!

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Post subject: Re: Strange Mark on 76 P Bass
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 6:54 am
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AHA!! You purchased it new in the U.K. Brotherdave has mentioned in this forum that Fender does not provide a factory warranty for instruments for export.
Think about it, this instrument makes it to the end of the production line, plays great, looks great except for a tool/burn mark. If Fender USA sells it with warranty there's a good chance it comes back. Fender has to do a warranty re-finish and Fender loses $$$ on the transaction.
Instead, Fender exports the bass to Limeyland and pockets some poundage. It probably happened more than once and that's why your English Fender dealer said 'that's how you know it's a real Fender'. He probably saw plenty of perfectly playable Fenders with cosmetic flaws cuz once that guitar leaves these shores Fender doesn't have to fix it gratis.
Then again, when did that Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? Maybe one of their spirits put a 'Freebird' tattoo on your bass...


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