Hellzero

The Vigier Arpège Delta Metal is a pretty rare bird too.

BassLab basses are super duper rare too, thankfully I own one.

Remember that without any pressure on the top, the soundpost will have a tendency to fall, so you would need an access (hole) or the skill to put the post in place like the classical luthiers. Unless you use this adjustable soundpost (start at 2:20 to avoid the presentation): https://www.anima-nova.de/english-1/the-soul/

As some original are too. Look my previous posts above.

And here notched on both sides, same supplier again:

This is not a reissue, but an original model from Andy Baxter's website. And here is another's oddity, notched on the treble side, but not on the bass side, again an original from the same supplier:

Not so sure, as some notched (let's call them that way) tuners don't have this feature on both sides and they have cohabited with absolutely non notched ones. Check this photo I have already uploaded before: no notch on the treble side...

Indeed @wateroftyne, and it's absolutely not documented in any book about the subject and I own a lot, including the amazing trilogy named Our Vintage Soul or the fully documented The Authority of Fender Bass, in those books the instruments have been fully dismantled... 😉

It was a drill (what I called cutting) press that was used to make this plates back then at the Kluson factory. And it's more than probable that Leo seized the opportunity to buy these "defective" machine heads lot at a fair price as what he used for his instruments has always been the cheapest possible.

Look at these 3 rear headstocks and the discrepancy between the tuners linked to defective cutting presses. Some even have that step on the lower side, when some don't, and some are a mix of these features. And one have 3 tuners with this feature, but not the 4. That said, it's very interesting! Thanks again @wateroftyne, really!

Check by yourself, there are plenty examples and I even had great difficulties finding one with four stepped tuners in line.

Check Reverb, Andy Baxter and the likes, and you'll be amazed, so it's not a real feature of that period as it's not constant.

It happened to me a few times many years ago even with pilot holes and grease, but the Gotoh screws are renowned for that issue. Since then I always sense the heat on the screws after each turn and go very slowly with a screwdriver (no electric device here), sometimes stopping and waiting for the metal to get cold (simply screw another one, no pun intended).

And you were, some people simply don't seize (subtle) humour.

Thanks @wateroftyne, we can see that step going through the whole tuner thickness here more clearly on a 1960 Precision Bass: As I said earlier, Leo's philosophy was to use all the remaining parts, so it's not that uncommon to see such a thing. That said, even if it's linked to the early 60's, you will find loads of P's and J's with only 1 or 2 miscrafted tuners from that period and rarely with the 4 tuners. Kluson must have owned one defaulted cutting press back then, but not all of them. Anyway thanks for having enlightened me (us?). 😊

You mean, the kind of notch @wateroftyne ? It looks like rust to me and I've gone back in my books, but can't see that "notch" as a standard early 60's feature.

The "A" tuner is the same as the others @wateroftyne, or please enlighten me.

The case is not period correct, it's a 1966 model at the oldest as, from 1958 to 1965, there were no logos on cases: no big deal, that said. 😉 I knew you had the original strap buttons, @JazzyJ. 😊 Good to know you also have the ashtrays. 👍🏻👌🏻 That said, I can't see any mismatching with the screws as they were nickel, they rust and age all very differently.

The decal is correct: it's the first thing I look at, @GuyR.

Very clever, indeed.👌🏻👍🏻

@JazzyJ as your bass is an L series model, you could ask these people to make you a more accurate neck plate bearing an L84239, for example, which would be an August 1965 serial number. Don't ever buy an "original" pre-CBS Fender neck plate as most of them are fake. https://axetremecreations.com/product/custom-serial-number-stamped-stratocaster-telecaster-bass-neckplate-screws/

So close, but yet so far.

I was born on the 20th... I was talking about the pots codes, not the 5 meaning Precision Bass, while 7 means Jazz Bass. 😉 The pots codes are saying 23rd to 29th of August 1965.

And it's the closest to my birthday Fender bass I've seen: day, month and year. Amazing.

The neck plate serial number is weird, but as it was Leo's philosophy to use everything remaining, it could be right and it's never been a reliable way to date a Fender. The black grounding wires going from the pots to the jack are not original as there were none back in the days. Apart from these points, I can't see any other "flaws". Everything is saying 1965, even the maxed in truss rod nut. A photo with one tuner removed should show some divot cups at the back of the headstock to permit flush mounting of the machine heads.