AMPEG Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) Hi all, Right, I am now doubting the authenticity of my Fender P bass which I bought in the 90's.The neck is numbered S898513 on the front of the headstock (just under the word Fender) It says made in USA. Now the body...it has a small sticker in the pocket with the same number. In the pot bay there is a sticker with a different number 11.11.80. Also there are two strange routs.... just below the pocket is a circular rout about he size of a 2 pence peace...... Its central and about an inch and a half below where the truss rod part of the neck will rest. Also there is a rout of about 3 inches stretching from the pot bay towards the lower horn of the body. Thankfully the scratchplate cover both. It is obviously trying to appear as a 1978 Fullerton bass but I think its a Frankenbass. Anybody got any suggestions.[attachment=148744:jake pic no2.JPG] Edited November 19, 2013 by AMPEG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Some pictures will help. There are fellow BCers with basses of that era, I owned one from new at that time. Help is available, whether the news is good or bad is another matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 [quote name='AMPEG' timestamp='1384808966' post='2281048'] Hi all, Right, I am now doubting the authenticity of my Fender P bass which I bought in the 90's.The neck is numbered S898018 on the front of the headstock (just under the word Fender) It says made in USA. Now the body...it has a small sticker in the pocket with the same number. In the pot bay there is a sticker with a different number 11.11.80. Also there are two strange routs.... just below the pocket is a circular rout about he size of a 2 pence peace...... Its central and about an inch and a half below where the truss rod part of the neck will rest. Also there is a rout of about 3 inches stretching from the pot bay towards the lower horn of the body. Thankfully the scratchplate cover both. It is obviously trying to appear as a 1978 Fullerton bass but I think its a Frankenbass. Anybody got any suggestions. [/quote] That sounds like it's got everything I'd expect a late 70's P Bass to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Serial number is correct for 1977-1978. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1384810624' post='2281078'] Serial number is correct for 1977-1978. [/quote] Bit of a weird period for serial numbers in the late 70's - S8 numbers were still showing up on instruments in 1982. Incidentally, this has just prompted me to add a picture to the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/128339-70s-fender-precision-timeline"]timeline[/url] I did a while back. I'll get round to adding more at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Sounds about right so far - pics would be good, including bridge and neck-plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPEG Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 The pots are deffo Jap...but someone told be the circular rout is only done on MIJ, CIJ AND MIM and not on USA models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 (edited) [quote name='AMPEG' timestamp='1384866001' post='2281549'] The pots are deffo Jap...but someone told be the circular rout is only done on MIJ, CIJ AND MIM and not on USA models [/quote] No, they were definately routed like that in the late 70's. There's a recent thread covering this topic about here somewhere. Edited November 19, 2013 by Musky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibody Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Looks legit to me. Pots could have been replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 (edited) Is the 11.18.80 on the neck pocket sticker a date per chance? 18th November 1980 ?? Possible as S serials ran a fair way into the 80s didn't they and S89* is quite a late S serial So I suspect it is 80/81 build to 78 spec.... Is there a date written on the heel of the neck? Edited November 19, 2013 by Twigman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPEG Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 Hi Twigman...see your point but S prefix indicates 70's...that said the modular nature of Fender production may have resulted in a 78 manufactured neck being assembled and sold in 1980? But the 80's date would relate to the electrics only? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 [quote name='AMPEG' timestamp='1384890446' post='2281986'] Hi Twigman...see your point but S prefix indicates 70's...that said the modular nature of Fender production may have resulted in a 78 manufactured neck being assembled and sold in 1980? But the 80's date would relate to the electrics only? [/quote] That's exactly what happened with Fender serial numbers and S8 serials turn up on instruments as late as 1982, so serial numbers alone are a poor way of dating a Fender. Their use of serial numbers wasn't exactly sequential either, which is why Fender specify '78 or '79 for their S8 numbers. The routing, serial, colour, and inspection sticker on the neck are all consistent with a bass made around 1980. Has the neck got a number stamped on the heel? That should tie in with this sort of period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Easy way of checking the body authenticity, does it weigh 15lbs like both of my 78's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.