samw Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) i noticed an old fender bass in the window of the local second hand music shop last week. update: bought it regardless of authenticity, think the neck is genuine, body surely isnt, although it has the holes in the right places after i took off the pickguard. paid 460, feels nice, here are some pictures [url="http://img131.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31092_IMG_0602_122_922lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img188.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31097_IMG_0604_122_896lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img155.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31103_IMG_0605_122_880lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img150.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31108_IMG_0606_122_51lo.JPG"][/url] [url="http://img253.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31114_IMG_0607_122_352lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img11.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31116_IMG_0609_122_875lo.JPG"][/url] Edited April 27, 2009 by samw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 If the serial number is S8 it could be later than 1978 - there should be an actual date visible when the neck is removed from the body. I have a 1981 Precision that has a S8 serial. If the pickguard has no holes for a thumbrest it could mean just the pickguard is a replacement rather than the whole body. Seeing how the body is routed with the pickguard off should confirm whether its original or not. If its genuine it would cost more than £450 Any chance of some taking some pics so we have something more to go on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samw Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='469144' date='Apr 21 2009, 11:13 PM']If the serial number is S8 it could be later than 1978 - there should be an actual date visible when the neck is removed from the body. I have a 1981 Precision that has a S8 serial. If the pickguard has no holes for a thumbrest it could mean just the pickguard is a replacement rather than the whole body. Seeing how the body is routed with the pickguard off should confirm whether its original or not. If its genuine it would cost more than £450 Any chance of some taking some pics so we have something more to go on?[/quote] i can get a pic, but i don't think the guy in the shop would be agreeable about taking it apart. he's quite unpleasant and awkward to deal with, too bad he just happens to have things i want occasionally does the 81 have a thumbrest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 If you're sure about the neck being a 78, the pickup is by Seymour Duncan, I reckon it's worth taking a chance at £450 - any other parts that turn out to be genuine would be a bonus. Absence of a thumb rest ain't too significant. If a photo is possible it might help further - then again might not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Your main problem/issue isn't so much which bits are original and/or replaced, it's hoping that not too many people on here know where your 'local' 2nd hand music shop is. You may find that when you go back, that mystery bass has been spirited away by friendly folks helping you out of your dilemma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I'd be suprised if he didn't say £1450. I'm not saying it's worth that, mind... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='469258' date='Apr 22 2009, 08:07 AM']I'd be suprised if he didn't say £1450. I'm not saying it's worth that, mind...[/quote] +1, most shops over-value old Fenders significantly. In my experience, if he's selling for £450 it's probably worth half that, i.e., it's either not what it seems of there's something badly wrong with it ): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Does it have the bridge and pickup covers with it? If they're missing the holes should be evident. Their presence doesn't guarantee that it's a Fender body of course, but their absence would indicate that it isn't the original one. The thumb rests were often removed, but the screws might have been replaced - the holes for the thumbrest were in line with the edge of the pickguard but there would be two about 2" apart. And I would be more surprised if it was £450 than I would if it was £1450. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samw Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 (edited) updated with pictures, body aint in great shape under the pickguard, whats a good filler for the failed bridge drilling attempts? and does anyone know what that ampro plate on the back was put there for> and do those neck base and pocket markings mean anything [url="http://img191.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31124_IMG_0611_122_89lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img169.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31129_IMG_0612_122_1035lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img206.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31131_IMG_0613_122_209lo.JPG"][/url] [url="http://img194.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31132_IMG_0615_122_492lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31134_IMG_0617_122_504lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img147.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31135_IMG_0620_122_1119lo.JPG"][/url] [url="http://img14.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31140_IMG_0621_122_872lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img261.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31145_IMG_0622_122_160lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img192.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31147_IMG_0623_122_789lo.JPG"][/url] Edited April 27, 2009 by samw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samw Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 [url="http://img265.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31152_IMG_0624_122_371lo.JPG"][/url][url="http://img228.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31153_IMG_0625_122_182lo.JPG"][/url] [url="http://img222.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31120_IMG_0610_122_231lo.JPG"][/url] tell me i was ripped if you like, i shall feel no pain i expect no less from the guy in the shop, he tried to jack up the price to £695 since last time i went in, but i got it back down to roughly what he'd said originally (which was 450 though he swore it was at minimum 495, joker) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I'm going to stick my neck out and say I reckon both the neck and body are genuine US Fender parts. The FRR stamp appears on a lot of necks, although I don't remember any with slashes between the characters. 4 digit numbers also appeared on necks around this time as well. I don't recognise the name of the person who inspected the neck either (ends in NTA?) but the names of inspectors are a work in progress for me. I'm assuming the colour is tobacco sunburst (very dark brown rather than black edges). The routing has been hacked away, but around '79 Fender did have the round router locating hole under the bridge. The Ampro cover would have been hiding batteries I'd imagine - a retro fit of actives would explain all the other routing as well. A good buy I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 I know squat about such things, but I also have a gut feeling Sam has done all right here-I'm dying for one of the forum experts to weigh in here and put us out of our misery. I'd also like to see what a decent luthier could do with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Yep, both neck and body are USA original - bridge obviously Schaller, knobs non-original brass and pickup is a replacement - might be USA but looks newish and the original would be expected to have grey formers rather than black. All-in-all a good buy which can only be made better with systematic replacement of genuine parts. Filling in the routing for what I assume is a battery comp. on the back is a tough one however so maybe a return to something active would be preferred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 (edited) This looks like a great buy. I'm also loving the battery mod/cover. I'd leave it if I were you - it has a mojo all of it's own. Edited April 29, 2009 by rjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Nice buy! I'd have a lot of fun sorting that one out... ..or, more specifically, asking other people to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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