Fender needs dating help

[danbanbass]

Hey guys looking to sell my 70s - 80s Fender Precision, but need help with the date.


The neck stamp number is 0101 2113 and J Torres, Frank V, M Merrera.


The fender stamped neck plate has 386839


and the headstock just has fender precision bass.


i'll upload pictures later this evening.


Thanks

[The Burpster]

Have you not got a serial number?

[Musky]

That serial dates it to about 1973 (I say about because Fender weren't particularly systematic in their serialization).

The neck code makes it a Precision with rosewood fingerboard. The last four numbers give the date - 21= 21st week, 1 = year (1971), 3 = 3rd day (Wednesday). Only Fender didn't apparently start using this system until 1972, which makes yours something of an oddity - not unusual for Fender.

You mights like to look at the codes on the back of the pots and check the numbers against the info given at [url="http://www.provide.net/~cfh/pots.html"]http://www.provide.net/~cfh/pots.html[/url] for a confirmation of the dates.

[danbanbass]

thanks half the code on both pots has solder over them but start with 361.

how can i date the body?

[danbanbass]

here are the pictures:














Hope these pics help, the only things that aren't original is the scratchplate and badass bridge, unfortunetly i don't have the original ones.

Any idea of what sort of price i'd be looking at for the bass?

Thanks again guys.

[danbanbass]

[Musky]

Interesting. The pickguard, pots and wiring aren't original - neither's the bridge, though you probably knew that.

The pickup should either be dated or have a code on it, but it's looks pretty much that this is a '73 bass. A quick check reveals that - surprise surprise - Fender did mess about with neck codes for whatever reason, which would make the neck completed on 21st week of 73 on a Monday.

I can't make out any holes for a bridge cover in those pictures. Under the guard there should be holes for the pickup cover and holes below the strings for a thumb rest.

[danbanbass]

hi musky, had a look there appears to be no stamping on the pickup etc and no extra holes on the body as you describe, what do you reckon its worth as is?
I also found a big metal plate underneath the pickup the same shape as the hole
Thanks
Dan

Edited December 12, 2007 by danbanbass

[Musky]

[quote name='danbanbass' post='103028' date='Dec 12 2007, 12:44 AM']hi musky, had a look there appears to be no stamping on the pickup etc and no extra holes on the body as you describe, what do you reckon its worth as is?
I also found a big metal plate underneath the pickup the same shape as the hole
Thanks
Dan[/quote]

It sounds pretty much as though the body isn't actually fender (not '73 anyway), though there's always the possibility that it's been resprayed covering the holes. I would have expected to see the wood unpainted on the bass side of the neck pocket as well.

The pickup bottoms should look like the ones [url="http://guitarhq.com/fenddiff/gray_bottom_pu.jpg"]here,[/url] though the lack of a stamp doesn't necessarily mean they definitely not original.

As for value, it might well fetch more for the parts. The neck alone might be £3/400 with the hardware (which appears to be original, what I can see of it) included if it's in good nick. The bridge is worth £25 or so. Perhaps £70 for the neck plate. Without knowing what all the other parts are it's impossible to guess, but probably not a great deal.