LeftyBassist.com

Can someone who knows Fenders please give me a read on this one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1977- ... Sw7FRWYYI8

According to the serial number on the headstock, it's a 78 not a 77. Strung righty so it'll need a new nut cut for it-you can't just "turn the nut around" as the seller mentioned. No pics or mention of the electronics being original or if they've been changed (a pic of the pots with appropriate date/code stamped on the pot would tell you the year of the bass a bit better)
No pics of the truss rod to see if it's maxed out or not. Pretty much all of the pics show cosmetic stuff. I would like to see more pics of the electronics and the heel of the neck. From what I see in the listing, it's a cool looking bass but I don't buy basses as artwork so I'd want to know more about its playing condition.

tomdbass wrote:According to the serial number on the headstock, it's a 78 not a 77. Strung righty so it'll need a new nut cut for it-you can't just "turn the nut around" as the seller mentioned. No pics or mention of the electronics being original or if they've been changed (a pic of the pots with appropriate date/code stamped on the pot would tell you the year of the bass a bit better)
No pics of the truss rod to see if it's maxed out or not. Pretty much all of the pics show cosmetic stuff. I would like to see more pics of the electronics and the heel of the neck. From what I see in the listing, it's a cool looking bass but I don't buy basses as artwork so I'd want to know more about its playing condition.

Fantastic, thanks Tom. Will ask for more pics of electronics and the truss rod/ neck heel!

I don't like that action....you can drive a truck through it.

And WHAT is with the fingerboard??? There are these odd spots right at the end---where it meets the heel. As if the fingerboard wood has chipped off----I have never seen that before and wonder how that happened. The edge of the fingerboard has the SAME damage that seems to run the length of the neck.

Of course this IS cosmetic. But that high action makes me wonder if there's a big problem lurking somewhere............













Do Not Drink From The Toilet When Taking Lyrica

Here are the pics I got from the owner... what say you?

And one more:

[quote="belinmad"]Here are the pics I got from the owner... what say you?
The one pot has an 80's something date. The truss rod is flush with the heal and clean. That's a good sign. The paint masking in the neck pocket doesn't look like a factory job , but the serial number sticker looks like it's on top of the red paint so it might not be a refinish.

crescenze wrote:The one pot has an 80's something date. The truss rod is flush with the heal and clean. That's a good sign. The paint masking in the neck pocket doesn't look like a factory job. Might be a refinish.

Thanks!! So if the serial number corresponds to a '78 but the pots are '80s, where they changed, or is this common?

belinmad wrote:

crescenze wrote:The one pot has an 80's something date. The truss rod is flush with the heal and clean. That's a good sign. The paint masking in the neck pocket doesn't look like a factory job. Might be a refinish.

Thanks!! So if the serial number corresponds to a '78 but the pots are '80s, where they changed, or is this common?

It's very common. It's pretty much anywhere from a 78 to an 80. Fender did this almost on a daily basis in that time period. From what it looks like, everything seems to check out. It's definitely not a 77. I'd put it at around an 80. Esp with that finish. I've never seen that color on any 70's bass. See if he's willing to negotiate on price a bit. Good find man! Hope you get it.

tomdbass wrote: It's very common. It's pretty much anywhere from a 78 to an 80. Fender did this almost on a daily basis in that time period. From what it looks like, everything seems to check out. It's definitely not a 77. I'd put it at around an 80. Esp with that finish. I've never seen that color on any 70's bass. See if he's willing to negotiate on price a bit. Good find man! Hope you get it.

Cool - awesome, thanks for the info! I've made the guy an offer, let's see what happens.

crescenze wrote:

belinmad wrote:Here are the pics I got from the owner... what say you?
The one pot has an 80's something date. The truss rod is flush with the heal and clean. That's a good sign. The paint masking in the neck pocket doesn't look like a factory job , but the serial number sticker looks like it's on top of the red paint so it might not be a refinish.

Probably an early 80's with parts in the factory. Thats a trans red finish (forgot the actual finish name.. morocco?) Fender did do some J's and P's that color in the 70's. I had a P bass in my hands this color before. The neck is just played and sweated on. That's a good thing.

Good luck with your offer. It needs a setup bad

Deja Vu!!

http://www.leftybassist.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6520

belinmad, did you end up buying the bass? I just bought it's brother/cousin last month! Mine has a 78 neck and 80 pots (so it's a 1980). I had a lot of work done on the edge of the neck and a good set up and so far I love it! It's funny that we've uncovered two in this color in just a few weeks - it's a relatively rare color (when compared to natural, black, sunburst) from this period.

If you got it - enjoy!