Fender Body Pieces

[bbl]

This is that '73 P that's been up for a while. The one with the tuner crack:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1973-FENDER-PRECISI ... 2eb4a7769a

Question: When making 3-piece bodies, did Fender often use different sized pieces, like they did on this P?

[bbl]

I hope I'm explaining this well. See how the two outer pieces aren't aligned symetrically? Is that typical Fender 70's?

[gravesbass]

That looks like 4 pieces to me.. Am I seen an extra? Yea, Fender was sloppy on some but this one is ugly..... I wish I still had my 74 Jazz and 78 P. they put this one to shame for the wood grain. The seams should be straight, not at an angle.... Stoner Cut!

[tomdbass]

This bass may have also been a solid color at one point and someone stripped it down to the sealer coat. On basses that were destined to be finished in a solid color, Fender was'nt too concerned about the look of the natural wood. From what I understand, basses that passed a "grain test" at the factory were kept natural wood and just clear coated. Basses and guitars that did'nt, were sprayed a solid color.

[bbl]

Thanks, guys. I asked because after sanding down my "'74 Fender" P body, I found it was a 3-piece, but each piece is a different size. Fortunately, it's got one big piece that covers the entire bridge and above (a beautiful piece, btw). Then it's got 2 pieces below that - one of them is just a small "cap" on the bottom - the seam of this piece runs through the control cavity.

Everything reeks of Fender on this body - horrible neck pocket, heavy as hell - and now this does, too.

I should have taken another pic - just sent it to P. Wilkins.

P.S. That one above DOES look like 4!