'74 Jazz

[bigevilrobot]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1974-Fender ... 2038wt_907

Pretty nice looking, wish I had the scratch lying around to chase after this one.

[pjmuck]

There's something strange about this. I have never personally seen a 3 bolt Jazz neck plate with a serial number that low in the 300000's on a J. In fact, that serial number is lower than one on my '72 4 bolt Js! (373965). The serial number is also inconsistent with most Fender dating sources, including The Fender Bass Book, which indicates that by '74 the serial numbers were well into the 500000s. Yet, lo and behold, right on the very same source page of that book, (104), they show a picture of a 3 bolt with the serial number, "351591". The 3 bolt neck was first introduced on the Tele bass in '72, however, so my guess is the photo in the book shows a Tele neck plate. I can only assume that there were Tele 3 bolt plates produced in '72 older in the serial number order than my 4 bolt J plate, but were perhaps kept around for marrying to the '74 (and on) Js later. So, this bass may very well be a '74 J with a '72/73 Tele plate on it, but there doesn't seem to be any other date indicators on the bass (other than the pots, which do appear to be '74).

[FOM]

My 74 P has a higher serial number on the neck bolt plate (4 bolts) and the tug bar on the lower side of the bass by the G string. Anyone have a 74 P or J with the tug bar on the upper side of the bass over the E string?

[AzWhoFan]

I'm also finding it slightly suspicious that there is no stamp on the end of the neck. Not even a hint of an old rubbed-off stamp, except for that "G" on the top right.

However, if it is a forgery, it's a darn good looking one for a blocks and binding neck.

[LHBASSIST]

There's something strange about this. I have never personally seen a 3 bolt Jazz neck plate with a serial number that low in the 300000's on a J. In fact, that serial number is lower than one on my '72 4 bolt Js! (373965). The serial number is also inconsistent with most Fender dating sources, including The Fender Bass Book, which indicates that by '74 the serial numbers were well into the 500000s. Yet, lo and behold, right on the very same source page of that book, (104), they show a picture of a 3 bolt with the serial number, "351591". The 3 bolt neck was first introduced on the Tele bass in '72, however, so my guess is the photo in the book shows a Tele neck plate. I can only assume that there were Tele 3 bolt plates produced in '72 older in the serial number order than my 4 bolt J plate, but were perhaps kept around for marrying to the '74 (and on) Js later. So, this bass may very well be a '74 J with a '72/73 Tele plate on it, but there doesn't seem to be any other date indicators on the bass (other than the pots, which do appear to be '74).

Here's something even more confusing. I had a brand new, 1973 Fender Precision. serial # 373711, and a used, 1971 Jazz bass, # 342750 . This is indeed strange. Sure looks like a Fender plate and stamp to me, I've been repairing these basses since 1968.

I've seen quite a few Fender basses with nothing, that's right, nothing stamped or written on the heel. This bass looks completely authentic to me. I think if someone were going to make a counterfeit bass- they would be best off to shoot for a pre-CBS custom color jazz bass with a matching headstock, not a less valuable 3 bolt 70's.

[PunkRockBassist]

I think if someone were going to make a counterfeit bass- they would be best off to shoot for a pre-CBS custom color jazz bass with a matching headstock, not a less valuable 3 bolt 70's.

True

[danomite64]

So, this bass may very well be a '74 J with a '72/73 Tele plate on it, but there doesn't seem to be any other date indicators on the bass (other than the pots, which do appear to be '74).

There were no Tele neck plates. There was a bin full of 3 bolt neck plates, and they were randomly used. That's why you're seeing a "72" serial number on a '74 bass.

[bigevilrobot]

I've seen a few without a date stamp, and the name stamp is consistent with the time (for that matter I've seen "Webright" on a couple).
My guess is that it may have been a custom order, or that parts have been replaced with close enough matching parts over the years.

[AzWhoFan]

So, this bass may very well be a '74 J with a '72/73 Tele plate on it, but there doesn't seem to be any other date indicators on the bass (other than the pots, which do appear to be '74).

There were no Tele neck plates. There was a bin full of 3 bolt neck plates, and they were randomly used. That's why you're seeing a "72" serial number on a '74 bass.

To me, that sounds about exactly how Fender would be doing things in the early 70's.

[slybass3000]

Ok...........!!!

I went for it. Got it for $2500.

According to Fender bass book on page 64 it seems all legit.

I' ll let you know guys when I'll get it next week....hopefully how well it plays and sounds. I'm really excited about it I should admit

Cheers,

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Yeah! It looked awesome, I hope you'll get a great bass!

[slybass3000]

Yeah! It looked awesome, I hope you'll get a great bass!

Me too

[slybass3000]

I received the bass yesterday !!!

Out of the case after tuning up, it sounded good already and it was fun to play acoustically. The bass is in pretty good shape except for the control plate that is a bit twisted but nothing to worry about.

I took the bass apart, and cleaned the body and the neck in depth. A lot of smoke stains was on the body but not as much on the neck....Hummmm Did they have the same life???? I don't know, may be not. But it does work well like that. I checked with my 76's neck and the neck on the 74 seems to be a B neck while my 76 is a A neck,narrower and slimmer. I'm not an expert on that field about what neck's profiles were used during specific era, so I would like to know from you guys that ows JB from the 70's what you have, or if you have infos or tips to look for,

Thanks,

Sly