FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Gruhns Guide To Vintage Guitar

Question:
I need help from some experts in this group. I ran across what I sort of believe is a 1964 Fender precision bass in a pawn shop. The serial number on the back of the neckplate is L247968. The logo and patent numbers decal appears to be correct. The body and pickups etc. appear to be of that year. My question is this: The precision bass has a one piece all maple neck(maple fingerboard appears to be planed out of the maple neck itself.) It has the skunk stripe on the back of the neck. All literature that I have on it(gruhns guide to vintage guitars) says that a precision bass from 1964 should not have a one piece neck but should have a rosewood fretboard. Can this neck be the original one? Since it is in a pawnshop, I cannot take the neck off and check for penciled in dates

Answer:
Since it is in a pawnshop, I cannot take the neck off and check for penciled in dates. I'd tell them that you insist on checking the neck date or no go. It sounds to me like you have a '57-'59 P-Bass neck on it but I defer to Bill Bolton...Bill you out there?? Lastly and more importantly..why do you want this bass? To play or hang on the wall? You didn't mention how it played at all. I have had plenty of vintage correct/original Fenders that played terrible and many 'Franken-Fenders that played fantastic. I say..play it and buy it if you like it as long as it's a good price. You also didn't say how much the pawn shop was asking for it.