karlfer Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Gone Edited March 3, 2015 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I'm no expert, but it looks ok to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) If it's fake the attention to detail is good; getting the F on the neck plate and the tuners. Also, having the serial number on the headstock. I'm convinced, but I'm no expert though. Edit: E310864, according to the Fender site, would indicate 1983-85 http://www2.fender.com/en-GB/support/articles/u-s-instruments-product-dating/ Edited February 23, 2015 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) I'm no expert either, but I've seen a lot of Fender headstocks and it looks kosher to me. If it isn't, someone's gone to a lot of trouble. Maybe the fact that the D string isn't properly seated under the string tree is making it look a bit odd. Edited February 23, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1424696332' post='2699191'] Something about that headstock doesn't seem right? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111604259549?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url] [/quote]I'm no expert either, but I'm always suspicious of head end truss rod adjustment access - unless it's Mex or a Special, but that's not definite. What worries me though is the access hole does look small or the wooden plug seems 'thick sided', has a lot of meat around the hole, IYSWIM? Crucial test - what size allen key fits?[i][b] If it's USA Fender it'll be 3/16" [/b][/i]not 4, 4.5 or 5 mm Edit: My mistake the manual says 1/8" allen key for the bi-flex truss rod, that explains why the hole looks small Edited February 23, 2015 by KiOgon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 The Guitar dater says the serial is USA 82/85 and Japanese 84/87? There's a bit about that here - http://basschat.co.uk/topic/175949-help-valuation-on-an-old-mij-p-bass/ so that sort of explains that but identical serials I'm not too sure about. The neckplate looks ok - http://support.fender.com/manuals/instruments/Standard_Precision_and_Jazz_Basses_%281983%29_manual.pdf The manual also shows truss rod adjustment at the head. I thought at first the shape of the head under the 'Precision" looked a bit weird but this looks very very similar - http://www.vintagecustomguitars.com/Vintage-1983-Fender-Precision-Bass-Loaded-American-Made-P-Bass-Neck--for-sale_1125.html It's only got 3 screw bridge and I'm not sure if those tuners were used then though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Bad eyes but it looks like only 3 bridge holes on this one too - http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=71882 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Only vey slight oddity is the black Fender logo, other 83's generally seem to have a silver with black outline. Otherwise looks good to me. There's an '83 P for sale on BC for comparison here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254005-fender-1983-us-standard-precision-bass/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254005-fender-1983-us-standard-precision-bass/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Well now I'm not so sure about the logo. Did Fender use the black decal at this time? I have a slight suspicion that the early 1983 logo was silver rather than black? Got me going now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) [quote name='ikay' timestamp='1424702833' post='2699332'] Only very slight oddity is the black Fender logo, other 83's generally seem to have a silver with black outline. [/quote] Great minds, eh..? Now that you've picked it up too, I'd say the decal is wrong, and with KiOgon's comment about the truss rod access, the bass is slightly... 'unusual'. IMHO, anyway. Not saying is not genuine, it may be one of Fender's many transitional models or something, but as we're only going by pics... And if it belongs to a BassChatter I'd like to get my apology in now, and say: 'Give us the lowdown!' Edited February 23, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424702946' post='2699336'] Well now I'm not so sure about the logo. Did Fender use the black decal at this time? I have a slight suspicion that the early 1983 logo was silver rather than black? Got me going now! [/quote] Black decal E series 83 P here - [url="http://classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/1983fenderpsiennaburst.htm"]http://classicandcoo...siennaburst.htm[/url] Black decal, same tuners, 3 screw bridge and trussrod access at the head... Edited February 23, 2015 by itsmedunc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 The bass looks genuine to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 [quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1424703809' post='2699353'] Black decal E series 83 P here - [url="http://classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/1983fenderpsiennaburst.htm"]http://classicandcoo...siennaburst.htm[/url] Black decal, same tuners, 3 screw bridge and trussrod access at the head... [/quote] Well there you go, thanks... if Mark's got one up as the real thing then that's good enough for me. Every day's a school day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thanks guys, can always rely on you lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) There's one from 83 for sale on basschat. Same logo and truss rod hole at headstock [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254005-fender-1983-us-standard-precision-bass/"]http://basschat.co.u...precision-bass/[/url] Edited February 23, 2015 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424702946' post='2699336'] Well now I'm not so sure about the logo. Did Fender use the black decal at this time? I have a slight suspicion that the early 1983 logo was silver rather than black? Got me going now! [/quote] Up until 83 apparently, so there could be a crossover as is entirely possible/probable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1424724380' post='2699744'] Up until 83 apparently, so there could be a crossover as is entirely possible/probable. [/quote] I'm sure you're right Lozz. As I'm now sure the bass is genuine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Looks fine to me, think the string T had two offset groves in, so it does sit like that, 3 screw bridge is correct. They did have very soft neck edges and dented quite easily on the edges of maple necks in this period, think they forgot to pressure roll the edges. They were also a bit weak sounding on pickups for some reason compared to the earlier basses , think they were trying to get a more modern brighter tone at that period. The flat plane on the neck where it meets body was a characteristic they messed with as well. The necks were also a very tight fit compared to newer Fenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Here's the headstock from the 83 Precision that I used to own. Also, precisions and jazzes from 82 - 85 had three screw bridges. I have to say that my 84 precision has its original pups and they sound anything but weak. I also don't understand the comments about soft neck edges. The 82 - 85 USA Standard precisions and jazzes are excellent instruments. They were being built during the renaissance at Fender when good quality was being restored to the Fullerton factory. The standard basses were being built alongside the reissues by the same people with the same attention to quality and detail. Give me an 82 - 85 Fender over a late 70s job any day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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