Blonde finish on late 70’s Precisions

[Sibob]

Hi all,

Anyone in the know what whether late 70’s Precision included ‘Blonde’? And if so, whether late looked similar to the 50’s colour? Ie visible grain?

I’ve seen a bass that is advertised as ‘Blonde’, but there’s no visible grain, and so just looks like aged Olympic White.

Cheers

Si

[TheGreek]

Err.....what??? 

[Chiliwailer]

Blond was an option, check out the price lists towards the bottom of this link 

https://guitar-compare.com/catalogs/fender-catalogs

or here:

https://guitar-compare.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/1977-April-1.pdf

I honestly can’t ever recall ever seeing any though that had a grain like the 50’s. Might be worth a Gbase or Google image search. 

Edited March 3, 2021 by Chiliwailer

[drTStingray]

1 hour ago, Sibob said:

Hi all,

Anyone in the know what whether late 70’s Precision included ‘Blonde’? And if so, whether late looked similar to the 50’s colour? Ie visible grain?

I’ve seen a bass that is advertised as ‘Blonde’, but there’s no visible grain, and so just looks like aged Olympic White.

Cheers

Si

I played one at the Bass Gallery a few years back, when I was on a what used to be a periodic trawl around shops to see if I could find a Precision I liked.

This one was, I think, a 76 bass - the grain was clearly visible through the finish though quite subtle and I'm not sure it would have actually shown up on a photo. It was one of the nicest I've played and looked great. Like you, I was a bit sceptical as I'd never seen one from that era before - I guess they were unpopular at that time (70s) against, for instance natural and sunburst. It was on consignment for a named bassist I recognised at the time - can't remember for the life of me which one! I think they are pretty rare in blonde, and as you've guessed I didn't buy it. Played a couple of Wals that day as well there!! 

[Sibob]

Basically it's this one, the seller states that there is no visible woodgrain that they can identify:

 

 

But looking on Google, 70's Blonde finish's do seem to have more grain showing, moreso on the back of the body I suppose:

 

Just curious really, the look is the look, and doesn't change value.

Si

[SurroundedByManatees]

It looks like a heavily discolored Olympic white to me. 

Edited March 4, 2021 by SurroundedByManatees

[franzbassist]

What @SurroundedByManatees said.  👍

[LukeFRC]

3 hours ago, Sibob said:

 

 

If it was an aged olympic white where the yellowed top coat had rubbed off it would seem white.... 

[gareth]

I don’t think that’s see thru

I think it’s a solid white that has discoloured with age 

Fender issued a Mary Kaye version of the American vintage reissue series in the 1980’s which had a see thru ash body and had gold fittings - photos below 

[Doctor J]

Removing the scratchplate will solve this riddle very, very quickly. 

[Reggaebass]

They did a blonde finish on the 70s jazzes and it was special order, so I’m guessing the option was also available on the Precision 

[OliverBlackman]

5 hours ago, Sibob said:

Basically it's this one, the seller states that there is no visible woodgrain that they can identify:

 

 

But looking on Google, 70's Blonde finish's do seem to have more grain showing, moreso on the back of the body I suppose:

 

Just curious really, the look is the look, and doesn't change value.

Si

Is that not wood grain on the back?

EDIT just see they are google images

Edited March 4, 2021 by OliverBlackman

[Sibob]

32 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

Is that not wood grain on the back?

EDIT just see they are google images

Yes, sorry, not overly clear. First two images are of the bass in question, second two images are of a Blonde example from Google.

Cheers
Si

[Sibob]

1 hour ago, Doctor J said:

Removing the scratchplate will solve this riddle very, very quickly. 

Good point, yes much less aging there I imagine.

Cheers

Si

[Chiliwailer]

Looks aged white to me, especially as the colour ageing is inconsistent, where as it’s not on the blond, and the wear is different too in regards to colouration. 

[walshy]

Aye I have had a blonde P bass and its had plenty grain showing through the paint, thats deffo an Oly White finish.

[adamlunt]

On 04/03/2021 at 11:03, Sibob said:

Basically it's this one, the seller states that there is no visible woodgrain that they can identify:

 

 

But looking on Google, 70's Blonde finish's do seem to have more grain showing, moreso on the back of the body I suppose:

 

Just curious really, the look is the look, and doesn't change value.

Si

The one at the top, there, was sold on Facebook marketplace a few weeks ago for around £850. The guy said he just needed to downsize and wasn’t too bothered about the current value.

I have one just like it with a BadassII bridge and old school cream Dimarzio PAF. Plays like a charm, but I’d rather something more traditional, maybe in sunburst/rosewood.

[Reggaebass]

5 minutes ago, adamlunt said:

The one at the top, there, was sold on Facebook marketplace a few weeks ago for around £850. The guy said he just needed to downsize and wasn’t too bothered about the current value.

Was it a genuine 70s P

[adamlunt]

11 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Was it a genuine 70s P

I spoke to the original seller; nice old guy, seemed sincere enough, just more of a guitar player. I’d say it’s real.

The current seller is a shop advertising goods on Reverb, so if it turns out not to be genuine, not only are they charging too much, well... no comment! 😅

[Reggaebass]

Even if it wasn’t all original, £850 is a great price 🙂

[adamlunt]

Just now, Reggaebass said:

Even if it wasn’t all original, £850 is a great price 🙂

I totally agree.

However, the current seller is rather more ambitious. 😅 https://reverb.com/uk/item/39015784-fender-precision-bassusa-1977-blonde-black-guard-maple-neck

[Reggaebass]

2 minutes ago, adamlunt said:

I totally agree.

However, the current seller is rather more ambitious. 😅 https://reverb.com/uk/item/39015784-fender-precision-bassusa-1977-blonde-black-guard-maple-neck

He certainly got a bargain there 

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, adamlunt said:

I totally agree.

However, the current seller is rather more ambitious. 😅 https://reverb.com/uk/item/39015784-fender-precision-bassusa-1977-blonde-black-guard-maple-neck

I bought my BB424 from that seller. It arrived stinking of fag smoke.