sambecker1 Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 Hi folks, I have been offered this bass and I am wondering if it is an authentic 1962 Fender P? I have attached pictures. It all seems period correct (apart from wrong label and refinished hardware, added pickup and all that jazz) but I'm not an expert on these things. Been modded like crazy but I don't mind. Serial is 74510. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Best wishes, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 The burst doesn't look very 1962, also it would be very rare for a nitro finish to withstand 60 years of gigging without any wear! Also, thru body stringing on a 60s bass? I can't make out if there's a hole at the back of the headstock for a strap button - or if it's just the wood grain. A 62 should have this button Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 (edited) Refinish body and neck (including decal) Through-body mod Replacement hardware Replacement pickguard Added Jazz pickup I suppose really, if the body and neck woods are genuinely '62, depends how important that is to you....and how expensive it is. There's not a lot of the original 'vibe' left in my opinion. Si Edited April 28, 2021 by Sibob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 1 minute ago, acidbass said: I can't make out if there's a hole at the back of the headstock for a strap button - or if it's just the wood grain. A 62 should have this button Looks to have been filled to me. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 Really the only things that would mark this as a genuine 62 are the neck plate and clay dots. How else would you tell with the amount of work that has been done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambecker1 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 4 minutes ago, Sibob said: Refinish body and neck (including decal) Through-body mod Replacement hardware Replacement pickguard Added Jazz pickup I suppose really, if the body and neck woods are genuinely '62, depends how important that is to you....and how expensive it is. There's not a lot of the original 'vibe' left in my opinion. Si Yeah it's definitely been modified beyond the original in a very big way! I'm mainly interested if anyone thinks the body and neck are original! Thank you for all the replies so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 3 minutes ago, sambecker1 said: Yeah it's definitely been modified beyond the original in a very big way! I'm mainly interested if anyone thinks the body and neck are original! Thank you for all the replies so far! It’s a slab fingerboard with clay dots and I’ve seen markings like that before. I would be surprised if the body is original so then I’d be questioning if the neck is a replacement too. It’s easy to attach an original neckplate and tuners to another bass. if it sounds/ plays good then that’d be the best way to judge its value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 Sacrebleu, why would anyone do this to a 62 P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambecker1 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Here's a picture of the pots too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 I will only say two words : RUN AWAY ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 (edited) I might not run away. Just walk quickly away. Just the way the bridge is strung tells you everything you need to know about this instrument. Edited April 28, 2021 by Lfalex v1.1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 It may have been a legit 62 at some point. if it’s a realistic price... might be a decent player grade. but I’d want a sympathetic neck/headstock refinish done as that decal is pure toilet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 Irrespective of what it actually is, whoever thought that bridge/through body thing was a good idea needs a slap 🤠 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 34 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: Irrespective of what it actually is, whoever thought that bridge/through body thing was a good idea needs a slap 🤠 I do it on all of my basses? What’s wrong with you?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 The strings going over the back of the bridge and into holes behind the bridge doesn't look very well thought out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambecker1 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Just now, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: The strings going over the back of the bridge and into holes behind the bridge doesn't look very well thought out. I'm with you there!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Hi @sambecker1 Just wondering whether you went for this bass? As others have said - that body could be a refin. And that adaptation to make it a body-through string arrangement is all wrong. I'd have thought the break-angle at the saddles may cause problems. Also, as you tune + re-tune, it would put stress on the strings - they're at a 90 degree angle.... on a sharp (ish) edge, rather than a curved, grooved slot. Having said all of that - if the neck was genuine, and the bass felt good and sounded good, and critically - if the price was right.... it could be worth going for But again, that would depend on it being priced as a '62 neck on a replacement body. The bridge is easy enough to sort, and the holes in the body could be filled. As others have also said - a better replacement decal would be something I'd want to sort out. Finding out whether it's a genuine neck is another matter.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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