MELLOW Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) Hi All ! I've got a 76 natural FenderJazz bass, and a friend of mine told me it could't be an original natural because of the two router marks on the back. For him, those marks are present on Solid bodies colors but never on naturals. He also told me that there's always somewhere on the body (neck pocket, under pickguard...) a stamp named NATURAL. But i don't see the stamp in most of natural Fender basses i can find... mine don't have it. But, i can see everywhere on the web naturals Fenders with those two router marks, and sold as 100 % originals basses (or guitars). Some have not, but some have it. Got it : https://reverb.com/item/49554131-fender-jazz-bass-1976-natural https://reverb.com/item/50492246-fender-jazz-bass-body-c-1975-natural-original-vintage-usa-cbs-j https://reverb.com/item/39632249-fender-jazz-bass-1975-natural https://reverb.com/item/51533779-fender-jazz-bass-1972-73 https://reverb.com/item/44529355-fender-jazz-bass-1975 Don't got it : https://www.gbase.com/gear/fender-jazz-bass-1976-natural Anyone have some informations about this ? Best regards Edited May 20, 2022 by MELLOW Quote
Reggaebass Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 Aren’t they pin router holes from when they made the body 1 Quote
OliverBlackman Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 I think you’ve answered your own question. The bodies were sprayed while hung by the neck pocket I believe so no difference if natural finish or colour. I’ve never seen a “natural” stamp. Holes are probably for routing or carving stage as reggae suggests 2 Quote
T-Bay Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 I have a 79 Strat in natural and it doesn’t have marks like that. 1 Quote
mybass Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 I’m not so sure these are router ‘marks’. I thought I could see in close up, the wood grain of the neck slot mark. A router head is much wider than these marks. Quote
MELLOW Posted May 20, 2022 Author Posted May 20, 2022 Well, maybe.. but they are exactly same positions than others.. 1 Quote
MELLOW Posted May 20, 2022 Author Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) They only thing i'm sure isn't original is the wiring of the PU's. And i can't check the PU's SN because of the foams stamps (?) who are glued under them and i don't really want to remove them... But i'm almost sure that it was an natural born bass. Edited May 20, 2022 by MELLOW Quote
Reggaebass Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 19 minutes ago, mybass said: I’m not so sure these are router ‘marks’. I thought I could see in close up, the wood grain of the neck slot mark. A router head is much wider than these marks. I think it’s probably where they pinned a router template on to rout the body shape/ contouring Quote
MELLOW Posted May 20, 2022 Author Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) So it should be on all models ? Edited May 20, 2022 by MELLOW Quote
Reggaebass Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 6 minutes ago, MELLOW said: So it should be on all models ? Not 100% sure but before a certain year I’d say yes, here’s a 72 with the pin holes 2 Quote
neepheid Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 G&L were still churning out necks with filled holes until around 2016/17 - here's a wee thread about them with some background - they get referred to as "birthmarks" http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4288 Looks like the same sort of thing on the OP's bass. 1 Quote
OliverBlackman Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 3 hours ago, MELLOW said: So it should be on all models ? Looks that way but it’d be hidden on those with a paint finish. There are also plenty of natural finishes that have been stripped 2 Quote
NancyJohnson Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) I find this mark fascinating...you can't unsee it now. I just spent the last 15 minutes looking at 70s Jazz Basses on Reverb; it's even visible on some of the more lighter-coloured sunbursts. Edited May 20, 2022 by NancyJohnson 3 Quote
NancyJohnson Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 They're on late 60s Precisions, too: 1968 1966: 1964 1959!! 1 Quote
MELLOW Posted May 20, 2022 Author Posted May 20, 2022 Ok for solid colors. On you own opinion, for the naturals is it the same ? Quote
Belka Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) I may be wrong but I reckon your bass must have come from the factory in natural. There is absolutely no trace of any paint at all on the body which suggests it was never a solid colour that was stripped. You can see in the neck pocket where the stick it was mounted on was positioned as it doesn't have any of the poly coating on. I'd say your friend is wrong. Also, it's quite a nice looking piece of ash. I think they kept those for the natural finishes as used the 3/4 piece bodies with obvious join lines for the solid colours. Edited May 20, 2022 by Belka 4 Quote
MELLOW Posted May 20, 2022 Author Posted May 20, 2022 You're right, no trace of paint or varnish on neck pocket or everywhere else. Quote
Doctor J Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) Yep, my 77 had it too, which had a factory clear finish. Edited May 20, 2022 by Doctor J 1 Quote
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 Surely if it was originally a solid colour it would have been alder? Quote
T-Bay Posted May 20, 2022 Posted May 20, 2022 13 hours ago, MELLOW said: Marks on Strat are in another place. They are well hidden then as I looked very closely and buggered if I can find any. Quote
Belka Posted May 21, 2022 Posted May 21, 2022 8 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Surely if it was originally a solid colour it would have been alder? I think by the mid '70s pretty much all the basses were ash - not sure I've ever seen an alder 'S' series bass, although they may well exist. Quote
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