Wierd Fender P bass

[Tait]

I found [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bass_W0QQitemZ290163210966QQihZ019QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this[/url] on ebay, but what is it? It says its a 1982 Japanese Precision Bass, but it doesn't look like any Precision I've ever seen.

[Musky]

That's a contemporary series MIJ precision, though I'd guess the scratchplate and thumb rest have been added later - I've never seen anything like that before. In fact, the b/w/b plate definately suggests a later addition - I can only recall some guitars in the contemporary series having a scratchplate, and they were all solid black, thick affairs.

Good quality basses, most likely with a basswood body. Worth a punt if he doesn't have a silly reserve.

Edited September 24, 2007 by Musky

[john_the_bass]

If it's an E serial it's not 1982 either. 84-87 I do believe

[OldGit]

Spotted this one - the same but without the scratch plate
Ebay Item number: 130153094322
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-PRECISION-BASS-LYTE-EARLY-MODEL-NR_W0QQitemZ130153094322QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Odd Precision .. not a "lyte" as billed[/url]

[SJA]

interesting, I remember a pic of Bob Daisley with a rear-routed P-bass like that.

presumably from the same lineage as the Jazz Special.

[Musky]

[quote name='OldGit' post='65571' date='Sep 25 2007, 10:04 PM']Spotted this one - the same but without the scratch plate
Ebay Item number: 130153094322
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-PRECISION-BASS-LYTE-EARLY-MODEL-NR_W0QQitemZ130153094322QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Odd Precision .. not a "lyte" as billed[/url][/quote]

£262! I can only think that people have been taken in by the 'rare early model' description, as it seems a little excessive.

[Tait]

its nice in black, isn't it?

whats the contemporary range, by the way? I've never heard of it.

[Musky]

[url="http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/domesticjv.htm"]http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/domesticjv.htm[/url]

Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Most of the Contemporary Series had an E serial number, and are easily spotted by the painted headstock (and usually a painted neck). Although they rolled off the same production line as the Squiers, they weren't competing directly with existing US Fenders and so came with a Fender badge.

I'll have to take back what I said about them coming with single ply black guards, as clearly there were plenty with white and 3 ply guards as well. I've not seen any about in this country though, or all those colours.