1959 Precision Bass(es) conundrum

[shufflebass123]

I incorporated that into my comment. The gentleman technically has a '59, but in terms of style and functionality, it's a '58. That may seem like a minute distinction. But different years of instruments have different caches and prices. That may or may not be the case here.

Interesting because the conventional wisdom is that they discontinued maple in 1958 and did not resume having maple fingerboards until the 70's. And I've personally never seen one beyond '58. Yes, a gentleman posted a '59 with maple, but what I meant by that is one that is stylistically a '59, with the shape, finish, and pickguard of a '59. Thanks for the info. This is a fun conversation.

 

[bassdude51]

Maybe the bodies from that era aren't dated, but the pots are. Granted, pots could've been replaced with pots from the same era. But that is unlikely.

Pot codes can help to date an old Fender bass. Keeping in mind the time that may have passed from when the pot was stamped at manufacture to when it laid in a pile at the Fender factory and was finally wired up.

Back in 1966, Fender bought a horde amount of '66 pots and used them pretty much up through the remainder of the 1960s. Thus there are '68 and '69 basses with 1966 pots.

There is no way of knowing about the #2 1959 P Bass. Perhaps, there was a warranty replacement neck installed at the factory. Who knows?

Oh, if only these old Fender Bass could talk! The stories they could tell!

 

[shufflebass123]

Pot codes can help to date an old Fender bass. Keeping in mind the time that may have passed from when the pot was stamped at manufacture to when it laid in a pile at the Fender factory and was finally wired up.

Back in 1966, Fender bought a horde amount of '66 pots and used them pretty much up through the remainder of the 1960s. Thus there are '68 and '69 basses with 1966 pots.

There is no way of knowing about the #2 1959 P Bass. Perhaps, there was a warranty replacement neck installed at the factory. Who knows?

Oh, if only these old Fender Bass could talk! The stories they could tell!

Good info. My '65 Jazz L Series, in contrast, is dated July whereas the neck is dated April, of '65. So instead of the bass having been made a few months before I was born, it was likely made the same month I was born. Pretty cool.

 

[chris_b]

If I was buying a 59 Fender Precision I'd make sure all the parts were original.

 

[shufflebass123]

If I was buying a 59 Fender Precision I'd make sure all the parts were original.

Not only that but, I'd make sure that I'm legally protected in case there is an issue with any of the parts, especially the neck. As I mentioned earlier, I came close to having an issue with my '65. You might not think, when you're checking it out, to see if the truss rod is all the way out or has some play left. And luthiers in my experience tend to see things in the neck that I miss. You might have an all original bass that you paid $15K for. But it might still be junk if the neck is bad.