Two tone sb and strange position for serial number on a 76 P bass

[BLYN]

Hi

I am concidering buying this 76 Precision, but finds a couple of detail thats make me think if it is original.
Current owner has owned it for 25 years and dont know much about it, other than it plays nice.

* Serial number is positioned in another place on the neck plate than the other old Fender basses I have owned.
* The color seems to be two tone sunburst.

Have anybody seen this before on a ´76 ?

Thank you in advance for information about this.

Regards Brian

 

[soulman969]

The SN# jives with a '76 but two things seem odd to me. 1) the shape of the headstock seems a bit off, and 2) two tone sunburst would be a little odd on a '76. It could be an original but you may want to check with Fender as to whether that finish was available in '76. I don't recall seeing any two tone finishes like that after the '50s or early '60s at least not as a stock finish.

Guitar Info

Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - CBS Era), USA
in 1976
Production Number: 699606

 

[ajkula66]

+ 1 on headstock being "off" when it comes to shape, and the finish being unusual (at the very least) for a mid-70s instrument.

 

[mongo2]

I'd pass.

 

[Energy]

As René Magritte would say: "Ceci n'est pas un Fender".

 

[FenderOli]

Headstock looks good (imho).
Sunburst either the red is faded or a refin.
Neckplate (position of the serialnumber) looks also okay for that era:

 

[BLYN]

Thanks for the info about the neckplate, FenderOli
I was not able to find information about it

 

[BLYN]

Any comments to the two tone sunburst?
Most late seventies P basses have three tone sunburst.
Was two tone a special order or got some P´s just paintet that way?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Dave W]

If it's original I'd guess it's a refin.

Posting more pics showing the front of the body and the back of the headstock would really help in knowing if it's real or not.

 

[FranF]

That burst is not something from the 60s or 70's. Looks reissue '57-ish, or aftermarket.