Fender bass nail holes

[Hornisse]

On back of my refinished natural Fender P bass body are 2 filled nail holes.  One is just above the neck plate towards the upper horn while the other is at the end of the body right under where the bridge would be.  Does anyone know how long they used this method for constructing the bodies?  I know it was pretty much done by the mid to late 1970's.  The bass has a 365000 range number.  Thanks for any info.

[Freuds_Cat]

My 74 Jazz has them. Dont know much more about them.

[birdie]

W/out pics, I will assume they were there to support the body while spraying/finishing?

[Hornisse]

They did use them for finishing purposes and you can see the rear one clearly in this photo.  The other one is above the neck plate just above the white speck.  I was just curious as to how long they used this system.  Looks like at least through '74.

[hollowbody]

I've always wondered about this as well.  Actually, I never noticed the one at the butt of the body.  My Precision has it and it's in the 590000's (1974/5?)

[Pilgrim]

This is news to me.  I am familiar with the nail holes in the front which were hidden by the PG.  I was not aware that Fender ever used nails on the back side of bodies.

[Aussie Mark]

My '66 P had a nail hole a couple of inches below the neck plate, you can see it clearly in this pic ...

[Bionic-Joe]

I believe those are pin router marks.

[dadagoboi]

I believe those are pin router marks.

Yep, for use with a template for a router or shaper.  Leo was still using them on G&L's at least as late as '82, my L-1000 has them on both the body and neck.  The ones on the front of the body may have been used for the belly cut template.  Back ones are used for pup and control cavity and neck pocket.  Overall body shape could be either side, I'm sure the info is available.

Here's Leo discussing it with George Fullerton

"I don't know, George.  What do you think of those newfangled CNC machines"

[Freuds_Cat]

Our guit4ri5t plays 2 pre Ernie Ball G&L's both have the nail holes. Not sure what year they were made though.

[dadagoboi]

Our guit4ri5t plays 2 pre Ernie Ball G&L's both have the nail holes. Not sure what year they were made though.

Ernie Ball bought Music Man, then  George & Leo started G&L.  G&L continues to carry on the Leo legacy, that picture is actually from their site.  I've got a Pre Ernie '77 Stingray but it's sunburst and I've never noticed if it has holes or not.

[Freuds_Cat]

Yup, my bad, I was reading all about the history of such just yesterday but with only 4 hours sleep after a late rehearsal I got things a little muddled this morning.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Yep, for use with a template for a router or shaper.  Leo was still using them on G&L's at least as late as '82,

My L2500 had one on its original neck from 1997.

[dadagoboi]

Yup, my bad, I was reading all about the history of such just yesterday but with only 4 hours sleep after a late rehearsal I got things a little muddled this morning.

Wait till you get to be my age, muddled will be a constant state of mind.

[Pilgrim]

Wait till you get to be my age, muddled will be a constant state of mind.

I wuz gonna comment but then fergot what I wuz gonna say.

Look!  SQUIRREL!.........