The Last Bass Outpost

Yep, MOP inlays are correct for a '74 maple neck J. MOP/white binding replaced black blocks/binding on maple neck J's some time in mid '73. So that conforms with your serial number.

The headstock decal is the pre-76 "TV logo".

You can also check the neck stamp. This is from the reliable Vintage Guitar Info website:

1972 to 1980 Neck Stamps Explained.
This information was provided by Greg Gagliano. The 1972-1980 eight digit code is similar to the previous 1969-1971 system. Example, Music Master (s/n 595121) with code 49002153. The first 6 digits are paired off and the last two digits are taken singly. So that gives us 49 00 215 3 where:

49 = model code (Musicmaster, Mustang, Bronco)
00 = neck code (rosewood fingerboard)
21 = week code (week 21)
5 = year code (1975)
3 = day of the week code (Wednesday)

Model Codes Used from 1972 to 1980.
Model codes (first pair of digits):
01 = Precision Bass
02 = Jazz Bass
04 = Mustang Bass
08 = Telecaster Deluxe
09 = Stratocaster
13 = Telecaster, Telecaster Custom, Telecaster Thinline
49 = Musicmaster, Mustang, Bronco
Neck Codes Used from 1972 to 1980.
Neck codes (second pair of digits):

00 = rosewood fingerboard
01 = rosewood fingerboard
03 = fretted maple neck OR skunk stripe neck with rosewood board
10 = fretless maple neck

Now try and decode a Precision Bass (s/n 647149) with code 01031051. You should get:
01 = Precision Bass
03 = fretted maple neck
10 = Week 10
5 = 1975
1 = Monday
Here's a Telecaster (s/n S725092) with rosewood fingerboard and code 1303167?.

13 = Telecaster
03 = rosewood fingerboard on skunk stripe neck
16 = Week 16
7 = 1977
? = day unknown as digit was illegible

BTW, all J's are A-necks. P's you can find in all 3 widths.

I've had a few people ask me that before. The only thing I can work out is that people are so used to hearing about Geddy Lee's bass that the pearloid block ones  have been less noticed.  I have seen/played a couple of other early 70's Jazz basses with pearl blocks and the guy I bought this one off back in 1979 was the original owner. I'm still in contact with him and  he said he bought it here in Australia new in 1973.

Over the years I have contacted Fender asking questions and the most common response has been that in that era a lot of the parts (Necks/Back Plates, etc) were kept in drums or bins and sometimes the dates on different parts where quite different.

The serial number should give you a definite answer. What kind of headstock logo does it have? The TV type ot block font? Also, if Fender were using old parts, then a late black block neck in the pearl block era is possible, but not vice versa, because the black blocks predated the pearl inlays in maple neck J's. But as we all know, with Fender, never say never!

I'm a Gibson guy so I don't know if it is a A, B,C neck

Measure the nut width: A = 1 1/2", B = 1 5/8", C = 1 3/4". No C necks in the 70's so this is either the standard (for a P) B neck or the more rare A width.

Nice bass but shouldn't a '72 have black blocks?

"The seller ended this listing early because of an error in the listing."

The system of the bridge of my '64 Burns seems to work the same as the bridge pictures above. One proble. If you are putting on and tuning new strings, the 'saddles' ofcourse move sideways over the screw thread, and the string spacing changes:) In the end I have four strings with three different spacings between them   Very irritating. I have to roll the saddles a bit to the side and hope they don't move to much by the sliding string.

Not a problem with the ol' Gretsch... First of all I never change strings  and even if I did, 44 years of corrosion ensure that it takes more than just changing strings to move those ring saddles sideways.

$7,777 BIN!

Roger Glover's Ric tone on Pictures of Home.

Since we're posting youtube links... this one was posted on the FDP today (solos at 1:30 and 2:36):