Ever see a Fender P bass maple neck with tan lines?

[toomuchfun]

Here is a 1978 P bass I got from the original owner. It has a noticeable shade difference at the 12th fret and looks like the first few frets are a shade darker than the rest too. I was told it looked this way when it was purchased. The seller is a good friend and I have confidence it wasn't refinished. The bass plays well and sounds great. It spent most of the time in the case.

I've never seen a neck like this but I don't have a lot of experience with these. Has anyone come across a neck like this? Thanks.

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[Dacious]

Yes. Back when Fender started using polyester paint, it reacted with the headstock sticker which went all melty. So they put the sticker on after it dried and shot a flash coat of nitro over the headstock face. My 78 looked exactly the same. That's legit. Twelfth fret, not sure, but maybe a QC slipup, causing them to redo the finish or dots and shoot with nitro to seal. You can see on my 78, looks like past the 21st fret it's been touched up. The headstock I don't have a closeup but you can see in my Avatar it looks like fake tan.

Things were still pretty manual then. The nitro would have been much closer in appearance to the poly when new and both pretty pale. It's just contrasting more due to age.

 

[toomuchfun]

Dacious, thanks so much for the explanation. I've sprayed nitro in a can and it's clear at the time it goes on. Like you said, a touch up that went a little too far. I only gave $500 for it so I think I'll just leave it alone.

 

[dsutton24]

I wonder if it spent some time in a shop window, or maybe on a stand in somebody's living room where the sun got to it at various times?

 

[Dacious]

Dacious, thanks so much for the explanation. I've sprayed nitro in a can and it's clear at the time it goes on. Like you said, a touch up that went a little too far. I only gave $500 for it so I think I'll just leave it alone.

Oh those little details are the sort of thing that collectors look for as they scream authentic. It's like, the stamps with minor bloopers are worth more than the perfect ones.

The guitar that looks too new always smacks of refin and always raises suspicion. I reckon they add to character.

I reckon that looks cool - serious real relic'ing that can't be faked. $500 bargain!

 

[brookdalebill]

I've seen it, too.

 

[toomuchfun]

I wonder if it spent some time in a shop window, or maybe on a stand in somebody's living room where the sun got to it at various times?

I now what you mean, but I've seen it for years and when it wasn't in the case it was in a basement where we play. I think the reply from Dacious is spot on when looking at it in hand. The 12th fret looks odd, but when playing it I hardly notice.

 

[howlin]

You paid $500 for this bass? For real? Have you had it appraised? That could be your "deal of the century" bass right there.

 

[24 track]

Nice bass , i have the matching 78 strat in left handed, the original pick guard is put away for safe keeping and was re-assembled by Dan Erliwine

your pic shows it better but the sunburst on the guitar is dark brown , not black, jusy like the bass , nice score for sure! congrats

 

[songtalk]

You paid $500 for this bass? For real? Have you had it appraised? That could be your "deal of the century" bass right there.

Yeah that thing is probably worth 2-3 grand easy, if stock. I love the nitro tan lines.

 

[toomuchfun]

Thanks for the nice comments and 24 track, that is a fine looking Strat, so is the other one and that nice line of amps.

Howlin and songtalk, the bass is completely stock and I don't think the pick guard was ever removed. I've never had is appraised, I honestly thought the tan lines would be an issue until I posted it.

I've been lucky to assemble a collection of basses over the last 20 years. And I guess I was just at the right place and the right time with some cash. Below is a pic of my collection.

1974 Jazz Bass (replaced pickups) got it for $400
1975 Telecaster Bass (all stock) got it for $400
1978 P Bass form this post (all stock)
1981 Rickenbacker 4003 (all stock) got it for $350

 

[songtalk]

That 78 is by far my favorite of the bunch. A maple neck burst p bass with a black pickguard is about perfect. Just makes you want to rock out.

The straight P Bass was always my favorite bass design.

 

[ac15]

That 78 is by far my favorite of the bunch. A maple neck burst p bass with a black pickguard is about perfect. Just makes you want to rock out.

The straight P Bass was always my favorite bass design.

I have a 73 maple necked burst p-bass, which has a tort guard. I love tort guards, but this thread reminds me of how cool a black pickguard looks on those. I may have to try it!

Definitely didn’t get mine for $500.

 

[soulman969]

Thanks for the nice comments and 24 track, that is a fine looking Strat, so is the other one and that nice line of amps.

Howlin and songtalk, the bass is completely stock and I don't think the pick guard was ever removed. I've never had is appraised, I honestly thought the tan lines would be an issue until I posted it.

I've been lucky to assemble a collection of basses over the last 20 years. And I guess I was just at the right place and the right time with some cash. Below is a pic of my collection.

1974 Jazz Bass (replaced pickups) got it for $400
1975 Telecaster Bass (all stock) got it for $400
1978 P Bass form this post (all stock)
1981 Rickenbacker 4003 (all stock) got it for $350

View attachment 478019

THAT is a very nice bass herd but if you're spending much time looking at tan lines on a PBass you need to get out more. There are far more interesting places to explore tan lines.

 

[toomuchfun]

THAT is a very nice bass herd but if you're spending much time looking at tan lines on a PBass you need to get out more. There are far more interesting places to explore tan lines.

Soulman, at 61 the other tan lines I get close to anymore come with wrinkles (not complaining, I got them too). So far no age spots.