Before you know it they'll invent a pickup for an upright bass.
 
Technology. MEH!!!

The pole was put on there back in the early Sixties. :-)
 
Personally, I like the eye hook... it's perfect for hooking your sax strap to.

Fender messed up on that Relic job. Pearl dots and transition logo - not on a 61. More like post 65. Still, I bet it plays sweet :)

Awesome... It looks a heck of a lot like the bass that Gary Thain from Uriah Heep used to play. (Without the pole, of course)

ampfixer
Fender messed up on that Relic job. Pearl dots and transition logo - not on a 61. More like post 65. Still, I bet it plays sweet :)

Hi John,
 They sure looked like clay dots to me. The best I can figure out is that Fender went to Pearl Dots in 1964 and Pearl Blocks in 1966. I'll look more closely the next time I can.
 
 I'll also look at the fretboard. I get the impression that it was slab style through mid 1962.
 
 I hadn't thought to second guess the headstock decal... so you got me thinking. 
 
 I found these vintage reproduction decals:
 
1961-1964

 
1962

 
1965-1967

 
None of them seem to have the exact Patent Number layout that this bass has. I'm going to get a better look the next time it's here.
 
This instrument is owned by the son of the original purchaser. I know that sometimes details get forgotten or mixed up, but I think they are probably pretty close in their estimation.
 
 Maybe I'll ask if I can pull the control plate and peak at some date codes. It would be more for my curiosity than the owners. For him it is just his "player" that is imbued with the all the hard work his Dad put in to playing through the 1960s.
 
 It sure does seem to play sweet.
 
 Thanks for the heads up!
 
 best regards,
mike
 
 

I'm sorry Mike. I felt like an idiot after I posted that. I'm thinking of guitars and really don't have the right to comment on a bass guitar. You are likely correct, and I should just be quiet. I hate acting like a wanker.

Not at all John,
 I hadn't looked at any of my old guitar ID books in a long time... you spurred me to return to an old hobby for a few minutes.
 
 Plus, now I know where to get genuine fake vintage Fender decals for sticking on Squiers. :-)
 
 all the best,
mike
 
 
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