LeftyBassist.com

Wow hard to believe this is almost 40 years old, bass looks new.



For the full listing check out:
https://reverb.com/item/895886-fender-precision-bass-sunburst-left-handed-1978-s117

Mine is about the same age and also looks like it's about a month old. That's a pretty one for sure.

I also seen they have a Black one in the same very good condition, I can only assume they are from the same person that did not play them much.

http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/fender-precision-bass-black-left-handed-1978-s177

Wow! And it's a pretty burst too, with the colours fading into eachother nicely, rather than the fugly "targetbursts" you often see from that era and earlier.

10-1/2lbs. Yep, that's a late 70's P bass alright. Beautiful looking and I bet it sounds great though. (I always liked the look of a black pick guard over a SB finish). I forget, were the SBs northern ash as well? The strong grain show through looks like ash to me.

That one is definitely ash. It has a similar grain to my beat up 78 Jazz.

Looks more like a tobacco burst to me. Great shape.

Did they discontinue the ashtray covers in '78? There are no hole around the bridge and on close-up, looks like there were never any installed.

The lack of bridge cover holes is an interesting point. It's my understanding that the S8 serial numbers were used for a number of years after 78 so this bass could be a good bit newer. I don't know off hand when they stopped the covers. The pickguards continued to have the holes for the cover after they stopped using them. Neck pocket, neck heel, and pot dates would help to pin point the actual manufactured date.

I'm betting it's an early 80s model.

Good catch, Bill. I have seen ashtrays on early 80's basses with S8 serial numbers. Ignore the number. Fender recycled the decals up to 81-82. Maybe a refine and filler. That throws up a red flag.

My '78 most definitely has the holes for the bridge and pickup covers; and the thumbrest, too. Plus, at 11.1 lbs., I don't think the body's alder, either.

I had a S8 P Bass which was a 1980, and it had bridge cover holes.

Honestly i doubt the sunburst one is an early 80s, cuz she comes with its original tolex case, and AFAIK Fender switched to Plastic cases somewhere around 1979 (my 1980 had the plastic case).

I swear that I remember reading somewhere that ashtray/pickup-bridge cover holes were not always drilled by default... especially toward the end of the 70's and/or if the bass was special order.

For the life of me, I can't find where I read it, though... so maybe I'm imagining things.

Also... that body could very well be alder. This body is alder...



I'd have to see it close up, but I think it might be alder... alder can get heavy too. There's no rules about weight and wood density in nature.

I just happened to be in Chicago today on my way to pick up a band - that I'm driving/tour managing for - in Madison, WI. I couldn't resist stopping off to see these in person. Played them both and they are both outta site to my hands and ears. The burst one is definitely in slightly better shape, but only slightly. They've reduced the prices to $2095 and $1995. To me, that seems like a reasonable price from an actual bricks and mortar establishment that has return policies etc.

They are both in unbelievable condition for their age. No bad words for the burst really. The only issues I saw with the black one were a VERY slightly scratchy tone pot and a couple of frets that needed a dressing. (But not used up by any stretch. And, the pickguard on the blackie was a lifting very slightly on the top edge near the pots. Maybe an ill fitting replacement guard? The necks on both were a dream.

I'm not nearly the Fender nerd that some of you guys are - and I mean that in a very respectful way - so take my review with a grain of salt. I don't have the patience to research serial numbers etc. so I'll leave that to you guys. I'm more concerned with how the basses play than how much I can sell them to a museum for in thirty years. Ha. And seriously, they both sounded great.

Any clue what the neck profiles are on either bass. Pretty hard to tell from the pics. Man, that SB does look sweet!

I'd say a pretty standard C. They felt almost exactly like my Fender Hotrod in terms of thickness and shape. The nut width is 1 5/8". (As opposed to the 1 11/16" on newer P's.) The real noticeable thing - to me - was the smaller 7.25" fretboard radius. I love that. And the maple board...... WANT.

In the Black one's description it says it has a replaced tone pot and the volume pot is dated 81. Also notice the pick guard doesn't have the holes for the pickup cover. It is probably an 81 not a 78 which would account for it's very nice condition.

If the bass weighs 10.5lbs. I think there's a 99% chance it's northern ash and not alder. I've owned several Fender basses from that era, Ps, Js, Teles, etc. and the alder ones were consistent with typical P and J weights of prior years (9-9-1/2lbs) while all of the northern ash basses were at least 10+lbs. I had a '77 ash J that was close to 12lbs!

I am trying very hard to ignore this thread. That maple neck P has been screaming "buy me" since this post originally went up. UGH UGH UGH...