1964 FENDER JAZZ BASS
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In mid 1964 the "Offset Contour Body" portion of the Jazz decal moved away from the rest of the logo and toward the headstock end, replacing the one piece logo. The decals were applied on top of the finish. There were either four or five individual patent numbers included on 1964 logo decals. In late 1964 headstock backs had eight shallow divets routed in the wood, hidden underneath the tuning machines to accommodate the tuner protrusions. During the year the pickup bobbins began to change from black to grey (sometimes hand dated). By late 1964 Fender introduced pearloid dot fret markers (on both fretboard front and side). Earlier year basses still had clay dot fret markers. In late 1964 the vinyl pickguard replaced the nitrocellulose pickguard, available in tortoise shell/white/black/white or white/black/white on custom colors. The black Tolex case with no logo and orange interior was also introduced in 1964. The white Tolex case with orange interior was also still used.
Other 1964 Jazz bass characteristics: Kluson no-name riveted clover reverse tuners, strapholder on headstock back, curved rosewood fretboard, neck butt date etc. ink stamps, fifth hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, L Series neckplate, neck pocket paint stick etc., body nail holes (for paint drying), thumb rest under G string, ground shields under pickups, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, occasionally a pickup cavity date, small panhead shaped fastening screws on bridge/pickup covers and pots assembly plate, heptagonal shaped knobs, CTS or Stackpole potentiometers, Switchcraft input jack, ground shield under pots assembly, round orange or yellow tone capacitor, cloth wiring, ground wire route underneath bridge, threaded bridge saddles, hang tag.
Serial numbers ranged from roughly L20000 to L55000, although there are many overlapping exceptions. For more precise dating, cross reference the serial number with the instrument's neck butt date, pickup date and potentiometer codes.