1965 FENDER JAZZ BASS
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CBS bought Fender on January 3 1965 but didn't start their own production until late year. 1965 necks featured pearloid dot fret markers (on both fretboard front and side). Sometime between mid and late 1965 CBS introduced the F Series neckplate. This plate featured the large backward F logo which generally indicated it was a CBS manufactured instrument. Basses completed before then still used the L Series neckplate. Headstock backs added eight shallow divets routed in the wood, to accommodate the tuner protrusions. These divets were hidden underneath the tuning machines. Early in the year the white tolex case changed to black Tolex with no logo. Sometime after October a white plastic neck binding was introduced. Plastic body guards manufactured by Parker were available to prevent buckle rash.
During 1965 fastening screws for the chrome bridge/pickup covers and the pots assembly plate changed from small panhead shaped to countersunk into the metal. These countersunk screws were now identical to the pickguard screws.
Other 1965 Jazz bass characteristics: two piece logo including five individual patent numbers applied on top of the finish, 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, neck pocket paint stick etc., tortoise shell/white/black/white vinyl pickguard or white/black/white vinyl pickguard on custom colors, body nail holes (for paint drying), thumb rest under G string, grey bobbin pickups (sometimes hand dated), ground shields under pickups, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, heptagonal shaped knobs, CTS or Stackpole potentiometers, ground shield under pots assembly, round orange or yellow tone capacitor, cloth wiring, ground wire route underneath bridge, threaded bridge saddles, input jack, hang tag.
Serial numbers ranged from roughly L55000 to L99999 and 100000 to 110000, 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.