1968 FENDER JAZZ BASS
For photos, click on the links below:
During the year Fender changed their headstock decal to the larger "C" logo, which was applied under the finish for the first time. This new logo included four individual patent numbers and for the first time a small ® mark. However, some basses still had the previous transition logo, which included five individual patent numbers applied on top of the finish. Fender also introduced plastic coated electrical wiring and began phasing out cloth wiring. Fender introduced a non threaded bridge with a singular string slot on each saddle and began phasing out the threaded saddle bridge.
Other 1968 Jazz bass characteristics: Fender name imprinted non-reverse clover (or occasionally oval) tuners with no ® mark and no rivet, strapholder on headstock back, rosewood fretboard, white plastic binding on neck, pearloid block fret markers, medium jumbo fret wire, neck butt date etc. ink stamps, fifth hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, F Series neck plate, neck pocket paint stick etc., tortoise shell/white/black/white vinyl pickguard or white/black/white vinyl pickguard on custom colors thumb rest under G string, grey bobbin pickups (often hand dated), ground shields under pickups, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, heptagonal shaped knobs, Stackpole or CTS potentiometers (often with overstocked 1966 codes), ground shield under pots assembly, orange striped "chicklet" or light blue drop tone capacitor, ground wire route underneath bridge, black Tolex case with silver plastic logo, literature.
Serial numbers ranged from roughly 213000 to 252000 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.