1974 FENDER JAZZ BASS
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By late year the four bolt F Series neck plate with black plastic gasket began to change to a three bolt F Series with tilt adjust and no gasket. On these early three bolt neck plates we've seen 5 digit serial numbers that start with "0". The bullet shaped truss rod adjustment began to appear on the headstock, both versions truss rod positions can be found on 1974 Jazz basses. The thumb rest was usually located above the E string, but occasionally under the G string. The silver plastic "Fender Made In U.S.A." logo was first introduced on the black Tolex case.
Other 1974 Jazz bass characteristics: Large two piece "C" logo including four individual patent numbers and an ® mark applied under the finish, Fender name imprinted clover tuners with an ® mark and no rivet, rosewood fretboard or one piece maple neck with skunk stripe, white plastic neck binding, pearloid block inlay fret markers, medium jumbo fret wire, neck butt date etc. ink stamps, extra hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, neck pocket paint stick etc., extra body holes in neck pocket for hanging while painting, Black/white/black/white, tortoise shell/white/black/white or white/black/white vinyl pickguards, date ink stamped grey bobbin pickups, ground shields under pickups, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, heptagonal shaped knobs, CTS potentiometers, ground shield under pots assembly, blue drop tone capacitor, plastic wiring, oval ground wire route underneath bridge, single groove bridge saddles (occasionally with longer G string intonation screw).
Serial numbers ranged from roughly 500000 to 607000 although there are many overlapping exceptions. For more precise dating, cross reference the serial number with the instrument's neck butt stamp, pickup stamp and potentiometer codes.