1961 FENDER PRECISION BASS
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By late 1961 the number of patents on the spaghetti logo grew from two to four on most basses. The decal was still applied on top of the finish. By June the capacitor had fully transitioned from white rectangular shaped with blue stripe to a round orange or yellow capacitor. White/black/white nitrocellulose pickguards were now included on most custom colors. The laminated tortoise shell/white/black/white pickguard was still standard on Sunburst finishes. By June the interior color of the light brown tolex case began to change from gold to orange.
Other 1961 Precision bass characteristics: Kluson no-name riveted clover reverse tuners, strapholder on headstock back, slab rosewood fretboard, clay dot fret markers, neck butt pencil date, fifth hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, no neck pocket paint stick, body nail holes (for painting/drying), ground shield under pickguard, thumb rest under G string, black bobbin pickups, ground shield under pickups, pickup cavity pencil date, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, CTS or Stackpole potentiometers, cloth wiring, ground wire route underneath bridge, coarse threaded bridge saddles.
Serial numbers ranged from roughly 55000 to 72000, although there are many overlapping exceptions. For more precise dating cross reference the serial number with the instrument's neck butt, body date and pot codes.