1965 FENDER PRECISION BASS
For photos, click on the links below:
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. The round tone capacitor changed from orange to yellow. Early in the year the white tolex case changed to black Tolex with no logo. Plastic body guards manufactured by Parker were were available to prevent buckle rash.
Other 1965 Precision bass characteristics: transition 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 ink stamp, fifth hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, neck pocket paint stick etc., body nail holes (for paint drying), tortoise shell/white/black/white vinyl pickguard or white/black/white vinyl pickguard on custom colors, ground shield under pickguard, thumb rest under G string, grey bobbin pickups (sometimes hand dated) but we've seen the occasional factory mismatched one grey bobbin with one black bobbin, ground shield under pickups, occasionally a pickup cavity date, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, flat top knobs, CTS or Stackpole potentiometers, cloth wiring, Switchcraft input jack, ground wire route underneath bridge, threaded bridge saddles, 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, pickup and pot codes.