1969 FENDER PRECISION BASS

1969 Fender Precision Bass

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In 1969 the strapholder on the headstock back was discontinued. Fender began to use polyester as body and neck undercoat finishes. During the year a stamped ® mark was introduced onto the non-reverse clover tuners. Tuners with or without the ® mark were common in 1969. The underside of the grey bobbin pickups begin to be date ink stamped. The Fender "fishtail" silver plastic logo is introduced on the black Tolex case with orange interior.

Other 1969 Precision bass characteristics: Larger "C" logo including four individual patent numbers and ® mark applied under the finish, curved rosewood fretboard, pearloid dot fret markers, medium jumbo fret wire, neck butt date ink stamps etc., 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, metal foil ground shielding on pickguard horn underside, thumbrest under G string, ground shield under pickups, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover with foam rubber string mute, flat top knobs, CTS potentiometers (often with overstocked 1966 codes), round yellow tone capacitor, plastic or occasionally cloth wiring, ground wire route underneath bridge, non-threaded single groove bridge saddles, hang tag.

Serial numbers ranged from roughly 216000 to 280500 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.