1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS
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Antigua finish was available. The metal foil ground shielding under the pickguard began to transition from covering only the horn to covering the entire pickguard underside.
1978 Precision bass characteristics: Smaller headstock decal logo including serial number usually beginning with an "S8" and applied under the finish. For more precise dating cross reference the serial number with the instrument's neck butt stamp, pickup codes and pot codes. Schaller "open back" Fender name imprinted clover tuners with an ® mark and no rivet, curved rosewood fretboard or one piece maple neck with skunk stripe, pearloid or black plastic dot fret markers, medium jumbo fret wire, neck butt date etc. ink stamps, extra hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, black plastic gasket under F Series neck plate with no serial number, neck pocket paint stick etc., extra body holes in neck pocket for hanging while painting, black/white/black/white vinyl pickguard or white/black/white vinyl pickguard, pickguard serial number sticker, thumb rest above E string, date ink stamped grey bobbin pickups, ground shield under pickups, occasionally a pickup cavity date sticker, chrome pickup cover and bridge cover, flat top knobs, CTS potentiometers, round yellow or orange tone capacitor, plastic wiring, round ground wire route underneath bridge, single groove bridge saddles, Tolex case with silver plastic logo and orange or rust interior or rectangular plastic case with rust colored interior, hang tag.