Ok, I'll go first.

[Michael Holden]

Originally Posted by Phil Maneri

Fender serial numbers from that time period are nowhere near that precise. All you can truly infer from a Fender Serial number is the approximate year the neck plate was made within 18 months or so. Assuming all original parts Neck date stamps, pickup markings, and pot numbers taken along with the serial number can get you a 3-6 month assumption about construction date. Shipping date is not inferable from any numbers on the bass.

yea that's where the controversy comes in to play. The neck stamp is like none anybody has ever seen. It's usually something like 10345-0442 and so on. Mine is 63-0244. I took it to a luthier and he said he THINKS it's a 1973. Just because the Tugbar is on the "G" string side. he said in '74 they switched it to the "E" string side. But he cannot decipher the neck stamp.