First, the good news. This is clearly a player bass. It plays wonderfully and thumps to no end. I can’t say enough regarding the playability and sound of the base. It’s also quite lightweight.
However, it has obviously been stripped and refinished a couple times. There is an original-looking fender decal on the headstock with Lake Placid blue finish underneath. It does glow under the black light, but this looks to be an old refinish. There is still Lake Placid blue in the cavities, but it does appear to be an older refinish.
February 1968 neck date.
It’s missing the guard and a small metal control plate has been placed over the factory routes for the pots and output Jack. The pots have been replaced. The pick up is an older looking black bottom. They did use black bottom pick ups for bass guitars and other instruments in this era. Given all the changes I can’t 100% confirm that it is original. The pick up covers do appear original, and there is oxidation on the magnets and the cloth wires do look appropriate to the era. The pick up covers do appear original, and there is oxidation on the magnets and the cloth wires do look appropriate to the era.
It currently has lollipop style tuners on it. It has a replacement vintage style bridge on there, but the original heavily oxidized bridge is in the case. Ships in a non-original hard case.
Please note, there is some artwork that is anatomical in nature that I have deliberately tried to not highlight in the photos. Please be aware if this is something you would judge inappropriate for your use of the bass as is. If you need further clarification, let me know.
The bass was owned by the legendary Terry Messal, bass player in the LA hardcore punk scene that began in the late 1970's. He obtained the bass, refinished it with his own custom artwork, and created something entirely different. While it may seem odd to do such a thing to a vintage bass now, back then it wasn't - and it fit perfectly with the punk ethos.
Messal played the bass on-stage for countless shows with VOMF and Vitamade (Bong Load Records). The bass lived on the road with him, cross-crossing America in a van and causing a lot of heads to turn at every venue. To see this bass in action, check out this VOMF video clip: