Yeah, I agree Jim. If the '70 basses are still like the one in the link I posted, you tend to think it's a later model.
That's the original horseshoe, the only one I've seen in a '69 bass. It is a IB serial number. Note the surround on the wrong way. The holes line up correctly too!
I've played this bass. The owner is a Forumite, the same guy I bought my CS from. It's a very nice bass, sounds great (similar to my 72) although the action was too high for me. I'm on my way out now, but I'll check the auction properly later.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
The fingerboard isn't separated, or wasn't when I played it. However the body wings themselves are ever so slightly separating from the neck through portion, and the neck has been pulled forward quite a bit, as the seller describes, hence the (for me) too high action. Bear in mind I like very low action though. I'm sure someone like Dale or Paul could sort this out. I was actually offered it some months back but unfortunately couldn't afford it. And I still can't!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."