Hey everyone,
My first classifieds post here on TB, although I'm not a new member. Let's see how this goes - I have read the FAQ, but please notify me if I'm still violating the rules somehow, and I'll fix it ASAP.
UPDATE: I can't fix the thread title, but the basses are available to the entire world except the USA and Canada.
I really love my old Fenders, but I have 5 great basses, and a recent family expansion has changed my priorities, so now I have to try to get rid of my bank loan. Actually, as a fun fact, these two basses are now with Jens Ritter in Germany, as he planned to buy them as reference instruments for his showroom. Unfortunately, without giving out more details than he would like, he is no longer able to do that, but he can send them by FedEX to anywhere in Europe for FREE.
Now to the basses in question:
Fender Precision from 1963. This bass has had the original finish stripped sometime in the past and now has a clear coat, which looks and feels great, not a bad job at all. The rest of the bass is 100 % original, it plays like a dream and sounds even better. This is the difficult part of trying to sell a bass like this, because you have to hear it to believe it, it's just unreal. Jens Ritter told me he tried it in the studio when Prince's bass player was visiting, and they were blown away by it, it's more Motown than anything else I've ever heard. Prince's bass player considered buying it instead of Jens, but apparently he's too much into the "all original" thing, so he passed. Now, this bass has been played a LOT, which actually says a lot more for the quality of a bass than all of the "closet classics", etc. It only had one owner before me, and I bought it through a shop selling it for the elderly guy. I paid 4.700 Euros before I could count to ten and beat the other very interested buyers to it.
As the bass is very old and has been played so much, there is of course some wear on it. The frets are worn, but mainly from the 1st to the 7th, and there is wear on the side of the neck just behind the 3rd, 5th, and 7th fret where it has rested on the player's hand/fingers - as I said, it has been played ! If you play the bass with roundwounds, I can't promise that the bass won't need a refretting in some years from now, but as it is, it plays perfectly with low action. The neck is rock solid and very smooth on your fingers.
The bass comes with a brand new Fender (G&G) tweed flightcase.
Asking price is 4.500 Euros. Please ask all questions first, and I WILL accept a return if you find my answers to be incorrect, I'm trying to be as accurate as possible. The return will be to Denmark, and at your own cost, shipping fully insured only.
Fender Jazz from 1969. It's terrible for me to sell this bass, as it was my main player for many years until I got all the other great basses. I bought it from a teacher I had in 2000, and he only used it as a backup to one exactly like it. It is one of the most known and coveted Jazz basses; sunburst, bindings and blocks, poly finish, and, best of all, 100 % original. The ONLY thing regarding the original state of the bass is that a former owner applied a little bit of clear coat finish right where the arm has worn through the original paint, but I have almost worn that back off playing the bass; and then there are two small spots on the lower side of the bass where this has been done with a black paint (around 2x2 cm in size). The bass shows normal wear for its age, it plays great with low action, and I've never had any issues with it at all. What else is there to say? It includes both pickup covers (I cleaned out the old foam mute from the bridge PU cover), tug bar, and everything. I suspect one single screw for the scratch plate may not be original, but that's it. The case is original, but from 1973. Asking price 4.500 Euros.
BUT: If anybody has the funds to buy both basses, I will knock a full 1.000 Euros of the price and sell them both for 8.000 - because it would be great for my bank loan to knock off one huge chunk in one go.
Now - pictures. I'm sorry, but I don't have the best pictures and didn't take anymore, because I thought Mr Ritter would buy them. I'll try to ask him for more if necessary, but he's very busy and it could take a long time. You're very welcome to call him and ask about the basses if you want an unbiased opinion - don't expect an answer soon if you e-mail him.
Here are the pictures I have:
A pic of the basses with my Fodera, my former MTD, and the fretless Lakland 4-94 I sold through PM to a TB member from Greece about 2 years ago:
And some of only the Jazz:
Let me know if you're interested - post here or send me a PM
