Is a beat up 1973 Fender P Bass Worth $2399 if...

[Gotta P]

I personally like to see higher prices on the 73 P just cause I own one too. Not as an investment. Bought it brand new back then and used and abused it for many years. It was my only bass when I gigged all the time. I'll prolly never sell it just cause of sentimental reasons. I'm not under the illusion that it's magic/special but it has good tone, is a good solid player and the neck is darn close to perfect. ( I had GC guitar techs raving about it after doing an estimate for possible trade).

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

That's my main player these days. It incorporates all the improvements I mentioned earlier: lightweight tuners, graphite reinforced neck, full shielding, and flipped P pickups.

The end result is no neck dive, no dead spots, 99% hum free (even when not touching the strings) and more balanced tone. I have yet to play a vintage Fender that can hold a candle to this instrument. The cost? $900. Anybody can duplicate this exact build for that price. If anyone is interested, shoot me a PM and I'll share my secrets.

[Jo6Pak]

i think reversing the pups was a good idea, if it truly does help balance string output. i can see how it would, in theory. doesn't look silly to me. in fact, most people probably wouldn't even notice it (at first, anyway). i do agree however, it would likely cause a bunch of people to change their playing style/thumb placement. not necessarily a bad thing...

[droskobass]

for the OP's question:

yes the price is a bit high but you can negotiate, you'll always pay 15-20% more in a dealer than on the street. but look at the condition. if the frets are imaculate, if it's been shielded grounded, if it's very light, etc then it's not "beat-up" it's played. there are million dollar violins out there that have been played way more than this bass..

to address the digression:

The reverse P is the choice of many many players (Michael Anthony, Paul MacCartney Rocco Prestia, Lee Sklar, Tony Kinal), and manufacturers, (e.g. Sandberg only offered the reverse P untill just 2 years ago), now they offer both.

It started being standard on what was considered to be, in the 70's and 80's, "the P-Killer" Yamaha's BB1200, BB2000, BB3000 & 3000s and teh Worlds first Production five string the BB5000)

On technique: (and honestly there is a difference between style and technique). Sometimes they are related but they ought to be separate. Every inch of possible plucking area from the bridge to the end of the neck is useful. It's the best way to get a variety of tones out of a single pickup instrument.

It can feel uncomfortable at first to play on an unfamiliar bass but within a few minutes (and definitely 100% after 9 full hours of total practice time) a new set up can be internalized. This will change technique(minutely) but not "Style". In my opinion, if an unconventional set-up (like flat wounds or reverse pickups) would serve one's band better, it is our duty, out of respect for the music, and the "style of music", to change if better results would ensue... Not to be afraid of change out of simple fear of change.

We play the bass, not vice versa.

[droskobass]

and nice bass, Dan! Excellent work!

[Dave Hill]

I bought this 70 P about 2 years ago for slightly more than GC is asking for the 73 the OP is asking about.
8lbs, plays great, sounds great, slight neck dive. Unlike new or boutique P's, I hope it will be worth more than I payed some day.

I'm in Atlanta too...maybe Dan and I should get together and compare.

[taurus1]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

I bought this 70 P about 2 years ago for slightly more than GC is asking for the 73 the OP is asking about.
8lbs, plays great, sounds great, slight neck dive. Unlike new or boutique P's, I hope it will be worth more than I payed some day.

I'm in Atlanta too...maybe Dan and I should get together and compare.

now that's beautiful

[MattyH]

And again I'm not trying to attack anyone here. I just don't think its really fair that this started as a P bass thread, and what might be an overpriced bass, and has turned into a bash Dan thread!

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by MattyH

And again I'm not trying to attack anyone here. I just don't think its really fair that this started as a P bass thread, and what might be an overpriced bass, and has turned into a bash Dan thread!

Not really a bash Dan thread as much as a bash 70s fenders thread -- they always turn into this, though...

[interp]

Buy a Fender sunburst Roadworn P for about 900. You'll have a much better bass and 1500 bucks in your pocket.

[MattyH]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

Not really a bash Dan thread as much as a bash 70s fenders thread -- they always turn into this, though...

This...is true.

"I dont agree...so I HATE YOU". Haha

[ggvicviper]

Originally Posted by droskobass

to address the digression:

The reverse P is the choice of many many players (Michael Anthony, Paul MacCartney Rocco Prestia, Lee Sklar, Tony Kinal), and manufacturers, (e.g. Sandberg only offered the reverse P untill just 2 years ago), now they offer both.

It started being standard on what was considered to be, in the 70's and 80's, "the P-Killer" Yamaha's BB1200, BB2000, BB3000 & 3000s and teh Worlds first Production five string the BB5000)

Weren't the BB3000(s) & BB5000 a standard P layout?

And to the OP, no I don't think that's worth the price, though I do like the look of how it's worn.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by MattyH

I just got a reversed P pickup bass. It's wonderful.

I prefer split P pickup with the EA coil in the standard position and the DG on the neckside of the EA coil instead of on the bridge side. I've been doing it that way for decades on my DIYs.

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

Originally Posted by MattyH

Leo set the bar. Many have jumped over said bar.

Correct. Leo was a genius. I am not (although reading some of the posts around here makes me feel like one). I'm glad there have been other smart guys over the decades who could tweak his designs for the better.

I wonder if all these vintage Fender zealots drive Model T's.

Originally Posted by MattyH

Dan - I recently picked up a '78 Yamaha BB1200. Reversed P pickup. Best sounding P I've owned. Way more focused and tighter of a tone than a Fender. And I've played every type of Fender P. If people call this placement "laughable"...then they quite obviously have no idea what they're talking about.

Yeah, that's a killer bass. Here's Sir Paul rocking one:

[king_biscuit]

Yeah, that's Paul alright -- from the 80s or very early 90s. But for the past twenty years or so (since Elvis Costello told him to do it), Paul has been playing his old Model T Hofner -- and sounding better than ever!

[MattyH]

Yeah, that's a killer bass. Here's Sir Paul rocking one:

[/quote]

There it is. I was listening to some Wings live in '79 before I made the purchase. This bass destroys in those videos.

[Kevin aka Kebo]

Yes it is mid point retail. Ebay represents the LOW side of the picture. A tort guard g-side thumb rest P bass will retail in my shop and everyone elses for 2300 to 2500 every day.. Nope your wrong..

[smcd]

Originally Posted by Kevin aka Kebo

Yes it is mid point retail. Ebay represents the LOW side of the picture. A tort guard g-side thumb rest P bass will retail in my shop and everyone elses for 2300 to 2500 every day.. Nope your wrong..

You WISH it were mid-point retail. "Mid-point retail" is what the average person on the street can expect to get for an instrument, NOT what a dealer asks in a shop. $2,400 is top end brick and mortar retail. What a *dealer* will ask for an instrument isn't what an average person can expect to get. Just try putting that bass on CL or in the classifieds here. You'll be sitting on that forever. The average person can't/won't do that.



By the way....what do YOU pay a customer for a well-worn '73 P-bass???

[duderus]

Originally Posted by smcd

You WISH it were mid-point retail. "Mid-point retail" is what the average person on the street can expect to get for an instrument, NOT what a dealer asks in a shop. $2,400 is top end brick and mortar retail. What a *dealer* will ask for an instrument isn't what an average person can expect to get. Just try putting that bass on CL or in the classifieds here. You'll be sitting on that forever. The average person can't/won't do that.



By the way....what do YOU pay a customer for a well-worn '73 P-bass???

Bad business?