Sell or modify '71 Tele Bass

[smcd]

Originally Posted by mjac28

and yes you can get $2000.00 for that bass

Nooooooooo.......you can't. I just sold an all original '73 a few weeks back, and $2,000 was a pipe dream. But hey, feel free to prove me wrong.

[gurensan]

Originally Posted by bassie12

This is funny in a forum where people whine constantly about how overpriced vintage basses are. Modded instruments are much more affordable, and many times more useful. And some are basket cases. Kinda like people.

Nothing funny about it. These vintage instruments might not be quite so expensive if there were more intact specimens available. Supply and demand. There are other factors as well, but I won't get into that.

It might be his property, but I can guarantee you he'll kick himself if he goes to sell it after routing a new pickup hole in it. Ebay's full of examples. He can simply knock a grand off the top for doing that. A '72 can go between $1200-$2400 or so when intact. A routed one will not top $1400. I've been watching Ebay for these for the better part of the last year or so as I want to own one again. If he sells the bass without messing with it he can get something that'll take care of what he needs, possible two or three of them, without depriving the world of yet another example of a dwindling supply of aging instruments. It's 40 years old already and they're not making them anymore. People like me want them without having to plug holes.

And please remember that there was a poll at the top of the thread. He is most definitely asking for someone to tell him what he should do with his property. Perhaps you didn't read that part?

I believe he should get a VM TB and mod that instead. The sound is extremely similar, and he can follow the advice of the guy that was chastised for telling him to get a replacement body and mod that instead in order to keep the original without extra holes. I think it's a great idea. The neck is NOT a bolt-on replacement for a TB, however. Humbucker Tele basses have the 3-hole micro-tilt and the Squier body is a standard 4-bolt. If he wants to use the original neck it will have to be a custom body he bolts it to as a '72-'79 Tele bass neck fits only a '72-'79 Tele bass body. Warmoth does not make a body that will fit it. Even Jazz basses from '76-'79 or so with the micro-tilt had a rounded heel, these are square like the '51-'56 (I think '56, might be wrong or overlooking something there).

Incidentally, for the OP, it's a '72-'79 if it has the humbucker in it. The switchover happened early in '72 after they'd used up their remaining stock of '68-'71 bodies. It is possible to find single-coil '72s (not many, and I've only seen one!) but not '71s with humbuckers. If the neck does not have a bullet and is original, he's got a transitional bass with a '71 neck on it and a '72 body. If it's a 4-bolt neck, he should be home free on the Squier body.

Perhaps a '51 RI would do the trick? They've got a more articulate sound, and mix pretty well with the whole country-bass look. If he sold the Tele he could afford something like 4 of them.

This is my opinion, mixed with fact. I'll let the reader choose which is which.

[gurensan]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Lovely black there FS:thumbup:
You can'ardly notice that li'l sc pup in it

Yeah,I like the boom of the original pup too, & LOVE the feel etc & look of the bass.
I've got one of these too, maybe I could mod it?

It's the VM Squire TB, previous owner put Fender decals on:what:
Apart from it weighing a ton, it sounds (& feels) pretty good.
Hmmm, now I got a project

OH OH OH IDEA!

Go to youtube and look up Curtis Novak and EB-0. He's rewound the original mudbucker and it sounds AWESOME - no more mud, clarity and thud not lacking one bit. I want him to do a couple for me.

Buy a Squier TEB101B pickup, a drop in replaement for your Tele's pickup and looks identical, and have Curtis rewind it. The replacement pickup can be ordered from guitarpartsresources.com. Click on Bass, then Pickups, Genuine Fender, then Squier. They run about $70USD.

No need to mod, all the clarity you need, no need to sell!

[Stewie26]

Here is a ebay link to a 1971 all original Tele bass in excellent conditon with OHSC. Buy it now at $5495.
Not saying they are going to get it but your bass may be worth more than you think.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/3005973...Types&var=sbar
Also, I am the originial owner of an unmodified 73 Tele bass and have been keeping an eye on the resale value as I may be selling in the near future.

[Gaolee]

Originally Posted by smcd

Good Lord.... the only bass that sounds muddier or more undefined than a mudbucker Tele is an EB-2D.

I have an EB2d. It can be thunderous, but it isn't muddy. If anything, mine has a sweet, dry, woody sound.

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by bluehevy75

Okay. Wow. Thanks for all of the advice. I will not cut into it. I promise to keep it whole.

You are a good man.

Originally Posted by bluehevy75

Someone had said there are no guarantees that I will like any mods I do--that seems right. I don't have the money to play around that way....

That was me. IMHO, you should play some MIA Jazzes, P-basses, and some of the other current Fender line.

I have a 1955 P-bass that I restored, and a '71 P-bass. I have owned numerous older Fenders and played a lot of them, partly due to the fact I am 63 years old.

My advice is to keep your '72. Save up $700 or $800 and then go shopping on TB classified, ebay and craigslist. That shopping trip should be fueled by the desire for a bass like one you have played and loved, so GO FIND SOME BASSES and PLAY THEM.


You can get a great used Fender P or Jazz for under $900. Check out the Road Worn Jazzes.

[blindrabbit]

If you want to look at something different, why not post it in the classifieds here as a for trade feeler, and see what gets offered to you? If nothing else, its information gathering.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by smcd

Nooooooooo.......you can't. I just sold an all original '73 a few weeks back, and $2,000 was a pipe dream. But hey, feel free to prove me wrong.

I missed that one would have loved to snag one under 2G's man just my luck.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by gurensan

OH OH OH IDEA!

Go to youtube and look up Curtis Novak and EB-0. He's rewound the original mudbucker and it sounds AWESOME - no more mud, clarity and thud not lacking one bit. I want him to do a couple for me.

Buy a Squier TEB101B pickup, a drop in replaement for your Tele's pickup and looks identical, and have Curtis rewind it. The replacement pickup can be ordered from guitarpartsresources.com. Click on Bass, then Pickups, Genuine Fender, then Squier. They run about $70USD.

No need to mod, all the clarity you need, no need to sell!

That's probly the best idea.
Thanx

[bluehevy75]

Originally Posted by blindrabbit

If you want to look at something different, why not post it in the classifieds here as a for trade feeler, and see what gets offered to you? If nothing else, its information gathering.

Great advice. I'll take some pictures. Post them here and then post to the classifieds.

[bluehevy75]

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

You are a good man.



That was me. IMHO, you should play some MIA Jazzes, P-basses, and some of the other current Fender line.

I have a 1955 P-bass that I restored, and a '71 P-bass. I have owned numerous older Fenders and played a lot of them, partly due to the fact I am 63 years old.

My advice is to keep your '72. Save up $700 or $800 and then go shopping on TB classified, ebay and craigslist. That shopping trip should be fueled by the desire for a bass like one you have played and loved, so GO FIND SOME BASSES and PLAY THEM.


You can get a great used Fender P or Jazz for under $900. Check out the Road Worn Jazzes.

Yes. Thanks for your advice and for everyones. While not everyone had the same opinions what is cool about TB is that it is a process. We can all read and share--we don't have to agree but collectively there is a wealth of information among us.

Thanks all.

Next week I'll take the process a step further. I understand I should play lots of different basses. Specific recommendations are welcome too. I know that I like: big flats, high action, foamy mute, 15's, and old tube amps. I'm pretty sure I like big necks but have only had my hands on a few. I know that small necks aren't my thing. Beyond that I'm unsure. I also really like those big big tuners. But I suppose that is an aesthetic preference.

Thanks again.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by mjac28

I missed that one would have loved to snag one under 2G's man just my luck.

Then I'd say you were the only one willing to buy in that price range. Take a look on ebay. No TeleII has sold for $2k, or even close to that. Now consider what they ARE selling for, subtract ebay and PayPal fees, and what a seller nets is far far away from $2k.

[bluehevy75]

Originally Posted by smcd

Then I'd say you were the only one willing to buy in that price range. Take a look on ebay. No TeleII has sold for $2k, or even close to that. Now consider what they ARE selling for, subtract ebay and PayPal fees, and what a seller nets is far far away from $2k.

Well,

You're both kind of right.

I just did a completed listings check:

73-74 $1827
73 $1950
73 Refin $1895

Not 2K but close-ish.

KH

[AltGrendel]

Originally Posted by Topspin

Why not buy a warmoth telebass body and drop your electronics and pickup in, route for a pickup in the place of your choosing, put the neck on it, and call it a day? If it's not your thing or you ever choose to sell it, you can put the old bass back together.

+1

[smcd]

Originally Posted by bluehevy75

Well,

You're both kind of right.

I just did a completed listings check:

73-74 $1827
73 $1950
73 Refin $1895

Not 2K but close-ish.

KH

I missed that $1,950 sale. But let's take that as a best-case example...

$1,950 minus 9% ebay fees minus 3% PayPal fees nets the seller $1,721. Far from $2k. If you list it on TB classifieds for $1,721, you won't get it. This I know from first hand experience.

Regardless, if you get $1,700 for your bass, that's a handsome chunk of money, and it will give you a staggering array of first class options.

[bluehevy75]

Originally Posted by Topspin

Why not buy a warmoth telebass body and drop your electronics and pickup in, route for a pickup in the place of your choosing, put the neck on it, and call it a day? If it's not your thing or you ever choose to sell it, you can put the old bass back together.

Pondering this still but my neck is square heeled and three bolt. Warmoth only does four bolt.

[Topspin]

Originally Posted by bluehevy75

Pondering this still but my neck is square heeled and three bolt. Warmoth only does four bolt.

That lace sensor stick-on pickup sounds pretty great then.

[AltGrendel]

Originally Posted by bluehevy75

Pondering this still but my neck is square heeled and three bolt. Warmoth only does four bolt.

The square heel would be a deal killer but you could have gotten one with no bolt holes,

Oh well.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by smcd

Then I'd say you were the only one willing to buy in that price range. Take a look on ebay. No TeleII has sold for $2k, or even close to that. Now consider what they ARE selling for, subtract ebay and PayPal fees, and what a seller nets is far far away from $2k.

This is what I have been looking at and I understand asking and getting price but most of these sellers aren't new to eBay and if he asks too little people tend to get suspicious when it's a vintage instrument and like I said previously I wouldn't give it away:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1973...item20ceba34fa


http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIME-CAPSULE...item417056cbcf


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Orig...item417056e963

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRAZY-SALE-P...item43b82bd858


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-FENDER-...item1c2fae54eb


http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1975...item2a28b2ba46


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Orig...item41706e2a03

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by bluehevy75

I have a 71 Tele Bass with the mud bucker.
I love the body.
I love the neck.
I love the low end.
I dislike the lack of definition.

I play older music. Soul, R&B, Country. I like big flat wound strings. I like high action. I play with a foamy mute. I like 15's and tube amps. I think you get the idea.

Do I add a jazz pickup?
or
Sell it?

If I sell it, what should I get instead with whatever it sells for?

I'd explore different pickups to replace the OEM pickup and on-board/off-board preamp options before cutting into it.