Should I make the trade? (1973 precision and 1968 telecaster bass content)
 

I have the chance to trade my 68 telecaster bass:confused: for a 73 fretless precision plus 400 dollars. My tele is very clean but has had a body refin. The 73 is all original. I've been wanting to try a fretless, and I don't play my tele much due to its weight. But I also don't want to make a bad financial decision. What do you guys think?

Well we can't see the basses in question or tell you what to do but if it was me?? No Way!

keep the tele and pickup a cheaper fretless to see if thats what you really want. Carvin makes a nice fretless for a reasonable price. I had a 70's fretless years ago, it was OK but I would have gladly traded it for a 68' telecaster bass.

Let me be clear, I would be the one receiving 400, not giving 400.

And I also thought the fact that my tele is a refin and the precision is not may help to equal out the value. Well , that and 400 dollars.

Some of the most poorly made guitars and basses I've ever played were 70s fenders. I dig their look, though. I wouldn't do it if it were me.

If you have played the pbass and like it, it sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Do your homework on the internet and see what refinned 68 Teles are going for.

I’d keep the telecaster bass.

Seemed like the values for refinned basses are all over the place. The precision is light (a hair over 8 lbs) with a tight neck pocket. Seems to be close to the quality of my 59 precision with the exception of the poly vs. nitro. My tele is good quality too, the neck isn't refinned but is super clean. The 10 1/2 lb weight is the main reason I don't play it much.

That '68 is a first year introduction of the telecaster bass and they switched to mudbuckers and lost the single coil quickly. Fretless 70's fenders are cheap, under $1200 is easy to find them for, there not as wanted as fretted. even with $400 on top Id keep the tele.

On Gbase fretless 73 Precisions seem to be going higher than refin 68-69 Telecasters. Where else might I get a good idea of values? Before I got on here I was thinking it was a very fair deal on a bass I was more likely to use. Now, I dunno. I can try the precision for a weekend before I make my decision, but as much as I trade I have to consider the financial aspect as much as the "Do I like it" aspect. Other thoughts?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The tele bass is a collectors item, the 73 precision isn't.
Don't trust tha blablabla of vintage dealers - only a few 70s precisions are really good.
Maybe today the gbase prices for 73 precisons are higher than for refin teles, but:
what do you think will be easier in 10 or 15 years: to find a 73 precision or a tele bass?

Keep the tele and buy a cheaper fretless precision copy to try it.

Greetz

Keep the tele and buy a decent lower price fretless. You in America? I'd take a look at the new ibanez fretless and the squier fretless. Also mij fender fretless, definitely carvin, play all the ones you can, but do not sell the tele! Give it to me instead ;)

+1.

How much do you guys think the body refin hurts the collectablity of my 68 telecaster bass?

Dude, keep the tele, find a cheaper fretless. There's no way in hell you could get me to part with a 68 Tele in good condition.

Haha is there ANYBODY out there that will tell me this is an ok idea? I just don't like having a bass I don't play.

Well, I would jump all over it in a heart beat. I would much rather have an all original Fretless 73 than a refined 68 Tele. TO me the Refin seals the deal, I would prefer the P over the Tele no matter what but the refin makes it a done deal to me and the $400 is just icing on the cake. I would do the trade twice!

Sounds to me like you already know what you want to do.

(If it were me I'd keep the Tele, no question.)