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$1600 for an '83?

#11
If you're looking to make money, go for it. If you're looking to get a bass to play, look somewhere else. Remember, 83 was almost the nadir of Fender's existence after a decade of sub-standard instruments. Age will not have magically made the build quality on this better. There's probably a very good reason it looks unplayed.

Get a good bass, not and old bass, it doesn't have to have an F on the headstock.
 
#14
I've got to disagree with the early 80's Fenders being poorly built. My experience has been, that the last of the Fullerton era Fenders were better than the mid/late 70's versions. The were a little less in the Frill's dept, in some cases, but were actually pretty decent instruments. Look at the prices people are paying for the early 80's Fullerton Re Issues as an example. You can pretty much figure that these are going to be the next to jump in price.

If you're looking at this as a bass to play, this isn't for you. If you are looking for a "collectable" bass, it's not a bad place to go. This thing looks DEAD MINT and these Late Fullerton basses ARE going to go up in value. They really aren't considered "vintage" right yet, but in 10 years they definitly will be. I can remember when the 70's Fenders weren't considered "vintage" and look at those prices now.

As the prices on the 70's stuff goes up, the next to rise will be those late Fullerton instruments, and that one is in exeptional condition.

Again, I think $1600 is a little high for one of these right now. $1300 and you'd be doing o.k. IMO.
 
#15
Once a bass hits about 25 years old, the value seems to jump. I remember being told that late 1970s Fenders were worthless, and I'm sure before that, people were saying that early 1970s Fenders were worthless.
 
#16
savit260 said:
I've got to disagree with the early 80's Fenders being poorly built. My experience has been, that the last of the Fullerton era Fenders were better than the mid/late 70's versions. The were a little less in the Frill's dept, in some cases, but were actually pretty decent instruments. Look at the prices people are paying for the early 80's Fullerton Re Issues as an example. You can pretty much figure that these are going to be the next to jump in price.

If you're looking at this as a bass to play, this isn't for you. If you are looking for a "collectable" bass, it's not a bad place to go. This thing looks DEAD MINT and these Late Fullerton basses ARE going to go up in value. They really aren't considered "vintage" right yet, but in 10 years they definitly will be. I can remember when the 70's Fenders weren't considered "vintage" and look at those prices now.

As the prices on the 70's stuff goes up, the next to rise will be those late Fullerton instruments, and that one is in exeptional condition.

Again, I think $1600 is a little high for one of these right now. $1300 and you'd be doing o.k. IMO.
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+1000 These late Fullertons were very good, Q.C. was much improved after Japanese clones kicked the s*** out of Fender from '78 til '81/'82.

Late Fullertons and '82/'83 MIJ JV Series Squires........Are the next collectable Fenders and their values have increased significantly in the last 2-3 years.

I bet this goes for between $1300-$1500 in that condition.
 
#17
SC Bassboy said:
An 80's Fender bass is not really a vintage instrument. They were notoriously hit n' miss during the 80's. I wouldn't pay what he is asking. For that price tag you could get a nice 70's model bass. Word.
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They were hit or miss in the 70's also much more so than people like to admit nowadays. I remember when people avoided them like the plague. I laughed when I saw them start to go up in value. I have a 72 P bass which is a nice bass, but it is one of the better ones. I think with any year you'll find your clunkers, just a lot more of them were made during the 70's. I know nothing about 80's Fenders. I would be careful buying any used bass unless you are real familiar with the model and era. It looks nice but I would try it out before I bought it though and even then 1600.00 sounds very high to me.
 
#18
80-84 was a great and much different time for Fender, because Bill Schultz saw what failed in the late 70's and he completely turned around Fender's production.
My 82 Precision Special and 84 Jazz 62RI rival the fit, finish and body contouring of any preCBS bass.

Although the price is a tad high..
 
#19
Caca de Kick said:
80-84 was a great and much different time for Fender, because Bill Schultz saw what failed in the late 70's and he completely turned around Fender's production.
My 82 Precision Special and 84 Jazz 62RI rival the fit, finish and body contouring of any preCBS bass.

Although the price is a tad high..
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These is something about most pre-CBS basses that none of the newer ones can touch though and it's real. They usually feel and sound much better.
 
#20
Thursday said:
Save up and get yourself a nice 70s Fender.
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yeah for the record i had no intentions of buying this bass. definitely keeping my eyes open for an older P bass though. there is an 80's MIJ P bass on boston craigslist for 400 bucks, which i think is a good price considering what i've heard about fender japan.
 

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