• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

$17,000 1958 P-Bass

quilanthegreat

quilanthegreat

Oct 23, 2014
332
928
39
Seattle, WA
#1
What are your thoughts on this instrument? Not that I have any funds to purchase it - just curious what people think about appreciation/depreciation/investment aspects. This might be the most expensive bass I've ever seen, and I'm not sure if one would purchase strictly as an investment, or more so to use as gigging bass.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#2
I'd buy it to play it. Generally, my prediction for the future is that the vintage market is gonna go down a little when the baby boomers and wanna be rock stars die off. I remember about 10 years ago or so, the vintage guys all went "Oh, it's not a long time until a 58-60 Les Paul will be worth a million dollars!" Didn't happen, and now with both Gibson and Fender getting really, really good with the top of the line Custom Shop re issues; there is soon no real tangible difference to justify the current vintage prices even. So what brazilian rosewood this and old growth mahogany that; we're approaching who cares? in that department; which is good IMO. Of course, there will be some super expensive vintage pieces that some rich guys will buy and sell to each other, but not at the level when the vintage craze was at the craziest level.
 
  • Like
Reactions: melikecookies, meatwad, KickingBass and 13 others
#6
I would never buy a bass I wouldn't gig on a regular basis.
I wouldn't pay that much for any bass. That's me.
If I wanted an old bass, I'd want it to look old. This looks like a new build. What's the point?

If I wanted a 58 I'd get the custom shop to make me one with a quarter sawn neck, graphite reinforcement and all the other modern stuff. It's still sound a lot like a P bass, and they could even relic it for you.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: gorneyg, itsalljustaride, Roberto Nunez and 6 others
#9
That price seems pretty fair actually. It's getting harder to find clean original basses from that era. Heck, a 58 strat in that shape would be north of 30k (there just isn't the same demand for vintage basses).Hard to say on future value. I feel like, for a lot of older models, the market has kind of plateaued (Pre CBS stuff doesn't seem to have moved up much in the last decade or so) while 70s stuff is appreciating fairly rapidly
 
  • Like
Reactions: wmmj and Ant Illington
#11
That's pretty pricey but fairly realistic. I don't think something like that will ever really appreciate in value though and I agree with Norwegian bass about the prospects for the vintage bass market in the future. Eventually the pickup will demagnetize to such an extent that it's no longer usable: what then? The best thing for these basses is for them to be bought by players/studios and used while they still have life in them.
 
#12
After more than 30 years of playing and owning a lot of basses (I was never into the > 2.000,- class, my most expensive instruments are a '64 AVS Jazz, a Stingray Classic and an all original '78 Jazz), I can say one thing: When I look at this bass I only recognize that it is a beautifull instrument, but I don't feel something like "if I only had the money to own and play such a wonderfull instrument".
For me it is just another P-Bass that might sound and feel good or not so good like any other of the better Fender basses.
If I'd be a millionaire, I would ask the seller, if he has another of these old ones in Sonic Blue and if not, I just might leave the shop with an AVS '63 P and let my butler play it for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kikegg and PsyDocHill

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back