1951 Fender Precision Bass - Identification and Value?

[the north wind]

I'm selling an LP, and someone offered me a 1951 Fender Precision bass for trade. I thought he was joking at first, but he's apparently serious, and is bringing it by my work today for me to check out. He said it was his Dad's, and that is has been modified... So, I think the control plate, pick guard, pickup and possibly tuners were replaced... and it was re-painted. And I think the neck plate was replaced. So It's pretty much just the neck and a re-finished body that are original. They said they just put a bunch of vintage parts on it, but none of it original.

So, how do I verify it's age? The date should be written on the base of the neck, right? Anything else I can look for?

Also, and idea what it would be worth? Obviously having had all of it's parts replaced is not going to help it's value, but?

Thanks!

 

[Jim Carr]

Let us all have a look. Pics, pics, pics, pics.

There are too many minute attributes for me to enumerate, though perhaps others can. The serial number is on the neck plate and/or on the bridge, or perhaps elsewhere on a real '51-52.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

To trade for an LP? Like a record? Uh, yeah, I think u should go for it.

 

[Jim Carr]

Les Paul?

 

[the north wind]

I don't have any pics yet... He's bringing it by today, and I was hoping to have a good idea of what to look for then. I'll post pics later, but that will either be post trade or no trade... well, no trade = no pictures. So it would be post trade.

 

[the north wind]

Sorry, yes. LP = Les Paul. It's a 1974 Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary with a ugly but repaired headstock break.
It was up on eBay here.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Sorry, yes. LP = Les Paul. It's a 1974 Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary with a ugly but repaired headstock break.

Oh, haha. Yeah, well pics would help then...a refin and replaced pickups amongst other parts will definitely decrease the value, but then again - we're talkin about a '51 here...

 

[the north wind]

Well, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is...

The guy just showed up with the bass... "guy" is actually a 13 year old boy. "1951 Fender Precision Bass" is... well, I'm not really sure. I should have taken a couple pictures... It was a funny little bass. Super light body... felt almost hollow or plastic? No fender name anywhere on it... the control plate and pick-guard were cut out of like lucite or something... It actually played pretty well, but It'd be one of those things that I would totally pay like... $250 for? Oh, and it had a large aluminum truss rod cover. Weird.

I felt terrible though for the kid. I don't know if his dad had told him that that is what the bass was or something... he really didn't seem like he was trying scam me. But man... I may have ruined his day. He was super excited to see the guitar, and when I said the bass was not what he claimed it was and that I didn't want to trade, he got all red and embarrassed and looked like he was about to cry... Sorry little rocker dude, and best of luck to you!

 

[Spinal Tapper]

LOL, well, poor little guy

 

[Jim Carr]

Dan Electro?

 

[The Golden Boy]

Sorry, yes. LP = Les Paul. It's a 1974 Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary with a ugly but repaired headstock break.
It was up on eBay here.

I used to have one of those... the inlay doesn't really show...

 

[jimi55lp]

Do the RI 1951 fender precision bass from USA and or Japan have the same ish 60 cycle hum as the original Fender Precision basses from 1951 thru 55?