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1953 Precision Bass

#121
I don't understand why people who don't like something have to keep on posting about it. What a waste of time and energy. If you don't like it, don't look at it; and if you want to bitch about it start your own damned thread so that everyone who wants to whine and complain can join you. You'll be in great company.

I like the ignore list feature, but like the '53 more.
 
#122
GlennW said:
I don't understand why people who don't like something have to keep on posting about it. What a waste of time and energy. If you don't like it, don't look at it; and if you want to bitch about it start your own damned thread so that everyone who wants to whine and complain can join you. You'll be in great company.

I like the ignore list feature, but like the '53 more.
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Isn't dialogue the foundation of a messageboard?

I wonder why people who can't stand outlooks opposing their own bother posting on messageboards.
 
#123
DigthemLows said:
I like DarkHorse...........great photos, great responses.........it's a wonder anyone new ever comes back after the way some folks post here.........:eek:
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You're kidding, right?? This place is like a convent compared to other boards.

There's a rule on this board that one is required to be respectful to the other TBass members. Most messageboards don't have such a rule. It's a jungle out there, digthemlows...
 
#126
The owner of this bass is one of my oldest, dearest friends and one of the most solid, good-hearted people I've ever met.

I remember when he bought this bass many, many years ago.

He would not abuse or neglect this or any other instrument. He didn't use it for a ball bat, car jack, canoe paddle or patio paver.

If you want to know something true and authentic about it, I suggest you call Bass Emporium. They're really nice and knowledgeable guys.
 
#127
bkirk said:
The owner of this bass is one of my oldest, dearest friends and one of the most solid, good-hearted people I've ever met.

I remember when he bought this bass many, many years ago.

He would not abuse or neglect this or any other instrument. He didn't use it for a ball bat, car jack, canoe paddle or patio paver.

If you want to know something true and authentic about it, I suggest you call Bass Emporium. They're really nice and knowledgeable guys.
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Exactly. That's why I mentioned that you can't just "assume" a past on it. As I said, to me it doesn't look abused...it looks played, and that a few parts have been changed/repaired for the sake of maintenance. A "abused" bass would have gouges, dings, bent tuners, bad frets, etc....all things that clearly are not present on this bass.
 
#130
Dark Horse said:
My car - (though I recently sold it)

my%2068%20camaro.png


My main live bass -

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It's astonishing how close-minded and judgmental some people are. Making assumptions about people because their instrument of choice isn't kept in pristine condition.

As far as ...



Clearly you know nothing about vintage automobiles. People ROUTINELY pay 10x the original sticker price of a rare auto for a non-running car, and sometimes "just a shell". Look at a 1971 Hemi Cuda, for example

As I said earlier in the thread - go out and find a *pristine* 1953 Precision Bass. There are only a few available, and ween't many built in the first place.

Here's a 52 for $19,500 ...but it is hardly "pristine".
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Chicago Music Exchange has a nice condition 1953 (albeit with bridge cover installed backward, so there is probably a weird "tan line" from it), but they don't tell the price.


Oh, and Guitar Broker has a 53 with a repaired Jazz Bass route and non original pickup for $11,500

That's pretty much it. a couple 1953's on the market. One or two 1952's. To "discount" the importance of this particular 53 because it wasn't "stored under a bed" is ridiculous.
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To each his own, I guess. If it makes you happy and you're not hurting anyone, go for it.

Nice Camaro, BTW.
 
#131
smcd said:
This is what normal playing wear looks like.

And this bass will go for a lot less than $13 grand.
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Honestly, I don't think anyone attributed the bass in the OP to "normal" playing wear, only that it was possible that it was "playing wear". Really, you can't assign a "normal" standard...my basses get more wear than most because I play a lot of shows, tour, fly around the country with them, and sometimes have stage hands packing them up...so they get more playing wear than many other peoples instruments, even though it is "normal" playing wear for me. Still, the bass in the OP... we can't "make up" a history for it and assume it to be correct...we simply don't know its' history.


That 55 is a nice looking bass. You're probably right about price...it's a "no reserve" auction in a bad economy on a bass that is a newer model (than the 53), plus the pickup is wrong (it isn't even a bass pickup !), so he probably will get less than 13k.
 
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#132
smcd said:
This is what normal playing wear looks like.

And this bass will go for a lot less than $13 grand.
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Of course the 55 will go for less than 13k...it's a contoured body 2nd phase single coil P. Two months ago a refinned 52 went for 11k. Why? Because it's a slab body 1st generation. The 53 might fetch 13, but there's no set price on these things...people take them as they become available.

But it's wrong to say the 55 is the only correct player wear.
I have seen plenty of original slab body P's in the same condition as the 53, and worse. Albert Molinaro is a collector and historian on early single coil P's, and used to have a shop in LA that I used to visit and he always had these things there in various condition.
 
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#133
Caca de Kick said:
Of course the 55 will go for less than 13k...it's a contoured body 2nd phase single coil P. Two months ago a refinned 52 went for 11k. Why? Because it's a slab body 1st generation. The 53 might fetch 13, but there's no set price on these things...people take them as they become available.

But it's wrong to say the 55 is the only correct player wear.
I have seen plenty of original slab body P's in the same condition as the 53, and worse. Albert Molinaro is a collector and historian on early single coil P's, and used to have a shop in LA that I used to visit and he always had these things there in various condition.
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+1

In addition, as I mentioned, the 55 doesn't even have a bass pickup...it has a 6 pole piece replacement guitar pickup installed.


Also, as you indirectly note, there is no "typical" wear on these...the paint formula changed regularly, and some had more durable finishes than others.
 
#135
Caca de Kick said:
Of course the 55 will go for less than 13k...it's a contoured body 2nd phase single coil P. Two months ago a refinned 52 went for 11k. Why? Because it's a slab body 1st generation. The 53 might fetch 13, but there's no set price on these things...people take them as they become available.

But it's wrong to say the 55 is the only correct player wear.
I have seen plenty of original slab body P's in the same condition as the 53, and worse. Albert Molinaro is a collector and historian on early single coil P's, and used to have a shop in LA that I used to visit and he always had these things there in various condition.
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Slab body Precisions do not, as a rule, go for more money than contour body models. Often they go for less. I saw a slab-body P-bass go for just a few bucks over $7grand on ebay less than 2 months ago. And it was in MUCH better shape than the bass in the OP.
 
#137
smcd said:
The pots, caps and wiring will not affect the value significantly. I will have an effect, but minor. The value in this bass is that the original finish is unmolested and - are you ready for this - it's not beat.
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Hey, I'm on your side about beat up old basses, really :) But I think the combination of replaced pickup, pots, cap and wiring will give that bass a pretty good hit on the sale.
 
#138
smcd said:
Slab body Precisions do not, as a rule, go for more money than contour body models. Often they go for less. I saw a slab-body P-bass go for just a few bucks over $7grand on ebay less than 2 months ago. And it was in MUCH better shape than the bass in the OP.
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1952 - $22,900
1952 - $19,500
1953 - $23,000
1953 - $11,500
1954 - $12,995
1956 - $12,500
1956 - $17,500
1956 - $9900



I didn't include refins.

Of course that really doesn't address some of the big issues with the 55 you posted, like wrong pup and electronics, case, etc.
 
#139
smcd said:
The pots, caps and wiring will not affect the value significantly. I will have an effect, but minor. The value in this bass is that the original finish is unmolested and - are you ready for this - it's not beat.
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The finish is the biggest "+" to that bass, and would certainly deduct about 1/2 if it was not original, but you are mistaken if you don't think the pup and electronics...and case...affect the final price significantly.
 
#140
king_biscuit said:
Hey, I'm on your side about beat up old basses, really :) But I think the combination of replaced pickup, pots, cap and wiring will give that bass a pretty good hit on the sale.
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Sorry. Sometimes my typed words come across more snarky than intended.

The wrong pickup will have a noticeable effect. (Unless that's a 50's Strat pickup, and then it's a big payday for the buyer) Many, maybe even most of the old single coil jobs have been replaced or rewound. So a non-original p/u is not uncommon or unexpected. The pots, caps and wires - I think those are concerns of another level of collector. That will have an effect, but not a big one.

The issues this '55 has can be resolved by NOS replacement parts (good luck). But compared to what a refin or routing would do, it's not severe. I'd say at most the price would take a 20% hit.
 

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