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1958 Fender Precision on Craig's list

#61
millsbass5 said:
Well, first off, you are comparing pics of a '57 to the '58 for sale in the ad. I'm sure there are subtle differences from '57 to '58.
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+1. *Not* passing myself off as an expert, by any means--but I own a refinned '57, with a neck dated March.

It's got the contoured body, the V neck with the Tele headstock, and the single coil tele pup with the tele covers.

Best I know, that was the year when Fender redesigned the P.

So I wouldn't expect a '58 to have the characteristics of a '57.
 
#62
Call Gruhn and ask them. It doesn't look like a fake to me, but before dropping 10k on anything, one must check it out in depth, no?

BTW, the hootenanny button takes it's name from the late '50's—early '60s era Folk Revival gathering of singers for a musical jam/party. It's an old Scots word that was later co-opted as the name for a TV show designed to profit from the massive popularity of the Kingston Trio and other commercialized "folk" performers.

The button in question was used to affix a guitar strap in a way either similar or identical to how the strap was put on many 6-string acoustics at the time. Often the guitar strap was fastened around the headstock just behind the nut.

woodyguthrieaschvol1.jpg
 
#63
The vintage market is crazy. Asking $13k, appraised for $20k and a 59 in great condition just went for $6800...who knows what these things are worth.

Guess the old adage applies...especially in the vintage guitar market...its worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
 
#66
geddy402 said:
The vintage market is crazy. Asking $13k, appraised for $20k and a 59 in great condition just went for $6800...who knows what these things are worth.

Guess the old adage applies...especially in the vintage guitar market...its worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
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Very true. The recession has been chipping away at the vintage market for a while, fewer people willing or able to pay the asking prices from a few years ago but some dealers in LA are still asking those prices.
 
#68
Man, first thing I'd do with that puppy is route out a place for one o' dem new Darkstars, get a new pickguard, and send it to a luthier to be relic'd and refinned to match my long coat and Bret Michael's hat. Just what's needed for my cover band bar gigs.
 
#70
bkbirge said:
Man, first thing I'd do with that puppy is route out a place for one o' dem new Darkstars, get a new pickguard, and send it to a luthier to be relic'd and refinned to match my long coat and Bret Michael's hat. Just what's needed for my cover band bar gigs.
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And then post a thread on talkbass slowly cataloging the massacre of a '58 P bass and wait for 100 pages of pure unadulterated rage! :bassist:
 
#71
Mastermold said:
Very true. The recession has been chipping away at the vintage market for a while, fewer people willing or able to pay the asking prices from a few years ago but some dealers in LA are still asking those prices.
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smcd said:
Dealers on the east coast, too. Dealers make me laugh.
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Yeah, it's like some of these dealers just don't want to admit, even 5 years into it, that the recession has killed the value of vintage guitars. It's like still trying to get $700K for a house when comps are selling for $300K.

It's not just the recession either IMO. I think the baby boomer generation (they have most of the $$) that wanted all these basses from the 50s and '60s out of nostalgia are starting to get older and not play as much. I've personally noticed that the '70s prices seem to be going up a little bit in the past year or 2. I'm thinking the next generation is starting to get nostalgic about the guitars from their youth now.

bkbirge said:
Man, first thing I'd do with that puppy is route out a place for one o' dem new Darkstars, get a new pickguard, and send it to a luthier to be relic'd and refinned to match my long coat and Bret Michael's hat. Just what's needed for my cover band bar gigs.
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A refin and re-relic definitely. Maybe shave the neck and make it a jazz width, drill a couple extra strap button holes in the body, move the thumbrest a few times until you figure out where you like it. I'm thinking routing it out for a jazz pup and then filling it back in, but not quite flush before the refin would be pretty sweet too! :hiding:
 
#72
Very cool. I'd love to own one like it, but the same basic instrument can be had for thousands less... and many of those look, sound, and play just as well or even better. It's not like a 1957 Chevy. They don't make those anymore, so the price kind of makes sense to me. P basses are still made to this day, from cheapies to boutique luthiers. I understand supply and demand, but talk about more dollars than sense...

bkbirge said:
Man, first thing I'd do with that puppy is route out a place for one o' dem new Darkstars, get a new pickguard, and send it to a luthier to be relic'd and refinned to match my long coat and Bret Michael's hat. Just what's needed for my cover band bar gigs.
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While you're at it, why not also upgrade the tuning machines to something more modern and install a Schaller roller bridge. It'll just take drilling a few more holes and bolting 'em on to make it even better. :D
 
#73
bkbirge said:
Man, first thing I'd do with that puppy is route out a place for one o' dem new Darkstars, get a new pickguard, and send it to a luthier to be relic'd and refinned to match my long coat and Bret Michael's hat. Just what's needed for my cover band bar gigs.
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First thing I'd do is glue the neck in place so the G string isn't hanging off the side. For 13.5k I'd want something I could pop on.
 
#74
thebrain said:
A refin and re-relic definitely. Maybe shave the neck and make it a jazz width, drill a couple extra strap button holes in the body, move the thumbrest a few times until you figure out where you like it. I'm thinking routing it out for a jazz pup and then filling it back in, but not quite flush before the refin would be pretty sweet too! :hiding:
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All of that. Plus I'd drill an extra hole in the headstock and make it a 5-string.
 
#77
thebrain said:
A refin and re-relic definitely. Maybe shave the neck and make it a jazz width, drill a couple extra strap button holes in the body, move the thumbrest a few times until you figure out where you like it. I'm thinking routing it out for a jazz pup and then filling it back in, but not quite flush before the refin would be pretty sweet too! :hiding:
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:D:D

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#78
Hornedfrog05 said:
There's quite a few "vintage" Fender basses on my local Craigslist... been GASing over this one lately:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Nice looking bass, but priced much too high, even if it was 100% original. God it bugs me when people say "all original" like this guy. What part of "all" doesn't he understand?

It has been re-fretted for starters. He also says the solder joints are in "great shape". What's that supposed to mean? Is that a dodgy way of saying they aren't original? Cuz they aren't. How do you know? Because the wiring wasn't cloth after 1968. The capacitor is wrong. The pots don't look to be vintage (and he avoided taking pics of the codes on the pots). No mention of the pickups being replacements, but real '75 pups don't have beveled pole pieces. With the cloth wire, these are '62 RI pickups. So yeah, "all original", lol.

I sold one just like this about a year ago on TB. But it was 2 years older ('73), truly 100% original, and I got $1650 for it after months of trying to sell it. So, I wouldn't pay more than $1K for that CL bass.

BTW, "Later 70's model P basses had the solder joints attached to the pickup cover, which is not the case here"???...
Huh?
 
#79
thebrain said:
Nice looking bass, but priced much too high, even if it was 100% original. God it bugs me when people say "all original" like this guy. What part of "all" doesn't he understand?

It has been re-fretted for starters. He also says the solder joints are in "great shape". What's that supposed to mean? Is that a dodgy way of saying they aren't original? Cuz they aren't. How do you know? Because the wiring wasn't cloth after 1968. The capacitor is wrong. The pots don't look to be vintage (and he avoided taking pics of the codes on the pots). No mention of the pickups being replacements, but real '75 pups don't have beveled pole pieces. With the cloth wire, these are '62 RI pickups. So yeah, "all original", lol.

I sold one just like this about a year ago on TB. But it was 2 years older ('73), truly 100% original, and I got $1650 for it after months of trying to sell it. So, I wouldn't pay more than $1K for that CL bass.

BTW, "Later 70's model P basses had the solder joints attached to the pickup cover, which is not the case here"???...
Huh?
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This is why you're the king... definitely running any future vintage purchase by you!

I did notice the refret comment right after the "all original" claim.
 

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