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1958 Fender Precision on Craig's list
- Thread starter PDGood
- Start date
I have a 11/57 Precision (pictured) that I've had for 32 years. I believe the bass that is the subject of this post is legit.
I lived in the Nashvile area from 1962 until 1971. In 1968 I was in college and a friend offered me his near mint 1958 Precision that was a "church bass". His father was the pastor of a Nashville Baptist church whose music program had supposedly been cancelled. I was playing guitar back then and I mentioned that I wanted a P-bass. He loaned it to me for a couple weeks but as a student, I just couldn't come up with the $75 (!!) he was asking for the bass, so I returned it to him.
When I saw the CL pictures of this bass, I thought that this could very well be the same bass. It appears identical, right down to the oxblood leather Fender gig bag. There is no way to ascertain this, but at least in 1968, in Nashville there was at least one near mint Precision that was for sale.
Anyway, in 1981 I was offered this '57 that was owned by Paul Goddard of the Atlanta Rhythm Section. This time I was gainfully employed, so I bought it as a forever keeper. It's 100% original except for the strings that were the last set that Paul installed.
It's not as nice as the Nashville '58 but it's a real road warrior with some cool history.
I lived in the Nashvile area from 1962 until 1971. In 1968 I was in college and a friend offered me his near mint 1958 Precision that was a "church bass". His father was the pastor of a Nashville Baptist church whose music program had supposedly been cancelled. I was playing guitar back then and I mentioned that I wanted a P-bass. He loaned it to me for a couple weeks but as a student, I just couldn't come up with the $75 (!!) he was asking for the bass, so I returned it to him.
When I saw the CL pictures of this bass, I thought that this could very well be the same bass. It appears identical, right down to the oxblood leather Fender gig bag. There is no way to ascertain this, but at least in 1968, in Nashville there was at least one near mint Precision that was for sale.
Anyway, in 1981 I was offered this '57 that was owned by Paul Goddard of the Atlanta Rhythm Section. This time I was gainfully employed, so I bought it as a forever keeper. It's 100% original except for the strings that were the last set that Paul installed.
It's not as nice as the Nashville '58 but it's a real road warrior with some cool history.
I have a 1/57 Precision (pictured) that I've had for 32 years. I believe the bass that is the subject of this post is legit.
I lived in the Nashvile area from 1962 until 1971. In 1968 I was in college and a friend offered me his near mint 1958 Precision that was a "church bass". His father was the pastor of a Nashville Baptist church whose music program had supposedly been cancelled. I was playing guitar back then and I mentioned that I wanted a P-bass. He loaned it to me for a couple weeks but as a student, I just couldn't come up with the $75 (!!) he as asking for the bass, so I returned it to him.
When I saw the CL pictures of this bass, I thought that this could very well be the same bass. It appears identical, right down to the oxblood leather Fender gig bag. There is no way to ascertain this, but at least in 1968, in Nashville there was at least one near mint Precision that was for sale.
Anyway, in 1981 I was offered this '57 that was owned by Paul Goddard of the Atlanta Rhythm Section. This time I was gainfully employed, so I bought it as a forever keeper. It's 100% original except for the strings that were the last set that Paul installed.
It's not as nice as the Nashville '58 but it's a real road warrior with some cool history.
Nice!
I like basses who has been on the road, and got a story. Have you seen Nashville bassplayer Paul Osolas 58 bass?
Hi, Daniel.
Sure, any time! I'm in Smyrna.
BTW, I meant 11/57, not 1/57 on mine. Another Senior Moment...
Jack
This 1959 beauty were sold on Ebay a few days ago. All original exept the case. 6800,- Dollars.
I was totally expecting it to sky rocket the closer it got to closing. Some dealer priba my bought it and charge $13k...but seems like it came from a dealer though..
I still don't get it...puts some of the 58s and 58s listed in the dealers sites and gbase in perspective.
I would have jumped on that 59 if I didn't buy a 63 a month ago...and that's was a big enough hit to the ol' bank account for now.
Dealers will probably always get a little more for their basses than ebay auction prices, especially reputable dealers. But yeah, this one went for way way low and should put things into perspective for at least a few vintage Fender nuts. Too bad I doubt it will put anything into perspective for any dealers though. I'm sure they'll still be asking double what they should. It always cracks me up seeing people on ebay (not even always dealers) trying to sell a '78 P for $3900, or a '71 Jazz with Seymour Duncans for $8K or something. Haha, dream on guys.
I am kinda bummed I chickened out on bidding on this '58 though. But I'm not bummed that I don't have to sell every other bass I own to afford it, lol.
Woody, Paul Goddard of ARS is one of my bass heroes. The melodic bass solo on "Another Mans Woman" blew my mind!
If you have the bass that was used on that cut, I am truly jealous!
If you have the bass that was used on that cut, I am truly jealous!
Yep, that's the bass.
Paul and Duck Dunn are my two main bass influences. Paul is a really nice guy as well.
He recorded the bass tracks on the "Red Tape", Third Annual Pipe Dream" and "Dog Days" ARS albums with this bass before he switched to a Ric 4001.
ARS' J.R. Cobb owned the bass before selling it to Paul. It was also used in the Classics IV's recordings of "Stormy" "Spooky" and "Traces" with (I believe) J.R. on bass.
Paul also used it on the road with Roy Orbinson's Candymen, Joe South and others that I can't recall at the moment.
Since I've already thoroughly hijacked this thread, here's a mid-'70's pic of Paul playing the '57...
Dealers will claim this auction was poorly listed, or dumped as a "fire sale". They fiddle while Rome burns. "Rome" being the vintage market.
I also believe that this bass is the real deal. I have a 59 that I've
Owned for 46 yrs (got it when I was around 12 yrs old, paid $50 for it).
All electronics, hardware, finish look good to me. Serial # and pot #s are good. In today's market $13.5k seems high to me but these basses sound like no other.
Whoever gets their hands on this bass will be very happy
Owned for 46 yrs (got it when I was around 12 yrs old, paid $50 for it).
All electronics, hardware, finish look good to me. Serial # and pot #s are good. In today's market $13.5k seems high to me but these basses sound like no other.
Whoever gets their hands on this bass will be very happy
Me too would have jumped on that bass if I had the money. That Lucky buyer got him self a great deal.
Im pretty sure that the seller of that 59 bass would have got over 10 000 dollars 2years ago. I guy on FDP Forum paid over 15 000,- (for a very clean 58 though) about 3 years ago.
I belive the Vintage dealers are sitting on there hands these days. Buying only if they know they can sell the gear to collectors, and collectors probably want super clean all original, mint basses with case , history and ewerything.
True, but to another extent. When you bought a Fender instrument, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (and they weren't that cheap, it was in the range of 250USD for the instrument, and another 60USD for the case (gigbag was 25 or so)).
The story goes that the late great Mike Bloomfield was invited to sit in a session with Bob Dylan, it was winter, and it was snowing. He came to the studio by bus, with his telecaster, and just that. When he got it, he wiped the snow from his guitar, tuned and started playing.
That's what I keep telling myself since the 63 I bought was a little less than this..."I didn't pay too much, I didn't pay too much..."
But in all honesty the 63 I got is beat up, really beat up, but sounds like a monster. So I guess at the end of the day that's all that matters.
But I keep hearing that 58-59 are the bees knees...so maybe one day, like 10 years from now there'll be another eBay auction hehe. Because dealer prices on these are way out of most people's budgets...especially if you want to play the stinkin' thing!
