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1958 Fender Precision

#125
BearCave said:
Hi There!

I'm looking for some advice. I've recently come across a near mint all-original 1958 Fender Precision that is for sale and am looking to make a deal to obtain the bass. I'm looking to do a straight trade for it, but I'm not sure if I want to pull the trigger. As it stands currently, I'm up to having to trade seven basses out of my collection (three custom shop Fenders, a 50th Anniversary Jazz, a Gibson ES-Les Paul Bass, a Spector Euro 4LX Doug Wimbish Signature Bass, a Hofner HCT500/1) and some amp gear (Ampeg SVT-3PRO and SVT410HLF cab, a Mesa PH412 cab).

Am I nuts for even considering trading all of this gear or not?

Please help!!

Thanks!
Click to expand...


For my own information, I laid out what I think you COULD get for that gear in VERY quick sales - ie 10-20% less than anything else on ebay.

- Fender Custom shop 1-3: $5250 ($1750 each should have them FLYING off the shelfs)
- 50th anniversary Jazz - $750
- ES-Les Paul Bass - $2000? These are brand new and MSRP is $3200 or something.
- Spector - $2000 (10% less than the lowest sold on ebay recently)
- Hofner - $750 and it sells tomorrow

TOTAL: $10,750

And these are all pretty low low prices but probably realistic if you want to do a really quick sale. You do that and you are over the selling price - and you get to keep the other gear. But you have much much more hassle.
 
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#127
Personally, I'd never do that deal. Just too many great basses going away for one collectible, but very overweight bass. I don't think the numbers make for a good deal at all. Just my opinion.

If the 58 is something you just must have, I'd scrape together cash somehow and make a cash offer under that asking price, then take your time selling off some of your pieces to recoup. You would come out way better in the long run that way.
 
#130
I think I'd do it, if:

- You "need" to make room in your livingspace by trading away those 6 or 7 other basses.
- You are "tired of" or not inspired as much as you feel you should be by your current gear.
- You can always replace Fender CS basses, as well the other stuff you're proposing to trade.
- You can only play one bass at a time, so why not focus your financial resources on one great, valuable instrument, that will appreciate in value more than the others, even combined.

- The 1958/9 Pbass is an ICONIC instrument, whereas the others are NOT.
- The 1958/9 basses only come around once in a while, and to be in position to acquire/curate one is rare, and may be once in a lifetime.
- If you have this many high-end basses to trade, you probably have other basses in your collection that you can take out "to the bar gigs", so disregard the "I wouldnt take this to play for the drunken guys in the bar" comments
- Remember, the sports adage "you have to give to get." That seems to be the case here...

- You've already played the 1958/9 - and were swept off your feet, pulse racing, inspired to play all your Stax records with Duck Dunn, fantasizing at all the great music you would make together with this bass!

OP -- I've been in your position before, about 5 years ago. I was able to trade a Fender CS jazz, Fender CS Strat, a Modulus Q6, Gibson CS '60 LP Special, plus cash for a 1962 Fender Precision, much more "worn in" than the 1958/9 you're considering. While I slightly miss the CS Jazz bass, the 1962 has been my main bass since then. I've taken to recording sessions, bar gigs. And I practice on it much of the time. It is the best playing and sounding bass I've ever owned or played, and I've played LOTS of basses. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldnt even hesitate!
 
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#133
Admiral Akbar said:
I think I'd do it, if:

- You "need" to make room in your livingspace by trading away those 6 or 7 other basses.
- You are "tired of" or not inspired as much as you feel you should be by your current gear.
- You can always replace Fender CS basses, as well the other stuff you're proposing to trade.
- You can only play one bass at a time, so why not focus your financial resources on one great, valuable instrument, that will appreciate in value more than the others, even combined.

- The 1958/9 Pbass is an ICONIC instrument, whereas the others are NOT.
- The 1958/9 basses only come around once in a while, and to be in position to acquire/curate one is rare, and may be once in a lifetime.
- If you have this many high-end basses to trade, you probably have other basses in your collection that you can take out "to the bar gigs", so disregard the "I wouldnt take this to play for the drunken guys in the bar" comments

- You've already played the 1958/9 - and were swept off your feet, pulse racing, inspired to play all your Stax records with Duck Dunn, fantasizing at all the great music you would make together with this bass!
Click to expand...

What I am suggesting is a different way to do the deal rather than a reason not to do a deal.

One thing should be said though - if you are willing to drop $10k on a precision, you will be spoiled for choice if you really start looking around.
 
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#135
Admiral Akbar said:
I think I'd do it, if:

- You "need" to make room in your livingspace by trading away those 6 or 7 other basses.
- You are "tired of" or not inspired as much as you feel you should be by your current gear.
- You can always replace Fender CS basses, as well the other stuff you're proposing to trade.
- You can only play one bass at a time, so why not focus your financial resources on one great, valuable instrument, that will appreciate in value more than the others, even combined.

- The 1958/9 Pbass is an ICONIC instrument, whereas the others are NOT.
- The 1958/9 basses only come around once in a while, and to be in position to acquire/curate one is rare, and may be once in a lifetime.
- If you have this many high-end basses to trade, you probably have other basses in your collection that you can take out "to the bar gigs", so disregard the "I wouldnt take this to play for the drunken guys in the bar" comments
- Remember, the sports adage "you have to give to get." That seems to be the case here...

- You've already played the 1958/9 - and were swept off your feet, pulse racing, inspired to play all your Stax records with Duck Dunn, fantasizing at all the great music you would make together with this bass!

OP -- I've been in your position before, about 5 years ago. I was able to trade a Fender CS jazz, Fender CS Strat, a Modulus Q6, Gibson CS '60 LP Special, plus cash for a 1962 Fender Precision, much more "worn in" than the 1958/9 you're considering. While I slightly miss the CS Jazz bass, the 1962 has been my main bass since then. I've taken to recording sessions, bar gigs. And I practice on it much of the time. It is the best playing and sounding bass I've ever owned or played, and I've played LOTS of basses. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldnt even hesitate!
Click to expand...


This.........
 
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#137
Plus, let me make some things clear.....

1. It turns out that it's a 1959 Precision, not a 1958, after I had them take the neck off, pull the pups out, and check the date codes on the pots. They sent me pics of all of that which I shared earlier in the thread.

2. It does not weigh 11 pounds. There was a '76 P that I had played before I tried the '59 that was real dog and weighed a ton. The '59 is right about 8 lbs.

3. It includes the original chrome covers. It's all original. It does not, however, have the original case.

4. I have a rather large collection of basses and a considerable part of it was not being used (sitting in the closet). The thought that I maybe have too many basses coupled with the thought that a Pre-CBS Fender may never be within my reach collided when I picked up the '59 this past weekend and the gears in my head started turning........consolidation + obtaining a Pre-CBS Fender.

5. I will still have a considerably nice collection AFTER the trade. The '59 will not be my only bass.

I do appreciate everyone's input! It's very interesting to read everyone's take on the deal.....

:):bassist:
 
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#140
mojomike001 said:
Why would you assume that the '58 will automatically sound better than the basses being traded for it? Old doesn't automatically equal better. We don't even know what CS basses would be traded away.
Click to expand...
I'm sure it will sound better than at least some of those basses. And the OP will still have some very nice basses in his stable, according to his profile.

No need to keep what's not being used, that was kind of my point, clumsily exposed.

That, plus P > J . ;)
 

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