1958 P Bass thoughts?

[elgranluis]

Lately i ask myself two questions before buying gear :

1.- do i really need it?
2.- can i afford it?

If i get at least one "yes", im good to make the purchase.

 

[yodedude2]

I have an irrational and illogical desire to acquire a 1958 P Bass. I'm 58, the 1958 bass is 58, blah blah. So I'm trying to justify dumping some cash on a decent one. Like this, for example: Andy Baxter Bass & Guitars Ltd

i ask...why would you not?

 

[Pet Sounds]

You probably know that Fender makes a great 1958 American Vintage Reissue P-Bass for a fraction of the cost. The reissues are extremely nice, if you don't want to shell out for a vintage '58.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

When I was about 16, I played a '58 P-bass at a local store. Tan "olypmic white" body, maple fretboard. It was *thrashed* - chipped finish, worn neck - but I remember how cool it sounded. I should have bought it - I had the funds and the store was selling it for $500. That was 1977 when the Pre-CBS frenzy had yet to really hit. That bass would be worth... eh... I don't know. 10K? More?

So good luck finding one you can afford. Any pre-CBS fender will *set you back*.

 

[pbassnut]

Welcome to the exciting world of playing bass ... good choice.

I'd say if you've got money to burn, go for it as the late 50's Precisions are among a short list of "Holy Grail" vintage basses to own. However, I would personally recommend you getting a Fender AVRI '58 Precision instead. Just like this one ...

Invalid Link Removed

It's hard to say what kind of playing/jamming/sitting in/learning situations you are going to find yourself in as you first start playing bass, but I think you would find it a constant worry to have an irreplaceable, $8000 - $10,000 instrument with you. Chances are, the above Fender American Vintage '58 will be a great bass for you as this last batch of vintage reissue basses Fender has produced are some of their best ever (IMHO and many of our brethren and sistren on TalkBass) and you can consider it a personal challenge to live long enough and play that bass long enough to put enough honest wear on it to make it look like an actual pre-CBS '58 Precision.

 

[PaperbackRyder]

What he said! You will have a supremely toneful ax and as you progress, will never have to ask yourself if your bass is holding you back! High probability that gorgeous ax will appreciate in value over the next few years.

 

[micguy]

Make sure you play it before you buy it. I'm your age, have half a dozen basses that added together wouldn't cost as much as a decent 58, and... I've never played any bass of that era that plays as well as any of the basses I do have.

 

[RickyWoo]

Nostalgia can really mess with rationality.

 

[pbassnut]

When I was about 16, I played a '58 P-bass at a local store. Tan "olypmic white" body, maple fretboard. It was *thrashed* - chipped finish, worn neck - but I remember how cool it sounded. I should have bought it - I had the funds and the store was selling it for $500. That was 1977 when the Pre-CBS frenzy had yet to really hit. That bass would be worth... eh... I don't know. 10K? More?

So good luck finding one you can afford. Any pre-CBS fender will *set you back*.

Yeah, ain't that the truth.

I picked up an all original pre-CBS sunburst 1958 Precision for $500 back in the late 1970's when I was playing full time. It was the very early days of vintage instrument awareness and there were only a coupla places I knew of who dealt in them ... Norm's Rare Guitars and Gruhn's Guitars. However, for the most part, they were just considered used guitars and basses back then. I also picked up an all original pre-CBS sunburst stack knobs 1960 Jazz for $550 that same year. However, both were over $2000 in today's dollars, which was still a relatively good deal compared to what they might fetch on today's vintage market. They were great basses to be sure, but I sold them along with a few other vintage Fender basses and some PA equipment I'd amassed to help finance my return to college to get a computer science degree in the mid-1980's and haven't looked back. First of all, the (R)eturn (O)n (I)nvestment on investing the proceeds from those basses and gear into a lucrative computer career that enabled me to meet and marry my beloved queen and retire at age 50 was substantial and the Fender and FrankenFender P and J basses I have now are just killer so what's not to like?

 

[Roxbororob]

Oh mannn.......

 

[Don Kasper]

Go Ahead! Your relatives will reap the ROI when they find out what you paid for it, decide that you've lost your mind, and put you in the Home!

 

[Engle]

That's too much $ for a bass for me, BUT.... many guys in their 50's spend 10 times that on cars. So if you can afford it and you can play it before buying, I say go for it - life is short.
And good on you for starting to play!!!

 

[petrus61]

You should buy a Sire, Darkgkass pedal and a Greenboy cabinet, or not buy anything at all. Actually, but the 58 first, then sell it to fund a Dingwall. Make sure you have a Trickfish amp and Dunlop Super Brites for strings. If the Dunlops don't fit the Dingwall, than you should probably sell it to fund this:

And this:

Report back when all is said and done.

 

[Blueinred]

Baxter is expensive for what you get, I could see them wanting 10 grand for that.

Converting pounds to US dollars means they are asking about $10,550 for the bass. Sound clips didn't really excite me, but, I've heard too many P basses at this point.

 

[bobyoung53]

Converting pounds to US dollars means they are asking about $10,550 for the bass. Sound clips didn't really excite me, but, I've heard too many P basses at this point.

I don't know what they want for it, I was just guessing, the headstock has a little crack in it too, i wouldn't like that unless it's as old as the bass itself.

 

[Blueinred]

I don't know what they want for it, I was just guessing, the headstock has a little crack in it too, i wouldn't like that unless it's as old as the bass itself.

On the page it lists the price as 8,095 British pounds. (Today's conversion is $1.33 per pound.)

 

[joebar]

get a late model AVRI or American standard P bass they will likely be better for a fraction of the price.
old isn't necessarily good. sometimes old is just old.

 

[gjohnson441496]

I like your story and hope you get it. Nevertheless, whatever bass you choose to purchase new or old, I encourage you to have fun and enjoy making music with the instrument of your choice.

 

[Dynacord]

I totally understand the reasoning - though I'd encourage you to try before you buy if at all possible. I had a '58, have a '59 and have played quite a few others and they really vary; particularly the neck carves. It's all personal preference but some are very different from others.

 

[bobyoung53]

On the page it lists the price as 8,095 British pounds. (Today's conversion is $1.33 per pound.)

My guess was pretty close, their prices are usually close to double about what something would cost here in the US. I wouldn't touch it because of the crack, who knows how bad it really is with out being able to check it out in person?