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1965 Fender Bass V

#25
smcd said:
These aren't really *that* rare. The come up for sale fairly often. The reason it didn't catch on is because it wasn't a good sounding instrument. As someone else mentioned, these are attractive to Fender collectors only.
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Maybe not in the states but they are very rare in the UK, I've been gigging since the early 60s and have only seen one in the UK.
I have the1965-66 Fender catalogue which is when the 'Bass V' was introdiced see below.

2hmk388.jpg
 
#26
Well, the bass is mine. :)
It came in the mail last week... Need a pro setup though (not by me), but I really see GREAT potential in this one. The sound is just amazing. Sounds like an amazing old p-bass. I've strung it with flats, B-E-A-D-G. The C-string was a bit too thin for my taste, soundwise.
Anyway, before anyone starts shouting "No pics, no bass!!!", can anyone help me with this? I'll take some pictures if it, but I don't know how to post them here. Maybe I can e-mail them to one of you guys, and then you can post them for me? I'm sure many people, including my self will be very thankful. :) And I have checked the pots. It's made in the 42nd week of 1965. Sweetness... :D
 
#27
Congrats on the Bass V. I'll disagree with a few previous posters that claim that there are a lot of these. I believe only about 200 were built (don't believe the Wikipedia page - they have info for the Jazz V). Many of those out there are basket cases. But no, they're not collectible like an old Jazz or Precision bass.

I owned 2 of them a few years ago. I scored 2 beaters for reasonable prices. One was a blocks/binding neck which was in nice shape, but was stripped and needed a refin. The body had previously been refin'd countless times, most recently in banana pudding color. The other was a sunburst with the body in good shape, but the neck had major issues.

Mike Lull did a fantastic surgery on the neck of the sunburst one, and refinished the body of the banana pudding one in Ocean Turquoise.

The sound is great like on old P Bass. I had the sunburst strung E-C and the Ocean Turquoise B-G. The low B had a very soft and pillowy tone, very nice.

Bass Northwest help me sell the sunburst one for around $2,500 to the bass player from Matchbox Twenty. I was planning on keeping the Ocean Turquoise one, but alas, fell on hard times and needed to move it. Bass Northwest helped with that one as well, but I have no idea who has it now. I wish I still had that one.

Here's a pic to tantalize (and no comments on the weird rug!).
 

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#29
Thanks John,

I wish I still had one. Someone with your skills could get templates made so we could make some reasonably priced ones.

Yes, they are a bit weird with the elongated body and 15 frets (at first I found myself grabbing the 9th fret thinking I was at the octave), but they play great and sound great. Chunky neck, unlike a Jazz, but I still liked them a lot.
 
#32
knuppe said:
Well, the bass is mine. :)
It came in the mail last week... Need a pro setup though (not by me), but I really see GREAT potential in this one. The sound is just amazing. Sounds like an amazing old p-bass. I've strung it with flats, B-E-A-D-G. The C-string was a bit too thin for my taste, soundwise.
Anyway, before anyone starts shouting "No pics, no bass!!!", can anyone help me with this? I'll take some pictures if it, but I don't know how to post them here. Maybe I can e-mail them to one of you guys, and then you can post them for me? I'm sure many people, including my self will be very thankful. :) And I have checked the pots. It's made in the 42nd week of 1965. Sweetness... :D
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That's great. We can start a club. Just the 2 of us!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/fender-v-bass-749890/
 
#34
Cadburypurple said:
I am in UK and I own a Fender Bass V, mint condition, never been played. Stil in original Fender Hard Case How do I date it and value it?
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Oy - in order to get a true sense of value you will need to disassemble the bass. Yes, really.

In addition to a serial number that ought to be stamped on the neck plate, the neck ought to have a date stamped on it at the heel, the pots will be identifiable as being from this era and there may or may not be be a date or initials or both written into one of the cavities (pup or control) routed into the body. There is the standard hardware rigors for what was 'right' for the era as well.

Bothersome, but any true collector that would give you top dollar will insist on this at minimum - provenance my need to be established as well if there any claims beyond age.

Skip
 
#36
knuckle_head said:
Oy - in order to get a true sense of value you will need to disassemble the bass. Yes, really.

In addition to a serial number that ought to be stamped on the neck plate, the neck ought to have a date stamped on it at the heel, the pots will be identifiable as being from this era and there may or may not be be a date or initials or both written into one of the cavities (pup or control) routed into the body. There is the standard hardware rigors for what was 'right' for the era as well.

Bothersome, but any true collector that would give you top dollar will insist on this at minimum - provenance my need to be established as well if there any claims beyond age.

Skip
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Here's my Fender V with the date stamp on the heel.
 

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