1965 Fender Precision Bass Value?

[was3funk]

What do you this would be a fair price to purchase this 1965 Fender Precision Bass Pre CBS L series from a friend? He's owned it since 1978. Plays and sounds great. Thanks!

 

[Gervais Cote]

Pre CBS = $$$$$ !

FYI, I know a collector that bought these last years to give you a rough idea :

-1962 Fender P bass, sunburst, slab rosewood board, pre CBS : $ 21 000.00 USD

-1966, same as above but veneered rosewood, post CBS $ 10 200.00 USD

We are located in Eastern Canada so pricing might be a bit different in your area but typically, these prices are "international" nowadays given the fact they are getting rare.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

FYI, I know a collector that bought these last years to give you a rough idea :

-1962 Fender P bass, sunburst, slab rosewood board, pre CBS : $ 21 000.00 USD

-1966, same as above but veneered rosewood, post CBS $ 10 200.00 USD

Rough idea indeed. The bass he's asking about looks like it's been refinished. Looks cool though. That was not uncommon for basses from that era.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Rough idea indeed. The bass he's asking about looks like it's been refinished. Looks cool though. That was not uncommon for basses from that era.

Good point. The basses I’m talking about are all 100% original without any refinish. And the 62 is a real road worn !

 

[jeff62]

Whatever someone is willing to pay…. A refinish, if everything else is original (and depending on the quality of the refinish), anywhere in the 5-6k area would be my guess for someone that is knowledgeable about this stuff. There was a beautiful refinish (much nicer than your pics) on here a short while back that was listed in the $6k range. Who knows what it actually sold for.

 

[ajkula66]

Nice looking bass, but '65 is not pre-CBS, it was actually the first year of CBS ownership and while the bass is most likely identical to a late '64 one in all respects, this fact affects the value.

If everything else is original (pickups, pots, wiring...) it's worth about 50% of a non-refinished '65, check Reverb for sold listings.

 

[Jim C]

$6-$8K assuming everything else is original other than paint.

 

[Sam Dingle]

What do you this would be a fair price to purchase this 1965 Fender Precision Bass Pre CBS L series from a friend? He's owned it since 1978. Plays and sounds great. Thanks!

I paid $5000 after tax for a 1966 P back in 2022 from Carter’s vintage guitars. I think you could get around 8k+

 

[Marc DLarosa]

NEVER do a deal with a Friend, unless THEY walk away happy, and it ends with an "AS IS" handshake.

 

[Root 5]

Is the Fender label in the right spot? Looks off to me

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Pre-CBS "ended" 12/31/64.
Not that there's anything wrong with a '65...

from a friend?

$4K would be my target (or less if he's a really good friend)
Refin w/non-original guard.

Use caution referencing Reverb ASK prices as a guide - there are still occasional deals to be found out there- especially among friends & players.
Even here on TB.

Is the Fender label in the right spot? Looks off to me

yes - there can be a lot of variance in the placement of the logo and string retainer.

 

[FenderP]

Also looks like a brass nut - definitely not original. That may matter to some.

 

[antfarm]

I would offer 5k and see where it goes from there.

 

[Mastermold]

Refins historically have sold for around half the price of an original finish, though I'm hearing lately that has crept up to maybe 60%, being driven by the scarcity of 60's Fenders including CBS era 1965 and later. Check out the sold listings and sales data on Reverb to get some idea. The vintage market is like the used market generally, it varies.

 

[MoStevens]

The market is down right now. I just bought a 1966 w/ stripped finish (was refinished then later stripped to bare wood, then varnished) for $3,000. Original hardware and pickup, and the case was from '64 (white tolex with gold interior). Even had the hang tag in the case. This purchase was from a music store, not an individual.

 

[J Wilson]

I wouldn't dream of diving into a pre-CBS vintage buy without an appraisal from a Gruhn's, a Carter's, etc. It's WAY too easy to lose your shirt.

Nor would I buy anything expensive from a friend

 

[bassistjoe93]

I just bought an all original 66 for $5000. I would echo above that if the electronics are original, I would want to be $3.5-4k in a stripped finish, non original pickguard 65. If the pickup has been replaced, I’d be very hesitant to be that high in it.

 

[smurfco]

about tree fiddy

 

[Spectre Gunner]

I have a good friend that I've bought and sold from several times and when we do make a transaction we agree to give "first right of refusal" if we decide to sell it. I sold a NYC Sadowsky to him and later he sold it back to me and then later I sold it back to him. Then when he decided to sell it a second time I had the opportunity to buy it but refused and he then sold it to someone else. It's a good arrangement as long as both parties are trustworthy and we are.

But if a deal goes bad for whatever reason then the friendship is at risk so tread carefully.

 

[iammr2]

I'll echo both bassistjoe and j wilson. mid-$3000 to low-$4000 especially if it's been stripped. But also, get an actual dealer's appraisal, not a TB appraisal.

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