1966 P-Bass Overpriced?

[Wisebass]

Ciao Gianni

Well, more or less .. a P-bass is not a complex machine but, aside from the electronics component, there's the materials choice and the workmanship which is, presumably, what one pays for when buying a CS instrument or whatever other high-end, non mass-produced instrument.

There is a difference

Leo Fender always bought the cheapest wood he could find. He also bought the cheapest hardware.

He spent some of time to find out how to produce the cheapest pickup for a bass that doesn't hum.

Apart from that he certainly didn't care about basses!

But he had guys who loved their job (working with wood) and knew a great deal about it.

That worked as long as the factory was small! It stopped to work in the 60s!

That's why Leo sold!

CBS took over when Fender became too big to manage for Leo (he made the deal of his life selling it!)

This substantially makes the difference between a CS/good vintage instrument and a MIJ P-bass.

MIJ is and always was constant quality, maybe not the best but very consistent.

A CS P bass is a bass made by a luthier.

A vintage P bass is a bass that was made by a worker.

A japanese P bass is made by someone who makes ten great basses

while the luthier is payed to find out how the workers made them back in the days!

Just kidding!

Wise

 

[bassdude51]

I'm sure the seller did the research on mint LPB 1966 P Basses when the price of $12,000 was chosen.

I'm not gonna do a Google search on such a bass to find out what it's worth. You can do that.

Are you really thinking of buying this bass? Even if the price was in the 7k to 9k range?

Not to derail this thread, I have a 1966 CAR P Bass with lots of player's wear. I bought it about 9 to 10 years ago and I paid about $2,500 for it. No case (but I found a '66 case later on). Mine came from the grandson of the original owner. Zero fret wear (flats) and the truss rod had never been messed with.

CBS took over Fender on Jan. 1 1965. Probably 90% of the employees were the same as in 1964. The only difference in a '64 and a '66 is the "F" neck plate. 1966 was about the last good year for Fender being made like the pre-CBS.

Here's mine. It's 100% original but the pickguard was broken in two at the volume. I kept it of course but believe it or not, a Fender '62 reissue white guard lines up perfect with all of the screw holes. The original white guard is thicker and it has a sharper angle cut on the edge. And as mentioned, it is still pure white and has not yellowed or gone mint. I don't know what they used back then.

$12,000 might be what that LPB is worth. But not many of us can afford a price like that. The seller might come down to $10,500 or he might put it up for sell on Reverb.com or eBay.

With any used instrument..........."Buyer beware!" Completely verify everything.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I think if I show this link to the Mrs I might just be able to grab that 51 FCS blonde at a cheap 5200$ CDN lolol.

Play with her mind a bit. Tell her the instrument you want is not $5200CAD, rather it is only $3905USD (according to xe.com at the moment.) Then leave quickly to buy it. By the time she responds with "Hey, wait a minute...", you're already home with the new bass.

 

[Panther]

Play with her mind a bit. Tell her the instrument you want is not $5200CAD, rather it is only $3905USD (according to xe.com at the moment.) Then leave quickly to buy it. By the time she responds with "Hey, wait a minute...", you're already home with the new bass.

or tell her that the original in the link is about 49000 CDN by the time it gets to the door!! Think of the savings!!

 

[SJLee]

 

[Sean Brookes]

Suspiciously clean. If genuine, it's absolutely worth that price as it'll only hold price and appreciate in value!?

 

[Kukulkan61]

8000 is as high as I would go...

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Ciao Gianni



There is a difference

Leo Fender always bought the cheapest wood he could find. He also bought the cheapest hardware.

He spent some of time to find out how to produce the cheapest pickup for a bass that doesn't hum.

Apart from that he certainly didn't care about basses!

But he had guys who loved their job (working with wood) and knew a great deal about it.

That worked as long as the factory was small! It stopped to work in the 60s!

Tha'ts why Leo sold!

CBS took over when Fender became too big to manage for Leo (he made the deal of his life selling it!)



A CS P bass is a P bassma

MIJ is and always was constant quality, maybe not the best but very consistent.

That's what I'm saying, craftsmanship makes the difference in the case of both true-vintage and CS instruments.
MIJ, MIM and non-CS MIA instruments are all good; some more, some less, but they are run-of-mill products .... different category, price tag and market sector, nothing to do with what the OP showed us I guess.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I'm sure the seller did the research on mint LPB 1966 P Basses when the price of $12,000 was chosen.

I'm not gonna do a Google search on such a bass to find out what it's worth. You can do that.

Are you really thinking of buying this bass? Even if the price was in the 7k to 9k range?

Not to derail this thread, I have a 1966 CAR P Bass with lots of player's wear. I bought it about 9 to 10 years ago and I paid about $2,500 for it. No case (but I found a '66 case later on). Mine came from the grandson of the original owner. Zero fret wear (flats) and the truss rod had never been messed with.

CBS took over Fender on Jan. 1 1965. Probably 90% of the employees were the same as in 1964. The only difference in a '64 and a '66 is the "F" neck plate. 1966 was about the last good year for Fender being made like the pre-CBS.

Here's mine. It's 100% original but the pickguard was broken in two at the volume. I kept it of course but believe it or not, a Fender '62 reissue white guard lines up perfect with all of the screw holes. The original white guard is thicker and it has a sharper angle cut on the edge. And as mentioned, it is still pure white and has not yellowed or gone mint. I don't know what they used back then.

$12,000 might be what that LPB is worth. But not many of us can afford a price like that. The seller might come down to $10,500 or he might put it up for sell on Reverb.com or eBay.

With any used instrument..........."Buyer beware!" Completely verify everything.

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Wow, nice

 

[groooooove]

that's in pretty insane shape.

assuming one can confirm it's all legit... i mean, the price is high, but if you were a collector and looking for mint you have little to choose from.

really cool bass though.

 

[SJLee]

Suspiciously clean. If genuine, it's absolutely worth that price as it'll only hold price and appreciate in value!?

Maybe,.. that's if vintage guitar/bass market does not follow the same path as the vintage car market. There's not too many people pining for Ford model T's anymore. As more boomers die off there is going to be less demand for those 1960's basses as there will be less people who grew up during that time period who would have an emotional attachment to something from that time period. Personally I love them, but I can't see putting 12K into one. That's not because I can't afford it, but I rather put 12K into improving my house. I've got 14 basses already that play amazingly well. But that's just me. Other's may be able to put 12K into their house and 12K into a bass and another 120K into whatever else they want.

 

[coy garcia]

My only issue with it is that basses like that were obviously not played much, and there's most likely a reason for that. There's a reason all the big names have beat-to-hell p basses, and that's because the ones that sound the best are used the most.

I relate to this. I have a 76p that looks brand new in original case. I have a 73p beat to hell. I've never played the 76 for this reason.

 

[fretlessman71]

"Overpriced" means to me "Someone with a little bit of knowledge could find it much cheaper somewhere else", or at least "Someone could find something just as good for a lot less". If this is legit 1966 all original, $12K is likely a negotiating starting point, but not without precedent. However, just because someone paid that much for a bass like this previously doesn't mean it's NOT overpriced. If someone has the means and it's worth it to them, that's all that matters. But I hope this bass sells for closer to $10K.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Seriously - no clue.

But it IS fun to come into the thread and say that without a tort pickguard, that does seem like a high price everything else being equal.

At least you can put flats on it and run it through a metal OD to a DI and board direct - as the best bass for metal. Right? After you re-fin it with a matte black finish, of course.

 

[MrMoT]

I just can't believe that this is all original... I mean, even if it was bought, and left in case in perfect conditions.... However, if it is all original, then it's definitely worth a lot of money to collectors who are going to buy it, and leave it in case for another 60 years.....

 

[JoeWPgh]

Looks like a refin to me.

 

[nilorius]

I think someone wants to get a very good earn.

 

[Auspuff]

I spotted this bass on Facebook Marketplace. I have no doubts about its authenticity and superb condition but the price of $12,000 seems a bit exorbitant. I assume that it's not really a pre-CBS Fender (close, but not quite there).

Thoughts?

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To the person who wants it, it is the perfect price.

 

[Wilmingtonian]

People are still talking about how you can get a better instrument for less. This isn't priced to play, folks, it's a collectible for the collector's market. They aren't making any more of 'em, even if the ones they make today could be a "better" instrument.

 

[dcbluesbass]

I spotted this bass on Facebook Marketplace. I have no doubts about its authenticity and superb condition but the price of $12,000 seems a bit exorbitant. I assume that it's not really a pre-CBS Fender (close, but not quite there).

Thoughts?

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Zav's In Crystal City (Alexandria, Va) bought two of every model Fender and Gibson put out since the early 50's. That was their retirement! The old man may be dead, so the son maybe selling things off. It a small store, but they had a lot of great stuff.