1971 P bass value

[A-Step-Towards]

There was a spread sheet floating around at the fender forum years ago where a guy had been recording Fender bass weights for 70s Fenders and had quite a sample. The average weight until around 77 or so was less than 10 pounds with a few outliers. After 77 they tended to get heavier but still averaged around 10 pounds with some outliers. This 70s Fender weight business has been retold so many times that common folklore has them all weighing 11 plus pounds now and that's just not the case. My 76 Jazz weighs nine pounds and so does my 74 Precision, btw.

Id have to go through the list of stuff ive owned,but I have had at least 15 70s Fenders none reached 12 pounds or more, I actually think the heaviest was like 11.5, most 70s Fenders I had were 76+ models, besides 2.

 

[Flaked Beans]

I believe that if your bass is 12 pounds it is an outlier not the norm. Why do you say "about" 12 pounds, have you actually weighed it?

It is 11.8 pounds, on my digital bathroom scale. My 77' and '76 jazz basses were heavier (as I mentioned before, probably about 12.5lbs).

 

[Flaked Beans]

It is 11.8 pounds, on my digital bathroom scale. My 77' and '76 jazz basses were heavier (as I mentioned before, probably about 12.5lbs).

On the other hand my '77 walnut brown/ash/rosewood P bass was only 8lbs.

 

[hjschwartz]

I'm looking at a 1971 P bass at a local shop. It plays awesome, sounds great and is very well worn. The pots have been changed but other than that, all original. Pickup reads 10.5 ohms.

I think they are asking a bit much but I wanted to get an opinion. I love the well worn look, but it doesn't devalue it

Thoughts

I have a 71 lefty p bass I got for $300 back in the late 80s in high school. It sounds fantastic; I've never had the chance to compare it to a p touched by the great Leo himself, but if there is a difference in quality it's not much. My understanding is that it wasn't until the mid to late 70s that CBS started cutting corners. I once left it in a non climate controlled attic in coastal Massachusetts for a one year jaunt to Japan that turned into 7 years (I grabbed a great lawsuit era rick rip off out of a pawn shop there for another 300). Since I had gotten out of playing, it sat in a closet for MAybe another six years. When I came back to it, it was still in tune.

 

[jthisdell]

Well that is impressive. I thought it noteworthy that I could tune up my 71 P, practice with the group for three hours, pack up, take it out in the cold, drive home, take it inside my house, several days later repeat, go outside in the cold, then in to practice and have it still in tune.

But thirteen years? I think that takes it.

 

[Jinobass1]

I’m a proud owner of 71’ P !
Its a great instrument,I own several others P’s as well,
When u play a great fender bass,wether It’s from 50’s,60’s ,70’s U know right away if it’s Worth it.
i try not to limit my self concerning if da Bass is Pre-CBS or CBS.
I own both,and they’re both amazing instrument.
for a great condition PBass w/ Great tone and feel,straight neck,good working Truss -Rod...etc,
$2900 is reasonable for a near mint condition Axe.
But if it ain’t got that $ tone,U know it ain’t worth it.