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1975 Fender Jazz - vintage value damaged by refret?

Mike McGibney

Mike McGibney

Not impossible ... Inevitable
Apr 13, 2005
242
0
42
Essex, UK.
usera.imagecave.com
#1
Hi everyone - hope this is the right forum for this. I guess it might be setup or something - but hey - I'm sure I'll get a few answers within a short peroid.

Bass no1 currently is an all original 75 jazz bass. I am thinking it's in need of a refret, there's quite a bit of wear there. Now, yes, it's a players bass, but I'm also considering vintage value, it's important also.

Will a refret have a bearing on resale/vintage value?


Many thanks!


Mike



PS What if I kept the frets that were removed.... :hmm:
 
#8
Mods are one thing: pup changes, refins, electronics changes, hardware changes, drilling etc...

But when it comes refret, my only thought would be to use the same type of wire.


Besides, if you are truly paranoid, here's a suggestion:

Put the original neck in storage, get a good quality replacement ('75 RI necks can easily be found) and put that on instead.
 
#10
a GOOD refret is never a bad thing. Are the current frets so far gone that they can't be recrowned?

Once again, have it done. An unplayable vintage bass is good for the closet or for parting out...anyone who wants a 75 (vintage, yes...but not terribly collectable yet) wants it playable.

Take it to someone who's good. Have them use the proper guage fretwire and take care not to chip the fretboard...most good vintage gear has this kind of stuff done.
 
#11
The real question is maple or rosewood? If it's a maple board you're going to have to deal with laquer, perhaps even a partial refin. If it's rosewood, it's unfinished so it should be fairly doable.

I'd rather buy a bass with brand new frets for the same price if I'm gonna play it, but if it's a collector (who shouldn't be lookin' at your bass anyway) he'd want it original. You say it's a player's bass, make it playable.
 
#12
If you are a collector, I would look for a new neck and save the old one. If you are a player that has an intimate connection with that neck, get a refret. I have a 61 Jazz bass that needs a refret. I have flats on it for the time being (and no money for a refret). If I ever decide to go back to rounds on it, I will refret it without hesitation because that neck has a feel that others do not.

Dave
 
#17
Mike McGibney said:
Yeah - I'm planning the bass gallery, london. Cheers for your input. Look forward to hearing more.
Click to expand...

Mike,

I have several "vintage" pieces in my stable. My prize vintage piece is my '73 Jazz. If I could only have one bass, this would be it. And I own $5K Alembics, too.

My Jazz had to be refretted about two years ago. She was buzzing all over the place. I use roundwounds, so it's a casualty of that. I could have kept her stock, but she would have been unplayable. Unless I planned to put her in a case and never play her again, I had no choice but to refret. And I did, with a professional luthier (Link Removed). And you know what? I don't regret it. Unless you plan on buying an instrument as an investment ('59 Les Paul, '54 Strat, '53 Precision, '60 Jazz, '76 Bicentennial Thunderbird, BOO serial Number Musicman, any Alembic ... well, OK, maybe not an investment given the current market, but I'm biased!), there is no reason you should not have it fixed/modded to your specifications. For me, I play my instruments. On my Jazz, the bridge (an original bridge, and a piece of crap IMHO) was replaced by a Badass II. The original pickups (one of which needed a total rewind) were replaced by Seymour Duncan stacks. The tuners were replaced because the originals were loose (I purchased direct replacement Schallers and retained the originals). All of these things made my bass more playable for me, and more enjoyable. And I play it almost every day. If you have to do the same to make your instrument better for you, I say go for it.

If you want museum pieces, buy them. And don't play them. If you want an instrument that will bring you countless hours of joy, buy what you want, get it set up the way you want it, and share the goods with others when you can or when you choose to. My guess is the latter is more rewarding than the former in the long run.

Alan
 
#19
Mike McGibney said:
Thanks for all your help, everyone. It's much appreciated.

In answer to some questions; it's a maple neck. And I am most keen about having it a players bass, I guess.


Here's a pic, for reference:


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]



Thanks everyone.


Mike
Click to expand...

Mike,

She's a beaut. Get her refretted and keep playing her.

Alan
 

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