1978 Fender P-Bass

[denton57]

Realistic? Sad how many people think it's ok to rip someone off, and even applaud it. I guess I'm just old fashioned.

Who got ripped off?

Do you pay market value for every single purchase you make, even if it’s on sale? A house is listed $150K below market…are you going to pay market to feel better about it?

I have an 8 year old riding lawnmower. I paid $1200 for it new. I’m upgrading, and my old one needs a little work but still runs, etc. I would take $200 for it today to get it out of my backyard. If I put it on CL for $1200 (or even higher as riding lawn mowers are more expensive today), will someone come pay up for it? Or do I pass it down to someone for a couple hundred bucks and give them a good deal? If I sell for $200, am I getting ripped off? I set the price, I want to give someone a deal. On paper or according to you, the buyer is ripping me off. In reality, I just am ready for it to move on to someone who might use it.

 

[bylar13]

Nice bass and congrats! I have lived in the Philadelphia area my entire life (currently 56) and have done a lot person-to-person buying selling. I tend to focus on my areas of interest (musical instruments, bicycles & the occasional car) and find people's negative reaction to this story interesting.

While I have not recently picked up a vintage Fender bass for $100, great deals come up regularly if you look regularly.

Also communicating effectively and definitively to sellers gives you a leg up over most the folks who respond poorly and try to haggle virtually.

To those who keep talking about "karma" etc. do you regularly pay above asking for items based on extenuating circumstances? I didn't think so.

 

[Mike Vee]

To those who keep talking about "karma" etc. do you regularly pay above asking for items based on extenuating circumstances? I didn't think so.

Imagine their version of the story for a second. The family says "we'll take $100" and they guy says "no, no, I'm a GOOD guy, I'd like to go to the ATM right now and withdraw $1200 dollars for you. Stay right here, I'll be back in 15 minutes!" LOL

 

[bigjames]

Hey all on TB!

Wanted to share this ‘78 P-Bass I just acquired. A friend of mine saw a Fender case on someone’s porch for 3 days & decided to knock to see what they were doing with it. Turns out it had a bass in there that their mom played in the church band and she had since passed. He asked if they’d want to sell it & he got it for $100! All original, just missing the ashtray/pickup covers. Neck needed a little adjustment, which it looks like someone may have tried previously at some point but didn’t have the neck off so it gouged the guard a little bit. Gave it about a half turn and it feels perfect now. One connection needed to be re-soldered, otherwise all good under the hood! This thing has a great vibe! All I can think about is how this bass is/was responsible for some of the greatest music of the last century. Funny part for me is this is my first P bass I’ve owned! Let me know what you think!View attachment 5182141View attachment 5182142View attachment 5182143View attachment 5182144

I am not a huge fan of P basses in general, but that is glorious.

 

[gcb]

When offered an instrument on such unusual conditions I normally request the seller some proof of ownership and /or of the veracity of the old lady who passed away story. And a signed receipt.

In 1985 I was exiting Manny's and at the entrance was a guy offering a P bass in U$s 90. Even at that time the price was not realistic and after a few questions it was clear to me that the guy was not the legal owner of the bass and he could not explain its origin. So I passed.

 

[bylar13]

Imagine their version of the story for a second. The family says "we'll take $100" and they guy says "no, no, I'm a GOOD guy, I'd like to go to the ATM right now and withdraw $1200 dollars for you. Stay right here, I'll be back in 15 minutes!" LOL

Exactly. This type of virtue signaling happens regularly on the internet.
I have yet to have one person, in 46+ years of selling stuff ever, offer me more than my asking price on any item. Even when I know I am selling it well below its value because I need quick cash or to keep my wife happy, most hand me the cash leave and possibly apologize to God (or whoever/whatever floats their boat) at a later date.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

How can people still find vintage Fenders for $100 in 2023 ?

I'm picking up Cross Roads vibes here. This bass, $100, from the deceased parishioner who played it. Somebody is going to rot in ...

 

[Mike Vee]

Exactly. This type of virtue signaling happens regularly on the internet.
I have yet to have one person, in 46+ years of selling stuff ever, offer me more than my asking price on any item. Even when I know I am selling it well below its value because I need quick cash or to keep my wife happy, most hand me the cash leave and possibly apologize to God (or whoever/whatever floats their boat) at a later date.

I do understand if somebody was bragging about taking advantage of somebody, saying stuff like “wow this guy was so stupid and I ripped him off” with a real snarky tone and shady vibe, but that is not the case here at all. I am sure there are some people with that type of attitude, and that should be frowned upon. However, there’s also personal accountability, if you’re going to sell something, take the literally 5.2 seconds and go on Google to see what it might be worth. If you can’t be bothered to do that in 2023, well then….

 

[Queue]

How can people still find vintage Fenders for $100 in 2023 ?

How can someone leave a vintage Fender on their porch for 3 days without it disappearing!

 

[Mike Vee]

How can someone leave a vintage Fender on their porch for 3 days without it disappearing!

In that neighborhood, unless it produced trap music hi-hats or the case was filled with fentanyl, it would be worthless.

 

[Ggaa]

Had an Olympic White '78, maple fboard, that ended up that color after a few years.

 

[TTPbass1]

I paid $500 for my beautiful 2011 AM Special P and thought it was a steal...

 

[J-Bass RMR]

narrowing it down to 77-79 based on the headstock logo

Can't quite make out the code on the pots.
Pickups should have a date stamp underneath.
Also, basses from that era may have a sticker with the date (mo, day, year) on the body under the pickups.
Can't tell from the photos, but it should have the brass pickup shield under the pickups as well, since it was before they started shielding the control cavity.

 

[ToddB1963]

Realistic? Sad how many people think it's ok to rip someone off, and even applaud it. I guess I'm just old fashioned.

Except no one here has ripped anyone off...

For all you know, the seller might have known the bass's true market value yet decided to sell at that price as a magnanimous gesture in honor of the memory of his late mother.

 

[Johnny_Paps]

Can't quite make out the code on the pots.
Pickups should have a date stamp underneath.
Also, basses from that era may have a sticker with the date (mo, day, year) on the body under the pickups.
Can't tell from the photos, but it should have the brass pickup shield under the pickups as well, since it was before they started shielding the control cavity.

View attachment 5183153 View attachment 5183174

I didn’t see any dates behind the pickups & they are basically adhered to that brass plate I didn’t want to peel it apart so I just cut a piece of backing down the center and placed it in to raise the pickups slightly. You can see that white wire bridging the volume to tone was disconnected, that’s the only soldering I had to do. My buddy was like “wow man this thing sounds so good I never heard anything like it” before I reconnected. I plugged it into my SVT classic when I initially got it & it did sound a little flat to me even with the bass at 7/8 o’clock, so after fixing everything up it I plugged it back in and WOW for real now.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

View attachment 5183201 View attachment 5183202 View attachment 5183203

I didn’t see any dates behind the pickups & they are basically adhered to that brass plate I didn’t want to peel it apart so I just cut a piece of backing down the center and placed it in to raise the pickups slightly. You can see that white wire bridging the volume to tone was disconnected, that’s the only soldering I had to do. My buddy was like “wow man this thing sounds so good I never heard anything like it” before I reconnected. I plugged it into my SVT classic when I initially got it & it did sound a little flat to me even with the bass at 7/8 o’clock, so after fixing everything up it I plugged it back in and WOW for real now.

Congratulations. Early 1979.

 

[Crackle]

The number on the volume pot reads 1377904. That means CTS manufactured that pot during the 4th week of 1979.

 

[Johnny_Paps]

Deals like this do not come around too often so when I have the opportunity I take it. I don’t know if my friend offered $100 or if the son of the owner made that figure but that’s their business. He told me what he wanted & I didn’t haggle or say you know I should probably give you more, cause why should I? I know he knows what it’s worth, he has his own collection. The guy who sold it is happy, my friend is more than happy & I’m happy too. If you’ve never been to north Philly then I understand why you would think it’s unheard of to find such a deal. This isn’t the first deal I’ve struck.

Another family friend I have does estate clean outs & about 7 years ago he acquired an early 70’s 7 piece Ludwig Vistalite set. I wasn’t even in the area at the time so my uncle called me and says “yeah he’s got a drum set if you’re interested. Idk they’re blue see through Ludwig’s” I replied with “grab them for whatever he wants I’ll be back in town this weekend to give you the cash”. So I get a call from my dad (RIP) later that day saying “I got a surprise for when you get back” of course I already knew what it was! They wanted $200 for everything. Drums, hardware & a trap case. My dad didn’t even have the cash at the time. My grandmom saw him unhooking the tv and she goes “what are you doing” he says “pawning the tv to get that drum set!!!” My grandmom made a phone call & my cousin dropped off $200 in 10 mins. My dad said dude had the kit sitting on the curb when he went to pick them up! I got back in town that weekend & my dad and I sat there just staring at them in awe. They were/are mint! Still have them & will never get rid of them.

 

[Johnny_Paps]

The number on the volume pot reads 1377904. That means CTS manufactured that pot during the 4th week of 1979.

Pretty cool. Could’ve been the end of the ‘78 neck/body supply assembled early ‘79.

 

[Crackle]

Pretty cool. Could’ve been the end of the ‘78 neck/body supply assembled early ‘79.

It's my understanding that Fender made a huge number of S8 decals that ended up being used all the way through 1982. Therefore, the best way to date S8 basses is by checking the pots and / or pickups.