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63 Fender Jazz. Need Advice

#142
I wish you had more money to dedicate to this project because I'd love to see it restored to an original color with neck refin and proper decal put in place. This bass is a shame and it would be cool to see it brought back to glory! Also please get rid of that awful pickguard.
 
#143
calmb4tehpwn said:
Okay, I inquired on Craigslist about busted up basses, as I'm looking for a new project. Guy gets back to me saying he's got a 63 fender jazz he got for his son 20 years ago planning to fix up but both lost interest. Ended up in the attic where he forgot about it until seeing my ad. Now I've tried not to sound too excited, to avoid him getting suspicious and asking ridiculous amounts, but he lives about 2 hours away, and he has not been very forthcoming with pictures, in fact I haven't gotten any pictures of all. He says it's not the original finish, and that the back of the neck is sanded down. But it includes original pickups, and is in good condition. Assuming all the information is accurate. What would you pay for a 63 jazz project bass? Would you do to it to maximize turn around profit? What's the Max I could expect to turn it around for? Any information specifically on these basses would be invaluable as well.

You'll get pictures as I do. Wish me luck.

Michael
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This is one of those "There is no right answer" questions if you ask me (and you did:ninja:).
Personally I would never buy an old Fender like that unless I could get it for around the cost of what a new one would cost, or maybe even less in this case since it is a fixer upper.
But then again I am not saying I would not mind owning one, I just can't justify spending thousands of dollars on an old beat up bass that I would probably be afraid to take out of the house. :rollno:
 
#144
madmatt said:
This is one of those "There is no right answer" questions if you ask me (and you did:ninja:).
Personally I would never buy an old Fender like that unless I could get it for around the cost of what a new one would cost, or maybe even less in this case since it is a fixer upper.
But then again I am not saying I would not mind owning one, I just can't justify spending thousands of dollars on an old beat up bass that I would probably be afraid to take out of the house. :rollno:
Click to expand...

Did you read the thread? We're way beyond that at this point...:rollno:
 
#146
madmatt said:
Well I was just speaking in general.
Did he buy it? I must have missed that part...
:bassist:
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as far as I know, he was given the bass to look into the authenticity and verify what year it really is with the help of us here on TB.

Not sure if he's going to buy it from the guy or give it back to him...or if the guy actually just gave him a FREE vintage P bass! :bassist:

In any case, I don't believe any money was exchanged at this point...
 
#147
sorry for leaving you guys hanging. I got a trade lined up for the bass, and to avoid jinxing it I wont speak it aloud. So, myself and the owner worked out a deal. I owe him 500, which I would never had gone for except for the trade. I owe him the 500, and if the trade falls through he just gets the bass back and I keep the hardware I picked up.

Updates on restoration. The mold on the headstock sanded right off, nice and clean. I cleaned up the frets a bit. Got as much rust as I could off the original bridge. The screws weren't locked, but the rust is under the chrome plating, and I don't want to make it look worse. The brass pickguard has steel under it, and after removing the rust it looks worse than before. Unoriginal part, not worried. The machineheads are looking great. Tonight I plan or resoldering the electronics. My amateur examination says the electronics look like they'll work. We'll see. I have a squire p I can test the electronics in until my new nut comes in.

Over all, this piece is coming together and looking good all around.
 
#149
Offer the guy $300, and if he says no, give him your phone number and walk. When he calls you back in a couple of months, give him the $300. Then, put a good coat of paint and a new pick guard on it (the stuff johnk 10 suggested) and have you a nice player bass. If it were mine, I'd go with Olympic White and tort. Black/tort would be my second choice, but only because a glossy black finish shows flaws more easily than white. Still, any stock Fender color would be better than natural. As someone has already said, old natural Fender basses are too plentiful
 
#151
calmb4tehpwn said:
Well, I left the color choice up to the trademan. I offered leaving it natural, and he was all about it. If he's happy, and willing to give me my dream bass, then I'm happy.
Click to expand...

Sorry, you posted while I was typing (yeah, I'm slow). That's cool about the color; I have a natural one myself. It seems like everyone stripped their bass and clear coated it in the '60s. :D I hope it all works out for you.
 
#160
Whoops! Sorry guys. I didn't realize all was so unclear.

So, the trusting guy that the original owner is, is willing to let me hold onto and work on it until I can get together the 500 to pass his way. While I gather the money, I've found someone willing to trade me for the bass, once it's in playable condition. So while I get together the money, I am building the bass back up, putting a finish on it (decided on tung oil, despite the time it will take), getting the electronics back together, and once it's back on it's feet, trading for the "dream bass"

This is my first time using tung oil. Any advice? Anything I should do differently than other oils? I've gotten some mineral spirits so it'll take the soak quicker. 3 or 4 coats in the first 48 without wiping off, then soak, wipe, sand, let dry 24, soak wipe sand dry 24 and continue until I'm happy, right?
 

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