63 Jazz worth 6K?

[TomB]

My August '63J also has an indisputable pedigree. I bought it in '73 from the original owner. ...no screw-down mutes. The black foam stuck on the bridge cover looked similar to what Fender then used for many years afterwards.

 

[jaybones]

Even if I was in the market for a $6K bass, I'd have to drive it.

 

[JIO]

I just pieced together a mid 70's Jazz Bass using an original neck and body. I put in Fender Vintage '64 pickups and I also splurged on an original era case. I have $1200 invested. Much more then my usual cut off of $800 I will spend on a bass. I thought I was going to sell it for a modest profit but couldn't since it sounds and feels so darn good. Unless I get shot in the ass with gold nuggets, I'm not spending over $1200 on a bass.

I just played this a few days ago and honestly it was "meh" (to me....and well the store owner too...). We both thought the Flea Jazz sounded better!

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Yes, just because it's of a certain 'vintage' doesn't guarantee it will play/sound great. I was in the Chicago Music Exchange a few years ago and played a few of their vintage basses. They were very cool and handed me any bass I requested and left me alone w/it plugged into nice vintage tube amps. I love a '66 dot/bound J and they had a black one w/matching hs face - under-whelming. They also had a sunburst 62' - amazing! I own a magical '66 P which I played a lot before buying - so unless I were able to test-drive a vintage bass in a calm, comfortable setting, regardless of vintage 'worth' I'd be less likely to plunk down my hard-earned cash.

 

[JIO]

I contacted Burton, the owner, through craigslist and he sent some additional pics of the back of the bass which look very consistent with the front pics. Forgot to ask him about the string mute holes on the front. Said he'd sourced period correct tuners and bridge, but they cost $1200 and assume he's leaving that to the next owner. That looks like a very low "L" series s/n.
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Judging by the extensive player wear - it probably plays/sounds great. It's the pristine examples that probably sat in a case and were never played that sound just ok. Depends if you are a player or collector what it's worth.

 

[JIO]

Flea is turning into Popeye

I've always liked Flee - he has kind of developed into a Popeye character, sailors tattoo's and all ("I yam what I yam…")

 

[Whitevudoo]

I'm surprised to see screw-down mute holes on a '63. I thought they ended that in '62 along with slab boards. My Aug '63 J does not have them. Of course, that only suggests it might be older than mine. Also, the '63 case was tan with black ends, but nothing's really definitive with Fenders from that era. These necks can be truly amazing. It's not a collector, it's a player, and seems in the right price range for what it claims to be. Still, were I buying, I'd like to know a lot more info before I'd agree it is what it claims to be.

I own this Jazz and if I remember the serial number indicated it was made either at the beginning of the year or late,I've posted more photos on the Craigslist ad of the back ,neck and head.
Thank you for your opinion.
Burton

 

[Whitevudoo]

I own this '63 Jazz and I rent it to friends that want the real thing.
Every bass player that's tried it ,loves it and I'm an old pro drummer that watched,listened and felt this bass live for 20 years before my bassist best friend died.
This jazz is extremely sentimental to me and I hate to sell it !

 

[Engle]

I own this '63 Jazz and I rent it to friends that want the real thing.
Every bass player that's tried it ,loves it and I'm an old pro drummer that watched,listened and felt this bass live for 20 years before my bassist best friend died.
This jazz is extremely sentimental to me and I hate to sell it !

Don't take any stuff posted here too personally. I just posted the ad because I love the look of those old basses and knew the resulting comments would be educational as to authenticity. Hopefully you find a local buyer that will actually play it - rather than a collector. If you have a pic of the neck stamp, please post it.

 

[Whitevudoo]

Don't take any stuff posted here too personally. I just posted the ad because I love the look of those old basses and knew the resulting comments would be educational as to authenticity. Hopefully you find a local buyer that will actually play it - rather than a collector. If you have a pic of the neck stamp, please post it.

Funny enough this was on cl about a year ago. Same pics if I recall correctly. I remember inquiring about it, but never got a response. Makes me wonder why it didn't sell.

I own it and didn't need to sell it because came into some money but now want to sell it.

 

[TomB]

I own this Jazz and if I remember the serial number indicated it was made either at the beginning of the year or late,I've posted more photos on the Craigslist ad of the back ,neck and head.
Thank you for your opinion.
Burton

As with the mutes, the serial # indicates an earlier bass than mine, which is L118XX. ...so again, likely an early '63. Keep in mind that serial numbers from that era are not entirely sequential.