Am I crazy for wanting to buy this bass

how much does he want for it? the refinish alone will effect it's value.

 

From the look of it, it is a very poor conversion.

 

You'll probably take a beating from day 1 if you tried to resell it..but you want it...go for it

 

What a butcher job. But if you like the way it feels and sounds why not? Looks like he's being reasonable with a massive discount in price, assuming its origins are indeed as he describes. That's the trick though.

 

The refinish really kills it (and that's assuming everything else is legit). I can't see it realistically selling for more than $800, but if you want it go for it.

 

Yes.

/thread

 

There's a lot more going on there than just a "changed pickup". Looks like the bass was seriously routed, and then a poor quality repair was done. That's not the original pickguard, either. What you've got there is a '57-ish neck attached to a bunch of worthless parts. Assuming the neck has the original hardware, and is undamaged, I'd say $800 is a safe price.

 

Be tactful, but ask for what you want. You're not trying to make friends, you're conducting a business transaction. If he's insulted, he'll get over it. Just be respectful.

 

That's a modified first-generation Precision converted to the split-coil pickup. As such it doesn't have much intrinsic value.

Note that it's not a "transition" bass: Fender shut down production of the single-coil bass and changed over to the split-coil prior to the NAMM show in July of '57. Somebody has whacked out the body to accommodate the new pickup, and it wasn't Leo.

Think of it this way: would you buy a '54 Chevrolet that had '55 front fenders, hood and grille grafted on as a "transition" '54? I don't think so. Not for a premium price, anyway.

 

That thing could garner possibly 15k or more on the open market if it was pristine....a long way from that but if it sounds good and plays good id buy a parts bass for 8%...u do the math but I came up with $960 with my quasi scientific approach.

 

Try it out, if you love the feel and sound, then $1100 is not much if it will become your sound.
IMO forget the cosmetics and age of this bass, concentrate on feel and sound, it is never going to be an investment but it is a player....

 

If I have 1100 I would buy Lakland Skyline 44-51, split coil pickup with 50s P bass body and pickguard, Lakland style

Just a thing to consider though...

 

Can you go play it?
There are great looking basses that will not play or sound very good, at all.
Conversly, there are some pretty ugly basses that are marvelous.
You can't always tell by year, make or model.
Check it out.
Decide what that is worth to *you*.

 

1100? Hell have a pro set it back to the original configuration and a solid finish and you'll be rockin. Or if it's a good player as is the price isn't unreasonable for what it is.

 

"So, the bass is not totally original. I have spent over $1000 on [del]maintaining the bass[/del] reducing this valuable instrument to a piece of worthless scrap."



Walk.

 

Wanting to buy this bass has nothing to do with why you are nuts.

Seriously though, if it is a good deal, buy it and rock it. Restore it if you feel like it. Don't if you don't. I despise people trying to make me feel as though I am obligated to treat a vintage instrument a certain way. If you buy it, it will be a TOOL, and YOURS. It is not a religious artifact. Jesus didn't play it. Paint it bass boat sparkle orange and put an active Bart preamp in it if you want.