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Candy Apple Red (CAR) Fullerton era values

fullerton reissues are particulary rare because they were produced at the factory for only two years using the old pre cbs jigs, methods, tooling, and even some of the real early ones used old 60s NOS stock!!! It was kinda like they were producing the old pre cbs basses again at the old shop which had been replaced with cbs inspired designs, electronics, cost saving labor practices, poly instead of nitro...you get the picture. That being said and taking into account todays economy, I dont think it would be worth anymore than 2.5 to 3k range UNLESS it is a very early serial number..like say 001 to 999. i have factored in the custom color with that price comparing to what i have seen them bought for. Keep in mind the seriel numbers that were made at the fullerton factory are from 1 to 16xxx. If you could hang on to it for 10-15 years it would probably be a wise investment being that a custom collored fullerton in the first year (82) will end up being pretty rare.
 
I like fullertons..I have a candy apple stack knob jazz fullerton that is in pristine condition. I saw it at olivias guitars and did a bunch of research on fullerton. It is a great instrument..really has a growly mid range as was common with the more underwound pickups of the 60s(which is my preference). I have a 73 jazz just like geddys with blocks and binding(which was the last year till they went pearloid) and it still had the 4 bolt neck. I cant believe how light the alder was back then..very light bass...but anyway those pickups were wound to like 8.7k on my ohm meter and the 60s were in the high 5s and low 6k. The 73 has alot more bottom and top but lacks the mid of my reissue. Sometimes hotter is not the best.
 
I was looking at that pic...that neck is beautiful..looks sorta roasted. They had some pretty dope maple back then
It is QUITE beautiful.
I like fullertons..I have a candy apple stack knob jazz fullerton that is in pristine condition.
That has to be worth a pretty penny.

Correction: the serial number on the CAR P Bass is V009444.

According to Fender, proper dating is done by the pencil date on the neck, not the neck plate stamp.
 
I like fullertons..I have a candy apple stack knob jazz fullerton that is in pristine condition. I saw it at olivias guitars and did a bunch of research on fullerton. It is a great instrument..really has a growly mid range as was common with the more underwound pickups of the 60s(which is my preference). I have a 73 jazz just like geddys with blocks and binding(which was the last year till they went pearloid) and it still had the 4 bolt neck. I cant believe how light the alder was back then..very light bass...but anyway those pickups were wound to like 8.7k on my ohm meter and the 60s were in the high 5s and low 6k. The 73 has alot more bottom and top but lacks the mid of my reissue. Sometimes hotter is not the best.

Mine is from around same period, sunburst. However, I never really liked the sound of the stock pickups and it now sports Lollars which sound much closer to the vintage J basses I have played. IIRC, my stock ones were around 7.4 or 7.8 ohms. Hard to believe original 60s PUs would be that low. Think Lollars are in 8-9 range. Still have the originals including and the bridge PU has red bobbins. I suppose breaking the solder joints lowers value some but this bass is a player for me. Just used it last night.
 
Fullerton Fender just means it was made at the Fullerton factory. To my knowledge all MIA Fender's up until '84 were made in the Fullerton factory. The Fullerton re-issues are the highly sought after models to my knowledge, I think this CAR is re-issue since it has the tug bar but even still I wouldn't see it going for as much as $2000, even through a dealer in that condition.

Check out this thread. 1983 Precision.

For what it is worth I recently picked up an '83 Elite I for a fraction of what the seller is asking, the Elite I was the top of the line Fender at the time to my knowledge.
The Elite series were excellent instruments, production was short lived due to them not being as popular as Fender had hoped. Today many can be still found in excellent to mint condition at very reasonable prices.