Fender Blacktop Club

[Ramonesfan59]

It's not the worst price I've seen for a used Blacktop, but only if someone grabbed it on the low end of the auction price...doubly so with that inflated shipping cost. (...and is it terrible of me to want to wave a red pencil all over that write-up? It screams "stream of consciousness with zero regard for grammar and punctuation...cuz 'teh intarwebz'"! )

One thing for sure, either the direct sunlight is doing no favors to the fretboard or it's in serious need of an oiling. It looks like pau ferro in those shots. (...not that I have a problem with pau ferro, but that rosewood looks quite pale and dried out.)

I find that I spend entirely too much time writing my eBay descriptions (even if large swaths of them are cut and paste) only to discover that nobody (and I do mean nobody) reads the damned things! (How do I know this? By the questions I get!)

 

[Malak the Mad]

I find that I spend entirely too much time writing my eBay descriptions (even if large swaths of them are cut and paste) only to discover that nobody (and I do mean nobody) reads the damned things! (How do I know this? By the questions I get!)

Fair enough. I would say, "I'm just one of those weirdos...", but I've been burned one too many times because either I didn't read the description or the write-up is buried in a sea of useless, visual garbage. (I'm looking at you, Amazon! Never again will I buy what looks like a full-on album, when it's actually only a three-song EP! )

Of all people, I can understand the...to quote Stephen King..."diarrhea of the word processor" groove. So, instead, when posting something official, I fall back on another quote by another well-known author..."'Brevity' is the soul of wit!" I may not always be successful on that front, but it keeps me from going way, waaaaaaay over the top.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

Fair enough. I would say, "I'm just one of those weirdos...", but I've been burned one too many times because either I didn't read the description or the write-up is buried in a sea of useless, visual garbage. (I'm looking at you, Amazon! Never again will I buy what looks like a full-on album, when it's actually only a three-song EP! )

Of all people, I can understand the...to quote Stephen King..."diarrhea of the word processor" groove. So, instead, when posting something official, I fall back on another quote by another well-known author..."'Brevity' is the soul of wit!" I may not always be successful on that front, but it keeps me from going way, waaaaaaay over the top.

I need to amend my previous comment and note that one of the ways I know people don't read my eBay descriptions is by the number of times people have purchased two items and immediately paid for them, rather than following my written instructions to wait for a combined invoice. I am not ashamed to say I pocket the overpayment and go about my business.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I need to amend my previous comment and note that one of the ways I know people don't read my eBay descriptions is by the number of times people have purchased two items and immediately paid for them, rather than following my written instructions to wait for a combined invoice. I am not ashamed to say I pocket the overpayment and go about my business.

You sly dog, you. But, their loss is your gain. It's not your fault they don't read the details and/or shipping instructions, ja?

 

[Ramonesfan59]

You sly dog, you. But, their loss is your gain. It's not your fault they don't read the details and/or shipping instructions, ja?

If refunds weren't such a pain, I MIGHT be less inclined to penalize people for not reading the damned instructions!

 

[BlueTalon]

It's not the worst price I've seen for a used Blacktop, but only if someone grabbed it on the low end of the auction price...doubly so with that inflated shipping cost. (...and is it terrible of me to want to wave a red pencil all over that write-up? It screams "stream of consciousness with zero regard for grammar and punctuation...cuz 'teh intarwebz'"! )

One thing for sure, either the direct sunlight is doing no favors to the fretboard or it's in serious need of an oiling. It looks like pau ferro in those shots. (...not that I have a problem with pau ferro, but that rosewood looks quite pale and dried out.)

Judging from the amount of crud on the bridge, I'm inclined to say you're probably right about the stream of consciousness thing. Probably a damned hippie* that has never heard of soap or Q-tips.



*JOKE. Joke. Sorta.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

Well...this seller is nothing if not consistent. This Jazz Bass Deluxe listing seems to be almost as dusty as the Blacktop Jazz!

Fender jazz Deluxe series bass nice shape, no road rash,no scratches ! | eBay

The other knob adjusts treble boost cut and bass boost cut, basically two knobs on one and the last on is for midboost cut on separate. It is an active bass, I put a new battery in it.

www.ebay.com

 

[miikee90]

Hi! Browsing the internet I found a Blacktop Precision plus the Fender FB610 gig bag for about $530 dlls, the seller says it is in good condition, straight neck, the body is not scratched or chipped, my question is, is $530 a good price? My plan is to put a switch on it to use the pickups in series and parallel.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Hi! Browsing the internet I found a Blacktop Precision plus the Fender FB610 gig bag for about $530 dlls, the seller says it is in good condition, straight neck, the body is not scratched or chipped, my question is, is $530 a good price? My plan is to put a switch on it to use the pickups in series and parallel.

Others may have a different opinion, but if everything is in good working order AND it comes with a gig bag, that's a really good price. Nowadays, the fact that the production run didn't last more than two years has become a rationale for jacking up the used price to levels way above the original $500 price-tag.

As for adding anything, I'd strongly recommend giving it a good shakedown trial...possibly with new strings, if they're needed...to see what it's capable of with no mods. That being said, a push-pull pot in place of one of the existing volume knobs would achieve the same results without requiring any changes to the pickguard.

Whichever way you go, please let us know how things go, 'kay? Thanks, in advance!

 

[BlueTalon]

Hi! Browsing the internet I found a Blacktop Precision plus the Fender FB610 gig bag for about $530 dlls, the seller says it is in good condition, straight neck, the body is not scratched or chipped, my question is, is $530 a good price? My plan is to put a switch on it to use the pickups in series and parallel.

It seems like a good enough price to me. If I liked the bass, I'd pay that without any qualms at all. Though I'd probably offer $500, just because I like round numbers.

 

[miikee90]

@Malak the Mad
I just made the purchase, it should be arriving by january 24 or 25. I discussed the push pull pot with my luthier and he agreed and can do it without any problems.
As soon as the bass arrives I will upload the pictures

@BlueTalon in fact, the price in my country's currency is a round number.

 

[Malak the Mad]

@Malak the Mad
I just made the purchase, it should be arriving by january 24 or 25. I discussed the push pull pot with my luthier and he agreed and can do it without any problems.
As soon as the bass arrives I will upload the pictures

@BlueTalon in fact, the price in my country's currency is a round number.

Pics and info when it arrives, please!!

 

[Lastcallpaul]

They are great basses. I wired a series/single/parallel switch for each pickup on mine. Also added a PMT tone expander for a few different cap options.

 

[miikee90]

It arrived a little later than planned, plus, life kept me a little busy but here are the pictures. Fender serial number webpage indicates the date of manufacture is january 2012.

The pictures were taken as it arrived, the color is beautiful, much better in person than in the pics; I don't know why the strings are placed that way and also they sound dull, the fretboard needs some oil and also needs cleaning the pots as the tone and neck volumen pots make cracking noises when moved. The neck action is very comfortable and the bass is already intonated so in general it is in very good condition.

This weekend I plan to buy new strings and clean the pots so that it can play as new.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

There's a Blacktop Jazz (with 2017 maple neck) up on eBay right now. Seller clearly doesn't know what they're selling.
"N. MINT 2017 FENDER JAZZ ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR in SILVER SPARKLE MAPLE NECK, MIM"

 

[Malak the Mad]

There's a Blacktop Jazz (with 2017 maple neck) up on eBay right now. Seller clearly doesn't know what they're selling.
"N. MINT 2017 FENDER JAZZ ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR in SILVER SPARKLE MAPLE NECK, MIM"

Clearly, they do not!

Someone more knowledgeable and responsible had better take such a “dangerous thing” off their hands before they hurt themselves.

Oh, but if I had the money…and the space…and the need-vs-the want…

 

[Ramonesfan59]

Clearly, they do not!

Someone more knowledgeable and responsible had better take such a “dangerous thing” off their hands before they hurt themselves.

Oh, but if I had the money…and the space…and the need-vs-the want…

If not for the fact that I'm downsizing (maybe to zero), my post would have been a "NBD" rather than a "look at this"!

 

[PNW Tony]

Very tempting. If it was black, I'd buy it. Luckily this color is not for me.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

Very tempting. If it was black, I'd buy it. Luckily this color is not for me.

This color does not photograph well. If you saw one IRL, you'd buy it immediately. Very subtle sparkle finish. Beautiful.

 

[Benko]

I don't remember those having a maple neck though.. is this original?

I do miss mine, i actually reaches out to the guy i sold mine 10 years ago, his son played it for many years and sold it so no way to get it back