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Fender Fullerton Reissue club

#621
farace said:
View attachment 944806 I'm still new enough here that I didn't know the term "Fullerton Reissue" or that it was a "thing." :). Is this a club with numbers?

Here's my 1982 Vintage 57 Reissue Precision. Bought it sometime in the mid-90s for, IIRC, $400. When I went to check it out, I picked it up and knew I wanted it without even plugging it in, it felt so light and vibrant (especially compared to the '72 Tele Bass I had been playing, with its crappy three-bolt "weather forecaster" neck). I just recently put the ashtrays back on it (she felt naked in the presence of my Rickenbackers with their pickup covers on).
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She's a beauty!
 
#623
InnerBass said:
Thanks for all of your guidance MetsMan. I am going to be patient and wait until one happens to find its way into my musical sphere.

But I can assure you I am going to run it buy all of you before I pull the trigger - feel like I dodged a bullet.
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No problem. If i see any '62 reissues Ill send a link your way. Right now I just see that one on ebay advertised as NOS. Looks legit from first glance but if I was going to seriously consider it I would want more pics.
 
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#626
tsl said:
What more pics would you want?
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Well I wouldnt make a major purchase without checking under the hood and seeing neck date, wiring, pots, pickup cavity, bottom of pickups etc. Unless i saw it in person first, then Id use my best judgement. I know a lot of sellers are hesitant to take neck off and pickguard but these basses were designed to be able to easily do that.
 
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#628
I am not sure you "dodged a bullet" BUT the description obviously wasn't 100% as there was at least one swapped part and the price you paid was at the high end for one in mint condition (which that one was not). I would think for a sunburst $2000 would be the general ballpark for one with the original case in good shape.
 
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#629
Johnny Alien said:
I am not sure you "dodged a bullet" BUT the description obviously wasn't 100% as there was at least one swapped part and the price you paid was at the high end for one in mint condition (which that one was not). I would think for a sunburst $2000 would be the general ballpark for one with the original case in good shape.
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It seems a running theme is that having the original case is fairly important.

Maybe you're right about dodging the bullet. But I think having it inspected as "all original" before accepting it is reasonable.

The ad didn't have any disclaimers like "as far as I know" and the like, so all original means all original, IMHO.

But the seller was a real gentleman about it and as I said - no harm no foul.

BTW - random question -

How do you think the Master Built Fenders compare to the Fullerton reissues?

I've heard conflicting stories.

Some say the builds / builders / equipment is obviously better now in the digital age. Others say you can't beat the original reissues.

And those master builds aren't cheap !
 
#630
Johnny Alien said:
I am not sure you "dodged a bullet" BUT the description obviously wasn't 100% as there was at least one swapped part and the price you paid was at the high end for one in mint condition (which that one was not). I would think for a sunburst $2000 would be the general ballpark for one with the original case in good shape.
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Thanks for that info Johnny Allen. $2000 for one with original case / good shape?

That's a great starting point - I appreciate your knowledge.
 
#631
IMO, having owned numerous reissue basses including Fullertons, it's not like there is magic sauce in the early reissues. Some people will love them and some people won't. They are "different" than the Corona reissues in a way that I think makes them really great basses but that doesn't mean that the Corona reissues aren't great basses too. When you could get the Fullertons for low prices they were insane deals and that is what I believe lead to their holy grail status. At $2000 they are reaching the limit of what I would pay for one. Actually $1600 is where I would max out. Not that I don't think they are worthy basses but they are still just factory Fenders...just really good ones that were made on the old equipment. I would have no problems saving some coin and going with a Corona 62 reissue. Are the master built as good? I would say they probably are and are likely better just because you are comparing a factory built bass to one built by a single builder. I wouldn't pay for the master built one either. My opinion is that above $1600 there are a lot of really finely made basses to compare the Fullerton to and I would go with a USA Lakland Glaub every time for that amount of dough. I am sure the Fullertons will increase in value so they are a good investment as well as a good bass I just don't think they are worth the premium price to me. I will likely own one again but I will probably go for a beater without all of the original stuff to save cash.
 
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#632
You are right. My 2003 Corona isn't bad. I haven't sold it because its superlightweight, even a bit lighter than my Fullertons at 3,3Kg.
Corona62.jpg
9L1000631k.jpg
 
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#635
InnerBass said:
Hey Fullerton Fans !

After a bit of back and forth, the seller of the "all original" Fullerton P I had purchased decided it was best to just call it a wash and put it back on the Reverb site.

JohnnyAllen said the pick guard was swapped, and after alot of research and local inquiries, I believe he was right.

But the seller insisted the p/g was original and I just didn't feel like the ad represented what the bass actually was - he disagreed

The seller was most gracious, a real stand up person and a class act. No harm no foul.

Still looking for an all original Fullerton reissue, BTW.

You all have been so helpful and forthcoming with information about this wonderful era for Fender - many, many thanks.

I am still learning.

TB rules.

Cheers!

RBJ
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I didn't want to dampen your enthusiasm about the instrument you were purchasing on Reverb but to me the biggest problem with that bass wasn't the changed pickguard--it's the weight. At 9.5 pounds it's very heavy for a Fullerton reissue and the light weight of these basses is a big part of their attraction. At the time Fender was producing the Fullerton reissues, it seemed as if they were carefully selecting the lightest blanks--both to capture the vibe of the light pre-CBS originals and to show that they could put out lighter instruments after producing so many boat anchors over the prior decade.

Regarding pricing: as in used cars there is a difference between dealer and private sales. Dealer pricing is higher because of their overhead and because they are hopefully adding value.

And speaking of dealers, George Gruhn currently has this '62 reissue with a cool provenance:

BF2973 1983 Fender Precision Bass
 
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#636
InnerBass said:
It seems a running theme is that having the original case is fairly important.

Maybe you're right about dodging the bullet. But I think having it inspected as "all original" before accepting it is reasonable.

The ad didn't have any disclaimers like "as far as I know" and the like, so all original means all original, IMHO.

But the seller was a real gentleman about it and as I said - no harm no foul.

BTW - random question -

How do you think the Master Built Fenders compare to the Fullerton reissues?

I've heard conflicting stories.

Some say the builds / builders / equipment is obviously better now in the digital age. Others say you can't beat the original reissues.

And those master builds aren't cheap !
Click to expand...
I read an article once that stated Fender went and brought back on some select long time builders, some from the pre-CBS era so it seems there was extra care with the building of the early reissues. The builders that made the fullerton reissues went on to be the original Custom Shop builders based on what I read in an article a while back.
 
#638
narud said:
jazzes are at around 2k
Fender '62 Reissue Jazz Bass 1982 Sunburst Price Guide

you'll see lots of high asking prices, but not necessarily sales. a clean burst jazz just went for 2k on ebay a couple of weeks ago. if youre contemplating dropping mid 2k or 3k on one of these, youre better off waiting for a refin 60's fender imo.
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I was skeptical too, the seller said he sold a different one for 1,800 - I bought mine 2 yrs ago for 1,450 with original case
 
#639
7dollarbologna said:
I was skeptical too, the seller said he sold a different one for 1,800 - I bought mine 2 yrs ago for 1,450 with original case
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I noticed the price guide doesn't separate the Coronas from the Fullertons, that would pull down avg. price. In the end, if you think having an instrument built in the original Leo facility, using all original tooling is worth something to you, than it is. (The Coronas' can't claim this)
 
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#640
Johnny Alien said:
IMO, having owned numerous reissue basses including Fullertons, it's not like there is magic sauce in the early reissues. Some people will love them and some people won't. They are "different" than the Corona reissues in a way that I think makes them really great basses but that doesn't mean that the Corona reissues aren't great basses too. When you could get the Fullertons for low prices they were insane deals and that is what I believe lead to their holy grail status. At $2000 they are reaching the limit of what I would pay for one. Actually $1600 is where I would max out. Not that I don't think they are worthy basses but they are still just factory Fenders...just really good ones that were made on the old equipment. I would have no problems saving some coin and going with a Corona 62 reissue. Are the master built as good? I would say they probably are and are likely better just because you are comparing a factory built bass to one built by a single builder. I wouldn't pay for the master built one either. My opinion is that above $1600 there are a lot of really finely made basses to compare the Fullerton to and I would go with a USA Lakland Glaub every time for that amount of dough. I am sure the Fullertons will increase in value so they are a good investment as well as a good bass I just don't think they are worth the premium price to me. I will likely own one again but I will probably go for a beater without all of the original stuff to save cash.
Click to expand...


I have never played a BG Lakeland.

What kind of pickups do they install on them?
 

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