That 66 has a great and very characterful look, which I have never seen really convincingly replicated in a relic. Dots and binding with a faded/worn target burst is a winner. Thanks for posting!!
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Fender pre-CBS Club: pics mandatory!
- Thread starter Mastermold
- Start date
That 66 has a great and very characterful look, which I have never seen really convincingly replicated in a relic. Dots and binding with a faded/worn target burst is a winner. Thanks for posting!!
I’m adding a 1955 Fender Precision - blonde, all original, contoured, soft “V” neck. It should arrive by next Wednesday. I’ve been chasing this bass for two years. I am hoping that this will be my number one.
Sick. Did you play it before buying it or just go on a hunch?
It definitely has that "number one" potential.
Talked to the guy. I had a friend go see the bass and call me. The bass wasn’t for sale, the guy needed some persuasion.
You talked someone into selling their 55 P bass? Would you like to be my lawyer LOL!
Well I presume @shadven let the money do the talking...
10K. I sold a ton of stuff over the last year incl: 1964 Jazzmaster, RIC 4003, 1969 Telecaster Bass, 1972 Deluxe Reverb. Easy come easy go I say. But, I broke even or made a little profit on everything, so it wasn’t to painful. I did hold onto my 1965 Fender Esquire (which is so cool) that I thought I was going to have to sell, but fortunately enough of the other items sold, so I saved my prized guitar. I’m a bass player, but I like to have a couple vintage guitars /guitar amps in my rehearsal room. My vintage radar is always on. So when there is a smoking’ deal locally I might jump on it and either keep or sell. I look at it like I’m a caretaker for a while. If I can break even, I get the pleasure of owning something really cool for a year or so. I get to know it for a while and then I let it go to someone else. Overall, I’m trying to get down to 5 basses and 5 bass amps, one drum kit, 2 or 3 guitar amps, one vintage electric 6-string and 1 Gibson acoustic. That’s the plan! And gig 2 or 3 times a month and I’m a happy camper.
I do it the same way with my vintage gear, except the '56 P-Bass which will stay with me until the End. All other vintage Fender basses come and go. It's so much fun to explore these old basses. The more I can get my hands on the better.
10k is a great deal for a '55 in good condition. Over here in Europe the prices are usually much higher.
A 1956 P-bass is a really special one. The soft "V" and historical vibe is hard to beat. And they sound great, really quite modern if you want them to.
I have two early 60s P's and have played others in stores, but I have actually never tried an original 50s maple neck P. I prefer rosewood so I have never sought them out, but I would love to try one some day. Congrats on the '55.
50’s P’s are actually one of my weirder experiences with electric basses. I played a 1955 P refin at a great shop called “Willies American Guitars” in Saint Paul MN. The V shape was definitely there. I haven’t played anything since, but I remember I wasnt impressed. Maybe I didn’t have it loud enough
. The V neck P’s are worth checking out, but I guess they’re not for everyone. Pics or it didn’t happen
Kinda a long drive from KC. Any story behind that visit? Yeah, Willies is a GREAT vintage dealer.
Yep it’s about a 7 hour drive, not fun. I paid my dad a visit who lives near the Twin Cities. I usually go to Willies when I go up there.
Good call.
FYI, until COVID breaks, best to call ahead for an appointment. They aren't letting people wander around the store because they don't want to have to disinfect all the instruments every 10 minutes. I think the disinfectant is hard on the finish...
Agreed, Willie's is a notch store, all good people, including Nate and Bleem. I bought/sold a few vintage pieces there including a '61 Bassman and '65 reverse T-Bird II, when I lived in the Twin Cities.
A bit off topic, but an interesting story about Willie's role in returning Jimmy Page's long lost Les Paul:
https://vintageguitar.com/archives/VGMNOV2020sksq2aaaVG/index.html
https://www.startribune.com/how-led...lis-and-got-it-back-45-years-later/571659372/
A bit off topic, but an interesting story about Willie's role in returning Jimmy Page's long lost Les Paul:
https://vintageguitar.com/archives/VGMNOV2020sksq2aaaVG/index.html
https://www.startribune.com/how-led...lis-and-got-it-back-45-years-later/571659372/
yep, I was going to go there when I was in MN about 3 weeks ago. I saw they were taking appointments, but decided not to go since I wasn't going to buy anything. Don't want to waste the shop's time. That area is in total lockdown, I had to go to Hudson WI to go to a restaurant. I got some nice fajitas!
My ‘55 arrived 3 days early!
My initial impression is that I am very happy with the bass. It is exactly as I expected, no surprises. Even the neck decal appears original? This bass wasn’t for sale anywhere, and it took me a year of soft negotiation and friendship building. It came to the previous owner almost as a freebie. It is a blonde ‘55 that someone had painted red over the blonde with no sanding or skill. Fortunately, it was a very poor paint job that was slowly removed leaving the original blonde finish underneath in surprisingly good shape. It’s players grade and an absolute joy to play. The original pickup is very strong and there don’t seem to be any dead spots. The neck is beefy with a soft “V” shape. Neck and body pencil dates are both 5-55. Original phenolic saddles, original pick guard. Knobs and control plate are replacement. I was looking at a couple others, but they were to pristine and cost more than twice what I paid for this. I’m a player and I want to play gigs with this bass, not just admire it on my wall.
My initial impression is that I am very happy with the bass. It is exactly as I expected, no surprises. Even the neck decal appears original? This bass wasn’t for sale anywhere, and it took me a year of soft negotiation and friendship building. It came to the previous owner almost as a freebie. It is a blonde ‘55 that someone had painted red over the blonde with no sanding or skill. Fortunately, it was a very poor paint job that was slowly removed leaving the original blonde finish underneath in surprisingly good shape. It’s players grade and an absolute joy to play. The original pickup is very strong and there don’t seem to be any dead spots. The neck is beefy with a soft “V” shape. Neck and body pencil dates are both 5-55. Original phenolic saddles, original pick guard. Knobs and control plate are replacement. I was looking at a couple others, but they were to pristine and cost more than twice what I paid for this. I’m a player and I want to play gigs with this bass, not just admire it on my wall.
