Fender Precision 1975 - Price?

[BrassedOn]

Agreed

The seller asked "what range of prices these basses go for"?

He's asking "what would this bass likely fetch in the current market", not "what would you personally pay for it".

Sure, I get that. And thanks. And that’s why we chat here to get a bit of reality.

And I gather from couple of high posts reflecting more motivated type buyers vs numerous posts of lower end less motivated buyers, all considering things like condition, utility, desirability, look, resale, what similar basses online and their ask and sale prices..all reflect the potential market. Not just the higher estimates because motivated buyers are few, and maybe not local, but yeah just takes one.

My ‘70s P has plenty o issues cosmetically, replaced pots, but also washers in the truss rod, not original but vintage pups, chip repaired on the fingerboard. And a nice sound and playability. I think a hard sell overall because of that.

From the group think, fair to say opinion is are $1500 low end maybe because of the condition and below that reflect yet unanswered questions about the truss rod, that dampens us a bit, and buyer hasn’t priced. And $2000 at the high end seems reasonable, and beyond range that you’re low balling or potentially overpaying, unless of course the playability and sound are there for you. I’m assuming truss rod is okay, but wonder about neck overall. I’ll estimate GC is buying/trade in that condition (my experience is they tend to bank on better cosmetics) at $1200 maybe less and selling $1900+. I also saw just a ‘70s neck online for $2k ish so there are sellers and buyers at the high end. So yeah a stronger local demand and good mechanics (like without the above mention about ski jump above the 12th), $2000+ is not nuts. And if the OP is going to show up cash in hand for a fair bid, he’s got a bit to contemplate.

 

[Wisebass]

Boa noite my friend!

After I check it out properly, if everything checks out, I will make an offer. It will be a low offer, because I just bought another bass and I mostly play DB nowadays.
But I will explain the gentleman that he probably can get a higher price. But in Portugal it will be difficult, as I have seen from previous examples. Higher priced gear doesn't sell, vintage or not.
I will explain him that if he wants to get "top dollar", he will have to list it online, deal with all that, and ship it abroad.

You are a good guy! (not that I didn't knew that already from another thread )

Shipping the bass abroad won't be fun! (not only to an elderly person!!!) Online deals can be a mess!!!

There must be a shop in Porto or Lisboa that can do that for him?

Might be a safer way to get the best price for someone, who obviously has no idea what he has?

if I can inspect the bass with my luthier

Checkin' the bass together with your luthier? Will that confirm it's "all stock"?

Or will it just confirm it's playable? (the truss rod works)


There have been crazy!!!! prices mentioned so far

But there is no way to find all these crazy people, when they actually have to pay!

All off them will find a reason to get that price down!

On the other hand:

There are a lot of folks who think their "all original" 1979 Fender wasn't built in 1982

and payed a lot of money for a '79 bass because...

Maybe the bass is an easy sell. Maybe not!


If you need hours to document the value of a vintage instrument,

at some point the expert will cost more than the instruments

+ value for being vintage! This is why old "collectable" stuff is so expensive!


Wise

 

[Jinobass1]

Don’t listen to anyone saying things like 70’s Fender is a boat anchor and isn’t good and pre-CBS are better.
It’s really bunch of BS.
Like all axes,some feel and sound great.
Doesn’t matter ‘50’s,60’s or ‘70’s, or even ‘80’s Fender.I played so many fender basses and I own a quite alot.

 

[J_Bass]

I made an offer to the owner, through my friend.

He confirmed to my friend (that has the bass at his house) that the neck was, indeed shaved on the bass side. I really can't see where, but the owner is the one who says it.

My offer was low, potentially half of what it could be worth, but the owner knows this already. I told him that if he wants to sell it for what it's worth, he'll have to disassemble the neck, the pickguard and photograph the neck heel, pots, wires, etc..

I'm just not interested if the price is higher. I had other opportunities to buy vintage gear, but I can't justify the price to myself.


I think I'm doing everything right. If he wants to sell quickly, I made an offer, if he wants more, I'm not the right buyer.

 

[_Obra_]

It's a beautiful bass (assuming that truss rod is working). I just love the natural relic and the current condition of the paint. I even printed the pic of a very similar one and asked my luthief to imitate it at one of my Fenders.
Fret job and a nut is not a deal breaker at all.

For a price range, I can speak from European point of view and EU market prices, and can tell that it would be sold here in an hour for not less than 2200 euro.

 

[J_Bass]

Follow up: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-1975-precision-original-parts.1661829/