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Fender prices back in the day...

#42
My 66 Jazz cost exactly 320 dollars. I still have the receit (from Goldie and Libro's if any New Haveners remember it) I bought it a custom white and left handed. It took around 6 months to get. My mother was a former big band singer and very supportive. My dad, well he didn't quite get it, but was also supportive.

Andy
 
#44
What people must remember is that over this side of the pond (UK) you couldn't give Fenders away at one point in the 60s do to the new direction and vogue brought about by Beatlemania. Fenders were viewed as old hat and belonged to a previous now dead music generation.
I was offered a 1962 Pink Strat for £35 GBP $70 USD in 1967. In 1981 I was offered £275 GBP $550 USD For my 1965 Jazz Bass.
 
#47
For what it's worth, I seem to recall a new Jazz costing $260 in 1965. I might be mistaken, but the P-bass was about $40 less in my memory. I can't seem to find an old price list on line. Anyone have one?

From "The Fender Bass" By Black and Molinaro:

"The fender Precision Bass lists for $219.50 in sunburst finish and $230.00 in custom DuPont finishes" -1957 Music TraderMagazine-
 
#49
Jim Carr said:
Was that a 4x10 or a 2x12 bassman? In any case, these represent used prices in 1968.

For what it's worth, I seem to recall a new Jazz costing $260 in 1965. I might be mistaken, but the P-bass was about $40 less in my memory. I can't seem to find an old price list on line. Anyone have one?

Assuming a 1965 Jazz WAS $260 in 1965, that's $1,739.90 in 2008 $ according to Tom's Calculator. Instruments were not cheap then. :eyebrow:

Don't get me started on investment. For some reason people think that if they have a bass that appreciates, that makes it a "good investment." That is not an investment IMHO, good or bad. It is simply the appreciation of a single rather limited asset.

IMHO, an investment is something with the right mix of reward and risk that will allow you to reap very significant returns, like, oh say half your annual income or more---for life. This kind of investment generally requires many years and a lot of discipline. Darn! :D

examples: a small business, an education, retiring with $100k/year at age 60, etc.
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+infinity. Great post, Dr. Jim.

Sig Saucer said:
So if I get an '08 Fender, how long will it take for it to be considered vintage and have a great resell value?
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No one knows for sure. "Vintage" seems to be defined as 25-35 years in the current market (though on Ebay, you'll see people trot out '90s basses as vintage sometimes :rolleyes:).

As to how much the '08s will go up in value--no one knows. They might not at all! As Dr. Jim said, don't buy a new bass as an investment. Even if you end up selling it for more than you paid for, you might not keep up with inflation, never mind stocks or bonds.
 
#51
GtenderG said:
In the fall of 1979 I bought a new sunburst PBass(a 78 with black PG) for $399 +tax. At Swathmore Music in Swathmore Pa. I still have it.
My older sister was kind enough to pony up $25 for a (non fender) case.

I really wanted a Ric but it was 40-50 bux more.
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AHHH! Random Coincidence Flashback!!!!

I bought my '81 Ric used from Swarthmore Music in 1986, when I was a Freshman at Swarthmore College. I still have it. I think it was a little under $400, but it was fairly heavily used.
 
#53
GregC said:
+infinity. Great post, Dr. Jim.

No one knows for sure. "Vintage" seems to be defined as 25-35 years in the current market (though on Ebay, you'll see people trot out '90s basses as vintage sometimes :rolleyes:).

As to how much the '08s will go up in value--no one knows. They might not at all! As Dr. Jim said, don't buy a new bass as an investment. Even if you end up selling it for more than you paid for, you might not keep up with inflation, never mind stocks or bonds.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words!

IMHO, the '08 MIA P and Jazz are always going to be highly desirable. Not that these are '62 vintage basses, but honestly, Fender really rang the bell unlike anything see since the early 90's, when they got back on track.

I also think people will soon realize that the effort Fender made in raising quality for the '08 line was so intense that it may be hard to sustain, given the abnormal pressures that international competition, venal bean counters, and national financial implosions provide in this present day good ol' US of A. :D

Time will tell. Have we entered the era of the '09 Fenders yet? :hiding:
 
#55
Jim Carr said:
Thanks for the kind words!


I also think people will soon realize that the effort Fender made in raising quality for the '08 line was so intense that it may be hard to sustain, given the abnormal pressures that international competition, venal bean counters, and national financial implosions provide in this present day good ol' US of A. :D

:hyper:Nice. Crucial.
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#57
I paid $250 for a new Fender sunburst precision with a black Fender tolex case in 1969.Put a $100 down and paid $15.00 a month for 10 months from McCoys music in Norristown,PA. My mom signed for the credit.

I bought a new black Fender precision in 1976 at Cintioli's in Philadelphia,PA.for $250 cash.Didn't get the case with that one though.
 
#58
20db pad said:
Here's a question for OG Talkbass members:

Back in 1976 or 1977, what was the average price for a brand new Fender Jazz or Precision at a music store? Going back further, how much did they cost 10 years before that?
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I bought a brand new Sunburst Fender P bass with case in 1971 on layaway so you know I didn't get any kind of deal, for 250.00. It took me all summer to pay it off.
Used prices for those ran around 150.00 usually at that time.
 

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