$2500 can buy a beautiful new Fender. If you check it out, make sure you also check out what else that money could buy. Good way to avoid buyer's remorse a week later. Good luck
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OK, I checked Reverb and am frankly surprised that modified 75s are going for well over $2000. Oh well, glad I'm not looking for one.
I think that’s hot. If it felt good and was not too heavy, I would snag it, for sure, find an 75ish bridge and love it up.
String tree, nut , bridge, knobs, pick guard. This guy had an affinity for brass. Nothing wrong with that but the price seems high for that era, in non original condition. Could be a real player though.
Given only the pictures shown, the bass looks legit 1975.
serial number and headstock logo agree with 1975.
as has been stated before, you want to assess the pickups and pots for originality (hard to tell from these pictures alone)
some obvious changed parts:
1) the gold hardware — although nicely aged (bridge and volume/tone knobs, string tree, brass nut) are NOT ORIGINAL to 1975.
2) the pearlioid pickguard also NOT ORIGINAL to 1975.
All in all: if all original except for bridge, knobs, pickguard I’d say ~$2k… if electronics were changed, them ~$1,500.
serial number and headstock logo agree with 1975.
as has been stated before, you want to assess the pickups and pots for originality (hard to tell from these pictures alone)
some obvious changed parts:
1) the gold hardware — although nicely aged (bridge and volume/tone knobs, string tree, brass nut) are NOT ORIGINAL to 1975.
2) the pearlioid pickguard also NOT ORIGINAL to 1975.
All in all: if all original except for bridge, knobs, pickguard I’d say ~$2k… if electronics were changed, them ~$1,500.
I haven't checked lately but sometimes the asking price and the price of similar basses that are sold can be quite different.
JeezyMcNuggles
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Those are just asking prices, but these are going for around a couple thousand pretty reliably without any major issues. This one is actually a pretty solid example--nothing irreversible has happened to it and the most crucial original stuff has been left untouched.
I'd ask the family if he maybe had a workbench or area he tinkered with his guitars--there's a real chance the hardware is in a box or parts drawer somewhere. You'd be astounded what you can find just by asking these kinds of questions.
In ‘73 I bought a brand new P bass with OHSC for $225 out the door. TBA the bass was a PoS. I had to replace the pickups & pots. The A-string would collapse onto the fingerboard in the middle of a gig until a luthier made it a string-thru. The weight was okay but the ugly AF 3-tone sunburst (I still loath that color) had to go. I rocked that bass for 11 years then sold it for $300. That’s why I find these stupid high prices for “vintage” instruments so laughable.
10 years ago I realized that I needed another P bass as every J bass that I’d had I was always trying to make it sound like a P. When I thought about it the only thing a J bass had that I wanted was the neck so I built one for ~$600 and it’s the way I want it not some close but not quite right factory spec. Just sayin’…
10 years ago I realized that I needed another P bass as every J bass that I’d had I was always trying to make it sound like a P. When I thought about it the only thing a J bass had that I wanted was the neck so I built one for ~$600 and it’s the way I want it not some close but not quite right factory spec. Just sayin’…
We used to run away from 70’s Fenders when I was a kid. They are wildly inconsistent. So, unless you can play and inspect it, I’d pass and wait for another one to become available.
Looks like the Dad liked brass - nut, string tree and bridge so its been modded at least a little and that pickguard too perhaps. Would agree that a look under the hood is necessary to determine extent of mods / originality. Feel and sound very important too so worth a look. Put a small amp in your car in case a decent amp not available for tryout. Good luck!
Play it and check the pickup and weight. If cool offer 1600.00--the other parts can easily be changed for under 150.00
I’m glad that worked out for you, but we’re talking about the bass the OP posted about.
If can definitely try it out. 70’s Fender can be hit or miss. Early and mid 70’s Fenders are generally better. Pickguard bridge and knobs are not original. Would offer 2k.
In a world where things sell for what they are truly worth, I'd agree with you. That difference is why I don't own a 70's P. I want one, I love the TV logo and the worn white poly finish on this one. If it were not super heavy and played well I'd definitely buy a bass like this for ~$1,000. But even with a replacement bridge and pickguard, basses like this don't go for $1,000 these days. Sure if some old lady finds it in the attic and doesn't know what she has, maybe. $2,500 is a little high, but at $1,800-$2k this bass would sell.
