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Genuine Fender P-Bass

#43
Very little of that is a vintage Fender and it has been mangled to the point it would be difficult to get it back to being one.

The bridge and additional pickup (though odd location) are pretty standard changes for 70's Fenders that were done in the 70's-80's back when the basses were pawnshop cheap. The tuners are Schallers, you should be able to replace them with 70's replacements fairly easy and cover up the holes. As others have said it looks like it's been refinished. If you are really interested in it for it being a 70's bass you at least need to verify the neck and body are actually 70s and just accept the odd mods.
 
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#45
The gigantic strap in the case makes me think it's original and has been mangled. Like everyone else has said it has no real vintage value. If you are cool with it and good with the price you should go for it.
 
#46
Run forrest run.jpg
 
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#48
New North said:
Hi all, this guy is selling his Fender P-bass supposedly a 1973 model. How can I tell if it's indeed a genuine one. I also attached a couple of pictures for reference. Thanks in advance.
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You don't buy a bass like that for vintage value. It's been hacked up and pieced together so much that you may as well name it Darth Vader.
 
#49
I apologize if anyone took offense to my last post. I meant no harm and hold no ill will towards anyone regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual preference, or otherwise.

I will try to make my point again without benefit of metaphor:

The bass in question is a '73 Fender, with very few of the original parts left, which, to my mind, means that it is hardly a '73 Fender anymore. I personally did something similar to a '98 MIM Jazz V; all that is left of the original instrument is the neck and body, and the strap buttons (I think). If I had any idea that my bass might have been worth something in original condition 50 years down the road, I doubt I would have changed anything on it, much like the person who decided to modify their '73 back in the day.
 
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#50
Real art piece. ... Can't figure the strips on the neck. ... The body and neck do look early 70's, looks very narrow at the nut and could be 1 1/2". ... Worth? I'd guess neck, body and neck plate maybe $800. to $1,300. ...
 
#52
birminghambass said:
IT'S A VINTAGE FENDER, IT'S WORTH WILL INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY! Seriously though, buy it cheap as an investment piece for $250. Some fool will pay you 10x that in a few years. People are selling old Squiers for $1000 these days. Insanity.
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Honestly, if he can get it cheap and knows how to do some work, he could make some money off it at least. Refinish the neck and get rid of those odd black tape lines and the damage they did, fill the odd Jazz pickup rout and refinish the body in a fairly mundane color. Put on a period correct set of replacement tuners and pickguard. Though that is probably more money and more work than most want to have to do, but make it look like a 70s Precision the right buyer would probably give good money for it even if a lot of it is replacement.
 
#54
can you post a picture of the entire back of the bass? as well as the neck pocket, there are clues there that can help identify it as a legit 70's fender. i have my doubts about this one. But, if it is real, the body isn't a total loos like others have mentioned. if the body isn't over 6 lbs, or if you're a body builder, AND IF IT PLAYS WELL, it could be a good candidate for a hum bucker or double J in that bridge position. the current slanty J is heinous.
 
#55
FranF said:
Nearly nothing original. Tuners, nut, frets, pickguard, screws, pickups, knobs, bridge, chrome cover, all non original. Plus it's a re-fin. looks '73-ish though. I'd offer no more than 700. Bass has zero resale appeal.
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Yeah, if it's a HELL of a player I'd think 500-700 tops. Most of the value is in the neck if it's in good shape and it definitely isn't 'original' looks like it had a second string retainer and I'm sure the modernish Fender tuners took some drilling.

Non original:
Bridge
Tuners
Pickguard
Pickups
Electronics
Stripped finish
Routed body.
 
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#56
An unaltered 1973 Precision Bass in excellent condition would fetch (I'm guessing) about $2,500 to $3,000 and at that price I would not personally be interested. This one is significantly altered and most likely has non-original parts, so in your shoes I would not be interested at all. Walk away.
 
#57
selowitch said:
An unaltered 1973 Precision Bass in excellent condition would fetch (I'm guessing) about $2,500 to $3,000 and at that price I would not personally be interested. This one is significantly altered and most likely has non-original parts, so in your shoes I would not be interested at all. Walk away.
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I sold my 73 in 2012 for 2500$, and at least one vintage expert dealer told me I shouldn't go less than 3K on it. I'd assume these days good examples are north of $3K. This one is literally 1/10th of the value of one in really nice shape. ;)
 
#59
P. Aaron said:
Thread hijack for price-check conspiracy.
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They're all different 'vintage' Fenders and nearly all in similar tortured non-original shape.

I think that people know that old guitars and basses can be worth something and when they find one, they're coming here to see if they've struck gold.

Alas, no one is striking gold.
 
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