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Legit '61 P bass?
- Thread starter bushbass
- Start date
Yeah who the hell cut that nut?
Anyway would love to know what the owner says about it when you contact him
Anyway would love to know what the owner says about it when you contact him
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It looks exactly like the above reissue down to the paint tone, screws, headstock, decal etc. Could be someone selling it (kid's mother, etc.) who knows nothing about basses.
Either it's a very sick attempt to sell a fake or he is mistaken. Your telling me this bass has not sold yet? There's the red flag.
I strongly encourage you to approach this with skepticism, that's what I say now.
You sound very excited, which means you are in a prime mental state to get taken.
The serial number is actually among the very least reliable proofs of age on a fender. It is one of the proofs, but it is probably the easiest proof to fake.
Have a look at eBay:
1961 fender neck plate | eBay
Looks like for $135 + $7.50 shipping, I could turn a reissue or a parts bass into a legit 1961 if your only dating metric is the serial number on the neck plate.
That bass needs to be dis-assembled by someone with enough experience to tell real from fake in order to authenticate it.
If the seller allows you to take it apart and photograph it, there are members on this board that could give you a difinitive answer if you post the pics.
Having looked at the photos again, the body isn't drilled for a 10 hole guard, so I don't believe it is a 1959 reissue. See missing screw below control knobs. No drill hole.
The dots look as though they might be clay. Hard to tell. Still, the pics aren't telling enough of the story to be sure what we are looking at.
The bass is interesting, but as others have said, legit pre CBS instruments at that price don't remain on CL for that long.
Proceed with caution. Above all, do not meet the seller in some random place with $2k cash in pocket.
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Yeah, I'm definitely sceptical and Baltimore is a long way to go for a bad deal, maybe I'll have to look up a reputable expert in that area and see if the seller would meet me there with the bass and let it get taken apart there...
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If the seller balks at this request, it's almost certainly not what the seller claims.
I went ahead and messaged the guy too just to see what he would say. No worries I'm not buying. Just curious
A few things:
1. Pop the neck up and look for a date stamp at the bottom. Also look inside the neck pocket for any identifying maker marks, paint overspray, evidence of refinishing, and so on. There's a slight possibility that the neck is a '61 while the body could be anything else but.
2. Check date codes on the pots. Cloth covered wiring inside? Anything in the way the cavity was routed to suggest it's an original body? Any computer router pilot holes?
3. Fretboard condition and fret wear. Any signs of regular play? Stored under a bed for 50+ years?
Not trying to throw cold water on this, but something just doesn't add up in my opinion. Maybe it's just me being old and skeptical. Perform your due diligence as a careful buyer and authenticate as best you can. Better to be bummed out and walk away than spend your coin on something shady.
1. Pop the neck up and look for a date stamp at the bottom. Also look inside the neck pocket for any identifying maker marks, paint overspray, evidence of refinishing, and so on. There's a slight possibility that the neck is a '61 while the body could be anything else but.
2. Check date codes on the pots. Cloth covered wiring inside? Anything in the way the cavity was routed to suggest it's an original body? Any computer router pilot holes?
3. Fretboard condition and fret wear. Any signs of regular play? Stored under a bed for 50+ years?
Not trying to throw cold water on this, but something just doesn't add up in my opinion. Maybe it's just me being old and skeptical. Perform your due diligence as a careful buyer and authenticate as best you can. Better to be bummed out and walk away than spend your coin on something shady.
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What strikes me as strange about this bass, is that it looks too clean to be a deliberate fake. There's plenty of old Fenders out there that have been modified and messed with but in most cases it was done long enough ago that they have some obvious wear and tear. Nobody would try and fake a '61 by refinishing it and to make it look brand new. Unless they were an idiot of course (which is also possible). But it could have been refinished by somebody that knew no better. I'd be interested to see a bit more detail on this bass. If this was a deliberate fake (with a '61 neck plate) I reckon they'd be saying 'refinished '61 Precision' and asking for more than $2000.
The email I got that included his phone number
It is a 1961 fender precision in excellent condition. It was refinished at the Paul Reed Smith factory about 25 years ago. The bass belonged to my brother but he passed away a little while ago. If u want to see iy give me a call
It is a 1961 fender precision in excellent condition. It was refinished at the Paul Reed Smith factory about 25 years ago. The bass belonged to my brother but he passed away a little while ago. If u want to see iy give me a call
Meet the seller in a neutral place- a guitar shop, a local police station lobby, even a restaurant if that's all you have- If possible, aim for a guitar shop so you can plug it in. Bring a friend (or two), hopefully someone with more knowledge than you. Be prepared to ask questions, and listen to the answers critically.
Proceed cautiously, and very importantly, do not seem too eager to buy.
Due diligence has ruined many attempts at throwing money away.
Good luck.
Proceed cautiously, and very importantly, do not seem too eager to buy.
Due diligence has ruined many attempts at throwing money away.
Good luck.
