I just purchased a 1982 Fender Fullerton American Vintage Reissue '62 Precision bass for $1300!! Deal of the year! I'm so excited!
The backstory: About 20 years ago I was in Borders bookstore (remember those?) buying a bass book and Bass Player magazine. The clerk asked if I played bass and said "I have an old bass in my basement I'm looking to sell." Without hesitation, I said I'd buy it, not even knowing what it was. Turns out, he had a 1982 Fullerton AVRI '57 Precision and told me he wanted $200. I cut him a check (!!!) and off I went!
It was an amazing bass, to say the least. A few years ago, I traded it, along with a few other items, for a Gibson Custom Shop VOS '59 ES-175, my dream guitar. But I've always missed that Fullerton bass.
I keep my eyes out for another '82 constantly, but they are so expensive now.
Fast forward to the other week. I was scrolling Reverb and saw this ancient looking Olympic White bass listed as "Fender Precision Bass 1998 white." I scrolled through the pics and noticed the V00XXXX serial number and nearly fell out of my chair. The asking price was $1300 plus shipping! I saw the original case, the router hump, the curve of rosewood where it meets the headstock, and was convinced this was indeed a 1982 Fullerton, not a 1998.
I hit "By it Now" immediately!
Turns out, the bass was on consignment apparently from the original owner, who supposedly bought it new at Norman's Rare Guitars in LA.
It's 100 percent original, with pots dated to July of 1982. Original case still had the plastic cover over the Fender logo. I cleaned it, strung it with flats and wow! It has all that tone I distinctly remember from my 1982 AVRI '57.
I cannot believe it was mislabled and I was able to score it so cheap! The prices on this early Fullerton reissues have skyrocketed in recent years. Here are some pics.
The backstory: About 20 years ago I was in Borders bookstore (remember those?) buying a bass book and Bass Player magazine. The clerk asked if I played bass and said "I have an old bass in my basement I'm looking to sell." Without hesitation, I said I'd buy it, not even knowing what it was. Turns out, he had a 1982 Fullerton AVRI '57 Precision and told me he wanted $200. I cut him a check (!!!) and off I went!
It was an amazing bass, to say the least. A few years ago, I traded it, along with a few other items, for a Gibson Custom Shop VOS '59 ES-175, my dream guitar. But I've always missed that Fullerton bass.
I keep my eyes out for another '82 constantly, but they are so expensive now.
Fast forward to the other week. I was scrolling Reverb and saw this ancient looking Olympic White bass listed as "Fender Precision Bass 1998 white." I scrolled through the pics and noticed the V00XXXX serial number and nearly fell out of my chair. The asking price was $1300 plus shipping! I saw the original case, the router hump, the curve of rosewood where it meets the headstock, and was convinced this was indeed a 1982 Fullerton, not a 1998.
I hit "By it Now" immediately!
Turns out, the bass was on consignment apparently from the original owner, who supposedly bought it new at Norman's Rare Guitars in LA.
It's 100 percent original, with pots dated to July of 1982. Original case still had the plastic cover over the Fender logo. I cleaned it, strung it with flats and wow! It has all that tone I distinctly remember from my 1982 AVRI '57.
I cannot believe it was mislabled and I was able to score it so cheap! The prices on this early Fullerton reissues have skyrocketed in recent years. Here are some pics.
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