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Opinions on this '85 P Bass?

T

The Ryantist

Mar 7, 2010
433
392
Orange County, CA
#1
Background: I have only owned active 5 strings for my whole life (currently a MM Bongo and Sterling). So I don't have any experience with passives, 4 strings, or P basses other than noodling around at GC.

I've been thinking about this bass primarily because my birth year is 1985 and it'd be cool to have (plus my musical tastes are becoming more mainstream nowadays). But I'd like to play it as well, not just sit around as an investment. So if it's not going to be a good quality bass that's fun to play then I'd pass. The description sounds like it's obviously been played a ton, which may or may not be a good thing.

Also for you Fender gurus: the S/N starts with E3 which from the little research I've done could have various parts from 83-85 and was assembled in the Fullerton factory right before it closed. Sound correct?

Finally, does $950 seem too high for this? I could get a 2010 or newer in excellent condition for less.

Thanks, and here's the link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#2
I think that's around $400(US) more than the street price giver or take.

The knobs have been changed and possibly the pickguard. Fender was using single ply pickguards for a while starting in 1983.

It does have those good period open gear tuners that I like a lot.

If it was me, I'd pass on it. I think there are better deals to be had with some patience.

Hang in there...
 
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#4
radioripster said:
I think that's around $400(US) more than the street price giver or take.

The knobs have been changed and possibly the pickguard. Fender was using single ply pickguards for a while starting in 1983.

It does have those good period open gear tuners that I like a lot.

If it was me, I'd pass on it. I think there are better deals to be had with some patience.

Hang in there...
Click to expand...
capnjim said:
Really? US P-basses from the 80's sell for 500-600$???
I think its a pretty decent price actually. You could probably get it for 900$.
Click to expand...
That could very well be...I'm no expert of course and maybe not caught up on things.

Maybe I've just had a lucky streak..heh.
 
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#6
$400 is way off the mark, those are nice Fullerton made basses. Heads up - necks are WIDE at the nut, but shallow front to back.

Biflex truss rod, micro tilt adjustment for the neck at the body (no shim needed), quality tuners. These are great.

I'd slap an anodized guard on it (and get proper knobs) and it would have a Mexico made 50s RI vibe to it, but w/ some modern touches, and the nice sexy Fullerton body contours.

Anything south of a grand is reasonable I think.
 
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#7
JMacBass65 said:
$400 is way off the mark, those are nice Fullerton made basses. Heads up - necks are WIDE at the nut, but shallow front to back.

Biflex truss rod, micro tilt adjustment for the neck at the body (no shim needed), quality tuners. These are great.

I'd slap an anodized guard on it (and get proper knobs) and it would have a Mexico made 50s RI vibe to it, but w/ some modern touches, and the nice sexy Fullerton body contours.

Anything south of a grand is reasonable I think.
Click to expand...

Fully agree. A Fullerton, USA made P is worth $900 IMHO!
 
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#11
I don't think a 1995 Fender P qualifies as a "Fullerton" AVS with requisite Fullerton hand crafted body contours, etc. By 1995 the new factory had opened and bodies were CNC'd. Different logo decal on the headstock too. Here's what a legit Fullerton P looks like (it's an '83 '57 AVS). The '83 that the last post linked to also looks like a regular (non Fullerton AVS) Fender P. It may be Fullerton era, but it's not a Fullerton AVS.

Edit: And yes, the necks are deliciously wide.

DSCF7639.JPG


DSCF7645.jpg
 
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#12
JMacBass65 said:
$400 is way off the mark, those are nice Fullerton made basses. Heads up - necks are WIDE at the nut, but shallow front to back.

Biflex truss rod, micro tilt adjustment for the neck at the body (no shim needed), quality tuners. These are great.

I'd slap an anodized guard on it (and get proper knobs) and it would have a Mexico made 50s RI vibe to it, but w/ some modern touches, and the nice sexy Fullerton body contours.

Anything south of a grand is reasonable I think.
Click to expand...

I thought all basses were made in the Fullerton factory at that time. This bass isn't to be confused with the Fullerton Re-issue line which is highly coveted and fairly price-y. This is after CBS sold the company back to the employees and this is not a desirable era. I would think $700 is high, you can buy a new (used) one for $800. These things are not quick sellers.
 
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#13
Quote from Caca d kick/Fullterton reissue club thread:

"The "Fullertons" are the 1st time the reissues came out from '82-'84. CBS was trying to revamp itself, and the reissues were made using the original tool jigs and mostly old style hand-work like the preCBS instruments. These were still built in the same old Fullerton plant. The detailing and feel was like preCBS ones. The crew that built these later went on to become the Custom Shop.
Jan 1st 1985 FMIC bought Fender and moved into a new factory with mostly new machinery, in 86 when production resumed, the reissues went on to be a more CNC cut mass production line type built bass.
So collectors call these early reissues "Fullertons."
 
#14
Thanks for all the info guys. Yeah I think the one in my link is not a reissue, just a regular p bass made in 83-85. And I read somewhere that the Fullerton plant shut down in March 85 (with the CBS sale) and the Corona plant opened in October 85.

JMacBass65 said:
Here is an 83, looks all original, a bit over a grand. TB member sale: For Sale/Trade - 1983 Fender Precision Bass Fullerton Era Really Nice Condition....
Click to expand...
That one does appear to be nicer. So in my first link are the pickups not original since they are black?
 
#15
The thing about black and other dark solid colors is that they are used by Fender and other guitar makers to paint a particular ugly piece of wood (knots, etc).....Probably not relevent, but just thought Id add that tidbit of info
 
#17
The Ryantist said:
That one does appear to be nicer. So in my first link are the pickups not original since they are black?
Click to expand...

Possibly, or someone just changed the covers.

Easy enough to toss a stock Fender pup in there if you want. To me, the first thing is the body and neck. With that bass, you get a Fullerton made body and neck, and that makes a big difference - to me at least, I can feel it.
 
#19
DiabolusInMusic said:
I thought all basses were made in the Fullerton factory at that time. This bass isn't to be confused with the Fullerton Re-issue line which is highly coveted and fairly price-y. This is after CBS sold the company back to the employees and this is not a desirable era. I would think $700 is high, you can buy a new (used) one for $800. These things are not quick sellers.
Click to expand...

Right. I'm not confusing this with the Fullerton RI (I own one). It's an E series p bass, which as you point out, was made in Fullerton. However - the E series basses benefitted from the work Fender was doing with the RI series basses. These are very well made instruments, when compared to say, the S series. I have a very nice playing S series P (1978), however, it does not compare to the E series basses as far as body shape, fit, and finish work. And yes, I owned an E series, so I have first hand experience.

I mention the Mexico classic 50s basses only based on looks. You could take this balck E series P and slap a gold guard on it, and it would look like a classic series, but is a higher quality instrument.

As for price, the E series basses "tend to" get around $1K, IIRC. There is a black on here on TB going for $1,100 I think. He may, or may not, get that.
 
#20
The Ryantist said:
Background: I have only owned active 5 strings for my whole life (currently a MM Bongo and Sterling). So I don't have any experience with passives, 4 strings, or P basses other than noodling around at GC.

I've been thinking about this bass primarily because my birth year is 1985 and it'd be cool to have (plus my musical tastes are becoming more mainstream nowadays). But I'd like to play it as well, not just sit around as an investment. So if it's not going to be a good quality bass that's fun to play then I'd pass. The description sounds like it's obviously been played a ton, which may or may not be a good thing.

Also for you Fender gurus: the S/N starts with E3 which from the little research I've done could have various parts from 83-85 and was assembled in the Fullerton factory right before it closed. Sound correct?

Finally, does $950 seem too high for this? I could get a 2010 or newer in excellent condition for less.

Thanks, and here's the link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

The only value at this price is that it is your birth year, otherwise I wouldn't touch it at these $$$.

A new one goes for $1350 or MUCH newer (and better spec'ed) second hand at this or cheaper.
 

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