P-Bass: older vs newer.

[cnltb]

So I have an ‘81 P bass. It’s natural ash/maple board. It’s in good shape. Thing sounds good. I was thinking about selling it and getting a new one, with a cool paint job, and modern features etc. Probably an American Professional II. The bass I have is great, but I don’t see it becoming particularly collectible, and I’m a player, not a collector anyway. What I’m asking whoever is interested is this- would selling it be a mistake in your estimation?

I think what you are doing is waste you time. You like the bass and do not point at anything you might change if you got a new one(k...you mention a 'cool paintjob'...).
I agree when you say that you don't particularly see it becoming valuable. You seem to like it, so go on and play it.

 

[bassliner50]

I'd keep it as I have my '78. That thing is the Rock of Gibralter.

 

[HardNHeavy]

keep it, i still have my 83 P, made from the fullerton factory, with those lightweight tuners and micro-tilt neck. Plays and sounds great imo..No need for anything new unless you just want some new color, neck profile or fret size that might be a game changer. I currently have 4 basses all fenders, or parts projects, but they all sound and feel different from my original p that i used for most of my gig days. It aint goin nowhere.

 

[BassVibes]

No, it’s actually not appreciating, at best it’s holding its own. You have to factor in inflation and changes in currency value on currency markets. Just because it was bought for ~$500 in 1981 and could now sell for $1800-2200 doesn’t at all mean it has appreciated. Gas was $1.22/gallon in 1981.

I bought my 76 Bass 10 years ago for about £1200. It has just about doubled in value, so that is not all inflation.
I also bought an 83 Fender 57 RI USA for about the same price and that has more than doubled in 10 years.
IMHO I think the 80s prices will appreciate for American Fenders, it just needs to reach that tipping point when the sentiment is there for all things 1980s.

 

[N4860]

If I were you, I'd try a few newer P basses out, and if you like any of them more than your 80's P, make the switch. People love to look at old Fenders and say "oh how I wish I had bought those up so I could sell them now for a fortune". In reality, you're more often than not better off just investing some money in a reasonably safe investment and earner a better return than you would have by buying a bass and hoping it to appreciate.

 

[gln1955]

Buy the new one and keep the '81. See which one you pick up to play the most. That'll be your answer.

 

[MtManiac]

At the beginning there is an inertia when things don't appreciate, then they start holding their own, then they start to slowly appreciate. After the competition has fallen away, either been bought up by collectors or modded, stuff finally gets to the "what the buyer will pay" level.

Yeah, although that held true for sure for pre-CBS era Fenders, I don't think we can accurately predict it will hold true for 1981 late-CBS era Fenders, which are historically the most universally complained about Fenders ever.

 

[MtManiac]

But if one of those goofy paint jobs they are coming out with now is so important, I guess go ahead.

I'm sure there were people who thought shell pink and daphne blue were goofy at the time too.

 

[MtManiac]

I bought my 76 Bass 10 years ago for about £1200. It has just about doubled in value, so that is not all inflation.
I also bought an 83 Fender 57 RI USA for about the same price and that has more than doubled in 10 years.
IMHO I think the 80s prices will appreciate for American Fenders, it just needs to reach that tipping point when the sentiment is there for all things 1980s.

The price of gas has more than tripled since 1976, comparing 1976 USD to 2021 USD. There are two factors - one is the price of the commodity itself (inflation), the other is the currency value. What did your 76 cost in 2021 GBP? What does a 2021 Fender cost in 1976 GBP? What you're describing is *not* appreciation, it is not a 100% ROI, I haven't done the math but I would bet it's more like a +/- 2% or 3% variance.

 

[Panek]

So I have an ‘81 P bass. It’s natural ash/maple board. It’s in good shape. Thing sounds good. I was thinking about selling it and getting a new one, with a cool paint job, and modern features etc. Probably an American Professional II. The bass I have is great, but I don’t see it becoming particularly collectible, and I’m a player, not a collector anyway. What I’m asking whoever is interested is this- would selling it be a mistake in your estimation?

I have a 2009 American Standard P that I've put lots of miles on since '11. Bought a '75 last year and love it to death, can't put it down.

Selling the '81 would be a total mistake. If you want a newer Fender, get money some other way and own 'em both.

 

[pbassnut]

So I have an ‘81 P bass. It’s natural ash/maple board. It’s in good shape. Thing sounds good. I was thinking about selling it and getting a new one, with a cool paint job, and modern features etc. Probably an American Professional II. The bass I have is great, but I don’t see it becoming particularly collectible, and I’m a player, not a collector anyway. What I’m asking whoever is interested is this- would selling it be a mistake in your estimation?

If you are pleased with the way your '81 P bass plays and sounds, I see no reason to replace it. However, as a lifetime achievement award P bass enthusiast and the owner of many of them, I don't see anything wrong with having more than one.

 

[BobKos]

For every P-Bass you play that you like, there are 10 out there that you don't like. You have one you like, so I say keep it. If you want to dabble in the idea of another bass, by all means go shopping. But DO keep the known quantity bass till something else totally replaces it over a period of months or even years before letting it go. Seller's remorse is an expensive hobby to entertain when you hit the market trying to replace that bass you 'stupidly sold' that you want back because nothing else measures up. It happens...

 

[vinlander]

We always "can" regret what we don't have anymore...
If its not a money issue, I would keep the 81 until you really sure you have a new keeper worthy of replacing it.
I realize its a personal preference, but being a sucker for old natural finish showing the grain, last thing appealing to me is any cool paint job much less any solid color!

 

[lowendrachel]

If you have enough money. Keep it. And get a new one.

But if you don't. I'd sell it and get a new one since you're a player not a collector. Good luck!

 

[SJan3]

IMO. Sounds like your bass is a good one and good for you. You've just got an itch. If you want a cool paint job, buy a MIM and do your own paint job. What are "modern features"? I don't see any features on a modern bass that are better than the "vintage" features on a good 80's bass. This should be a justification to get a new bass that you can mod rather than sell your old bass.

An 81 Fender is an appreciating asset. Don't underestimate this. It takes time and your asset's appreciation is accelerating over the next 20 + years.

I will say that my '19 Player Precision is most impressive for the $$$. Great neck, light @8.6 lbs, fit and finish is excellent on mine, pickup sound very nice and everything just works well together. So, a good option if you wanna keep your '81.

 

[Reindeer93]

If you're just wanting new features get a new pickguard and put in all the fancy electronics you desire, and you can easily swap back to original if you ever decide to cash it out.

 

[CallMeAl]

I’d go out and play basses. Get your hands on the ones you are looking at; then you’ll either say “meh” or “I gotta get this!”

I’d also highly consider keeping the 81 and just add a Player. What’s one more?

 

[Paul New]

A P Bass is a P Bass.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Thanks everyone. Lots of good advice and perspectives from from people with experience.

A little more context. The ‘81 was actually given to me about 10 years ago by a guy that had no use for it. I’ve always been a Jazz Bass guy, but hearing Pino made me want a Precision. I could just buy another one I guess, but I don’t want to have too many guitars because I’m not playing out at the moment and I have a small apartment up here. I already have a 99 Geddy Lee, a 2001 Streamer Stage II, and a ‘20 Ultra Jazz that I got used for a good price. I have a ton of respect for old guitars, but I played a new Fender at a store and was so impressed that I got that Ultra.

here’s the 81. It has a black guard, and also a tort one. I have this gold one on it because being isolated for a year has made me lose my mind.

By the way, I went to your profile and it says you’re a comic book artist - did you create your profile pic? It’s very cool.

Thank you, and yep, I did. Drawing took the front seat over music, but I’ve gotten bac k into the bass.

 

[OnTheDownLow]

Thanks everyone. Lots of good advice and perspectives from from people with experience.

A little more context. The ‘81 was actually given to me about 10 years ago by a guy that had no use for it. I’ve always been a Jazz Bass guy, but hearing Pino made me want a Precision. I could just buy another one I guess, but I don’t want to have too many guitars because I’m not playing out at the moment and I have a small apartment up here. I already have a 99 Geddy Lee, a 2001 Streamer Stage II, and a ‘20 Ultra Jazz that I got used for a good price. I have a ton of respect for old guitars, but I played a new Fender at a store and was so impressed that I got that Ultra.

here’s the 81. It has a black guard, and also a tort one. I have this gold one on it because being isolated for a year has made me lose my mind.





Thank you, and yep, I did. Drawing took the front seat over music, but I’ve gotten bac k into the bass.

For an '81, I must say that thing looks to be in pretty good condition. At least from the looks of the photo that is. Must have spent most of its life in the case! Besides for the pickguard, is it mostly original?