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Please Look This '72 P Bass Over
- Thread starter brokencode
- Start date
My 2 cents:
The body is clearly a refin, but the neck looks right. Looks like someone played the snot out of this bass - which is not a bad thing, just what it is.
Me, I'd have to play it before I spent anything more than $900 on it. If I play it and it it's good - well then, the price starts depending on HOW good it feels/sounds, right? Keep in mind what you can get for "that" money - $1500 is a brand new P-bass. As old Fenders go, this might be really good or not. The '70s saw some good pieces and some awful pieces.
The body is clearly a refin, but the neck looks right. Looks like someone played the snot out of this bass - which is not a bad thing, just what it is.
Me, I'd have to play it before I spent anything more than $900 on it. If I play it and it it's good - well then, the price starts depending on HOW good it feels/sounds, right? Keep in mind what you can get for "that" money - $1500 is a brand new P-bass. As old Fenders go, this might be really good or not. The '70s saw some good pieces and some awful pieces.
He's not moving off of the $1500 at all. One week, and it's get parted out. I offered my '08 Am Std P bass + $750. Declined... I had this exact year, color and maple neck stolen from me in the late Eighties. I'm on the fence.
He's asking the low side of a collector grade all original Precision. What he has is a semi-original refinished player grade bass. One grand tops.
I just compared the pictures of that bass with my 74 Precision that I bought new. The body finish on mine looks pretty close to what's in those pictures, so I'm not sure that body has been refinished. Maybe, but it sure is close to mine, wear and all. The neck plate on mine (original) has a black lining around it from what looks like a plastic or rubber seat, probably there to keep the metal from directly resting on the finish. That part is missing on the bass in the pictures. I haven't taken the neck off of mine in years, so I don't remember what the backside of the neck plate looks like. I'm sure it's original and not an add-on part, since I've owned this bass since it was new. Other than the pickguard and knobs, I don't see anything that wouldn't be original.
I still have the original receipt showing that I paid list price of $330.00. Stupid me, I was very young and didn't know you could dicker on the price.
I still have the original receipt showing that I paid list price of $330.00. Stupid me, I was very young and didn't know you could dicker on the price.
You might ask for a "try out" period of a couple of days - send it back for a full refund if you're not satisfied. You'd loose the price of shipping it back, but it just seems there's just too much going on with this bass to spring for it with no recourse. I'm almost positive you could find another early 70's PB in a lot better condition than that one for $1500, probably cheaper.
Personally, I'm not sure if I buy the "angle of the photo" thing with the strings to one side. Did you get a full photo of the bass, straight on, showing the strings correctly spaced over the fretboard or what is just photo of a section of the neck with the strings in the correct position? If it was just a section of the neck photo, well, I dunno if I would trust that. Buyer beware...
Personally, I'm not sure if I buy the "angle of the photo" thing with the strings to one side. Did you get a full photo of the bass, straight on, showing the strings correctly spaced over the fretboard or what is just photo of a section of the neck with the strings in the correct position? If it was just a section of the neck photo, well, I dunno if I would trust that. Buyer beware...
Don't do it, you can find a 100% original 1970's P bass for $1500. This one is worth $1300 max.
Okay first that could be the Og finish but I dont think that bass is a '72, I think maybe a '74 or '75 but the body routes would need to be seen to confirm.
Additionally It maybe the angle of the photo but those knobs look super rounded/dome topped which would make them not original, the knobs should be flat with slight rounding on the edges going into the side essentially what a modern american P or MIM's knobs look like.
On a good day parting it out would be lucky to bring $1500 before paypal fee's and shipping costs plus parting a bass out usually takes months I have done it often. Currently I have a '77 that I am getting $1100 for in a few days when it sells, if it gets picked up as its suppose to.
He should have jumped all over $750+ your P he could have then sold for $750 and got $1500 , otherwise he isnt getting $1500.
Additionally It maybe the angle of the photo but those knobs look super rounded/dome topped which would make them not original, the knobs should be flat with slight rounding on the edges going into the side essentially what a modern american P or MIM's knobs look like.
On a good day parting it out would be lucky to bring $1500 before paypal fee's and shipping costs plus parting a bass out usually takes months I have done it often. Currently I have a '77 that I am getting $1100 for in a few days when it sells, if it gets picked up as its suppose to.
He should have jumped all over $750+ your P he could have then sold for $750 and got $1500 , otherwise he isnt getting $1500.
No. My 1976 Precision came new from the Fullerton, CA factory in a case exactly like that, and is period correct for a '72.
The 300,000 serial # puts it in the '71-'72 timeframe. I can't read the exact #. What comes back when you run it through guitar dater project? Get a photo appraisal from George Gruhn of Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville. They're the experts in vintage instruments. If the seller won't agree, politely walk away.
OK, I stand corrected. Mine is not exactly like either one as mine is a lefty and has the Fender amp logo with three rivets! A tad difficult to see, but here it is!Linnin is your 76 case logo like this:
or like this (note the second rivet next to the r):
Top pic is a '66-'68 case. Bottom pic is a '72-'76 case
Too much. I bought an all original '75 for $1400 at Guitar Center in NY. For a non-all original 72 you shouldn't be spending more than a grand.
Here is a 1972 refin at Guitar Center right now for $1300
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Last edited:
hasbeen
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- Sep 23, 2004
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Exactly. I'd offer him $1000 and bring cash. If he parts it out.....lots more work and more time.
Thanks for all of the advice y'all! I have a buddy that lives in the same town and is going to "test drive" it today. I've been keeping him posted on everyone's comments. As of right now, I'd go as high as $1300, slight emotional influence in that.
Here's just a question for all... my '72 Jazz (mid 300K's) does not have a skunk stripe. Were P-necks made differently? My board is rosewood w/blocks.
I no longer have the original neck on my 74 but I'm pretty sure it had the skunk stripe. I remember noticing that the replacement neck (Boogie Bodies) didn't have it, which I prefered at the time, and was one of the things I liked about the replacement neck. There's a two year difference though, so I can't say for sure what was standard on a 72. I like skunk stripes fine now.
I had my buddy check out the bass. He said the neck was awesome and loved it. He couldn't believe how low the set up was. I really didn't care about the refin or the volume pot, the neck was a concern. But it pass the test with flying colors! I just made my offer.
Good luck! Craigslist sellers are always SO out of touch about valuation. Maybe he will realize.
