Looks good and if they are offering you time to try first, maybe a week, before you decide you'd only be out shipping and your time. ... And for that price they should offer that option. ...
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Pre CBS '63' P Bass Help
- Thread starter ChetChetney
- Start date
Yeah, $8600 seems too high for a refin but it's not like they're making new '63 basses. For that much money with no return policy, I'd have to check it out in person. But that one does look pretty good, refin and all. I say screw it, snag it if you want it.
Sense Covid it seems the millennials are buying up all kinds of VINTAGE stuff including guitars/basses hence the crazy prices in the past 2 yrs or so , not sure if this is what is actually happening but thats what I hear. ???
I think they're buying up all the avocado toast. Heh. But seriously, we had a few threads recent-ish that the millennials have no interest in anything vintage and guitars are going to die. They can’t catch a break from being the source of all things evil.
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I don’t think millennials are buying vintage instruments - I think it’s the older folks who saved money during covid by not traveling. Similar to the rest of the luxury market since mid 2020
Ya but I Heard it so it has to be REAL right ???? LOL, Plus its on the Inquirer front page.
Two ways of looking at this:
1) A 60 YO L Series P that's had a body re-finish, regardless of how pristine, is always looks a little odd with the original neck attached because appearance-wise the two no longer complement each other, and so one could just as easily be looking at a recent run-of-the-mill P body with the '63 neck and bridge/pickups/pickguard attached. Eight grand is a lot for a bass that belies its vintage because the neck and hardware look old and the body looks brand new. Especially for a collector.
On the other hand...
2) If you're a player, 8K seems reasonable for an L series P presumably so good it was played past the point of no return and needed a refinish to bring it back to optimal condition. I'm always wary of those old Fenders that turn up in pristine condition - despite the hefty price tags they now command - because they might not have been that good to begin with: No play, no wear (exceptions to this rule, obviously)
Anyway, that's a pretty hot take, so the question is: are you a collector, or a player?
P.S. Who doesn't like Fiesta Red ?
1) A 60 YO L Series P that's had a body re-finish, regardless of how pristine, is always looks a little odd with the original neck attached because appearance-wise the two no longer complement each other, and so one could just as easily be looking at a recent run-of-the-mill P body with the '63 neck and bridge/pickups/pickguard attached. Eight grand is a lot for a bass that belies its vintage because the neck and hardware look old and the body looks brand new. Especially for a collector.
On the other hand...
2) If you're a player, 8K seems reasonable for an L series P presumably so good it was played past the point of no return and needed a refinish to bring it back to optimal condition. I'm always wary of those old Fenders that turn up in pristine condition - despite the hefty price tags they now command - because they might not have been that good to begin with: No play, no wear (exceptions to this rule, obviously)
Anyway, that's a pretty hot take, so the question is: are you a collector, or a player?
P.S. Who doesn't like Fiesta Red ?
the seller names the painters company so I am sure they have records , if not thats a big tell ! "" All appears to be original, excepts body only refinished by Fiesta Finishes., which is one of the best at re-creating original Fender Custom colors. ""
Fiesta Finishes
BTW Love Fiesta Red , I have a 61 Melody Maker in that color , sometimes called fire engine red
Fiesta Finishes
BTW Love Fiesta Red , I have a 61 Melody Maker in that color , sometimes called fire engine red
I think you're right on. It makes perfect sense that when a generation reaches a point in life financially where they can afford more expensive consumer goods, they'll naturally put their money there. Less idealistic now, and more pragmatic, they are becoming the "new boomers" and thus will share the contempt heaped upon them from younger generations who blame them for "hogging up all the prosperity". And so the cycle then continues with each successive generation, same as it ever was.
Historically (and aided by vintage dealers hyping the market), the main force driving vintage guitar prices moving ever-upwards has been the "investment" angle. Like fine artwork, classic cars, etc., it's been both a tax shelter and a hedge against inflation. Given the horrible record breaking inflation we're experiencing once again today, why not invest in a time-proven winner? There are worse places to put money, that's for sure.
I would disagree with your #2 assertion. Hands-on experience has taught me differently. Mostly the exact opposite was true in my case, despite my wanting to believe the heavily worn ones were the better playing/sounding examples. The worn ones looked cool, had "mojo" and "stories to tell", and gave me instant street cred as a novice player. I was in love with a romantic delusion. Instead, what I learned by plowing through dozens of old Fenders was that it's a myth that the pristine, un-played under-the-bed guitars were dogs, and vice-a-versa. Over and over again, the clean ones performed better than the beat up ones, much to my dismay. Overall, "dogs" were few and far between, but when there was one it was a fagged out beat to death example that looked cool as F, but didn't play well or sounded like a sunken log. There's a reason why busy players in the past would trade in their well used guitars for brand new fresh examples, well before Vintage Mania ever caught on.
Also, the "question" so often posed around here...re "player or collector" is a false dichotomy. The two are not mutually exclusive. It's well known that many of the world's most famous and idolized players are some of the world's biggest collectors. When they finally "make it" they can afford to indulge the GAS addiction they always had...in a big way.
I disagree with everyone saying the price is out of line. Prices have gone up so much lately.
Based on other available comps, this seems like a good value today...
Based on other available comps, this seems like a good value today...
Yeap - he’s the real deal too. Extremely knowledgeable and clearly knows his business. He seems like a really great guy
Warning: ‘old guy’ content ahead:
This is another example of vintage instrument prices getting ridiculously inflated. I’m not anti-vintage - I own a ‘62 P, a 64’ Jazz and a ‘70 competition stripe Mustang Bass, all of which I fortunately bought before those instruments were out of reach for working musicians, and they are all magical axes. If I were in the market for a vintage P now it would be impossible. I agree with the other posters who suggested a used Pino or another CS bass like the ‘59 Relic.
I was just thinking about how prices for pre-CBS Fenders started to climb in the early 80’s due to Japanese collectors buying them all up, and how they went down again in ‘82-‘83 when the first reissues came out. As an example of that, I bought a refinished ‘63 Jazz for $350 in late ‘83. That will obviously never happen again, so at this stage owning an old one requires a trust fund. At least there are builders making good vintage Fender clones, and the Custom Shop.
This is another example of vintage instrument prices getting ridiculously inflated. I’m not anti-vintage - I own a ‘62 P, a 64’ Jazz and a ‘70 competition stripe Mustang Bass, all of which I fortunately bought before those instruments were out of reach for working musicians, and they are all magical axes. If I were in the market for a vintage P now it would be impossible. I agree with the other posters who suggested a used Pino or another CS bass like the ‘59 Relic.
I was just thinking about how prices for pre-CBS Fenders started to climb in the early 80’s due to Japanese collectors buying them all up, and how they went down again in ‘82-‘83 when the first reissues came out. As an example of that, I bought a refinished ‘63 Jazz for $350 in late ‘83. That will obviously never happen again, so at this stage owning an old one requires a trust fund. At least there are builders making good vintage Fender clones, and the Custom Shop.
I have a ‘63 P hanging on the wall right next to me (sunburst that looks like it was dragged behind a truck for a few miles). Your bass checks out fine… it looks correct and real. Like a lot of people, I think it’s priced a little high for a refinish. I personally am not crazy about the red refin in that bass. I prefer a beat original finish. I bought my ‘63 two years ago for roughly $6500. I know that I got a good deal at the time. If I were you, I’d wait a while longer. Another one will show up. Keep your eyes on reverb.com and Chicago Music Exchange. You will find your bass. Or offer them $7000 tops. I’d relic after I got it a little bit. It looks way to new.
Requires a trust fund…. Haha, that’s ridiculous. But you got a heck of a deal on that bass - continue to enjoy it!
