Price Check. 1969 Jazz bass.

Run the serial numbers for sure and see if the neck is stamped. My best guess is about $700 to $800 as per your description.


Good Luck!

 

NINO...
From your description it sounds like it was put out to pasture...are you gonna hang it on the mantle as a trophy or do you want to play it? If you are looking for a player I would probably pass on this one...seems like a LOT wrong with it...but if the body is sound and the neck is OK(?) the hardware could be replaced, the P/U's replaced and all the electronics etc...of course then it would not be a 69' if you know what I mean!!

If the price is right I will buy just about anything that is interesting but I still say it sounds like I would pass on this one...If I had to guess a value sight unseen I would say $600-$800 Minimum and DEFINITELY no more than $1000-$1300 max based on my experience..(for what its worth, my family has owned a MI retail store since 1974 and I did most of the appraisals and horse tradin that went on for over 25 years!!)

Good Luck!!

tommixx

P.S. For what it is worth, I bet there is a GREAT vintage out there somewhere looking for you...if you look around a little while she will find you!

 

I know what you mean about the neck...one way to get that feel is to sand down a well played neck with 600 then 800 then 1000 grain paper...the key is more depth through the finish at the upper end of the neck and a bit less higher up toward the body...a friend of mine bought a 62 jazz and fell in love with the neck but unfortunately the bass was a mess...he could not bring hmself to hack it up but the did exactly what I described with the sandpaper and VOILA!! He basically recreated the same feel that was on the original...sounds simple but I swear it works...I have done the same thing on a few newer guitars that I own with excellent results!!

Good Luck!!

tommixx

 

I wouldn't pay more than $1000 for it. I have a 1969 jazz and I know what you're talking about, it is a great bass but anyways, you can't go wrong with that bass. Good luck.

 

I'm guessing about $1000 or more on Ebay.

 

I also have a very clean, all original '69 J.

I think that the Vintage Guide puts it a bit over $2K...maybe $2200. But a refin normally cut that value in half. Then you figure in all of the other changes. Funny thing is that if it wasn't refinished it would be worth a bunch more even if the finish is trashed.

So I agree that this bass you are looking at is pretty seriously overpriced.

 

Nino, you have enough basses.

 

That year bass usually sells for around 2000.00$ and up depending on condition, and possibly much higher if in good shape,it sounds like this bass is more a "player" than a collector's bass.which is good for you, because if it was'nt you could'nt touch it for 800.00$.
This bass sounds like who-ever owne d it before got they'er money's worth out of it,which tells me that the bass sounds and plays good(or at least it did at one time).
Is the bass playable as it is ? can you get away with out sinking money into it(except for strings,set-up stuff ETC)? or does it need to be claimed as a dependent when you file your taxes ?
I see basses all the time on E-Bay selling for that price(800.00$)and in alot worse condition than you described,it seems that you like it and it has that "mo-jo" when you pick it up,so what the hell are you waiting for ? GO GET IT ! PRONTO !
The bottom line is that if you can afford it ,then its all on you to decide,you've been around for awhile,you know what's up with basses.if you need a co-signer to validate the purchase,I'm sure you can find at least on fender fan here.

 

HI!

Nino, I read your description of the bass. If the neck has a maple board with black blocks and binding, it's not a '69 neck. They were made about 3 years only in the early '70's('72 to '74?). Just like a Geddy reissue. Maybe the bass has a '69 body and a '73 neck? I don't know if I'd get too excited about it. You might have a struggle reselling if you don't like it. Best of luck. Tell Roger I say hello!!

Rob DeSantis

 

According to Vintage Bass http://www.vintage-bass.com/Informations/Fender_Dating/fender_dating.html
The maple board with black blocks and black binding became available in 1969. I thought it was the early '70s also.
I agree that the refin alone cuts the value in half. the non original parts will further decrease the value. But the owner can probably get more than it's worth on ebay.