Question: Why is this bass worth $24,000?

[Gilmourisgod]

Ive played a few High Dollar early 60's Fenders, including a 63' Jazz, and didn't detect any magic pixie tone dust adhering to it, it sounded about like any jazz I've played, maybe not as good. Like any antique, Time + Hype = $$$$. It's the story people pay for. The one I find really amusing is how 70's CBS era basses are now considered desirable "Vintage" instruments that I recall being considered crap back in the 70's, because.. a lot of them were. Meh. By and large, modern basses are made better, sound better, play better than the basses built in the 60's. They have that nice "old leather sandals" worn-in appeal, but that can be faked to an incredible degree of convincing accuracy today by expert "relic" artists, which would worry me if I was in the market for something like this. Whatever, if you have the disposable income to blow, to each their own, but I think there's a lot of wishful thinking about these old instruments that a true blind recorded comparison would evaporate like morning mist.

 

[JRA]

I don't understand why it's worth so much.

+ =

 

[Snert]

Like any antique, Time + Hype = $$$$. It's the story people pay for.

but I think there's a lot of wishful thinking about these old instruments that a true blind recorded comparison would evaporate like morning mist.

This.

 

[DrBnz]

Thats just for those folks who have way too much money.... Jay Leno / Oprah / Musk ... etc. To the rest of us, all things have a finite value that we won't exceed. The biggest issue is, although it is cool (to look at). You already know you're gonna be disappointed in the sound. No bass sounds like $24K. Especially when most (if not all) of your present toys will sound as good, if not better.

 

[brianrost]

I understand how market forces work. But I am yet to see why, as a playing instrument, they are worth that much coin.

They aren't worth it as a playing instrument. That is collector's pricing.

Let's say you collect 63 Ps in particular and have a bunch of custom colors but not white. Or maybe you collect white 63 Fenders and already have a Strat, Tele, J, Bass VI, Jazzmaster and Jaguar but not a P. Or maybe you want one P from every single year of production.

David Gilmour owned a Strat with serial number 00001 (not actually the first ever Strat, though) which he auctioned off in 2019. Rick Nielsen owned a couple of Fenders with adjacent serial numbers. Etc. Collectors will and do pay for stuff like that.

 

[Snert]

They aren't worth it as a playing instrument. That is collector's pricing.

No, I get that, but look at how many here lust after them. Most of us here are minor gigging musicians and can't afford expensive collector instruments, but still lust after them. I just don't get it. If I had the $24k free to spend on instruments, I'd buy a number of them, pay to have them set up and some boxes of strings. not a put-it-on-the-wall and onanise to your friends how much you paid for it. At that point it's the same as the duct taped banana, it will just smell less in the near term.

 

[juggahnaught]

I was poking around Reverb and found this. I don't understand why it's worth so much. If it had some provenance, like it was owned by Duck Dunn or Steve Harris or someone, or was played on a well-known record, I could understand the asking price. But, this seems like they're asking waaaaay too much.

But, I'm new to basses, so I figured I'd ask here.

1963 Fender Precision Bass Vintage Pre-CBS Olympic White 100% Original w/ Blonde Case | Reverb

I would pay $240 for that bass. It's not special - it's just old.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

They want to retire off of one sale. This is why I won't buy vintage from most dealers. There are a few that really understand what they have and it's real value.

$25,000 is hardly enough to retire on.

 

[brianrost]

No, I get that, but look at how many here lust after them.

Who's going to lust after a Squier Affinity?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

All you need is one buyer and it's not like they're making any more 1963 P basses. Condition is nice.

 

[Snert]

Who's going to lust after a Squier Affinity?

Me.

If I was trapped in a mountain cave after a plane crash and could burn it for warmth. Nitro finishes are probably preferable in this instance.

 

[dalkowski]

It's not worth 24K until someone shells out 24K. That is the answer to your "Why?"

 

[Jefenator]

I get mad about rich collectors pricing humble players like me out of the vintage Fender market.
Then I remember how my Allparts / Warmoth / Lollar J completely crushes any genuine Fender I've ever tried. And I can tinker with the wiring or replace a bad pot or jack without giving the slightest thought to how it will affect the value.

 

[2112]

View attachment 4649405 + View attachment 4649406 = View attachment 4649407

So much this. Beat me to it.

We wont know it's worth $24,000 until someone actually buys it for $24,000.

You can retire off 24k?

 

[Grinderman]

That's a real beauty.

I can't afford that much nostalgia.

People say the old wood is better and different because the quality of available lumber, in the main, was better in the '50s and '60s and it's had about 60 years to further stabilize. I think that's probably largely true.

That's a type of advantage; however, how much practical difference that actually makes from the standpoint of playability and tone is akin to the number of fairies that can dance on the head of a pin. Certainly not a difference to me worth $10K or $20K or even more, even if I had that kind of money.

On the other hand, it's possible to make new instruments with higher degrees of precision, better attention to detail and workmanship at far more affordable prices. That's another sort of advantage.

For me, more player-grade practicality is what I want and can afford.

 

[Mike Marshall]

I was poking around Reverb and found this. I don't understand why it's worth so much. If it had some provenance, like it was owned by Duck Dunn or Steve Harris or someone, or was played on a well-known record, I could understand the asking price. But, this seems like they're asking waaaaay too much.

But, I'm new to basses, so I figured I'd ask here.

1963 Fender Precision Bass Vintage Pre-CBS Olympic White 100% Original w/ Blonde Case | Reverb

It's ridiculous people are asking very high prices I sold a 66 precision about 8 years ago for $3500 I have another one in great playing condition but it's visually worn. I have been thinking about selling it and buying a used AVRI or Road Worn bass

 

[Against Will]

Looking through the rest of their inventory it seems they specialize in vintage guitars in very good condition rather than players guitars. I suppose this is how they justify charging a grand for knock-offs and copy brands like Greco, Orville & Tokai. I don't have anything against those brands, there are some high-quality knock-offs out there. But name-recognition is part of the premium Fender and Gibson can charge for their instruments.

 

[micguy]

It's priced for someone who has a buttload of nostalgia for their miss-spent youth, and a pocketload of cash. Actually, as musical instruments go, $24K isn't that expensive (price a good cello lately?), but as you can get a better electric bass (as a musical instrument) for far less, it's rarity and nostalgia that drive prices like this. And it won't sell for $24K

 

[Grinderman]

The thumb rest is on the wrong side. Big red flag.

Damn you, you made me go look.

 

[dalkowski]

Me.

If I was trapped in a mountain cave after a plane crash and could burn it for warmth. Nitro finishes are probably preferable in this instance.

Not sure I'd want to burn a nitro finish in that mountain cave unless it was well ventilated...