• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Questionable Wear Pattern? 78 P Bass

#61
two fingers said:
It was a lap bass. In other words, for a very long time, the player sat with the bass. The body of the bass went between the legs and rested on a chair with the angle of the neck going pretty sharply upwards. I have seen wear like this on the bass of a guy who did lots of theater gigs. He wore the bass pretty high and angled it up pretty steep. But the bass would sit on the chair between his legs (kind of hard to explain)... almost if trying to imitate playing an upright bass at an angle only not quite. And when he really got into what he was playing he would kind of rock or sway back and forth. Plus, he was always leaning forward to turn sheet music pages. His wore almost exactly like that.... maybe slightly more around the corner from that wear pattern from holding the head a little higher.
Click to expand...
No, definitely NOT this. The wear is on the wrong side. Remember, this is a lefty. So, unless it was a righty playing it backwards....
 
#62
smiked1 said:
I think it's high too. If he hangs on to it for a few years, it won't depreciate. I'm looking at this from the POV of someone looking for a southpaw bass. Count your blessings if you're a righty. It's hard enough for me to find a decent right handed bass. A decent, semi-vintage, lefty bass is unicorn territory. I'm sure the OP will agree.

I don't think QC was the problem in the late 70's. It was the thick gross finish, and extremely heavy ash bodies. The heavy ash bodies made the basses sound nasaly, midrangy, and thin. This could work towards a desired sound in a jazz bass, but really hurt p-basses. You also have to deal with the thin CBS width at the nut. It's not a j, and not a p, when you play in first position. It's just kind of...blah.
Click to expand...

I see where you're coming from. It just seems like a couple years ago late 70's P-basses were selling for 600-800 I'm just out of touch.
 
#63
collicsws6z28 said:
Always have wanted something vintage. If I buy a 2013, the value will be cut by 40% instantly.
Click to expand...

There are vintage instruments out there for deals. If I were you I'd just put an add in the newspaper. "Looking for old Fender Bass" You'll have people on hard times who are willing to take pawn prices and maybe some clueless people who have great vintage gear at a fraction of the price. You have to search and put time into it. My buddy picked up a early 60's P-bass from an old lady who's husband died, friends with his grandma if I believe right. She only wanted 100 bucks for it he gave her 600. Now that's a dream deal, once in a lifetime type thing. I'm too truthful and don't have the stomach to pull that off. I would have most likely blabbed about how much it was worth and me and the old lady would have jumped up and down holding hands. I guess she was well off though, that makes it a ton easier.
 
#64
skunky33 said:
There are vintage instruments out there for deals. If I were you I'd just put an add in the newspaper. "Looking for old Fender Bass" You'll have people on hard times who are willing to take pawn prices and maybe some clueless people who have great vintage gear at a fraction of the price. You have to search and put time into it. My buddy picked up a early 60's P-bass from an old lady who's husband died, friends with his grandma if I believe right. She only wanted 100 bucks for it he gave her 600. Now that's a dream deal, once in a lifetime type thing. I'm too truthful and don't have the stomach to pull that off. I would have most likely blabbed about how much it was worth and me and the old lady would have jumped up and down holding hands. I guess she was well off though, that makes it a ton easier.
Click to expand...

Left hand curse! Hard to find them in a vintage fashion.

My dad bought a Harmony Stratotone H88 guitar in the Mid 90's at a Garage Sale for $25. Had the orig case and amp. He didn't play, he just bought it for us kids to bang on. Found it in the basement last Fall. The original case, thrown away...amp was busted up well thrown away years ago during a move. The pickguard was busted, volume knob just hanging by wire, one of the tuning knobs was gone. Turned out the SOB was 1955 & I sold in this horrible condition for $1200.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back