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Yep.
That's because Fender decided to cripple the Telecaster range first (Custom, Deluxe, Bass, Thinline). couldn't spare poor Strats from this "enhancement" and eventually threw the JB range under the three-wheeled bus as well...
I find it difficult to accept that assertion! I've seen genuine playing wear that looks stupidly fake, and brilliant relics that look more real than the real thing.
I like the bass as is...for $1200. I'd definitely check over the neck really good...make sure that truss is pretty much flush with the heel, turns both ways, and has no twists or rise in the upper fret area. If the neck checked out good and the tuners are original, then I would offer them $1200 max if it plays well and has good resonance unplugged.
Greetings. I owned a 72 J back in the day. Traded in an EBO and gave $200 from a music store. That means it was probably worth $200 at the time. It was like new though. Great bass. Worth $2000. No way.
Vintage player guitars and basses come with their fame and good looks. But they also could come with a lot of issues. It's like buying a vintage auto, where original parts, condition, and demand determine the price. As an investment, the 70's era fenders have been selling around the $1k to $2K range for about 15 years. I don't think they will get much higher in price. And those prices are for all original good to excellent condition vintage. Once they are modded or refinished, the "Original Vintage" factor is gone, and the price wold reflect the condition and demand.
For a player bass, there are a lot of great brand new options for $2K. And, in 20+ years, those basses could very well hold their price.
For a player bass, there are a lot of great brand new options for $2K. And, in 20+ years, those basses could very well hold their price.
Hey thanks for all your replies. I'm still unsure because of course to me it's worth 2 grand because I fell in love with it, simple as that.
But I'm wondering where you guys are getting your price concepts because from my searches all original 71s cost 3-6 grand. Again, inflated and unjust but that's the market right? So 2 grand for a player that sounds real good doesn't seem insane.
And to those who recommended AVRI I just returned one to GC it was horrid. Might have been a bad unit tho or poorly maintained (was used).
But I'm wondering where you guys are getting your price concepts because from my searches all original 71s cost 3-6 grand. Again, inflated and unjust but that's the market right? So 2 grand for a player that sounds real good doesn't seem insane.
And to those who recommended AVRI I just returned one to GC it was horrid. Might have been a bad unit tho or poorly maintained (was used).
I would honestly love to know where you're getting these figures from...because even at GC's prices you could do better than that...I mean, $6K buys you an all original '66 from their overpriced Union Square store...
Checking this very forum could also give you an idea or two...like the fact that a stripped and not-all-original '62 (or '64 can't recall but it was definitely pre-CBS) - which is about the equivalent of your '71 condition-wise, since you're only buying (presumably) original wood - went for under $2K some months ago. An all-original '66 "transition" model was sold for around $5K from what I can recall, and these are rare.
Here's a refin '66 in the Classifieds here right now (not affiliated with the seller in any way)
For Sale - 1966 Fender Jazz Bass
So $2K for a '71 body and neck, refinished and not in the greatest of conditions...heck, no. Even if it's a marvelous player which it may very well be.
People can ask whatever they want to, it's their instrument. There's a *ton* of stuff on Reverb and elsewhere that will never find a buyer at current asking price, and rightfully so.
My $0.02 only...
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A refin cuts the all-original price of any instrument in half.
The number of non-original parts you described cuts it in half again.
Buy a newer one for less and in 45 years you'll have an all original, vintage instrument. This one is apparently so far from all original that I can't see paying any premium for it.
No way. And I'm even starting to question the body. The lower horn is slightly mis-shaped. Could just be over sanded, but i'd wanna see any and all interior markings too. This is a $1200 bass MAX, and only if the body and neck are 100%. That's a reissue guard too. And these basses don't go for up to 6k. That's only what dealers are asking. They sit a verrrryyyyy long time too.
Reverb.
Ok thanks all for the advice. I'll try to negotiate the price further.
Keep in mind my main pro for this bass is it sounds and feels like a dream. I honestly never thought I'd get that feeling from a Bass (that is somewhat within my price range). So I got carried away...
And I'm not in to online buying I don't have an address in the US just traveling here now. So unless it's an absolute bargain which is pretty much non existent I would not buy online. This one I tried... so maybe now I'll wait for them to upload it to reverb and pray no one else buys it. I have a feeling however this one will not "sit"...
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Agreed. Way overpriced. In fact, the whole 70's Fender bass craze has me puzzled. I bought a new 74 Precision from Sam Ash in Memphis in 1974 with a hardshell case for $400, no sales tax. Not kidding. It was tobacco sunburst with a rosewood neck. That bass worked great, but there was nothing SPECIAL about it. In fact, a few years later, I sold it for $600 and bought a Rickenbacker 4001 instead. Later bought a 76 Jazz bass, also tobacco sunburst with a rosewood neck, but it had a "rubber neck" and would never stay in tune. I sold it for that reason, and because I did not like the string spacing, which of course is a mistake in hindsight.
Keep in mind that Fender basses were the standard of the industry back then, but they were ubiquitous. And they are really just a piece of ash wood with paint on it, a bolt-on maple neck with or without a rosewood fingerboard, and so-so pickups and potentiometers. Nothing special about the electronics. I can make one out of off the shelf parts that will sound and play better. I know this, as I did it. I paid a local luthier, former owner of Sunrise Guitars, to make me a fully electronic Alembic-style Explorer bass back in 1981, as close to Entwistle's Alembic Spyder bass which I was in love with, using Bartolini pickups (Alembic would not sell their pickups back then, and I could not afford an Alembic.)
Now, back to you. If you have $2300 to spend, why not buy a used Alembic bass on eBay? You can get a 80's Spoiler for that, and you will really love it. It will play better, sound better, and hold its value better. you will be delighted with an Alembic. Or a Ken Smith. Or an original Tobias.
Fender is nice, but it's not great. I have a Ibanez Limited Edition Prestige bass that will play circles around any Fender bass and is made of Bubinga. Not bragging, just explaining my unique perspective on this whole vintage bass craze.
Keep in mind that Fender basses were the standard of the industry back then, but they were ubiquitous. And they are really just a piece of ash wood with paint on it, a bolt-on maple neck with or without a rosewood fingerboard, and so-so pickups and potentiometers. Nothing special about the electronics. I can make one out of off the shelf parts that will sound and play better. I know this, as I did it. I paid a local luthier, former owner of Sunrise Guitars, to make me a fully electronic Alembic-style Explorer bass back in 1981, as close to Entwistle's Alembic Spyder bass which I was in love with, using Bartolini pickups (Alembic would not sell their pickups back then, and I could not afford an Alembic.)
Now, back to you. If you have $2300 to spend, why not buy a used Alembic bass on eBay? You can get a 80's Spoiler for that, and you will really love it. It will play better, sound better, and hold its value better. you will be delighted with an Alembic. Or a Ken Smith. Or an original Tobias.
Fender is nice, but it's not great. I have a Ibanez Limited Edition Prestige bass that will play circles around any Fender bass and is made of Bubinga. Not bragging, just explaining my unique perspective on this whole vintage bass craze.
It's like a lot are already saying, that bass you are wanting to possibly buy is not original. As soon as it's refinished and the electronics are replaced, it is no longer original and seriously alters the price. Now don't get me wrong, I am no expert with buying vintage Fenders or like. But with the facts given and the pics looked at, there is no way in hell I'd ever pay even close to what that store is asking. It sucks too because she does look like a straight beauty and if she plays that good, it's a shame that you may have to let it go if they wont deal with you. But I'll echo what many before me, much more educated on the subject said, totally not worth the price tag for this particular bass.
I know how it feels to GAS for something like this so bad you start not caring about the price tag if you actually have the money. In the end, maybe you wont care and you buy it. More power to you! However, it's also been said before, there are a TON of great basses out there that will give you the actual value that you are looking for if you're ready to spend that kind of money. A ton. But you are on TalkBass asking and there are a lot of very knowledgeable people here that know what's up. And if they are saying that this bass most likely isn't worth that price, they are most likely right. But in the end, if its worth it you and you are happy, that's all that matters. (and I know you said you'd never plan on selling it) but if you ever did/do, don't be surprised if you don't get but a fraction of the cost of what you bought this one for. If $2300 is what you ended up getting them down to.
I think these store owners are mistaken personally. Good luck man! I hope you get a great outcome with either this one or any other bass you choose to go with.
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I've seen many 100% all original 71's sell for $2500. The one you are looking at is far from original. You really think those changes equate to a $200 discount?
That's just your GAS talking man
Anyone that knows bass will not be spending that kind of money on this bass if they know what it is. I mean, take you for instance, you said yourself you are somewhat new to bass and you even questioned it. So yeah...Ok Ok guys I get it.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
Most likely my next step will be calling them and offering 1400$. They probably won't even go below 2k, most likely.
We will not agree. Then They'll upload it to reverb asking 2500. It will get sold within a week or two by someone who will offer 2-2.3k and doesn't know any better. He'll be happy with it... the end
It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
Most likely my next step will be calling them and offering 1400$. They probably won't even go below 2k, most likely.
We will not agree. Then They'll upload it to reverb asking 2500. It will get sold within a week or two by someone who will offer 2-2.3k and doesn't know any better. He'll be happy with it... the end
