Sell my 1972 jazz?

[Matt Dean]

Since you bought the ‘72 jazz for $700, why don’t you pay it forward and sell it to someone for $2100. You triple your investment and give someone a good deal.

 

[Jim C]

I NEVER play the 72 since I got the Geddy and maybe I should sell that one. In fact, the 72 is stored under my bed. I acquired it in 1995 for $700 and figure it's worth about 3K now. The only real reason I can see to keep it is so I can sell it later for a higher price, assuming 70s Fenders continue to rise in value. My guitar/bass playing friends think I'm crazy for considering selling it. Thoughts?

I personally like early 70's Fenders assuming the necks are straight and they aren't too heavy. I have 5.
Normally I would say keep it, but your post says otherwise. Sell it.

Investors take note. I bought a custom color P bass new in 1973. It was $235 out the door.
Really think they appreciated that much? $235 from 1973 adjusted for inflation is approx. what a US Fender costs now. "$235 in 1972 dollars equals $1,464.39 in 2021"
Your $235 investment made approx. $2,500 (based on a $4K sale price) but it took 48 years.

 

[birminghambass]

If I was in your shoes, I would hold off selling and have a luthier known for vintage bass set-ups have a crack at turning it into your favorite bass. Mike Koontz, Erlewine, etc.

If it fails to go to the top of the heap after that, just add the cost of set-up to sale price. “Just set up by -well known luthier name here -“ actually does go a long way in a description.

A note about value. It is worth far more than 3K. If you still have, or can source, some period correct clover tuners, you have Geddy’s bass right there. Those lollipops are replacements, I assume? I’d say $5k or there about. Don’t listen to people saying nobody cares about 72 Jazz basses anymore. That might be true here on TB for some folks, but it’s a big world and there are still plenty of collectors and Geddy fans out there.

Best of luck!

The lollipops are original, NOS at the time.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I think it’s important to differentiate between appreciating in value and holding value. You’re not going to get rich off a 72 Jazz (you’re not even going to get properly rich off a 62 Jazz, really), but if you’re lucky it might be worth what you paid for it when you factor in inflation.

They’re worth a lot more now than they were ten years ago. I don’t know that you can say that about the other basses listed.

 

[LeFunk Machine]

Keep the 70s and sell the parts MIA with PLEKed neck. Can you always assemble another part bass? Yes. The other bass you have will keep decreasing in value, but the 70s won't. Selling the 70s will be a bigger regret than the rest of your basses if you let it go. You can always buy another Geddy Lee Jazz bass and there are many of them, but the 70s are rarer.

 

[Matt O]

The lollipops are original, NOS at the time.

Even better.

 

[boombloom]

First off---Big fan. I hope you are somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert. I have a '72 Jazz as well. It's nice, but it's not great. I was thrilled to get it in '86 for $300 and I used to play it, but I have other basses I prefer these days. 99% of my playing is on an upright. My only child has shown no interest in it. I'm sure I'll sell it some day. Even though I didn't buy it as an investment it will certainly pay off handsomely.

 

[mikecd1]

I'm more on the side of if you're not going to play it then sell it if you need cash though don't agree it will always continue to appreciate. I've seen the early 60's basses go up and down in value and see prices change with the collective attitude which nobody can predict. Crazy prices can't be predicted either. Older basses should always be tended to and you can't just put it in a closet and expect it to be perfect in 10 years without some care and love. Enjoy it or let someone else enjoy it is my motto.

 

[Pings Bass]

Similar scenario: I've got a 76 P I'm keeping. I never play it. I guess I keep it because it was one of my first basses, and i put a lot of miles on it. And it will probably continue to appreciate. I still think of it as a nothing more than a "pretty good" bass, and it's my only P. You never know when that one producer is gonna call with a studio job, but only if you have a P

 

[Matt O]

Is the neck stamped “SPECIAL” ?

 

[W_R]

Idea: advertise with a high end price and see if it goes in a reasonable time, if not then reevaluate. That still-here-yet-could-be-gone-any-moment status might speak to you…. Or perhaps you’ll feel better about selling it if the price is better than you’re expecting, especially mixed with opportunity for $/more space/de-clutter etc to make you happier in a different way.

An accurate current value is important. Appreciation is a good thing of course. For the “keep it” option, is the likely or realistic rate of appreciation motivating?

 

[sloppy_phil]

While there is likely some variability in the "vintage" bass market, the fact this is a black, maple block-n-bound '72 means you will always have the Geddy value attached to the bass. Getting a good price on sale should be easy!

Based on this discussion, I'm leaning towards sell. At least see if you get any hits on a big asking price!

 

[ejaggers]

Hey TB, I have a delima. I have 9 basses and am trying to downsize. I have 4 jazz basses, an amazing 2005 MIA (I've owned almost 30 MIA Fenders, this one is special), an equally amazing parts MIA with PLEKed neck, a USA Geddy, and a 1972 Jazz (black/maple). I've been agonizing over whether to sell the parts J or the Geddy for about a month now. Agonizing because I love and play/gig both equally. The 2005 MIA will never leave my side. It just occurred to me yesterday that I NEVER play the 72 since I got the Geddy and maybe I should sell that one. In fact, the 72 is stored under my bed. I acquired it in 1995 for $700 and figure it's worth about 3K now. The only real reason I can see to keep it is so I can sell it later for a higher price, assuming 70s Fenders continue to rise in value. My guitar/bass playing friends think I'm crazy for considering selling it. Thoughts?

Let me address the "Play It Or Sell It" statement.

With 12 basses, some of mine sit for long periods before I get back to them.
I hadn't played my '72 Jazz in years because I'm more fawn of my short scales right now.

However, I brought it out two weeks ago and jammed my you-know-what off.
The moral of this story is, just because I'm not playing it right now doesn't mean I'm never going to.

And like I said in post #8, I didn't bond with my Jazz at first either,
but that doesn't mean it can't be done.....057912

 

[seang15]

I voted "keep it." They aren't making 1972 Jazz basses any longer, from what I've learned You may have difficulty getting one again in the future, if you should so choose.

It's an heirloom...but it's also a potential lifesaver (literally/figuratively) down the road, should you need money for some emergency. If your question is "should I sell it," then there's no real reason to sell it. Years from now, that may NOT be a question, but more a statement: "I need to sell it." I hope that's not the case, but as we get older...money gets tighter, and urgencies crop up. Save it, enjoy it for now, don't worry about what might make you "need" to sell it in the future.

Or if everything works out great! Maybe it's a family heirloom for years to come.

Cheers --sg

PS. Because of the '72 connection to Geddy, it will only improve in value, compared to more generic years that aren't really attached to anybody in particular.

 

[baileyboy]

Easy for me... over 9 lbs, sell it. Under, keep it.

 

[godofthunder59]

Nine doesn't seem like a inordinate amount of basses. My vote is keep it.

 

[waynobass]

Sell it. It's nothing but a dust magnet now. Pass it along to someone who will appreciate it and play it.

 

[TonyP-]

I’m in purge mode and I like moving what’s not being played but that is a very personal thing.

 

[Blue Moose]

Similar situation here. I have a very heavy '75, which I dearly love other than the weight. Unfortunately, mine has a '75 Schecter rosewood neck. Best neck I've ever played but it definitely nixes a lot of the value of the bass. I could sell this and get a much lighter, top quality jazz to replace it. But ultimately I've voted "Keep it." I know I'd regret it the minute it went out the door. All original or not, it's a very cool bass with a long, interesting history.

 

[Grinderman]

I recall last night someone on this forum had a post about looking to buy their first Jazz bass with a description of what they want; black with all maple fretboard for the right price.

Is that body dark blue or black?

Edit: found it... Jazz Bass First-Timer - Help Me Find One