Should I make this trade?

[jazzman64]

Hello folks...I have a 1972 Musicmaster that is refinished. It plays great and I love everything about it, but I need something different and I am looking at a Fender 50s Vintera P-Bass. At my local music store, I have the opportunity to do a full trade for it. Should I go for it? Is it worth it?

 

[J_Bass]

Fender Musicmaster Bass 1972 - 1981 | Reverb

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I am not an expert, but it seems like the bass you currently have will (may?) appreciate in value, whereas the other will not. I don’t know how bad you need that P, but that isn’t a deal that I would do.

 

[Warpeg]

If you already like your Musicmaster, then keep it. Why not just buy (or put a plan together to buy in the future) the P-bass as an additional bass?

 

[el murdoque]

If it is build in the seventies, has Fender on the headstock and is in working order, not modded too hard, it'll net you a grand, even if it's a Musicmaster.
This is a very stable thing, with the price rather going up than down.
The Vintera costs about the same brand new, but Mexican Fenders don't hike up when they leave the store.

So while you're standing there holding both Musicmaster and Vintera in your hands, you're holding two instruments of roughly equal worth (roughly). That is only true, however, as long as the Vintera still has the price tag dangling from the still-in-plastic-wrap-tuner.
When you leave the store with the Vintera, you put a massive dent in its worth.
When you leave the store with the Musicmaster, you don't do anything to its worth.

 

[creaturegods]

I am not an expert, but it seems like the bass you currently have will (may?) appreciate in value, whereas the other will not. I don’t know how bad you need that P, but that isn’t a deal that I would do.

Give it 50 years and I'm sure the Vinteras will appreciate in value too.

 

[lomo]

I would not trade a bass I knew I loved and that will continue to appreciate for one I might like because it's different/newer, but that's unlikely to appreciate for another 10 or 20 years, and still won't "catch up" in value to the older one.

 

[boombloom]

If you really need something new consider some of the astonishing precisions available at a fraction of the cost. Find yourself a used Squire Classic Vibe and try it out. Keep that Musicmaster if you can. You love it. Don't worry. It hardly takes up any room.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Hello folks...I have a 1972 Musicmaster that is refinished. It plays great and I love everything about it, but I need something different and I am looking at a Fender 50s Vintera P-Bass. At my local music store, I have the opportunity to do a full trade for it. Should I go for it? Is it worth it?

Absolutely not!

 

[Relsom]

Aside from the obvious difference in value over time, are you 100% sure the 1.75" nut width is a good fit for you? Seems quite a difference between the two, and you already know that you love the Musicmaster.

 

[Altitude]

I’d hold the ‘72. Buy the Vintera as well if you have the means, but those are mass-produced and you can get in or out of one any time. If you sell the ‘72 you may never see another.

 

[buldog5151bass]

It's gonna be a LOT easier to duplicate that P. I won't even get into the $$$ consideration. If you want a P, save up and buy a P.

 

[jazzman64]

I have decided to keep it. Any good recommendations for a 4 pole piece pickup replacement? I was thinking of a Curtis Novak MM Pickup.

 

[P. Aaron]

Or, sell at best price possible and buy another bass, as far as your cash will take you.

As always, there are trade-offs. What you know vs the unknown. We've all been there.

 

[vindibona1]

Keep your vintage bass. We are in inflationary times and is has tangible value as a currency hedge for the future. Anything new is going to depreciate, so from a value standpoint, not a good deal. My advice? Buy what you need and put your vintage bass in the closet for a few years and wait until the time is right to turn it into something else of value.

Not long ago I had a trumpet collection. I'd buy and sell for fun, keeping the ones I really liked. I may have had some for 10 years. While inflation was low at the time it was still there. But when I had no need for all those trumpets I began selling them off- for a profit. The profit from the sale of my trumpets paid for half my guitar collection as used guitar prices in 2013 were really good. In other words, because of this (somewhat after the fact strategy), my trumpets were free and many of my guitars were free as well. I now have 16 guitars and basses, waiting to do the same thing. While my basses may be on the cheap side, my acoustic guitars are not. Electrics in the middle.

Just something to think about.

 

[nealw]

My first bass was an early 70s Musicmaster. Wish I still had it.

 

[Bass V]

this is one of those 'put the bass away now and remember it later' moments.
you'll likely regret impulse moves atm, the urge for a P is natural but as I discovered it's not the pinnacle of tone, otoh everybody needs a good P. thank god for tb, your mind has been decided!

 

[LowEndOperative]

I would not make that trade. I got to play a Musicmaster in the late 70's, the owner covered the front with fur but it was a lot of fun

 

[fretno]

wow I'm the only one that would dump it and go for a new P ? You had me at P what can I say

 

[theduke1]

I voted yes, because I have never been one to concern myself with resale. Basses and gear are things I use in my hobby/semipro musical life. Therefore I buy what I want when the mood strikes me.
Duke