The Fender/Squier Bullet Bass Thread

[matt-o-]

Hi. Here's my Fender Bullet B-30. Not sure of the year. I've changed the pots, but all else is original - except, I guess, the scratchplate (why would somebody do that to a scratchplate?).

Very nice bass. Mine has the same colour.
Do you still have the original pots? They would help with the year according to their codes. Serialnumber wise it could be 1980 - 82. But who cares if it is not 1957 or whatsoever.
I can pretty clearly imagine, what happened to the pickguard: somebody stumbled over the cable plugged into the jack, and broke the tip of the pickguard (same happened to my musicmaster bass).

 

[MinkDeville]

Ah! The old "stumbled on stage" scenario. Makes sense. I asked on another thread and was told that the B-30 and B-34 pickguards are compatible.
Here's a photo of the pots I removed.

Thanks for the info.

 

[matt-o-]

On the right one you can read R137 82 38 - 137 = CTS pot, 38th week 1982 - so the bass will be most likely made end of 1982 (when the pot manufacturing date is end of september).
Nevertheless - nice bass - I enjoy mine.

PS: funny sidenote: the tone pot in mine is 82 38 as well, while the vol pot is week 26. But my serial is a few thousands later than yours: E109...

 

[tilehilder]

This thread is timely. Just picked up this 1982 yesterday. Someone replaced the pickup with what I am told is a 1974 p-bass pickup. Still need to double check the numbers to confirm. The electronics are funky. Tone doesn’t seem to work and noisy. Thinking about pulling the p-bass pickup and selling (it’s worth some $ and someone likely needs it for another restoration project).

I’ll need to replace the pickguard and find a pickup. Probably unlikely to find an actual fender bullet bass pickup. Anyone have experience dropping in a mustang bullet style pickup?

Otherwise bass is in great shape. Think it will come together nicely.

 

[MinkDeville]

Looks like a fun project. I'd like to know how you get on with the pickguard; though as others have said it might be compatible with the B-34 pickguard.

 

[Johnny Alien]

This thread is timely. Just picked up this 1982 yesterday. Someone replaced the pickup with what I am told is a 1974 p-bass pickup. Still need to double check the numbers to confirm. The electronics are funky. Tone doesn’t seem to work and noisy. Thinking about pulling the p-bass pickup and selling (it’s worth some $ and someone likely needs it for another restoration project).

I’ll need to replace the pickguard and find a pickup. Probably unlikely to find an actual fender bullet bass pickup. Anyone have experience dropping in a mustang bullet style pickup?

Otherwise bass is in great shape. Think it will come together nicely.

The Bullet pickup was exactly the same as a Mustang pickup so any Mustang pickup will do. There are a number of good ones on the market. The biggest issue is the white pickup covers. I am not sure there is anyone doing that.

 

[tilehilder]

The Bullet pickup was exactly the same as a Mustang pickup so any Mustang pickup will do. There are a number of good ones on the market. The biggest issue is the white pickup covers. I am not sure there is anyone doing that.

Thanks! Found this today. Price is cheap enough that it’s worth taking a chance on. https://reverb.com/item/35948823-tr...et-pickup-set-for-fender-mustang-bass-guitars

 

[yodedude2]

The Bullet pickup was exactly the same as a Mustang pickup so any Mustang pickup will do. There are a number of good ones on the market. The biggest issue is the white pickup covers. I am not sure there is anyone doing that.

Any USA-spec "vintage" Mustang-style pickup will drop in. The reissue Mustang pickups (e.g., "Duncan Designed") are slightly larger.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I had a Squier Bullet that had the Duncan Designed pickup in it but it came to me that way so I am unaware of any modifications needed to make it work.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

The market for these is really this strong? I mean, will this guy get what he's asking?

https://reverb.com/item/46534424-19...usa-electric-bass-olympic-white-original-case

I mean, how great could they have been? For $94 more you can get a new American Performer, $140 less if you're a Fender Play member.

 

[tilehilder]

The market for these is really this strong? I mean, will this guy get what he's asking?

https://reverb.com/item/46534424-19...usa-electric-bass-olympic-white-original-case

I mean, how great could they have been? For $94 more you can get a new American Performer, $140 less if you're a Fender Play member.

Yeah, kind of wild, but at this point I've given up trying to understand valuation in this market (plus there is the wacky Reverb factor). Luckily I think I paid a reasonable sum for the one I picked up. Gives me some room to fix it up and not feel like a sucker

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

Yeah, kind of wild, but at this point I've given up trying to understand valuation in this market (plus there is the wacky Reverb factor). Luckily I think I paid a reasonable sum for the one I picked up. Gives me some room to fix it up and not feel like a sucker

I see posts here about that Reverb Factor. Is it flaky like a lot of Craigslist stuff? Is it just overpriced? I am asking because I have never dealt with Reverb but am thinking about buying a drum kit through the site.

Other than the usual online buying precautions, is there anything else I should know about Reverb?

 

[yodedude2]

The market for these is really this strong? I mean, will this guy get what he's asking?

https://reverb.com/item/46534424-19...usa-electric-bass-olympic-white-original-case

I mean, how great could they have been? For $94 more you can get a new American Performer, $140 less if you're a Fender Play member.

if i were in the market, and if these basses (bullet & mustang) were the same price, and if i ignored future marketability, i'd much rather have the bullet than the mustang. the pirce on the mustang makes the bullet a much better choice ... for me: https://reverb.com/item/47590352-fender-mustang-1972-olympic-white

 

[yodedude2]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I had a Squier Bullet that had the Duncan Designed pickup in it but it came to me that way so I am unaware of any modifications needed to make it work.

check post #3 here: Curtis Novak now has Fender Mustang vintage pickups AND covers.

 

[7dollarbologna]

This thread is timely. Just picked up this 1982 yesterday. Someone replaced the pickup with what I am told is a 1974 p-bass pickup. Still need to double check the numbers to confirm. The electronics are funky. Tone doesn’t seem to work and noisy. Thinking about pulling the p-bass pickup and selling (it’s worth some $ and someone likely needs it for another restoration project).

I’ll need to replace the pickguard and find a pickup. Probably unlikely to find an actual fender bullet bass pickup. Anyone have experience dropping in a mustang bullet style pickup?

Otherwise bass is in great shape. Think it will come together nicely.

View attachment 4514772 View attachment 4514773 View attachment 4514774

I went with a Curtis Novak vintage wind set for my Squier Bullet- I’m liking it - edit: there are two different widths to choose from

 

[Johnny Alien]

The market for these is really this strong? I mean, will this guy get what he's asking?

https://reverb.com/item/46534424-19...usa-electric-bass-olympic-white-original-case

I mean, how great could they have been? For $94 more you can get a new American Performer, $140 less if you're a Fender Play member.

That price would be good if it was in mint shape and included the case in equally great shape. For this one it sounds like the case is a bit beat and the bass has some alterations. I would still think with the case (even in rough shape) this would be a good buy at around $1000. They only made these for one year and they were made at the old Fullerton factory. Very high quality, 40 years old AND they never made a reissue of any kind. The neck profiles are killer. My guess is that these will end up heading up in price the same way the Mustang basses did and a few years from now people will lament about not picking them up for the price they are at now. It was only a few years ago that I was able to buy and sell 60's Fender Mustang guitars for around $1200-1500 and now that seems like a dream and the Japanese ones are selling for that much. The road worn Fender Mustang they make in Mexico is around $1200 so a 40 year old vintage bass doesn't seem that bad to me at the same price.

 

[tilehilder]

I see posts here about that Reverb Factor. Is it flaky like a lot of Craigslist stuff? Is it just overpriced? I am asking because I have never dealt with Reverb but am thinking about buying a drum kit through the site.

Other than the usual online buying precautions, is there anything else I should know about Reverb?

People usually ask for a lot on Reverb. Definitely worth doing your homework before buying anything there.

 

[Anachronism]

I may have a conflict of interest since I have a Bullet Deluxe listed for sale here and on Reverb, but I'll weigh in anyway.

These are well-made basses with a unique design. Thus, they are not immediately interchangeable with a current production model the way that, say, a P-bass is. If someone wants one, original is the only real option. Furthermore, they are approaching vintage territory; 70s Fenders have hit the vintage price inflation point, so the early 80s may not be far behind.

And they are good. I don't need mine and I could use the money, but I won't be upset if it doesn't sell and I end up keeping it.

 

[tilehilder]

I may have a conflict of interest since I have a Bullet Deluxe listed for sale here and on Reverb, but I'll weigh in anyway.

These are well-made basses with a unique design. Thus, they are not immediately interchangeable with a current production model the way that, say, a P-bass is. If someone wants one, original is the only real option. Furthermore, they are approaching vintage territory; 70s Fenders have hit the vintage price inflation point, so the early 80s may not be far behind.

And they are good. I don't need mine and I could use the money, but I won't be upset if it doesn't sell and I end up keeping it.

+1 on the build quality. I spent some time just playing it unplugged and the body is light and resonate. I don’t think there is something equivalent to this neck profile available today. Can’t wait until I get it back up and running.

 

[7dollarbologna]

This thread is timely. Just picked up this 1982 yesterday. Someone replaced the pickup with what I am told is a 1974 p-bass pickup. Still need to double check the numbers to confirm. The electronics are funky. Tone doesn’t seem to work and noisy. Thinking about pulling the p-bass pickup and selling (it’s worth some $ and someone likely needs it for another restoration project).

I’ll need to replace the pickguard and find a pickup. Probably unlikely to find an actual fender bullet bass pickup. Anyone have experience dropping in a mustang bullet style pickup?

Otherwise bass is in great shape. Think it will come together nicely.

View attachment 4514772 View attachment 4514773 View attachment 4514774

Here’s a place that sells a stock pickguard: Invalid Link Removed