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Value hurt much by replacement neck?

Band Dad

Band Dad

Dec 5, 2006
547
19
San Mateo, CA
#1
Well, I know the short answer–"Duh!", but by how much?
I have a Fender '83 P bass with a Mighty Mite neck. The bass itself has been refinished (nicely) in an aged Olympic white. It has a tort guard, no nicks or dings, no buckle rash. Original three mounting-hole bridge and the original neck plate. As far as I know the tuners are original, and the pups as well. Electrics may or may not be original–they aren't CTS pots.
I wonder what the value of this might have been with the original neck (though, still in this "as-is" refinished state), and what difference in value has been made with the replacement neck. Anybody want to give a guess?
I'm hoping not to be seen as trolling here, as I have someone local interested in a trade and I'd like not to undervalue this bass (or overvalue, for that matter).
Pics at Invalid Link Removed
Moderator: remove if I'm out of line here.
 
#2
Technically asking for a dollar value is something only supporting members can do, but asking about general relative issues of how a replacement neck impacts value should be fine I'd think.

IMO the bass was not especially valuable in its original state, and by that I don't mean to put it down, just to say that altering an '83 P is nowhere near the same as altering a '63. I would say that if it is in great playing condition, with good action, intonation, tone, and fretwork, that it is worth exactly the same now as it would have been in completely stock condition. If OTOH the action, intonation, tone, or frets are below average in any way, then perhaps that would bring the value down a bit more than a completely stock Fender with the same "issues".
 
#3
Bongo,

Thanks for the heads up on the supporting member issue. I'm here often enough, that I should make that step. Can't beat the help I've received in the past.

Edit: And I appreciate your take on placing a value on this or any bass, thanks.
 
#5
So, now that I'm a supporting member, I feel a bit better about asking value related questions. I hope that's how it works.
Here's the deal: I have a 1983 P bass as described above.I was thinking of selling when I found a local offering a Peavey T-40 for sale or trade. Seller was especially interested in a P, so what the heck, give it a go. T-40 is very nice–original owner, good condition, with case, etc. He was asking a bit more than I've seen them going for here on TB; in fact it was the highest priced T-40 I've seen, though the seller pointed out a few with higher prices than his. I offer the trade and he seems interested, but he hasn't pulled the trigger on this.
This would be a good trade for me, as I'd like the T-40, but with his hemming and hawing, I'm wondering if I'm missing something. Is the T-40 owner missing a chance to snap up a good deal? Or is my P not worth a nice T-40? Opinions?
 
#6
I'd think that a replacement MM neck would decrease the value of a Fender bass a fair amount, but exactly how much is anybody's guess. And I know T40's have risen in value lately, but with the downturn I'd expect them to settle back down again.

FWIW, a few months back I passed on a respectable condition T45 mainly due to it's considerable weight. The motivated seller indicated he'd consider just about any offer since it hadn't moved from his shop in two years with a $250 asking price. Once I factored in the cost of swapping in a Darkstar pickup it just didn't seem worth pursuing.
 
#9
I was really freaked out when I discovered a stock '77 Fender Jazz was worth more than my '77 Series I Alembic. About 25-30 yrs seems to be the "break point" for when your piece of crap old Jazz/Precision suddenly becomes a desirable vintage instrument. But they do have to be stock... seemingly the more beat-up the better. Go figure.
 
#10
An American Fender Precision with a quality aftermarket neck and a pro refin is still probably worthy more than a t-40 in the marketplace. While T-40's are growing in desireability, there is still is a very small market compared to American Fenders. I think the sellar is just positioning trying to make a "killer" sale on an item there really isn't a killer market for. If he is willing to take a heads up trade and the T-40 is what you want then I wold go for it. But if he is trying to get you to kick in more you should make it clear that you KNOW your P is worth more and you will just look elsewhere for a T-40. Most T-40 still go for well under $400. You will be hard pressed to find any American Fender for that.
 
#11
bassmanrocke said:
An American Fender Precision with a quality aftermarket neck and a pro refin is still probably worthy more than a t-40 in the marketplace. While T-40's are growing in desireability, there is still is a very small market compared to American Fenders. I think the sellar is just positioning trying to make a "killer" sale on an item there really isn't a killer market for. If he is willing to take a heads up trade and the T-40 is what you want then I wold go for it. But if he is trying to get you to kick in more you should make it clear that you KNOW your P is worth more and you will just look elsewhere for a T-40. Most T-40 still go for well under $400. You will be hard pressed to find any American Fender for that.
Click to expand...

+1. Your bass is certainly worth a lot less than an average P of that year, mostly because of the neck. But it should still be AT LEAST an even trade for a T-40. And make sure you're happy with the T-40 weight.
 
#13
What you have there is a nice parts bass. The p/u doesn't look to be original either, nor is the pickguard.

It's a nice looking bass, and I'm sure it's a sweet player, but honestly a straight up trade on a T-40 sounds about right.

Yes, a P bass is probaby going to be easier to sell than a T-40.
Your P's value is as a player, not as a "vintage" Fender. Other than the bridge, neck plate, and tuners, there's nothing original on this piece, so I'd have to price it accordingly.
Seeing how we aren't throwing out numbers here, I'd say about the same as what a nice , late model MIM Precision would go for on the used market.(required IMO)

If this was still in all original condition and in nice shape you'd be looking at about what a new American Standard P goes for.(required IMO)
 
#14
+1 on the weight issue. I have a 1980 T-40 that will be going on CL as I can't handle the nearly 13lb weight.

A T-40 is a $250-400 bass. A refin Fender MIA with a replacement neck isn't worth much more and an even trade is likely fair.

Have you thought about looking on eBay for a used MIA neck? They tend to pop up for a few hundred bucks every once in a while.
 
#15
mike1762 said:
About 25-30 yrs seems to be the "break point" for when your piece of crap old Jazz/Precision suddenly becomes a desirable vintage instrument. But they do have to be stock... seemingly the more beat-up the better. Go figure.
Click to expand...

Not really all that strange if you think closer about it! We all know that the quality of old Fenders isn't exactly what you would call "even" - there are huge differences between specimens of the same year. Some good, some excellent, and some total junk.

Now, when you see an ad for an old Fender bass thats "been in a closet all its life" and thus are in like new condidion - stop for a second and think "why has this bass been in a closet since the 70s"?? Most likely because it was never a good instrument to begin with.

The ones that have been used and are nicely worn though - those are obviously the ones that are good enough that people would take them on gigs...

/Magnus
 
#16
Baird6869 said:
+1 on the weight issue. I have a 1980 T-40 that will be going on CL as I can't handle the nearly 13lb weight.

A T-40 is a $250-400 bass. A refin Fender MIA with a replacement neck isn't worth much more and an even trade is likely fair.

Have you thought about looking on eBay for a used MIA neck? They tend to pop up for a few hundred bucks every once in a while.
Click to expand...

With all the other replacement/refinshed parts on that bass, adding a $200+ neck, isn't going to make it worth $200 more IMO.
I really think you'd be coming up on the short end of the stick and losing even more money on the bass.


Something tells me that finding an 83 neck is going to set you back more than $200 as well.
 
#17
Lots of good input here, and most of it confirms my original thoughts on the value of what I have. No collector's piece for sure, but a wonderful player that should hold its own in the marketplace against a T-40.
The T-40 would be used by my son and I'd be curious as to how he might feel about the weight. Why, I wonder, did peavey create such a monster? It would seem to me that there is an upper end to acceptable weight for a bass.
 
#18
In the mid to late seventies there was a move towards heavy basses. The thought was that to get a good bottom end you needed a very dense/heavy hardwood. It was by choice that peavey selected northern ash over its much lighter southern ash relative. Play many Fenders from the same period and you will find some seriously heavy examples. Peavey, like usual, was trying to outdo Fender. Unfortunately they succeeded. What I find funny is that my lightest basses are Peavey Foundations from the nineties. It took them about 10 -15 years to figure out that you could get tone without a backbrace. But by then Peavey's reputation was set. It took the Cirrus for players to realize that Peavey could make a playable high quality bass.
 
#20
Band Dad said:
Update: the T-40 seller has backed out of a trade as he's wanting cash for other items he's interested in.
He has his T-40 listed now for $350–quite a price drop from his original asking price of $550.
I've just listed my P on the local CL.
Click to expand...

550?!?!?!? Was he drinkin drano?
Even the Red T 40's, which are kind of rare, in great condition barely go for that price!

350 is a great price, if the bass is in great condition, with the case and all the case candy.
 

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