Vintage bass refinished : winner or loser

[bigdaddybass12]

Refinished? Decreased value. Plenty basses available with original finish. May cost a little more but well worth it.

 

[pie_man_25]

Honestly, if what other people are saying about there being a listing in France is true - I'd stay away.

BUT without that - just looking at the listing, the price is actually pretty alright and I really like the worn out finish... and the worn out re-finish, and I really couldn't care much less about the pickup as long as it sounds good and feels good in the hand - it looks like a cool player-grade piece tbh... you know - being a potential scam notwithstanding.

 

[devnulljp]

I see an early '70s, pre-three bolt, P

There was never a 3-bolt P. Only the Jazz got the 3 bolt treatment

 

[Grinderman]

There was never a 3-bolt P. Only the Jazz got the 3 bolt treatment

Okay, thanks. Come to think of it, that's why I've only seen... yeah...

In general I've never been much interested in '70s Fenders. I've never had one or shopped for one.

 

[vvvmmm]

Is yer name from the band, Grinderman?

 

[Katoosie]

Looks cool as heck, almost as if it was painted on with actual paint and brushes.

If you care about the value of it that much, you should check it out in person and decide. Otherwise I would pass.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Would a 70's neck have a skunk stripe?

from that era, rosewood, no. maple, yes/likely.
"May" even be a '69 - no long G intonation screw - if the bridge is original.
Pickguard looks legit - more 60s-ish than early 70s.
Tuners don't have the "R" trademark that started in early 70s.
It's definitely a mutt, but even if the neck were original (and functioning properly) and the pickguard were authentic, it's worth it.

The biggest flags here are the circumstances of the listing. What platform is it on?
What kind of purchase protection / assurance (if any) does the buyer have if it's an outright scam.

edit: more specific info on the seller(s)?
If it's 2 different sellers on 2 different platforms....
In-person is the only way I'd do it. (but they'll give you 5 reasons why they can't: "I just moved, but I'll have my sister ship it to you")

I ran in to this on Reverb this summer, chatted with Reverb and told them that the listing appeared on my local Craislist (different country) and expressed my concerns. They essentially told me "you are backed by our protection, yadda yadda, and we would help you resolve any issue" but pretty much ignored my suspicions about the listing. I just checked that Reverb seller - "Account Disabled"...

 

[AltGrendel]

You can't tell how a bass plays from a pic.
That said, it looks like someone made some random nicks and scrapes in the wood, spray painted it and then lazily sanded half of it off.
IMO, a refinish is an actual refinish. Which means removing the old finish and reapplying a finish. So it would look new again.
I'm not into artificially recreating a worn finish. Not only is it expensive, but the idea of paying a ton of money for someone to apply a new finish........and then deliberately ruining it,.....for more money? Seems odd to me. Plus, well, it's pretending you have a bunch of wear that you didn't earn. But that's neither here nor there.
All I'm getting at is if you are into that, a really well done faux worn finish is expensive and looks authentic. This bass looks like a can of black Rust-Oleum spray paint that was half-assed sanded off.
If it's a legitimate sale, the idea posted earlier of making a low ball offer and then paying a pro to do an actual refinish isn't a bad idea, but there's no way to know if this bass actually plays nice or has any other issues. I'm not sure I'd trust someone who did a crappy finish like that to be honest or even know if the neck has issues, needs a refret, etc.
I'd probably pass on it, even if I was just looking to fix it up and sell it.
Plus, are Fenders rare and hard to come by in France? Why is it for sale in 2 different countries for wildly different prices?
And didn't you say there was basically no description of the bass?
I'd pass.

Agreed, hard pass.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Would a 70's neck have a skunk stripe?

rosewood necks typically have the truss rod channel under the fretboard where as one piece maple have the skunk stripe!


I think if it's 700 dollars why not! An old fender neck goes for that price anyways and a refinished body isn't a big deal at all

 

[MultiScaleMale]

rosewood necks typically have the truss rod channel under the fretboard where as one piece maple have the skunk stripe!


I think if it's 700 dollars why not! An old fender neck goes for that price anyways and a refinished body isn't a big deal at all

The photos were lifted from an ad in France. If you buy a $700 neck, at least you get a neck.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

The photos were lifted from an ad in France. If you buy a $700 neck, at least you get a neck.

good point!

yeah could be kinda sketchy and you could end up not receiving a bass even

 

[2112]

I love sketchy, funky refins, so if the 700CAD ad is legit and the rest of the bass is otherwise legit, I'd plop down the cash in an instant. Even with the tort pickguard.

However, the Canadian ad seems super-greasy... the low asking price, the lack of detail, the seller's hurry, and the corresponding French ad all point to a "lifted images" scam. Tread carefully.

 

[GBassNorth]

LOL - send a single email addressed to both sellers (in Canada and France) and ask them who's bass it is and if the lower Canadian price is correct. If it isn't legit you avoid getting scammed. If it is legit you get the option to buy it at the lower price. Either way, you win!
As a bonus, if it is a scam, you might even get the joy of standing back and watching the fireworks as the real seller tears into the scammer.

 

[Theobald]

Per Google Translate:

"Precision bass from 1970 in its own juice"

Juice? is that the French term for Mojo?

"Dans son jus". I do not know the proper expression in English, but it means that it is as dirty as it should for an old thing. Another way of saying vintage, the dirt on top of it

 

[ahbradot]

I can't figure out if that's black magic marker over red barn door paint or red barn door paint over black magic marker.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Customizing any instrument almost always diminishes the instrument's value unless one is lucky enough to find someone whose taste matches their own.

I have only ever drastically (more than a new nut or necessary replacements) customized two instruments and, at the time, I was positive I would never get rid of them.

I would certainly take a pass on the OP's bass.

 

[jimmydean]

Is the seller a Nigerian Prince who needs to sell this bass in order to help fund a worthy charity ?

 

[InhumanResource]

The photos were lifted from an ad in France. If you buy a $700 neck, at least you get a neck.

Certainly a possibility. Couldn't we solve for that by asking for a quick video call with the seller? We have the technology.

 

[Indiana Mike]

If it's listed in more than one place with differences it's scam IMO. Run away.

 

[COYS]

Scam... same listing with the same photos posted in many places. Price too good to be true. All red flags.