• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Vintage Old Fender - I don't get it.

#541
I got my hands around an early 1957 neck. The bass was for sale at only about $6K. Oh, well. The neck what what I think a bass guitar neck should be - big, v-shaped, and with small frets. If I could find a neck shaped like that one, I would be pretty happy.
 
#544
Gaolee said:
I got my hands around an early 1957 neck. The bass was for sale at only about $6K. Oh, well. The neck what what I think a bass guitar neck should be - big, v-shaped, and with small frets. If I could find a neck shaped like that one, I would be pretty happy.
Click to expand...

The neck on my late 56 is like that- just fantastic to play.

Going back to the OP- if I wanted a new similar spec and quality bass to my 56 I would have to go a Fender Custom Shop 55.
To get one here new from the States I am looking at roughly $5.5- $6K or I can order one locally for around $5K (not sure on availability and wait times).
Quick check of eBay shows I could probably land a second hand one here for $4K.

I would consider that this $5-6K figure is the point of price comparison for buying new as opposed to vintage in this case and not the $8- 900 it would cost to buy a MIJ Sting Bass. I have a Sting Bass and it is very good, but it is not an equivalent bass to my 56.
 
#545
Gaolee said:
I got my hands around an early 1957 neck. The bass was for sale at only about $6K. Oh, well. The neck what what I think a bass guitar neck should be - big, v-shaped, and with small frets. If I could find a neck shaped like that one, I would be pretty happy.
Click to expand...

veebass said:
The neck on my late 56 is like that- just fantastic to play.

Going back to the OP- if I wanted a new similar spec and quality bass to my 56 I would have to go a Fender Custom Shop 55.
To get one here new from the States I am looking at roughly $5.5- $6K or I can order one locally for around $5K (not sure on availability and wait times).
Quick check of eBay shows I could probably land a second hand one here for $4K.

I would consider that this $5-6K figure is the point of price comparison for buying new as opposed to vintage in this case and not the $8- 900 it would cost to buy a MIJ Sting Bass. I have a Sting Bass and it is very good, but it is not an equivalent bass to my 56.
Click to expand...

I think an early '80s Fullerton '57 reissue would be another viable "next best thing" to a real '57. They can be bought here in the US usually in the $2000-2500 range.
 
#546
^Yes, they are. I have one- glorious bass- with a v neck profile- but a split coil P Bass.
Here she is.

30uaf5e.jpg


I was talking single coil P Basses which went into early 57.:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: FFTT and JIO
#547
veebass said:
^Yes, they are. I have one- glorious bass- with a v neck profile- but a split coil P Bass.
Here she is.

30uaf5e.jpg


I was talking single coil P Basses which went into early 57.:)
Click to expand...

That sure looks the part.

The bass I saw yesterday had a single coil. It had both ashtrays still mounted and the thumb rest. It was apparently a refin, but it sure looked the part, and the refin was well done. It was also done long enough ago that the refin was worn.

I might start looking for a Fullerton '57 reissue neck. I don't need the whole bass, and $2k is out of my range anyway.
 
#548
Gaolee said:
That sure looks the part.

The bass I saw yesterday had a single coil. It had both ashtrays still mounted and the thumb rest. It was apparently a refin, but it sure looked the part, and the refin was well done. It was also done long enough ago that the refin was worn.

I might start looking for a Fullerton '57 reissue neck. I don't need the whole bass, and $2k is out of my range anyway.
Click to expand...

The neck on my Fullerton 57 RI is slightly wider (while a V profile and with the vintage frets) than that on my 56 single coil, which is probably similar to the one you played.
 
#549
It's worth noting that bass players are lucky when it comes to pre-CBS instruments when compared to guitarists. You can get a bass for relatively cheap. I paid not much more than what an AVRI 63 would cost for my refin 1963. For a refined 1963 strat to Telly with otherwise original parts, you looking towards a 5 digit number.

Vintage basses are a combination of a good instrument and a historical and cultural artifact. You can put a price on a good instrument for the most part as they can be bought new. It's difficult to value the historic artifact portion. Some people could care less about history or cultural heritage. To others, that's important. Some people don't get it and so a vintage instrument will always be overvalued. But there are enough people who do get it and want to own that, that the prices continue to remain high. I'm lucky to have a great playing and looking bass that is also a historic instrument from a great period of technological and cultural innovation in American history.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JIO
#550
JIO said:
It was this one posted earlier that my remark was based on - it looks more like "a thin chocolate coating" ;)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
Ummm; that's standard Round Lam construction that Fender started in '62.

Edit: Saw your other posts. I suspect the apparent "thin-ness" may be due to the angle of the photo, though it may have been re-fretted. Thing is, the upper dots have a way of falling out when that happens. I know because that happened with my '62 when it was done.
 
Last edited:
#551
JIO said:
Man, those early fingerboards were thin! No question that this contributes to the way they sound. (more maple with almost a veneer of rosewood)
Click to expand...
YES! Round Lam has strong loyalty among players precisely because it produces a somewhat brighter tone than the slab build. The collectors go for slab.

They are somewhat subtle differences; but, when you start looking at the nitty gritty, that's the way it shakes.
 
#553
bucephylus said:
YES! Round Lam has strong loyalty among players precisely because it produces a somewhat brighter tone than the slab build. The collectors go for slab.

They are somewhat subtle differences; but, when you start looking at the nitty gritty, that's the way it shakes.
Click to expand...

Seems logical as there is less rosewood = larger % of maple to influence the tone. Besides, what do collectors know anyway? :laugh:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back