Vintage P-Bass Mutt or Magnificent?

Are you sure the knobs, pick guard and bridge are gold and not brass?

 

Without seeing it in person I don't know if I have an accurate take on what this bass would sell for as is, but based on the pics and your info I'd say maybe $1600 or less (more if it plays exceptionally well or if it has a '70's case). With the neck being what it is I'd expect that it would have considerably more value parted out. I like your idea of selling the neck, keeping the body and finding a maple P neck to go with it.

Out of curiosity I would check the pot codes to see what date they show (if they are original). Just to be sure the neck is legit I would pop it off to check the date stamp and other markings. The black finished headstock would have been a rarity for '69. It's unfortunate the decal is missing the "Jazz Bass" and other script (which it would have had in '69, right?), but I don't know if that would greatly affect its value. The body is obviously less valuable, but as long as the finish is original it would still be desirable. I haven't kept up with current market prices, and sometimes there is a lot of variation. For sure parts like this aren't getting any easier to find. If you know a reputable vintage guitar dealer they might be able to give you a better idea.

You didn't mention the pickups, but since the pole pieces look larger than the ones on the stock pickups I'd guess those are aftermarket. Same for the knobs, bridge and pickguard.

I don't know if I've told you anything that is beyond what you already know, but it's always interesting to see pieces like this, and thanks for sharing it.

 

Yeah, that makes sense re. the headstock decal - thanks for that.

 

Neck looks legit. You're gonna have to pull it though. Body looks legit mid 70's Natural. Pickups, bridge and knobs are non-Fender. That pickguard doesn't look like a lacquered 50's original, and they didn't offer them in the 60s or 70s, so I'm guessing it's an '82 or later Fender reissue one.

 

if it works as a whole and is a tremendous toney player / keeper...1K tops
redo the body finish / pg to compliment the cool neck and you got a winner

 

I don't know the value but that neck has to be worth a bit.

 

That’s my kind of player! Unfortunately, it’s probably worth far more as parts. I love that all the screws are flatheads. It’d be interesting to see where the thumb rest screw holes are under the guard.

 

If it's straight keep it and play it. Looks really cool.

 

X2, neck is probably worth a mint on its own, HOWEVER the entire bass is intensely cool and has a story / history...even if a lot of it was inside a time capsule. Get a good setup on it and rock it!

 

if i were you, and if the neck is legit, then i would paint the body black (nitro) to match the headstock and add a jazz pickup to make it a pj. since the decal is gold-ish i would keep all the gold parts (pickguard, bridge etc) and i would choose a nice vintage sounding pj pickup set. finally since its a mid 70's body i would shield all the cavities and change all the pots and jacks if they're not working properly

 

That's what I think, too. Trying to get more money is going to require a lot of disassembly to verify date stamps and a positive ID on the pickup. Even then it's a stretch to go over 1K, too many mods. Looks like a killer player, though.

 

the only things cool about it are the neck and it's a P bass. 1K is generous.

 

I don't think very much of that is original - but it's cool as heck I'd say

 

No need to spend a minute on ID-ing the pickup, with those monster magnet slugs, it's no Fender. ;-)

 

The fender branded brass replacement hardware that I'm familiar was super "shiny " while the one on your example looks "brushed", so I dunno.
The imput jack doesn't look original either.
But it does look like a nice mid 70s P just the same.
For me,...that neck would have to go. For what a late 60s J neck would fetch, you should have no problem finding a good maple P replacement.
Even a period correct one.

 

There is something almost organic about the gold PG on a natural finish.
I have one on my natural alder P.
The brass knobs fit right in.
I do see the attraction of a nice maple P neck.
Still I'd have to give that vintage J neck a year or two test drive before moving on.

Even before that, I'd pull it off or at least loosen it enough to read the neck heel.
That should give you a better idea of the necks pedigree.
It may be that the matching head stock and added waterslide or either hiding something or they are just a DIY 'upgrade'.
While still short of being an expert, I do feel pretty confident in say that Fender would never stop at just Fender.
I would expect it to say jazz bass and some patent dates.
The neck may well be a Fender, but I don't think the decal is.