Vintage Refin *orn

[JIO]

With all due respect to the views and opinions stated, threads like this seem to always end up with much undue concern. Let's conjecture a bit for fun; someone (regardless of who, regardless of when - who cares really?) refinished a 1960 Fender bass with that green sparkle finish. Now, when the current owner (dealer) who paid some amount of money (regardless of how much or how little - who cares really?) re-sells that 1960 Fender bass in whatever finish it entered his life with - he can list it for any amount he chooses. A serious potential buyer of that instrument can contact and freely interface with the owner/dealer of it and they can potentially determine a price that it would change hands for. This person is not me, and I dare say it's no one on tb. That person will spend whatever amount of money they justify to themselves it is worth, and do whatever with that instrument they choose to do with it.
I like a 1960 Fender Jazz bass. I like the outlandish sparkle green finish on it. These are purely my personal opinions and other than that I have no dog in the fight and so no reason to be further concerned.

Anyone observing this here on tb can have an opinion on any of the aspects of that basses trajectory starting in 1960. "I wouldn't do that" or "how dare someone do this" or "boy do I love or hate this or that about it" are purely opinions with little weight (like mine as well). Until that person (new owner of that bass) is part of this discussion - is it really worth getting combative? (answer; no)

 

[bass_case]

I don't think that word means what you think it means...

I think he means posterity.

 

[friendlybass]

I wish I could rock a green bass! But as a red-headed american everyone would call me the leprechaun bassist even more than they already do....

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

All I know is that bass gives me a chubbie! I also know from spraying for various parties and vintage dealers that old guitars come into their shop or life in varying conditions. I have seen unspeakable things done to instruments. Horrid things...bad paintjobs, the guy that was trying to save a buck by stripping the body first and did so with power tools and wrecked the contours, etc. There IS the possibility that the bass was an absolute abortion before it was green...this may be the best it's been in decades. Who knows? Maybe the previous owner played with Dick Dale or something?!? That would add to its history and makes the green sparkle even cooler. I just know for me, that bass gets a *splooosh* of biblical proportion. In 50 years someone could be mad at someone for wrecking that Chrysler minivan with soccer ball stickers.

 

[birdman14]

Regarding the bass, if you play around the color and sharpness on the headstock picture, you can just barely make out that there are Patent numbers underneath the big fender, and they extend past the first e and the r. Assuming this site is correct Invalid Link Removed, then that would put the headstock decal at about 1965-67. If this was a recent refin, I'd imagine the luthier would attempt to source a period correct decal (especially seeing how inexpensive they are). That, plus the numerous headstock dings, would make me think that it's just a refin from the mid 60s that was probably played for a few years, enough to give it that road wear, and then put away when the move to more naturally finished basses came about. Of course, this could all be complete falecy, but it's certainly one theory. Either way, it's a absolutely gorgeous bass, and I would totally rock it.

 

[lfmn16]

 

[A-Step-Towards]

If that was a refinish done in the 1960s then its cooler to me then a original finish and a vintage finish at that, now if someone did that to a worn original finish in the past 20 years then not so cool.

 

[Millsbass5ive]

Yes, I know "Fender" did do sparkles in the '60s. But it wasn't technically Fender, it was hot rod shops around Fullerton that did them for Fender's customers. And since they were all done out of house, they're virtually impossible to verify them as actually being ordered that way or done by someone after the fact.

I think gaudy sparkle green is a fine and fun idea for a reissue or even a custom shop bass. BUT.... this bass is a real 1960. A verifiable period correct paint job would restore value to it and be a lot more appropriate IM(purist)O. But it's not my bass so I guess it really doesn't matter.

I'm certain Fender did do these sparkle paint jobs for NAMM in '64. I've seen Silver and Gold Sparkle, on P and J Basses. I haven't seen any 6-strings, though. Although I'm certainly sure they did.

 

[birdman14]

I'm certain Fender did do these sparkle paint jobs for NAMM in '64. I've seen Silver and Gold Sparkle, on P and J Basses. I haven't seen any 6-strings, though. Although I'm certainly sure they did.

They most certainly did.

This is one of the few confirmed ones. Others include a two tone sparkle musicmaster and a green musicmaster

 

[Spinal Tapper]

This 1960 jazzmaster claims to be original silverburst sparkle. It's on Ebay right now

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-FENDER...1-/351293945631?pt=Guitar&hash=item51cac0371f

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

This 1960 jazzmaster claims to be original silverburst sparkle. It's on Ebay right now

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-FENDER...1-/351293945631?pt=Guitar&hash=item51cac0371f

SPA-LOOSH

 

[birdman14]

And because everyone vintage sparkle P*rn, Don Rich's original vintage gold "champagne" tele.

 

[The Bass Clef]

I'm certain Fender did do these sparkle paint jobs for NAMM in '64. I've seen Silver and Gold Sparkle, on P and J Basses. I haven't seen any 6-strings, though. Although I'm certainly sure they did.

I was pointing out that Fender offered them, but Fender did not have the guns to do sparkle in house, so they subbed it out. That's why it's nxt to impossible to verify them... different shops, no records. Here's some info..

 

[Millsbass5ive]

Quite simply, that current refinish job is utterly hideous and seriously lacking in taste.

Yeah, tell that to Dick Dale. And, in return, he'd probably stick that Gold Sparkle Strat where the sun don't shine. Ouch!

 

[JIO]

Regarding the bass, if you play around the color and sharpness on the headstock picture, you can just barely make out that there are Patent numbers underneath the big fender, and they extend past the first e and the r. Assuming this site is correct Invalid Link Removed, then that would put the headstock decal at about 1965-67. If this was a recent refin, I'd imagine the luthier would attempt to source a period correct decal (especially seeing how inexpensive they are). That, plus the numerous headstock dings, would make me think that it's just a refin from the mid 60s that was probably played for a few years, enough to give it that road wear, and then put away when the move to more naturally finished basses came about. Of course, this could all be complete falecy, but it's certainly one theory. Either way, it's a absolutely gorgeous bass, and I would totally rock it.

Yes, anything's possible and it's fun to imagine what actually happened. Regardless of when the owner refinished it (in any year of its life so far) for whatever reason - w/o hard facts it is only what it is and nothing anyone thinks or says changes that unless they actually know. So one can like or not like it, (opinion is free/cheap) but criticizing whoever did the sparkle refinish (so noted in the sale copy) or its current sale cost is just pointless as a spectator. (this is only in response to those who take such personally, as birdman14 and others have stated very interesting points which I'm more in agreement with)

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

I was pointing out that Fender offered them, but Fender did not have the guns to do sparkle in house, so they subbed it out. That's why it's nxt to impossible to verify them... different shops, no records. Here's some info..

View attachment 547909

THAT guys sparkle Jazz Bass is pimp too.