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What's the checklist for evaluating vintage Jazz's

N

Nickthebass

May 22, 2010
277
65
Scotland, UK
#1
Visually my favourite Js have always been the 69-72ish models (big logo and block inlays) so this caught my eye.

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On the basis that the pristine ones haven't been played for a reason this looks promising. What's the check list I should go through when evaluating this instrument? I'm thinking particularly about dates on parts etc.

Cheers
 
#3
+1 on what was already beautifully said. My chip is this is over $6000 US and for that $$$ you can get (2) brand new Fender Basses or at least one and then save it back to the bank.....If these guys are local then go there and check it out with somebody that knows basses. I am tired of old stuff ( I am over 60) and buying new Fenders is such a great experience that I can't see going overboard with an antique purchase unless you are a true collector................Have fun and be careful......:cool:
 
#4
Nickthebass said:
Visually my favourite Js have always been the 69-72ish models (big logo and block inlays) so this caught my eye.

Invalid Link Removed

On the basis that the pristine ones haven't been played for a reason this looks promising. What's the check list I should go through when evaluating this instrument? I'm thinking particularly about dates on parts etc.

Cheers
Click to expand...

- go to:

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- go to:

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- pick the one you like
- click "find a dealer"
- hit "buy now"
- enjoy being richer with a much better bass.

;)

LS
 
#5
unclejane said:
- go to:

Invalid Link Removed

- go to:

Invalid Link Removed

- pick the one you like
- click "find a dealer"
- hit "buy now"
- enjoy being richer with a much better bass.

;)

LS
Click to expand...

I appreciate the sentiment but I am never going to buy a bass without playing it first.

Also I'm not actually looking for a new bass. It's just that when day dreaming about my ideal stable of instruments it has always included really nice old Jazz with some mojo (must be older than me ... ie: 1979) and aesthetically I've always preferred the big headstock logo and the block inlays.

I'm not going to buy it just because it's that age and look, I would only ever pull the trigger if it played well and sounded good acoustically. (TBH I'd probably drop some Nordy SV's in there straightaway and keep the old pickups in a box in case I ever wanted to sell it.)

I happened across this and it's the first time I've seen one from this very specific period for sale in the UK ... is it fate!!!
 
#7
Nickthebass said:
I appreciate the sentiment but I am never going to buy a bass without playing it first.

Also I'm not actually looking for a new bass. It's just that when day dreaming about my ideal stable of instruments it has always included really nice old Jazz with some mojo (must be older than me ... ie: 1979) and aesthetically I've always preferred the big headstock logo and the block inlays.

I'm not going to buy it just because it's that age and look, I would only ever pull the trigger if it played well and sounded good acoustically. (TBH I'd probably drop some Nordy SV's in there straightaway and keep the old pickups in a box in case I ever wanted to sell it.)

I happened across this and it's the first time I've seen one from this very specific period for sale in the UK ... is it fate!!!
Click to expand...

Well as you can probably tell from the smiley, I'm being somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

OTOH, "plays well/sounds good" and "old Fender instrument" are pretty much completely contradictory phrases. Fools being parted with their money is another phrase that comes to mind also when thinking about 70's and earlier Fenders if the intent is to do much other than simply collect them.

If you really want one to actually make music with, I still say you'll be far better off simply getting a new reissue like one of these from Fender. It's going to be made better, sound better, play better and won't have the collector's cost.....

LS
 
#10
Looks like it is missing some tuner screws. Has an extra string tree.

You want to check the inlay at the first fret...see if it is cracked or lifted, if so, avoid...some of these had a truss rod issue.

Most important to me (and most) is that electronics are original.

I bought an all original minty '69 last year for $3,100 US and it is my favorite sounding Jazz out of the 10 Jazzes I have (vintage and new)

Dropping Nordys in this will greatly decrease the value of this bass! (Assuming that those are the stock pickups) You can tell that the solder has been changed, and when ever it is, it is assumed the pickups are no longer originals! Plan on losing at least $1-2K resale or possibly half the value of the bass if you change the pickups - even if you swap them back to sell it!

If you want something with Nordys, buy something else!!!!!!
 
#12
unclejane said:
If you really want one to actually make music with, I still say you'll be far better off simply getting a new reissue like one of these from Fender. It's going to be made better, sound better, play better and won't have the collector's cost.....

LS
Click to expand...


IMO, this is complete nonsense, except for the very last six words. (and 'cost' should read 'value'). ;)
 
#16
bh2 said:
Vintage guitars have a vibe that is hard to value in terms of just 'money'.

It's a concept.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this. it's about value which is all in the buyer's perception.

At the end of the day a nice old J bass is on my list of stuff next to an Aston Martin ... there's just rather more chance of the old J bass than the Aston at the minute.

Anywho ... I think I'm going to let this one pass me by. I could do with sorting out my car situation (no Aston in the pipeline though) first so.

Also I'd totally disagree with the blanket statement that a new J is going to play and sound better than an old one. I've played a couple of the reissues and wasn't all that impressed.

Frankly my mid 80s Squire is better than most of the new Js I've played.
 
#18
Rob Lewis said:
This "vintage" nonsense is a bit of a con. Buying jeans with rips in them already?
Click to expand...

If we were talking about jeans or even a new instrument that had been "relicd" I would agree with you. In fact we're talking about a 42 year old bass that looks well used.

Why do people buy old cars and old houses instead of new shiny ones? For some people they are "better" (very subjective judgement) than new ones.
 

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