Would you pull the trigger on this 1959 P-Bass?

[Dynacord]

Post #96 has a link to the Reverb ad which says replaced "mystery" pickup.

 

[porterbass]

If it plays and sounds amazing, $6500 for a re-fin '59 is actually a good price. Ok, so the pots are missing, but the original pickup is still there so that magical PRE cbs p bass tone is there too.

I noticed that in the Reverb ad he states that the PG, pickup (mysterious unknown brand) and pots are also not original. (*At the time of this post that does not appear to be included in the local Kijiji Edmonton ad unless I'm missing something.)

Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1959 - refin

Reposting this as it is a bit strange that the seller doesn't state the pickup is a replacement in his kijiji listing, but states that the pickup IS a replacement in his Reverb.com listing. With everything else going on with this, I would think the pickup being non-original would make a big difference in the price, wouldn't it?

 

[Dynacord]

I would think the pickup being non-original would make a big difference in the price, wouldn't it?

It would to me. And good luck finding an original, unbroken pickguard and if you do, well over $500...

 

[Smooth_bass88]

that's only $4998 USD. Ultimately though, something like this you'd want to buy from a reputable vintage gear dealer. Unless the individual seller is an expert or something.

 

[edencab]

$6500?...pffft.......are you Geddy Lee?

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I'd have everything I own PLEKed (even my keyboards) and get a jacuzzi bathtub for that money.

 

[rollie 55]

$6500?...pffft.......are you Geddy Lee?

small change

 

[brianrost]

Ok, in U.S. dollars that's 4K.

That was US dollars I was thinking about actually ($6500 CDN ~= $5000 USD).

I went over to Reverb and started looking. I found one similar to mine, natural refin, but with fewer original parts and it was over $5000. Sheesh, that's pretty good appreciation if people really pay those prices...350% over 20 years?

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Was the trigger on this P removed during refinishing because I can't see it?

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Anyone with enough coin to buy that bass has enough money to spend as they wish and doesn’t need any advice from the peanut gallery.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

OK, so...given all we know here- re-finished, non original pickup and pots, what would you value this bass at? $4k? $4500??

 

[porterbass]

I just received a reverb.com notification email that someone made an offer on this bass. If it sells, we won't be able to see the final price as reverb.com doesn't show that...unless someone here knows how to find that out. I know there are ways to do that through ebay.

 

[Dynacord]

That could be a dramatically lower offer (likely listing many of the shortcomings mentioned in this thread). Reverb asking prices generally seem absolute top of the market retail prices - with many basses (in particular) sitting there for years. Curious the disparity with actual sold prices on average.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Larry

Cool thread! (very interesting )

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
View attachment 3307672

Finish not original
Pickup not original
Pots not original
Pickguard not original (and tort )
Bridge not original

That makes it a very expensive and old modding platform!


Wise(b)ass

 

[Dynacord]

Well, the bridge *might* be original but, yeah...

 

[porterbass]

Don't forget, neck plate not original so no serial #.

There is a close up pic of the plate with serial number in the Reverb.com listing. Shows serial number as 44017. Here's the info from entering the serial number at the Guitar Dater Project.org website:

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - Pre CBS Era), USA
in 1960 - 1961
Production Number: 44017

Date in the body pickup cavity is 12/59 so final assembly was probably in 1960??? So is this a '59 or a '60 and does it matter for value, especially considering the other "issues"? .

 

[TomB]

There is a close up pic of the plate with serial number in the Reverb.com listing. Shows serial number as 44017. Here's the info from entering the serial number at the Guitar Dater Project.org website:

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - Pre CBS Era), USA
in 1960 - 1961
Production Number: 44017

Thx! My screen resolution didn't allow me to see that. That number's in the right ball park. My '61 P is in the low 70,000's. That makes a big difference to me. The body, neck & its identifier (neck plate for Fenders) are the essence of the piece, IMHO.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

There is a close up pic of the plate with serial number in the Reverb.com listing. Shows serial number as 44017. Here's the info from entering the serial number at the Guitar Dater Project.org website:

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - Pre CBS Era), USA
in 1960 - 1961
Production Number: 44017

Date in the body pickup cavity is 12/59 so final assembly was probably in 1960??? So is this a '59 or a '60 and does it matter for value, especially considering the other "issues"? .

Ok, so it has 'issues', but say it plays and sounds incredible. What would this bass be worth? Considering some of the Fender Custom Shop basses sell for $4k, $5k or more, would this bass be worth more than a masterbuilt Custom Shop bass?

 

[Dynacord]

There is a close up pic of the plate with serial number in the Reverb.com listing. Shows serial number as 44017. Here's the info from entering the serial number at the Guitar Dater Project.org website:

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - Pre CBS Era), USA
in 1960 - 1961
Production Number: 44017

Date in the body pickup cavity is 12/59 so final assembly was probably in 1960??? So is this a '59 or a '60 and does it matter for value, especially considering the other "issues"? .

That number would typically be 1960 but Fender serial numbers at that time were notoriously random - 1959 is still possible with that number (or, as is always possible, it could be recombined parts of the same era). The body date and general features are all there is to go on as it appears there's no neck date and the original pots are gone so no dates there. (FWIW I have a '59 - maple neck/gold guard - and the neck and body dates are two months apart - the neck being later than the body in this case.) I don't see a significant value difference between a late '59 vs an early '60 - and, as you say, the other issues.

 

[lat]

Reposting this as it is a bit strange that the seller doesn't state the pickup is a replacement in his kijiji listing, but states that the pickup IS a replacement in his Reverb.com listing. With everything else going on with this, I would think the pickup being non-original would make a big difference in the price, wouldn't it?

Yep, that makes it even fishier in my books. Glad my initial reaction was correct.

I can continue relying on my Spidey-senses! yay!