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Would you pull the trigger on this 1959 P-Bass?
- Thread starter lat
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- 1959 p-bass p-bass refinished
Hi Wisebass, thanks! I made it myself!Hi Larry
Cool thread!(very interesting
)
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
(except for the 115 other posts from members of our community... lol)Yes, my thoughts as well. I'm glad that the feedback received from this mostly agrees with my initial reaction. Good to know I wasn't out in left field.
Yeah, as I admitted in a previous post, I forgot that triggers were optional on the '59s. This version had it on the volume knob... my bad.
For that kinda money, I’d buy a Custom Shop Precision V in a custom color & maple or rosewood(?) and another Brookwood strap. The rest I’d bank.
Oooh - that would be a 'birth year' bass for me!
Would I buy it? If it was genuine, and I had that sort of money, then no, I'd buy a couple of new basses
Would I buy it? If it was genuine, and I had that sort of money, then no, I'd buy a couple of new basses
Nope just old wood to me, does it sound any better maybe maybe no. My brain if i spent that kind of money would try and tell me yes , because I want myself to look cool. But then again it might be the coolest thing going. I have a few other things I would spend my money on Maybe a new Fodera bass.
The point of an old bass like that would be authenticity. With all of the issues, and especially the odd-looking paint job, why bother? A custom shop relic'd bass would look more real. I've owned numerous pre-CBS basses, and believe me, they're not necessarily any better than modern ones. To me the ones that suck were made in the 70's, and it astounds me what's being paid for them. So, this isn't about a what's good. BTW, Fender bolt-on neck instruments were tailor made for mass production, so if the (manufacturing) machines are set up right and some set-up and quality control stuff is attended to, you're in business. I know that's not your mindset right now, but I suggest not worrying about that brass ring as if it's going to change something in your life. I got rid of mine because of what people paid me for them, and because I didn't want to risk hauling them around. Most people won't notice, and the ones that know their stuff will pick up on the wonky issues. Now, if you dope into a great old instrument for nothing, that's different (like the L-series olympic white Jazz Bass I got from my gym teacher for 140 bucks in middle school). But that was during the Hoover administration.
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"Yes, this is the original axe Abraham Lincoln used to famously split his neighbor's fence rails! Of course the handle has been replaced a few times, as it continued to be used on the farm, and eventually we had to replace the blade... But this is Abe's axe!"
No. I'm too old to be impressed with old guitars. ALL of these instruments get the necks taken off repeatedly and the screw holes stripped out, for one, I assume, as every one of these dman things have the necks off and pics taken. You can't just stick a hardware store dowel in the holds and expect them to hold, either. Get a couple (or 4) used all orig. Fenders about 20 yrs old, right about when the price bottoms out, and keep them. Fenders have always held their value, if you get a good one IOW not a MIM or Squire. This "investment" ******** gets on my nerves though. You do get instant cred when you take it out of the case, I'll grant you that. If you need that kind of attention, and you can afford it, knock yourself out. Personally, I wouldn't be impressed; you'd still have to be able to play.
Only if for investment. I've never held an early Fender in my hands, but I can't imagine they play / sound much different to a modern equivalent.
I once owned a 1959 P-Bass It was a wonderful playing instrument. I paid 150 dollars for it in 1969 and sold it in 73' before I really understood what a rarity I had. I have seen them for sale in various places since, but rarely.
I could not justify spending the money I typically see then going for especially the condition yours is in. Mine was the same finish only it had been really road worn in the ten years before I got it....but as I said it played beautifully. I you have the 12K that I have seen them go for go for it....
The early P basses do feel and sound different. I have an early 59p so still with the anodized pick guard. Its more organic woody type of sound. Sits well in the mix. Exactly what you want for those Steely Tracks - if that's your thing. The feel is gorgeous. These were all hand made by people at the top of their craft and it shows. I love mine and would never part with it.
There's just been too much done to it to even consider it a survivor. It's just a nice old bass. And one you can make up all kinds of stories about!...
I owned a 1968 Precision for a little under a year. It looks very much like this bass. For some reason, mostly the weight and the neck profile I didn't hold on to it. In 1975, I was lucky enough to get a 1958 PBass. The difference in the
weight, sound and look of that bass compared to the 1968 was huge. Now their are so many basses, including ones from the Fender Custom Shop and Fender in general, that I'd definitley pass on this one. The yellow and red overspray
doesen't look anything like the PBass from that period. Just my take.
weight, sound and look of that bass compared to the 1968 was huge. Now their are so many basses, including ones from the Fender Custom Shop and Fender in general, that I'd definitley pass on this one. The yellow and red overspray
doesen't look anything like the PBass from that period. Just my take.
On a vintage Neck there should be a date stamp showing when it was made. Personally I don't care about a not so accurate finish ….as long as everything else is correct. You can always refinish or have it refinished. I believe Fender Custom Shop will refinish according to specs used in 59. As I said in another reply I owned a 59 at one time some one mentioned a pole piece under the A string as being raised....mine did not have that they were even across the tops of all the pole pieces.
The 'raised A' polepieces ended in 1958 - though I think this is replacement pickup from what it says in the Reverb listing - it sounds like yours was correct. Some '59s don't have any date and some do (in pencil) - specific to that year as well as some in 1969 which had no stamp.
