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Post subject: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:03 pm
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Hello Forum members,

In the latter half of the 1960's I purchased a Fender Jazz Bass from Leo's Music in Oakland CA, back when it was located on 16th and Harrison or Jackson (don't quite recall exactly). It was sold as a 1962 or 1963 Jazz Bass and the serial # 73917 seems to indicate this to be true.
The band played out its' run by 1975 and I quit playing actively but I've kept my bass safe for these 40+ years. All parts are original except for the finish. Natural wood was a look back in the late 60's and I therefore had the original blue paint sanded off. (No one had a blue bass playing rock n roll...I know, don't say it) Interesting to note that as the blue paint was coming off, the bass had a sunburst paint finish underneath. Ahhh... that came off too.

Anyhow I'm feeling like it's time to move on. There's no family to hand it down to so the question at hand is what the value of this bass may be? Any direction and input from the forum members would be appreciated.

Thank you, Doc1950


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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:48 pm
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Hi Doc!
You are going to want a photo appraisal from George Ghrun. Just tell him exactly what you've told us. Good luck!
https://guitars.com/appraisals

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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:30 pm
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Thank you Linnin,

I followed the link and I'm starting this adventure. And ultimately, if your name doesn't grace a city, may it at least be up in lights.

Again, many thanks.

Doc1950


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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:32 am
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Doc1950 wrote:
Thank you Linnin,

I followed the link and I'm starting this adventure. And ultimately, if your name doesn't grace a city, may it at least be up in lights.

Again, many thanks.

Doc1950

You're very welcome, Doc. Be sure to let Ghrun know that you are looking to sell. Even though your bass goes from all original collectors grade to players grade, your bass is still very desirable to someone that wants a pre-CBS Fender and can refinish any way they so desire without effecting the value. Also there are those collectors that will want it for the all original parts to use on other projects. There are some very serious collectors here on the Fender Forums too, that if they are interested will contact you privately, as open sales are prohibited. :wink: Best of luck to you!

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2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 8:16 am
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If the only thing that is not original on your 62J is the finish, and the wood itself not sanded away, and you have the case, I would value it around $6000-$6500. It might appraise slightly higher, it might sell slightly lower, but that is a solid ballpark.

Linnin's suggestion to have GG take a look is spot on. I use him a lot. And if you want to maximize your sale potential, let him look at it in person, not just pictures. No serious collector will accept a photo appraisal as being the last word, but a current in hand appraisal carries weight in negotiations.

Since the finish was changed once before your purchase, other changes may have been made as well. You can try to date the components yourself just to get a rough idea. The most important thing (to me) is to verify the date of the wood. The neck and body have value all by themselves as they furnish the basics for a nice project. You can easily find information on dating necks, bodies, and electronics, so I will not copy it all here. But it might be a fun exercise if you have time. It also might get you back into basses...lol.

Good luck.

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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:39 am
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affprod wrote:
Since the finish was changed once before your purchase...


It was not uncommon in the pre-CBS era (perhaps even after William Paley et al took over the company) to find an opaque custom color finish sprayed directly over a sunburst Fender body from the factory. This was often done to conceal a flawed sunburst finish due to an unattractive grain, visibly offensive knots, poor matching of the lumber, anything the shop supervisor determined would result in a substandard instrument. Examining the nail holes and cavity routs may provide additional clues as to when (and where) the body was repainted.

As an aside, I remember Leo's well -- I bought a '57 Les Paul Jr there back in February of 1975. Ironically it was a day that it snowed in San Francisco, a very rare occasion for the Bay Area.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:33 pm
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+1 Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:54 pm
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Evening all,

I'm checking in periodically and I want to thank the members for the valuable information I'm receiving.
Retro: I thought I remembered reading something about Fender changing the finish when the original sunburst finish didn't meet specs and now I know I didn't dream it up.

Thanks for the validation, you are, like the town, the "rock icon to tuff to die"
Give my regards to the Haunted Saloon.

Doc


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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:32 pm
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Doc1950 wrote:
Give my regards to the Haunted Saloon.


LMAO!

You ever go to Guitar Resurrection in Berkeley?

The day I bought my '57 LP Jr at Leo's I had been angling for a deal on a '56 Les Paul that they'd re-finned as a cherry sunburst and installed a set of original PAF humbuckers in. Try as I might, I couldn't make the numbers work so I drove back to Oakland and grabbed the Junior instead.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:59 pm
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Howdy Retro,

No, never been to Guitar Resurrection. But that gave me an idea. Ya see Affpro indicated that an "eyeball to guitar" appraisal by George Ghrun would be superior to a pics appraisal but I'm having trouble going 3/4 of the way across the country to get that accomplished. So I looked them up online and they have since moved to Austin Texas. Closer, but still no cigar.
You know of anybody in the Bay Area that does the quality work like Ghrun apparently does?
Don't want to ship it back to Nashville, probably end up in Kualalumpor. Don't want to check it through in baggage, that has it own issues. I guess I could by it a ticket to the seat next to me, then take it out and start a sing along playing the bass rift to "Lovely Rita Meter Maid" and pass the hat to recoup costs...Naaa

All the Best,

Doc


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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:29 pm
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I sympathize, Doc.

You might try Bizarre Guitars in Reno. I haven't been there in quite a while but they deal in vintage instruments and used to do appraisals.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Value of an "old fellow"
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:41 am
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Hey Doc- Why don't you post some pictures here?
We would all love to see another old Jazz bass and this forum since can give your bass a lot of exposure.

Just a thought.


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