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Post subject: inherited old e series precision bass and i dont play!
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:29 am
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recently inherited old precision bass Serial # E313542 ( any time between late 58 to early 70's) and would like to find out what it worth since i dont play guitar. cant seem to find a registry that shows pricing for older guitars> can anyone help
guitar is in great shape with really nice touring case


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:32 pm
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Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
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Location: Out there on the road
If that is the serial number, this is what I am getting:

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - CBS Era), USA
in the Year(s): 1982 - 1985

Fender: Fullerton
The Fullerton factory opened in 1946, Fullerton California with the first major electric solid body guitar production began in 1950 with the Broadcaster (later known as the Telecaster). Sold in 1965 to CBS who in 1985 sold Fender to a group of private investors the plant was not included in that sale and was subsequently closed.

Taken from http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

And http://www.fender.com/support/usa_instruments.php
says the same dates.


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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:18 pm
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Hi and welcome to the forum.

What Zod said regarding your serial is good info. Normally an E would equal 80 and 3 would mean it was an 83. However from July 1 of 82 through about the end of June of 85 I think it was they used the same "E3" serials. This was in the closing years of the Fullerton plant.

There may be a date code stamped on the neck butt, however you'd have to remove the neck to see it. It isn't always present and even when there is not always complete or 100% readable. The disassembly of the bass should be done by someone who knows what they are doing though. You can go to http://brotherdave.com/add_data.htm to find a link about Fender USA neck codes. It is on a link titled FENDER GUITAR & BASS DATING HELP PAGE.

Also on that same page is a couple of links that can help you date the pots, which are the rotary knob volume & tone controls. Lift the entire pickguard containing the control knobs after carefully removing all the screws. Look at the back of the controls without breaking any connections or desoldering anything. Write down the series of numbers on the back metal casing of the pots starting with “137.” When replacing the pickguard tighten the screws carefully and evenly all around being careful not to overly stress the pickguard material which gets more and more fragile as time passes and will be easier to crack than 25 years ago.

The pot date means that the bass could not possibly have been made any earlier than the date on the pot BUT it is also true that it could have been made much later. Following “137” on the pots is the date code in YYWW format. The "YY" is the last digit(s) of the year, and the WW is the week during that year. A code of "1378416" would mean the pot made in the 16th week of 1984.

As to value, it is a USA made bass and will always have some value. It is not as valuable as a 63 but still will appreciate over time. The longer you keep it the more it will be worth, but you also have to factor in inflation. Now is not the best time ever to be selling a bass as the economy in most regions of the US and many other countries is the worst since the Great Depression.

The actual value is the very most someone is actually willing to pay for it and the very least you are willing to accept. It is impossible to say what this bass is worth with no more information than has been provided. Also photos are required for even a rudimentary appraisal. It is better for the appraiser to see the instrument in person so you can get a more in-depth appraisal as they can check condition, pot dates, neck codes, pencil marks, solder joints and verify the originality of various components. However photo appraisals are done all the time. There is a link to a reputable appraisal service called Gruhn Guitars listed last on the same page in the link I posted above. This service also sells vintage basses on consignment.

The reasons there are no price guides for vintage instruments online are many. Every vintage instrument will be slightly different from another made the very same day due wear, care, use, storage, modifications, etc. Economic conditions vary from region to region and frankly especially lately they seem to fluctuate month to month. A celebrity owned or celebrity played bass will almost always sell for more than a comparable bass if you have proof such as a notarized statement from the celebrity that the bass was his and used on this recording or that recording. There are other factors too like condition of the original case and the presence or absence of the original factory case contents usually referred to as the “Case Candy.”

One good way to get an estimate of the approximate local value fast and free would be to take it to any nearby Guitar Center and ask the manager if he wants to buy it outright. DO NOT SELL IT to him because you just want to find out what he offers for it. The manager will of course make a lowball offer but your job is to see how high he is willing go. Then double the manager’s final offer and you have a rough estimate of approximately what it may be worth in your local market. Under no circumstances would I sell it to him. You can easily sell it on eBay or through a vintage dealer on a consignment basis and get way more for it than the manager offers you. But that is a starting point and it is free.

Good luck!


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